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Saying rock is dead would be like saying we no longer have teen-agers or electric guitars. Obviously, we have both in great supply. We even have a best-selling video game, "Guitar Hero", based on rock music. Rock was created in America, continues to be a strong part of American culture, and is imitated all over the world. It is very far from dead.

THE DEMISE OF ROCK HAS BEEN HIGHLY EXAGGERATED

We heard talk about the death of rock before, in the 70's during the disco rage, and in the early 80's when new-wave-pop was growing by leaps and bounds.

But through it all, rock has come back stronger, more diverse, and better for the influx of new musical trends. Why? Because rock is a flexible music framework that can take in any other style and make it it's own. Likewise, the elements that make for rock music also make for good music in other genres. It adapts well to other styles.

Most of those lamenting rock's passing refer to the current lull, where many established big-name artists are dead or dormant, and there has been no explosion of high-profile talent to fill the void.

Others may be feeling the loss of a particular "flavor" they used to love, a style that has passed from favor. Punk, heavy metal, psychedelic, and grunge all had strong runs at one time or another, but are no longer at the forefront.

This does not mean rock has ceased to be. In fact, rock is ripe for a rebound for two reasons; teen-age girls want to dance, and teen-age guys want to be musicians because girls like musicians. These needs are really only satisfied by two types of music, rock and country.

And it was because of these two needs, both still present today, that created rock and assure it's continued presence.

ROOTS

Let's backtrack a bit to get some perspective. In the late 40's Fender produced the first marketable solid-body electric guitar, the Telecaster. The electric guitar had been used previously, but they were custom, studio-type instruments. The Telecaster, however, was a mass-market instrument. In 1951 Fender also came out with the electric bass.

In the mid-50's performers like Elvis Presley, Bill Hailey, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry created and defined "rock" music. It was music performed by a small combo including an electric guitar or two, drums, and an electric bass. The music was mainly blues, R&B, bluegrass, and country in its roots. It had a driving, danceable beat and emphasized teen-age themes like love, rebellion, questioning authority, dancing, and even music itself.

Rock took

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