NON- FICTION #2

Book Description

Who doesn’t want to be a rock star? There isn’t a man or woman alive who wouldn’t love to experience the roar of the crowd as they step up on stage, ready to thrill hoards of fans, waiting for and celebrating your music. But how do you get there? 

“The Art of Running a Rock Band” is a how-to guide on creating and thriving in the rock business. Starting with the history of the genre, the book goes over the different roles of band members and some of the many sub-genres of rock-n-roll. 

How to find band members and find your sound are reviewed in this text. It will teach readers the importance of rehearsals and practice while also promoting cohesion within a band. We talk about the importance of a band’s image. Marketing, a vital part of success in the music business, is heavily covered, helping the readers get their music out there to the world. 

This guide isn’t all about the business and technical parts of running a successful rock band. Songwriting and the art of music are featured prominently. Tips on what makes a good song and what audiences look for are included to help musicians and their artistic process. 

Finally, “The Art of Running a Rock Band” goes over the mental aspects of life in the music business. It prepares you for potential pitfalls with agents, venues, and even your bandmates. This book aims to arm the readers with enough knowledge to best prepare them for their musical journey and a potential path to rock stardom.

Introduction:

All your life has led to this moment. You can feel it, the nerves, the butterflies in your stomach dancing madly in your stomach. Sweat already starts to bead on and stream down your forehead, even before stepping under those hot lights. The whole building shakes from the claps, screams, and stomps of the sold-out crowd, waiting for you and your bandmates to take the stage. 

The MC whips the audience into a frenzy. You look to your left, and your drummer spins his sticks mumbling words of self-encouragement. To your right is the lead guitarist, nervously tapping his foot. It’s almost time. 

The introduction is made, and the whole venue goes crazy. You’ve never felt this kind of energy before. It’s so strong, so thick that the very air you breathe feels electric. As you take your first step onto the stage, you can hardly see a thing as all the bright lights are on you and your bandmates.

Stepping up to the microphone, you look out at a churning sea of people, eagerly awaiting that first note. The venue is a powder keg of excitement, and you have the matches. The others take their place on stage, and you await your guitarists’ lead. 

The unbelievable reality hits you. Once upon a time, you watched other legends of rock-n-roll on this same stage, playing hits from catalogs enjoyed by people all over the world. You remember the childlike wonderment of these larger-than-life figures, simply sounds that played through headphones, standing in that same spot you do now. And you can’t help but wonder how you got there. 

Since the 1940s, the United States of America and the whole world have found themselves entranced by lead singers gasping for air through long lung-clearing notes. We’ve had our brains melted by roaring guitar solos. That rhythmic pounding of the drums drives us to move, to dance along to the music. Rock-n-roll captured the hearts and souls of countless millions. 

We’ve all sung along to our favorite songs in the shower. Who among us hasn’t grabbed an air guitar and strummed along with our favorite tunes? You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hadn’t imagined what it would be like to be a bona fide rock star, a real rock-n-roller. 

For most, these moments of make-believe musical stardom are just passing fantasies. But for others, it’s a dream, one they want to make a reality. So the question is: “Where do you start?” 

Starting a rock band can be as simple as having a dream, learning an instrument, and grabbing a few like-minded friends. However, having and maintaining a successful professional version is significantly more involved. Don’t fret. This book exists to help you achieve those dreams. 

The Art of Running a Rock Band will guide you through building a successful band. By the end of this book, you will have the tools and knowledge necessary to have a leg up over the competition and prepare you for a music career. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROCK-N-ROLL:

What do you think of when you think of rock-n-roll? Put aside the colorful personalities, legends of debauchery, soul-affirming anthems, and fashion-defining styles. What part of a song of the genre stands out the most? It’s the unique sound, and the extra kick electricity provides everything from the guitars to the drums that kick you in the chest and pumps adrenaline through your veins. Where does that sound come from?

One of the trademark identifiers of the rock sounds comes from the volume. Rock is often loud, and impactful, designed to grab an audience’s attention and not let go under that electronic hum fades out. The innovation that allowed music to be louder came in 1931. Paul H. Tutmarc invented the first electric guitar that borrowed some of the same ideas as the telephone to enhance the natural vibrations created by strummed guitar strings. 

Through various incarnations and innovations, the design of the electric guitar evolved until it became something wholly unique, exciting, and sought after by musicians eager to stand out from the more standard and pop-friendly musical landscape. These versions of the instrument synonymous with rock only resembled the gnarly axes guitar gods would shred in the coming decades. That didn’t come along until an American inventor came along and changed the game. 

Leo Fender created and sold the first modern electric guitar. Dubbed the “Telecaster,” Mr. Fender’s product changed the music world forever. Even today, his name is revered and highly regarded for instrument quality and value. 

The innovations didn’t stop with groundbreaking instruments. It was the music and the musicians that made and made rock-n-roll what it is today. 

The seed of what would one day become rock music started in the cramped, sweaty, intimate confines of blues clubs and honkey tonks of the 1940s American South. Country music and African American rhythm and blues started taking hold of the nation once the moon came up and libations were served. Not as clean today as the more popular genres of music in those days, the beginnings of the hard-edged sound that would one day dominate the industries’ landscape were being formed. 

Starting in the jazz clubs of St. Louis, the man who would come to be known as: “The Father of Rock-n-Roll” faced his share of demons before breaking out on the music scene in grand fashion in the 1950s. Charles “Chuck” Edward Anderson Berry got his start as a kid singing in church and taking up the guitar. He also had a pension for getting into trouble with the law. 

When Chuck Berry was locked up in the Intermediate Reformatory for Young Men in Jefferson, Missouri, he went in as a caterpillar, not yet formed into the magnificent musician that would come. After getting let out and married, he picked up a guitar again in 1951 and joined an old friend’s band. In 1952 he joined a more professional outfit, “Sir John’s Trio.” 

Mainly specializing in jazz, blues, and pop, Sir John’s Trio started making a splash on the St. Louis music scene. When they started mixing in more country-inspired tunes, their popularity exploded in The Gateway to The West. They got so big that they began to attract white music fans, a rarity in a still heavily segregated country. 

Like the musical butterfly he was becoming, Chuck Berry spread his wings and parted with Sir John’s Trio. When the middle of the decade rolled around, young Berry heard the road calling his name. So he packed up his electric guitar and headed off to the biggest city in the American Midwest, Chicago. 

Chuck Berry and consequently the life of every rock-n-roller to follow changed one day in 1955 when he met legendary musician Muddy Waters. Waters, a product of those sweaty, cramped honky tonks and blues clubs of the South, got introduced to Chess Records. Shortly thereafter, he wrote and recorded what’s widely considered the first rock song of all time: “Maybellene.” 

It’s heavily recommended for any aspiring rock star and songwriter to take a listen not only to “Maybellene” but to Berry’s whole catalog. In it, you’ll find all the ingredients of almost every sub-genre that has emerged since. Unique to music as an artistic expression, you can listen to history forever captured on wax and hard drives. 

Chuck Berry was the beginning, but he was far from the end of rock music. A gyrating, lip-curling boy from Mississippi would become the first bona fide rock star propelling it into the mainstream, and changing the audio landscape forever. Elvis Presley landed his first hit with: “That’s All Right Mama,” a cover that propelled him to superstardom. 

Though not the originator of rock-n-roll, Elvis Presley brought the heavy blues-inspired genre to most of the country, the white majority. No longer confined to the back-alley hole-in-the-wall clubs and the “black” part of town, rock was now mainstream. And it wouldn’t stop there. 

The 1950s gave way to a turbulent decade not only in music but in American history. What Chuck Berry started, and Elvis Presley popularized, the British export The Beatles ran with. Reaching levels of popularity never seen before in the history of music, dead stop, the boys from Liverpool mastered bringing a not quite fringe but not dominant genre into the sound of a decade.

Over the 1970s and 1980s, rock became more commercialized. While many artists still churned out breathtaking pieces of musical art, their image started to reign supreme. Besides playing their instruments or singing their hearts out, what musicians did on stage started becoming just as big of a star in the show. Big stadium shows brought new riches to the genre as compact discs spawned a whole industry of music stores that would endure until the late 90s. 

Perhaps burnt out from the excess of the 1980s, rock music transitioned into a more grounded, dirty, grungy sound in the 1990s. Birthed under the gray, dreary skies of the Pacific Northwest, grunge took the world by storm. Instead of singing about how many women they’ve slept with and how hard they party rock stars were more vulnerable. Themes like depression, loss, and life as a misfit opened up the genre artistically. Out of the ruins of hair metal and grunge,  alternative rock was born. 

The end of the twentieth century saw the rise of another form of music created in the impoverished, often African American parts of the inner city. Hip-hop and rap began their rise alongside the revamped rhythm and blues. Rock-n-roll started to slide into the background and appropriately scaled down. 

Garage rock gave brief hope that the genre would be revamped, and reemerge to claim its lost crown. Unfortunately, a more urban sound still dominated the musical landscape. But in this era, new legends were born that still impact multiple scenes today. 

Rock is not dead, far from it. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes of the underground, burning with the passion inherent in the genre, it’s just waiting for the next big thing. Will that be you? Before you can become the next Rock God, you need to start with the basics. You need to build your band.

Chapter 1: The Genre

You’re ready to start your journey to a successful rock band. Making that decision is always a good place to start. But before you can go out and make your mark, you need to know what kind of mark you’ll be making. It’s time to forge the essential part of your group’s identity. What sub-genre(s) will you choose? 

Rock-n-roll is a very diverse genre. Born in the 1950s, there have been six decades of change, evolution, and musical innovations divided into dozens of sub-genres. Each one is unique and has its own identity, scene, and dedicated, almost fanatical fan base. 

How do you choose which sub-genre(s) your band will fall in? It’s a hard choice. All of them have their benefits and appeal. An informed decision is always better than just throwing darts at a dartboard. This chapter will go over the most popular, the characteristics of each, and examples of some of the most famous artists who identify with said sub-genre. 

Of course, just picking your genre isn’t the beginning and end of starting a rock band. No one can do it alone, so you need bandmates. That search is harrowing, but before setting off into those stormy seas, this chapter will go over the different roles in a band and the importance of each one. What are we waiting for? There’s no rest for the wicked.

Band Roles

To move forward with your plans to conquer the rock world, you need some of the basics. When it comes to a band, it starts with the most common instruments used and their roles in the group. Without that information, you can’t well create anything, can you? 

While I’m willing to bet that if you made it this far, you have some basic idea of the different components of a rock band. With that said, we all need a little reminding sometimes. Going over this before choosing your sub-genre(s) is crucial because not everyone has an identical make-up. The Cookbook of Rock has a diverse array of recipes that all call for different ingredients. 

Starting with the back of the stage, we have the drums. The first component of a band’s rhythm section, the drummer keeps the tempo and the beat. Most bands utilize acoustic drum sets. And those sets can come in numerous configurations, all with their strengths and weaknesses. 

There are seven common options when it comes to setting up your drum kit. Bass drums provide a low-pitch, rumbling sound, often struck via a foot pedal. Snare drums give you the opposite noise, high-pitched and sharp. Toms give off that signature hollow sound that most associate with the instrument group. The floor toms are similar to the bass drums but not quite as low. 

A drum set often contains more than just the drums themselves. Crash cymbals, the round thing pieces of slightly curved metal found in most kit set-ups, offer a loud metallic, well, crashing noise utilized to accent different parts of a song. They certainly get an audience’s attention. High-hats, two cymbals that bang together on the drummer’s command, make a cutting, high-pitched metallic noise, the length of which can be controlled via the foot pedal. Finally comes the ride cymbal. This thick guy isn’t as pronounced as his cousins. Instead, the ride is used to help carry some of the rhythms. 

Knowing the most common parts of a drum kit is only half the battle. Now, let’s summarize some of the most common setups and what sub-genre(s) they’re associated with. We’re going to start with the traditional setup. 

Used by bands like The Beatles and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, this drum kit setup is like a  Swiss Army Knife. Its versatility makes it very appealing and provides the option of playing more than just rock.  The standard components of this configuration include a bass, snare, three toms (two normal one floor), a ride cymbal, and two crash cymbals. 

Heavy metal, a genre often about being big, loud, and excessive, has drum kits to match. Above all else, they value volume. A heavy bass drum is treasured. Very potent cymbals are chosen to give that slap in the face their songs often require. Though their setup can be very similar to the more traditional one, they can include eccentric touches like two neighboring bass drums. The point here is, the louder, the better. And the equipment the brands bought needs to be conducive to the aggressive nature of the heavy metal drummer. 

These are far from the only drum kit setups. But they give a little look at the diversity and options a band has for one of the three components of the group’s rhythm. Of course, these aren’t rules or laws. Your band can tweak the kit in any way you want or need. Heck, make something entirely new! The musical world’s your oyster.

When we think of rock, what instruments stand out the most? It’s the electric guitar. But there are different kinds, each with their job and sound. 

The lead guitar is the most glamorous version of the instrument in a rock band. Often associated with legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, and Jack White, other than the lead singer, is the iconic role within the band. 

The lead guitarist will have a plethora of responsibilities in your band. It’s more than just busting out rip-roaring solos. In many ways, they drive the sound of the group. They need to keep rhythm, tempo, and pace while working in conjunction with the drummer and other guitarists, trading roles at the drop of a hat, contributing to a more complex, richer sound. 

Lead guitarists often play critical roles in intro and outros as well. At certain points, they may need to take control of a song. Your lead must have a very good ear and an instinct because, in many ways, they are behind the driver’s seat of every show. 

The often unnoticed bones and foundation of a rock band is the bass guitarist. They work in conjunction with the drummer to help establish the rhythm of a song. Think of them as the links in the chain that attach the drums and other guitarists. Though often unheralded, they make all the difference in the world. Without that glue, your songs will feel stale and dried out. However, depending on your genre, a bass guitarist is not always necessary. 

Arguably one of the most essential instruments in a rock band is the rhythm guitar. A support position is meant to back up the rest of the group. Their support chords work with the bass and drums to create that solid foundation that all good bands use to propel their music to the next level. But, it is possible to combine lead and rhythm guitar to play both, which adds a flexible piece to the musical puzzle. It can be electric or acoustic.

With those instruments out of the way, it’s time to get to the man/ woman standing front and center on the stage. Often they are the center of attention, the person performing who demands all the eyes in the room. The lead singer can be the difference between a good and a great band.

Lead singers do more than just belt out lyrics and regulate the melody. They are, more often than not, the main event, the attraction, the draw. Think about all the best or your favorite bands in history. Chances are, the first face you see is of the vocalist, mouth open wide, strutting back and forth, trying to engage with the audience. 

The frontman (or woman) is the storyteller. They’re the ones telling the tale of each song. Other than a good voice, they often need an abundance of charisma. A good vocalist can whip a crowd into a frenzy or silence them with heartfelt ballads. Often the center of attention, the person in this role needs to keep a good head on their shoulders. They often become the source of jealousy and contention in the band because of their prominent and identifying role.

Now that you have a rudimentary understanding of the different roles, it’s time to choose yours. Do you have a voice like a rock angel? Or are your fingers dexterous and nimble, ready to slide up and down the fretboard? Is hitting things more your style? Maybe it’s the vibrational feedback of thick bass strings that is more your speed? Whatever your niche, it’s time to move on to what genre appeals to you the most.

Sub-Genres

Rock-n-roll is an umbrella term for a genre that’s as deep and varied as it is vast. There are so many versions, so many sub-genres, with new ones being created in basements, garages and bedrooms, every day. Though you never have to define your band under just one banner. It’s helpful to pick one in the beginning. After all, we all have to start somewhere.

This section will detail some of the more prevalent sub-genres. In no way is this all of them. Nor does it cover all the intricate attributes of each. But, there will be enough information to get an idea of every individual one and examples of related artists you might want to listen to. Since this is the music we’re talking about, you will always learn more with your ears than your eyes. 

Alternative Rock

We start our journey down the sub-genre rabbit hole with one of the most popular of all time, alternative rock. Born from boredom with hair metal in the 1980s, a new crop of artists more interested in content than image started their rise. It started as a counter-culture musical movement, devolving into something more mainstream like many similar trends. 

A ray of sunshine after the dreary, depressing doldrums of grunge, alt-rock made its comeback in the mid-90s. With that came a pivot into pop. By the end of the decade, artists in this sub-genre became almost cookie-cutter. That’s not a negative, however. Even today, playing over department store speakers, dentists’ offices, and countless radio stations across the country, this version of rock has become something like the musical equivalent of comfort food. 

Some alternative rock artists to check out: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Violent Femmes, Radiohead, Coldplay, Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins, and Janes Addiction

Psychedelic Rock

The psychedelic sound originated in the age of drugs and enlightenment which was the 1960s. Stylized, distorted, and often with long run times, songs in this genre have a distinct identity. The music of protest, the tunes were hell-bent on straying as far away from the preferences of the previous generation as possible. All the proof needed that it is one of the most influential, important, and beloved sub-genres is that people still play it today. 

Some psychedelic rock artists to check out: Jefferson Airplane, Wolfmother, The Doors, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Emo

A sub-genre as misunderstood as its musicians and fans, emo is the music for the forgotten. Appealing to but not exclusively, to people who feel like outcasts. As its name implies, this category focuses heavily on more emotional subjects and with lead singers whose voices convey the pain and hurt that comes with being a human being. Starting in the 1980s, emo’s sound is a diverse mix of rock, punk, hardcore, and new wave. 

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was a revitalization of emo in the form of its own sub-genre, screamo. This version emphasized a mixture of harder play and singing mixed with a softness that gave the sound a little more depth and texture. 

Some emo artists to give a listen to: My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Thursday, Rites of Spring, Jaw Breaker,  and At The Drive-In

Punk

One of the most popular sub-genres, punk rock, is hard to define. And that’s very much on purpose. The 1970s brought about this revolutionary music, which often did away with the standard song structures, eschewed things like melodic choruses and hooks, and decided to do things its way. 

A do-it-yourself form of rock, the punk rock scene has always been synonymous with counter-culture, small shows in packed, dirty clubs, grating guitars, and brain-abusing drums. The number of diverse bands that can fall under this sub-genre is vast. The fan community is close-knit and mainly consists of social outcasts, much like emo.

Punk rock shares a rare distinction, along with death rock, goth, and metal, as a sub-genre that scares a more straight-laced society. That was until the 2000s rolled around and introduced the idea of pop-punk. Some hate this change. Some loved it. But that’s the point of punk rock. It’s not supposed to be for everyone. 

Cool punk bands to look check out: Ramones, The Clash, Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Circle Jerks, Green Day, Germs, Sum 41, and Blink 182

Hard Rock

Somewhere between rock-n-roll and the various forms of metal is hard rock. The sound is heavier, and has more of an edge. Aggressive from beginning to end, hard rock bands are all about being loud and in your face. Gaining popularity in the 1980s, it evolved into what was known as “Hair Bands.” 

Black leather, long hair, satanic and violent imagery along with a claimed love for the devil, girls, drugs, and alcohol often went hand-in-hand with hard rock, making it one of the more controversial sub-genres. But under all that is highly technical guitar and drum playing coupled with powerful vocalists that make this one of the most beloved forms of rock-n-roll. 

Some hard rock to headbang to: AC/DC, Guns-n-Roses, Aerosmith, Kiss, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Scorpion, and Ratt

Grunge

Coming out of the Pacific Northwest, a new subgenre emerged from the excesses of hard rock. Grunge’s arrival came in the form of a stripped-down band of dirty-looking, flannel-wearing geniuses who went by “Nirvana.” This band changed the musical landscape in a drastic way not seen since Elvis Presley. Characterized by somewhat sloppy instrumental and gravely vocals, this mix of metal, punk, and rock was the voice of a lost generation of youth. 

Grunge’s reputation and life span were limited due to the infamous tragedies that came hand in hand with it. From the depression, drug addiction, and psychological issues that plagued many of these groups came some of the most beautiful heartfelt lyrics and songs the rock world has ever seen.

Grunge bands to check out:  Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains

Folk Rock

Folk music has been around for a long time. A cousin of the blues and country, it had its roots in a more rural sound. The 1960s heralded a new era of folk that mixed it with rock to make folk-rock. The most famous of these new artists was Bob Dylan, credited as a voice for the decade.

Unlike a lot of rock sub-genres, folk-rock did have one pretty strict rule. Electricity was not allowed into the work. It was a purely acoustic sound that thrived in the hip cigarette smoke-filled bars and clubs of New York City and expanded out to festivals and every corner of the country. 

Folk-rock artists to enjoy with a cigarette and cup of black coffee:  Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and Mumford & Sons

Indie/ Garage 

Indie and garage bands often have the same origins. They are the very definition of DIY music. There aren’t standard configurations of even a signature sound. These sub-genres of alt-rock have just as much variety and a myriad of approaches. The 1980s, 90s, 2000s, and 2010s have all had bands in this sub-genre thrive. It’s an immortal sound that is bolstered by the idea that anyone can do it!

Indie/ garage bands to inspire: The White Stripes, The Pixies, The Hives, The Sonics, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Black Keys

Glam

The very definition of pomp and circumstance, glam rock took the importance of image and ran with it. Though this sub-genre doesn’t have a particular identifying sound, it is known for its pageantry. Several artists and bands from several different styles of rock can be considered  “glam.” So it isn’t the music necessarily that you should check out. These artists should be looked into because of the visuals, and the shows that they put on.

Artists to take a look at: David Bowie, Mott the Hopple, Slade, and the New York Dolls

Chapter 2: Building a Legend

It’s time for the meat and potatoes of our guide on a successful rock-n-roll band. Now that you know what role you’d play in your band and what sub-genre(s) you’re going to focus on, we can put this legendary group of musicians together. What comes first? How does that process start?

Building a band is more than just grabbing like-minded friends. Think of the process in terms of problem-solving. You know what you can do. You know what subgenre(s) you want to play. All you need to do now is fill in those missing pieces. Most people don’t know where to even start looking for those solutions, those bandmates. Have no fear; you’re in the right place.

The Search

There are countless stories among band members, famous or otherwise, about how a band came together. The possible origin stories are endless. You’d be surprised where you could find the next Eddie Van Halen or Tommy Lee. With that said, a more focused approach is your best chance for positive results. 

Let’s start with something easy and basic. Almost every city in every country has some form of open mic night. These small-scale showcases of local talent might bear unexpected fruits.

While most open mic nights heavily feature singer-songwriters, these musicians are worth getting to know even if you consider yourself the frontman (or woman).  Musicians tend to know other musicians. There’s a good chance that they can point you in the right direction of the people who can fill the roles your band requires. Making connections, and networking in music is an invaluable skill and tool to have.

Open mic nights also provide an opportunity to put yourself out there. You never know who’s in the audience. Let’s say you have a nice piece of music you want to play or a song you wrote that you want to sing. A drummer, bassist, lead guitarist, rhythm guitarist, or vocalist might want to recruit you. Or it could just be practice performing in front of a crowd. Either way, you can’t go wrong checking out your local open mic nights. 

When you are at the open mic, treat your approach to fellow musicians that you want to join your band like you would a girl or guy at the bar. You like them. You want to make a good impression. So don’t come off as too needy or too desperate. In some way, you are trying to pick them up, to lure them into your musical schemes. 

Open mics aren’t the only local shows you should attend to try and find band members. Going to other bands’ shows has a myriad of potential benefits. The most obvious benefit of doing so is networking. There isn’t much of a chance that you’ll be able to recruit someone here, but you might make the connections that will achieve the same end. Or maybe you will be able to convince someone to change sides. Who knows? 

If looking offline doesn’t yield any results, don’t fret. There’s an incredible new tool that connects you to people from all across the world. That’s right. We’re talking about the internet. 

When most people think of using the internet to find band members, they might think of social media. It’s not a bad idea. However, more tailored sites exist for just this purpose. There is nothing wrong with widening the net for your search.

Not unlike job boards, there are websites dedicated to the musical community. There are even ones who specialize in connecting musicians. That makes them ideal for finding bandmates.