MUSC 2019 Study Guide - Final Guide: Whole Lotta Love, Ozzy Osbourne, Guitar God
Music Final Exam
Heavy Metal/Hard Rock – Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple (holy trinity of
British Hard Rock)
• Riff: a short, repeated phrase in music, usually used as an introduction or refrain in a song
• Guitar Hero (guitar god): an aspect of hard rock was the guitar master, there was a lot of
fame and emphasis upon the guitarist, not just a focus on the lead singer – they were
worshiped because of their skills with the guitar. Guru figures that empowers your
circumstances with this musical mastery/represents transcendence.
• Virtuosity: the mastery of the guitar, these guitarists were gods to the heavy metal world,
they were very good at playing
• Jimmy Page: was the guitarist of Led Zeppelin who also founded the band
• Robert Plant: was the lead singer of the band Led Zeppelin and also the one who wrote
their songs
• Tritone: is also called the “diabolus in musica” which sounds ‘evil’. It’s known for being
heard in heavy metal riffs. It’s composed of three whole tones (two notes) that end up
sounding very uneasy or sinister. This can be seen in the intro to Black Sabbath by Black
Sabbath
• Minor second “Doom Interval”: this is known as a semitone, is the smallest musical
interval used and sounds somewhat off-key, the unappealing sound similar to the Tritone
sound
• Ozzy Osbourne: the lead singer of Black Sabbath, known to be a very dark/heavy metal
influencer, had a successful solo career as well. Some of his controversies include eating
a head of a bat/dove, he’s been accused of glorifying Satanism and has been criticized for
his drugs and alcohol abuse
• Tony Iommi: the lead guitarist and songwriter for Black Sabbath. The bands primary
composer for 50 years!
• Jon Lord: was known for fusing classical music and rock, was a pianist, organ player for
the band Deep Purple
• Richie Blackmore: guitarist and founding member of Deep purple which mixed guitar
sounds with organ sounds
• Baroque virtuosity: deep purple fused together classical/baroque music forms with rock
❖ Led Zeppelin, Whole Lotta Love: jimmy page represented that guitar god/guru
that empowered musical mastery, was a way for the demographic
(poor/white/men) to escape their reality.
❖ Black Sabbath, Iron Man, Black Sabbath: the Tritone/Doom interval can be
heard in these songs, that gave the songs a sinister/uneasy sound to them, they
were very dark band that often were thought to glorify Satanism.
❖ Deep Purple, Highway Star: Unique metal band that fused classical/baroque
music with rock – used organ sounds with their heavy guitar
Metal/ Hard Rock: a thick and massive sound, hyper masculinity, transcendence with
the guitar god, the genres three pioneers were Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep
Purple. They were aggressive and associated with masculinity – they were speaking
to the poor white men who felt hopeless in their conditions.
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Glam/Glitter/Hair Rock – TREX, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss and
the Runaways
• Glitter rock: not about authenticity, it was about being artificial. Making up characters to
act out on the stage, not seriousness. A reaction against hyper-musicality that can be seen
with the Guitar God. Images challenged traditional aspects of gender and sex. Glam tells
you that you can remake yourself.
o David Bowie
• Stonewall Riots (1969): riots because of the treatment of gay men by police in NYC.
They were harassed and targeted. They fought back against the routine harassment which
was the first homosexual statement of saying no more to the maltreatment.
• Mark Bolan: lead singer of the band T.Rex who were pioneers of Glam Rock movement
in the 70s
• Camp: was the over glamming and over the top gender expression that was a part of
glitter rock. It’s an aesthetic that opposes satisfaction and seeks to challenge.
• Androgyny: no binary combination of masculine and feminine characteristics, someone
with no specific gender. Gender ambiguity in fashion, identity or sexuality
• Mick Ronson: part of David Bowies background band, he was a guitarist and producer.
They were called the Spiders from Mars (Ziggy Stardust)
• Andy Warhol and the Factory: the studio of Andy Warhol in NYC where artistic and
musicians could hang out. Lou Reed is one of the many who visited, David Bowie was
also a member of the studio. Andy Warhol’s art and lifestyle were similar to the values
and lifestyles of those in Glam Rock.
• Fretless bass: a very distinctive sound that adds extra dimension of expression to how the
player plays, allows for the players to move smoothly/slide between notes rather than
hopping between the pitches of the notes
❖ T.Rex, Bang a Gong: the beginning of the movement was created by Marc Bolan
(frontman) because he wore glitter and satins in a performance.
❖ David Bowie, Life on Mars, Ziggy Stardust: David Bowie had a very large influence
on the popularity of the genre, he was androgynous on the stage and very out there
with his look. These songs were reflection of the state of America – Moon Landing
(extraterrestrial life).
❖ Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild side: one part of the Velvet Underground (punk)
another genre that rejected the hyper-masculinity of Metal/Hard Rock.
❖ Alice Cooper, Teenage Lament 74: Band sported many costumes that were
sequined, tight and colour contrasting and had an androgynous stage role
❖ Kiss, God of Thunder: They dressed up on stage – had aliases – inforces the concept
of Glam Rock that was a performance or how you can remake yourself.
❖ The Runaways, Cherry Bomb: Girl group that was part of the Glam Rock genre,
they wore outlandish outfits and makeup on stage.
Glam/Glitter Rock: This genre was created from the rejection of the hyper-masculine
aggressive sound of mainstream Heavy Metal (70s). The genre was about created and
displaying yourself as you’d like through your aesthetics. There was no seriousness and it
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challenged the traditional views of gender and sexuality. Out of this world, aliases,
outlandish and androgynous themes were present.
Reggae – Desmond Dekker and the Aces, the Specials and, Bob Marley and the
Wailers
• Ska: a music genre that started in Jamaica, it was the precursors to reggae. Combined
calypso with American rhythm and blues. Characterized by a walking bass line and
accented rhythms on the off-beat.
• Jamaica: a Caribbean island that has produced and created many famous music forms and
musicians. Has had influence on many styles of music in America as well. The
predominant ethnicity of the island is black/black mixed peoples. Jamaica was the
founding country for Ska, shantytown and reggae music.
• Shanty town: the slums or squatter area of the town/the inner city of towns. There was a
lot of police oppression and poverty.
• Trench town: a neighbourhood near Kingston Jamaica which is known as the Hollywood
of Jamaica. The birthplace of rocksteady and reggae music, and the home of Bob Marley
• Sound system parties: this first became popular in Shanty town. The sound system is a
group of DJs and MCs that play Ska or Reggae music.
• DJ: someone who would play music and mix them together creating seamless transitions
between recordings and also develop unique mixes of songs
• MC: hype-man who maintains the energy of the room for the DJ’s songs.
• Rude Boy: part of Jamaican street culture. Part of the Ska music movement used in the
same way as a baaad man (Funk) and gangsta (Rap). The style was sharp suits and thin
ties with pork pie hat (brimmed top hat).
• Skanking: form of dancing in the Ska/Reggae music scenes, which included the running
man motions, usually done in mosh pits and were somewhat dangerous because of the
punching and kicking of limbs during the dancing.
• Skank guitar: bouncing rhythm that’s the base to songs, it’s associated with the skank
dance. Guitar plays short percussive chop sounds
• Eric Clapton: helped reggae reach a mass market by covering Bob Marley’s “I shot the
Sheriff” – Associated with racist slogans in Brittan in the 70s. Some say he appropriated
Black musician’s art by using their material as covers but having these hateful beliefs
• Rastafarianism: Afro-centric culture/religion that recognizes Ethiopian emperor as the
son of Jesus, smoking of cannabis is a way of achieving the trans-state to bring us into
communication with gods
• Chris Blackwell: founder of island records, was sent to record music in Jamaica to send
back to Brittan, basically ‘mining’ the music and profiting off of these Jamaican
musicians
• Island Records: record label responsible for turning the world on to reggae music but
seemed to appropriate the music and profit off of these artists and their resources
• 2 tone records: British recording label that recorded Jamaican music
• Noting Hill Riots (1976): racist riots in England that wanted the ‘keep England white’
during the late 50s, they were scared of coloured minorities taking jobs and opportunities
away from them.
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Document Summary
Heavy metal/hard rock led zeppelin, black sabbath, deep purple (holy trinity of. It"s known for being heard in heavy metal riffs. It"s composed of three whole tones (two notes) that end up sounding very uneasy or sinister. This can be seen in the intro to black sabbath by black. Some of his controversies include eating a head of a bat/dove, he"s been accused of glorifying satanism and has been criticized for his drugs and alcohol abuse: tony iommi: the lead guitarist and songwriter for black sabbath. Led zeppelin, whole lotta love: jimmy page represented that guitar god/guru that empowered musical mastery, was a way for the demographic (poor/white/men) to escape their reality. Black sabbath, iron man, black sabbath: the tritone/doom interval can be heard in these songs, that gave the songs a sinister/uneasy sound to them, they were very dark band that often were thought to glorify satanism.
