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Series looking at US rock music from the late 60s to the early 90s. The 70s saw rock stars become millionaires and their music became the soundtrack for middle America.

This second part tells the story of the 1970s, when rock stars became multi-millionaires and the music they made was the soundtrack for middle America.

After the rage and protest of the previous decade, rock music of the early 70s was gentle and sweet - the songs of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the Doobie Brothers. Although the USA was riven by political disasters - the end of the Vietnam War, Watergate and the gasoline crisis - rock music seldom commented on them, although Alice Cooper's Nixon satire Elected was a rare exception. But in the middle of the decade new voices started to emerge, such as Bruce Springsteen's songs of working class glory or Tom Petty's tight, 1960s-inspired sound.

The massive success of stadium shows exemplified how big American rock had become and, in 1976 and 1977, the genre soared with a string of multi-platinum albums by Fleetwood Mac, Boston, the Eagles and Meat Loaf. Unlike in the UK, American punk barely diverted the rock gods, but disco did make an impact. Rock became smoother and more saccharine and in the corporate offices of record labels the drive was for ever larger profits.

With interviews with many of the decade's leading rock musicians, the programme also features studio and concert footage including Alice Cooper, Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles.

Interviews include: Tom Petty, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Tom Scholz (Boston), Todd Rundgren, Don Felder (the Eagles), Tom Johnston (the Doobie Brothers), Chuck D (Public Enemy), Peter Frampton, Bill Payne (Little Feat), Pamela des Barres, FM DJ Jim Ladd, film director Penelope Spheeris, manager Peter Mensch, journalists Sylvie Simmons and Rolling Stone magazine's David Fricke.

1 hour

Clip

Music Played

  • Meat Loaf

    Bat Out of Hell

  • Eagles

    Hotel California

  • Alice Cooper

    School's Out

  • Grand Funk Railroad

    We're an American Band

  • Bon Jovi

    Livin' On a Prayer

  • Jimi Hendrix

    Star Spangled Banner

  • Grand Funk Railroad

    Baby Let's Stop the War

  • America

    Ventura Highway

  • Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

    Teach Your Children

  • The Doobie Brothers

    Slippery St Paul

  • The Doobie Brothers

    Listen to the Music

  • Steely Dan

    Do It Again

  • Steve Miller Band

    The Joker

  • Lynyrd Skynyrd

    Free Bird

  • Lou Reed

    Walk On The Wild Side

  • MC5

    Kick Out the Jams

  • Alice Cooper

    I'm Eighteen

  • Alice Cooper

    School's Out

  • Elton John

    Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting)

  • Led Zeppelin

    Over The Hills And Far Away

  • Led Zeppelin

    Good Times Bad Times

  • Led Zeppelin

    Since I've Been Loving You

  • Stevie Wonder

    Living for the City

  • Alice Cooper

    Elected

  • Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

    Turn the Page

  • Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

    Born To Run

  • Aerosmith

    Sweet Emotion

  • KISS

    Cold Gin

  • Kiss

    Kiss dolls commercial jingle

  • Ted Nugent

    Free for All

  • Ted Nugent

    Cat Scratch Fever

  • Heart

    Crazy on You

  • Steve Miller Band

    Rock 'n' Me

  • Peter Frampton

    Show Me the Way

  • Blue 脰yster Cult

    Don't Fear the Reaper

  • Fleetwood Mac

    Rhiannon

  • Boston

    More than a Feeling

  • The Eagles

    Take it Easy

  • Eagles

    Hotel California

  • J.J. Cale

    Cocaine

  • Tom Petty

    Listen to her Heart

  • Ramones

    Do you Want to Dance?

  • The Knack

    My Sharona

  • Bee Gees

    Stayin' Alive

  • KISS

    I was Made for Loving You

  • The Eagles

    I can't tell you why

  • Boston

    Don't Look Back

  • Meat Loaf

    Bat Out of Hell

  • Styx

    Babe

  • Bon Jovi

    Livin' on a Prayer

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Shaun Parkes
Producer Steve Freer
Director Steve Freer
Executive Producer Paul Bullock

Broadcasts

Born to be Wild 成人论坛 Music Playlist

Hear music from the series, with Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, The Doors & more.