Pop rock originated in the 1950s with artists like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry blending rock music with pop appeal. In the 1960s, the Beatles and other bands popularized pop rock even further by appealing to pop culture and youth. Over subsequent decades, pop rock evolved and diversified into many subgenres as it incorporated influences from genres like punk rock, glam rock, and grunge. By the 2000s, bands like Blink-182 helped establish the male-fronted pop-punk sound that remains influential in pop rock today.

1. By Josh Graham, Chloe Hill and Oli Harbord

2. The origins of the pop
rock genre come from
the early 1950’s where
the guitar and bass
guitar accompanied
such singers as Elvis
Presley and chuck
berry. This music was
popular and catchy to
the public yet had the
original hints of rock
which has changed ever
so much over the years.

3. As time moved on into the
1960’s rock and roll became pop
rock and split into sub
categories. Such bands like the
beatles provided mellow rock
sounds which capitalised on the
pop culture and also the A list
celebrity culture soon became the
major thing. Through the beatles
the stardom grew. Something
that any teenager of that era was
the main focus of their life.
Artists such as jimi hendrix also
came onto the scene and mixed
up the sounds we were hearing.

4. 1960’s is when music really
took off. This new wave of
music gave people
inspiration and lead to
different genres all deriving
from the 1950’s rockabilly
genre that the people grew
up with. The rolling stones,
the who and Jimi Hendrix
lead on to the heavier rock
genres. 1960’s also saw
hippies and punks starting to
develop which both enjoyed
bands of the pop rock genre.
This was experienced at
Woodstock in 1969

5. As time moved on so did the
pop rock genre although now
it had became that umbrella
term over many bands and sub
genres. Mainstream rock went
into soft and hard rock. Soft
rock involving Fleetwood mac
and rod Stewart and hard rock
being led zeppelin and the
punk scene which had by now
developed into a massive
scene with the Ramones, the
clash and the sex pistols
leading the way. Yet this era
lasted no more than 5 years
before punk died with the sex
pistols.

6. Obviously punk rock is
not our genre. Soft rock
was the kind of
background which
continued on into pop
rock music. Fleetwood
mac and queen were soft
rock bands which were
key in the soft rock
genre. These bands were
stylish and began
involving the weird and
extrodinary rock star look
that comes with being a
star in this music scene.

7. The 1980’s saw disco
dominate the major music
scene with the pop rock taking
a back seat. Rock began to
distance itself apart more and
more with glam rock, metal
and alternative being different
scenes people followed. pop
rock was more alternative at
this point. Bands like R.E.M
were the main trend setters.
This music was hyper rational
and futuristic byt still had
hints of punk which drew
crowds in. 1980’s was a lull in
pop rock. It had been swolled
up and spat out.

8. The 1990’s saw the huge
serge of pop rock culture
with garage bands making
music easily and the
biggest artists also going
into the punk and rock
resurgence that came back
in this era. Micheal jackson
started exploring into the
rock genre with billie jean.
Many major bands were
reknowned for theur rock
culture and style which
became so popular for the
people of the time.

9. The bands from America which
made the new scene of pop
rock as we know it today with
bands being male fronted with
the iconistic style and
somewhat childish nature of
partying. Blink 182, foo
fighters, red hot chilli peppers
and green day being on the
horizon in this era. This style
echoed across the us and uk.
The style was a mix of punk
rhythms with a mix of catchy
pop culture which seemed to
speak to the masses. Even
groups could mix grunge with
pop to make post grunge under
the pop rock banner In the
form of nirvana.

10. Pop rocks resurgence
continued into the early
2000’s with new upcoming
bands who were really just
teens playing for the fun of it
yet getting a lot of public
attention. Yet, rock as a
whole took a serious blow
and was almost swipped
from the top 40’s. The bands
worldwide knowledge was
selling but not selling in
masses. Bands image became
one of rebellion and linked to
skating. Blink 182 lead this
style of pop rock into the
new century.

11. Pop rock became divided
into many sub genres such
as garage rock, new wave
and post punk which all
carried similar themes.
Many of todays rocks big
names are still going strong
including fall out boy, the
darkness and the white
stripes. Their iconistic
manor yet bad boy attitude
became a desired trait of
many young influencial
teens. Also saw first
appearances from The
killers and oasis in the early
2000’s

12. In 2010 the rock world
seems to be consistantly
stable with all genres
and sub genres having
major well known artists.
Indie rock and
alternative rock have had
a huge surge with the
hipster culture which
began in the early years
of the era. With such
success the bands for
the previous era have
been wondering too and
from of the genres.

13. Many successful bands
continue to thrive well in the
charts and the latest surge of
hard rock with a punk
attitude is now appearing.
Pop rock is still there yet the
artists within the genre are
now experimenting and
following suit of the new
successful bands of royal
blood and the surge of heavy
rock with bring me the
horizon and of mice and men.
The pop rock genre will
return again soon without
question. Yet is still present
but merely in a different form
and under a new name of
‘progressive rock’.