recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Death Cab for Cutie

**Death Cab for Cutie** is an American alternative rock band, formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band is composed of Ben Gibbard (vocals, guitar, piano), Nick Harmer (bass), Dave Depper (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Zac Rae (keyboards, guitar), and Jason McGerr (drums).

The band was originally a solo project by Gibbard, who expanded the project into a complete group upon getting a record deal. They released their debut album, *Something About Airplanes*, in 1998. The band's fourth album, 2003's *Transatlanticism*, broke into the mainstream both critically and commercially; its songs were featured in various TV series and films. The band's major label debut for Atlantic Records, 2005's *Plans*, went platinum. Their ninth and latest studio album, *Thank You for Today*, was released in August 2018.

Death Cab for Cutie's music has been classified as indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock. It is noted for its unconventional instrumentation and for Gibbard's distinctive voice and lyrical style. Alongside their full-length studio albums, the band has released four EPs, two live EPs, one live album, and one demo album.

The group's name comes from the song "Death Cab for Cutie," written by Neil Innes and Vivian Stanshall and performed by their group the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. It originally featured on the British television show *Do Not Adjust Your Set* (series 1 episode 7), as well as in The Beatles' movie *Magical Mystery Tour*.
Kool & the Gang

**Kool & the Gang** is an American band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "D.T." Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, soul, funk, rock, and pop music. After settling on their name following several changes, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album, *Kool and the Gang* (1970).

The band's first taste of success came with the release of their fourth album *Wild and Peaceful* (1973), which contained the US top-ten singles "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". Kool & the Gang subsequently entered a period of decline before they reached a second commercial peak between 1979 and 1986 following their partnership with Brazilian musician/producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of singer James "J.T." Taylor to the line-up. Their most successful albums of this period include *Ladies' Night* (1979), *Celebrate!* (1980), and *Emergency* (1984), their highest selling album with two million copies sold in the US. Their hit singles during this period included "Ladies' Night", the US number one "Celebration", "Get Down on It", "Joanna", "Misled", and "Cherish". The band continues to perform worldwide, including as support for Van Halen in 2012 and their fiftieth-anniversary tour in 2014.

Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman's Award for artistic achievement. As well the band has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and been bestowed with a Mobo Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Soul Train Legend Award, the Marian Anderson Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During 2018, the Bells, Brown, and Taylor were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Their discography includes 23 studio albums and almost 70 singles. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the US. Worldwide, they have sold 70 million albums.
Guided by Voices

**Guided by Voices** (**GBV**) is an American indie rock band formed in 1983 in Dayton, Ohio. It has made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard. The most well-known lineup of the band consisted of Pollard (lead vocals), his brother Jim (guitar, bass), Mitch Mitchell (lead guitars), Tobin Sprout (vocals, rhythm guitars), Kevin Fennell (drums), and bassist Greg Demos. Noted at first for their lo-fi aesthetic and typically Portastudio four-tracks-to-cassette production methods, Guided by Voices' music was influenced by early post–British Invasion garage rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, punk rock and post-punk. Due to their prolific output, releasing 30 full-length albums along with many other releases, they have garnered a dedicated cult following with songs that are in the two-minute range, with many which are even shorter. Their songs are also known for ending abruptly or intertwining with odd and homemade sound effects.

Guided by Voices initially disbanded in 2004. In 2010 the "classic" lineup reunited to perform at Matador Records 21st anniversary party, subsequently touring and releasing six new albums. GBV broke up a second time in 2014, but Pollard again rebooted the band with a new album and a new lineup in 2016.
Roy Orbison

**Roy Kelton Orbison** (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as operatic, earning him the nicknames "the Caruso of Rock" and "the Big O". Many of Orbison's songs conveyed vulnerability at a time when most male rock-and-roll performers chose to project defiant masculinity. He was known for his shyness and stage fright, which he countered by wearing dark sunglasses.

Orbison began singing in a rockabilly and country-and-western band at high school. He was signed by Sam Phillips of Sun Records in 1956, but enjoyed his greatest success with Monument Records. From 1960 to 1966, 22 of Orbison's singles reached the *Billboard* Top 40. He wrote or co-wrote almost all of his own Top 10 hits, including "Only the Lonely" (1960), "Running Scared" (1961), "Crying" (1961), "In Dreams" (1963), and "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964). Beginning in the mid-1960s, Orbison suffered a number of personal tragedies and his career faltered.

Orbison experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1980s following the success of several cover versions of his songs. In 1988, he co-founded the Traveling Wilburys (a rock supergroup) with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. Orbison died of a heart attack in December 1988 at age 52. One month later, his song "You Got It" (1989) was released as a solo single, becoming his first hit to reach the U.S. Top 10 in nearly 25 years.

Orbison's honors include inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2014. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and five other Grammy Awards. *Rolling Stone* placed him at number 37 on its list of the "Greatest Artists of All Time" and number 13 on its list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In 2002, *Billboard* magazine listed him at number 74 on its list of the Top 600 recording artists.
Foster the People

**Foster the People** is an American indie pop band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2009. It currently consists of lead vocalist Mark Foster, lead guitarist Sean Cimino, keyboardist Isom Innis, and drummer Mark Pontius.Foster founded the band in 2009 after spending several years in Los Angeles as a struggling musician and working as a commercial jingle writer. After Foster's song "Pumped Up Kicks" became a viral success in 2010, the group received a record deal from Startime International and gained a fanbase through small club shows and appearances at music festivals. After releasing their debut album *Torches* in May 2011, "Pumped Up Kicks" became a crossover hit on commercial radio in mid-2011 and eventually reached number three on the *Billboard* Hot 100. The record also featured the singles "Helena Beat" and "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)". The group received three Grammy Award nominations for *Torches* and "Pumped Up Kicks".After touring for two years in support of *Torches*, Foster the People released their second album, *Supermodel*, in March 2014. It was preceded by the lead single "Coming of Age". In July 2017, the band released their third studio album, *Sacred Hearts Club*, with the addition of Isom Innis and Sean Cimino, both former touring members, to the official lineup. From this album, their song "Sit Next to Me" peaked at number 42 on the *Billboard* Hot 100 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.

1. ↑ Template:Cite news
2. ↑ Foster the People Attracts Hipsters, Moms with 'Pumped Up Kicks' Single. *Billboard* (2011-05-19). Retrieved on August 3, 2011.
3. ↑ Foster the People. *Billboard* (2018-04-14). Retrieved on May 21, 2018.
Generals and Majors

"**Generals and Majors**" is a song written by Colin Moulding of the English rock band XTC, released as the first single from their 1980 album *Black Sea*. Moulding accordingly wrote the song as a satirical take on the phrase "oh, what a lovely war". The song charted in the UK single chart at No. 32 and No. 104 on the US singles chart, while reaching No. 28 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart. It was the first XTC single to chart in the U.S., and it also had chart success in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The track was initially released as a double 7" single with a gatefold sleeve, limited to 15,000 copies. The additional record featured Moulding's "Smokeless Zone" and Partridge's "The Somnambulist".
San Cisco

**San Cisco** is an Australian indie pop band that formed in 2009 under the original name of **King George**, in Fremantle, Western Australia. The band are a three-piece, and currently consists of Jordi Davieson (guitar, lead vocals), Josh Biondillo (guitar, vocals) and Scarlett Stevens (drums, vocals). All members, except Stevens, share duties on keyboards. In November 2011, the band was signed by Albert Productions, but moved to Island Records for the release of its debut album. In October 2012, the band described its 'vibe' as "squelchy, crispy, streamlined, hairy, indie". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013 the group were nominated for Best Independent Release and Best Dance Release for the album; and Best Video for "Fred Astaire", which was directed by Andrew Nowrojee.
Cage the Elephant

**Cage the Elephant** is an American rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky, that formed in 2006. They relocated to London, England in 2008 before their first album was released. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Matt Shultz, rhythm guitarist Brad Shultz, lead guitarist Nick Bockrath, guitarist and keyboardist Matthan Minster, bassist Daniel Tichenor, and drummer Jared Champion. Lincoln Parish served as the band's lead guitarist from their formation in 2006 until December 2013, when he left on good terms to pursue a career in producing. The band's first album, *Cage the Elephant*, was released in 2008 to much success, spawning several successful radio singles and gained the band a large following in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It was influenced by classic rock, funk, and blues music. They won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album twice, in 2017 for *Tell Me I'm Pretty* and in 2020 for *Social Cues*.The band's second album, *Thank You, Happy Birthday*, was heavily influenced by punk rock as well as bands such as Pixies and Nirvana. The band's third album, *Melophobia,* was the band's concerted effort to find its own distinct musical identity. Cage the Elephant's fourth album, *Tell Me I'm Pretty*, produced by Dan Auerbach, was released on December 18, 2015. The band released a live album, *Unpeeled*, on July 28, 2017. Their fifth studio album, *Social Cues*, was released on April 19, 2019.

1. ↑ Cage the Elephant.
2. ↑ Childers, Chad. Cage the Elephant Announce 'Social Cues' Album. Retrieved on April 19, 2019.
3. ↑ Cage The Elephant (en) (2019-11-26).
The Coasters

**The Coasters** are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group who had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller. Although the Coasters originated outside of mainstream doo-wop, their records were so frequently imitated that they became an important part of the doo-wop legacy through the 1960s.
Nirvana

**Nirvana** was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Founded by lead singer-songwriter and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, the band went through a succession of drummers before recruiting Dave Grohl in 1990. Nirvana's success popularized alternative rock, and they were often referenced as the figurehead band of Generation X. Their music maintains a popular following and continues to influence modern rock and roll culture.

In the late 1980s, Nirvana established itself as part of the Seattle grunge scene, releasing its first album, *Bleach*, for the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. They developed a sound that relied on dynamic contrasts, often between quiet verses and loud, heavy choruses. After signing to major label DGC Records in 1991, Nirvana found unexpected mainstream success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the first single from their landmark second album *Nevermind* (1991). A cultural phenomenon of the 1990s, the album went on to be certified Diamond by the RIAA.

Characterized by their punk aesthetic, Nirvana's fusion of pop melodies with noise, combined with their themes of abjection and social alienation, made them hugely popular. *Nevermind* was also credited for ending the dominance of hair metal. Following extensive tours and the 1992 compilation album *Incesticide* and EP *Hormoaning*, Nirvana released their abrasive and less mainstream sounding third studio album, *In Utero* (1993). The album topped both the US and UK album charts, and was acclaimed by critics. Nirvana disbanded following Cobain's suicide in April 1994. Various posthumous releases have been overseen by Novoselic, Grohl, and Cobain's widow Courtney Love. The posthumous live album *MTV Unplugged in New York* (1994) won Best Alternative Music Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards.

By 2009, Nirvana record sales were over 75 million worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. During their three years as a mainstream act, Nirvana received an American Music Award, Brit Award and Grammy Award, as well as seven MTV Video Music Awards and two NME Awards. They achieved five number-one hits on the *Billboard* Alternative Songs chart and four number-one albums on the *Billboard* 200. In 2004, *Rolling Stone* named Nirvana among the 100 greatest artists of all time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility in 2014.
The Who

**The Who** are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century and have sold over 100 million records worldwide.

The Who developed from an earlier group, the Detours, and established themselves as part of the pop art and mod movements, featuring auto-destructive art by destroying guitars and drums on stage. Their first single as the Who, "I Can't Explain", reached the UK top ten, and was followed by a string of singles including "My Generation", "Substitute" and "Happy Jack". In 1967, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and released the US top ten single "I Can See for Miles", while touring extensively. The group's fourth album, 1969's rock opera *Tommy*, included the single "Pinball Wizard" and was a critical and commercial success. Live appearances at Woodstock in August 1969, and the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970, along with the live album *Live at Leeds* in 1970, cemented their reputation as a respected rock act. With their success came increased pressure on lead songwriter Townshend, and the follow-up to *Tommy*, *Lifehouse*, was abandoned. Songs from the project made up 1971's *Who's Next*, which included the hit "Won't Get Fooled Again". The group released the album *Quadrophenia* in 1973 as a celebration of their mod roots, and oversaw the film adaptation of *Tommy* in 1975. They continued to tour to large audiences before semi-retiring from live performances at the end of 1976. The release of *Who Are You* in 1978 was overshadowed by the death of Moon shortly after.

Kenney Jones replaced Moon and the group resumed activity, releasing a film adaptation of *Quadrophenia* and the retrospective documentary *The Kids Are Alright*. After Townshend became weary of touring, the group split in 1983. The Who occasionally re-formed for live appearances such as Live Aid in 1985, a 25th anniversary tour in 1989 and a tour of *Quadrophenia* in 1996–1997. They resumed regular touring in 1999, with drummer Zak Starkey. After Entwistle's death in 2002, plans for a new album were delayed. Townshend and Daltrey continued as the Who, releasing *Endless Wire* in 2006, and continue to play live regularly, with Starkey, bassists Pino Palladino (2006–2017) and Jon Button (2017–present), and guitarist Simon Townshend (Pete's brother) serving as touring players. In 2019, they toured with a complete symphony orchestra, which also supported the release of *Who*, their twelfth album.

The Who's major contributions to rock music include the development of the Marshall stack, large PA systems, use of the synthesizer, Entwistle and Moon's lead playing styles, Townshend's feedback and power chord guitar technique, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by hard rock, punk rock and mod bands, and their songs still receive regular exposure.
Simple Minds

**Simple Minds** are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. Simple Minds have released a string of hit singles, becoming best known internationally for their 1985 hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)", from the soundtrack of the film *The Breakfast Club*. Their other hit singles include "Alive and Kicking" and "Belfast Child" (UK No. 1). They have achieved five UK Albums chart number one albums and have sold more than 60 million albums. They were the most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s. Despite various personnel changes, they continue to record and tour. In 2016, they received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.

The nucleus of Simple Minds consists of the two remaining original members, Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (electric & acoustic guitars, occasional keyboards after 1990, saxophone and violin). The other current band members are Ged Grimes (bass guitar), Cherisse Osei (drums), Sarah Brown (backing vocals), Gordy Goudie (additional guitar & keyboards). Notable former members include Mick MacNeil (keyboards), Derek Forbes (bass), Brian McGee & Mel Gaynor (drums).
Fatboy Slim

**Norman Quentin Cook** (born **Quentin Leo Cook**; 31 July 1963), also known by his stage name **Fatboy Slim**, is an English musician, DJ, and record producer who helped to popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. In the 1980s, Cook was the bassist for the Hull-based indie rock band The Housemartins, who achieved a UK number-one single with their a cappella cover of "Caravan of Love". After the Housemartins split, Cook formed the electronic band Beats International in Brighton, who produced the number-one single "Dub Be Good to Me". He then played in Freak Power, Pizzaman, and the Mighty Dub Katz with moderate success.

In 1996, Cook adopted the name Fatboy Slim and released *Better Living Through Chemistry* to critical acclaim. Follow-up albums *You've Come a Long Way, Baby,* *Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars,* and *Palookaville*, as well as singles such as "The Rockafeller Skank", "Praise You", "Right Here, Right Now", "Weapon of Choice", and "Wonderful Night", achieved commercial and critical success. In 2008, Cook formed the Brighton Port Authority with David Byrne. He has been responsible for successful remixes for Cornershop, the Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Groove Armada, and Wildchild. In 2010, in partnership with Byrne, he released the concept album *Here Lies Love*. Cook holds the Guinness World Record for most top-40 hits under different names. As a solo act, he has won ten MTV Video Music Awards and two Brit Awards.
The Cure

**The Cure** are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1978. The band members have changed several times, with guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member. The band's debut album was *Three Imaginary Boys* (1979) and this, along with several early singles, placed the band in the post-punk and new wave movements that had sprung up in the United Kingdom. Beginning with their second album, *Seventeen Seconds* (1980), the band adopted a new, increasingly dark and tormented style, which, together with Smith's stage look, had a strong influence on the emerging genre of gothic rock as well as the subculture that eventually formed around the genre.

Following the release of their fourth album *Pornography* in 1982, the band's future was uncertain. Smith was keen to move past the gloomy reputation his band had acquired, introducing a greater pop sensibility into the band's music. Songs such as "Let's Go to Bed" (1982), "Close To Me" (1985), "Just Like Heaven" (1987), "Lovesong" (1989), and "Friday I'm in Love" (1992) aided the band in receiving commercial popularity. The band have released 13 studio albums, two EPs and over 30 singles to date.

The Cure were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

1. ↑ McPherson, Sam (17 April 2018). The Cure working on new music as part of 40th anniversary. *axs.com*.
2. ↑ The Cure: A Perfect Dream - A Bio of Robert Smith's Goth Band (23 August 2018).
3. ↑ Collins, Andrew (8 July 2019). The Cure: Anniversary 1978-2018 Live in Hyde Park London – review.
4. ↑ Class of 2019 inductees (en). Retrieved on December 13, 2018.
5. ↑ The Cure’s Robert Smith on Rock Hall Induction and ‘F-cking Great’ New Album. *Rolling Stone* (30 March 2019).
Three Dog Night

**Three Dog Night** is an American rock band formed in 1967, with founding members consisting of vocalists Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, and Chuck Negron. This lineup was soon augmented by Jimmy Greenspoon (keyboards), Joe Schermie (bass), Michael Allsup (guitar), and Floyd Sneed (drums). The band had 21 *Billboard* Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975, with three hitting number one. Three Dog Night recorded many songs written by outside songwriters, and they helped to introduce mainstream audiences to writers such as Paul Williams ("An Old Fashioned Love Song") and Hoyt Axton ("Joy to the World").
Madness

**Madness** are an English ska band from Camden Town, North London, who formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s two-tone ska revival, they continue to perform with six of the seven members of their original line-up.The most successful period for the band was from 1980 to 1986, when Madness spent 214 weeks on the UK singles charts. UB40 shared the same number of weeks, the largest for any British group in the decade, but over a longer period.Madness have had 15 singles reach the UK top ten, which include "One Step Beyond", "Baggy Trousers" and "It Must Be Love", one UK number one single "House of Fun" and two number ones in Ireland, "House of Fun" and "Wings of a Dove". "Our House" was their biggest US hit. In 2000 the band received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Song Collection.

1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas.[[[:Template:Allmusic]] Madness biography]. Retrieved on 19 June 2007.
2. ↑ Rice 1990. p. 286
3. ↑ For Madness, the figure of 214 weeks does not include the four weeks on the charts by spin-off band "The Madness". For UB40, the 214 weeks does not include the 8 weeks spent on the charts by "Reckless", credited to "Afrikaa Bambaataa and Family with UB40".
4. ↑ IMDb profile for Graham McPherson. Retrieved on 10 June 2007.
5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `novellobbc`
Paul Westerberg

**Paul Harold Westerberg** (born December 31, 1959) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter in The Replacements. Following the break up of the Replacements, Westerberg launched a solo career which saw him release three albums on major record labels. Since then he has been mostly releasing music that he has self-produced and recorded in the home studio in his basement. He has also released two albums and an EP under the pseudonym, Grandpaboy. Most recently, in 2017, Westerberg released eight songs on SoundCloud as User 964848511.
De La Soul

**De La Soul** is an American hip hop trio formed in 1988 in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres. The members are Posdnuos, Trugoy and Maseo. The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'". With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the band's debut album, *3 Feet High and Rising*, has been called "a hip hop masterpiece."

The album was the band's biggest commercial success to date, with subsequent ones selling progressively less, despite receiving high praise from critics. They were influential in the early stages of rapper/actor Mos Def's career, and are a core part of the Spitkicker collective. They are the second longest standing Native Tongues group, after the Jungle Brothers. In 2006, the group won a Grammy for their collaboration with Gorillaz on the single "Feel Good Inc."

In early 2015, they announced plans to release a Kickstarter funded upcoming 9th studio album *And the Anonymous Nobody* in September 2015; it was released on August 26, 2016. The album tracks are said to be the result of multiple improvised jam sessions. The album also features guest appearances from artists such as Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, David Byrne, 2 Chainz and Snoop Dogg.
Beastie Boys

**Beastie Boys** were an American hip hop and rap rock group from New York City, formed in 1978. The group was composed of Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass) and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar, programming).

Beastie Boys were formed out of members of experimental hardcore punk band the Young Aborigines in 1978, with Diamond as vocalist, Jeremy Shatan on bass guitar, guitarist John Berry and Kate Schellenbach on drums. When Shatan left in 1981, Yauch replaced him on bass and the band changed their name to Beastie Boys. Berry left shortly thereafter and was replaced by Horovitz.

After achieving local success with the 1983 comedy hip hop single "Cooky Puss", Beastie Boys made a full transition to hip hop, and Schellenbach left. They toured with Madonna in 1985 and a year later released their debut album, *Licensed to Ill*, the first rap record to top the *Billboard* 200 chart. Their second album, *Paul's Boutique* (1989), was a commercial failure, but later received critical acclaim. *Check Your Head* (1992) and *Ill Communication* (1994) found mainstream success, followed by *Hello Nasty* (1998), *To the 5 Boroughs* (2004), *The Mix-Up* (2007), and *Hot Sauce Committee Part Two* (2011).

Beastie Boys have sold 20 million records in the United States, making them the biggest-selling rap group since *Billboard* began recording sales in 1991. With seven platinum-selling albums from 1986 to 2004, Beastie Boys were one of the longest-lived hip hop acts worldwide. In 2012, they became the third rap group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the same year, Yauch died of cancer and Beastie Boys disbanded.
U.S. Girls

**U.S. Girls** is a Toronto-based experimental pop project formed in 2007, consisting solely of American musician and record producer **Meghan Remy**. She had released music on a variety of independent record labels before signing to 4AD in 2015.

*Half Free*, her first record for 4AD, was released the same year. It garnered a Juno Award nomination for Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2016, and was a shortlisted finalist for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize.

Remy collaborates with a number of Toronto-based musicians on both songwriting and music production.
Khruangbin

**Khruangbin** (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; Template:IPA-th, เครื่องบิน) is an American musical trio from Houston, Texas, with Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald Ray "DJ" Johnson Jr. on drums. The band is known for blending global music influences, such as classic soul, dub and psychedelia. Their debut studio album, *The Universe Smiles Upon You* (2015), draws from the history of Thai music in the 1960s, specifically from Luk thung, while their second album, *Con Todo El Mundo* (2018), has influences from Spain and the Middle East. Speer, Lee, and DJ also host "AirKhruang" radio shows on NTS Radio and Facebook Live.

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Template:Cite news
2. ↑ Brownswood Basement: Gilles Peterson with Khruangbin and Lefto – Pre-Worldwide Awards Special – Worldwide FM.
3. ↑ Khruangbin Wants to Take You on a Musical Trip With AirKhruang.
Rock music

**Rock music** is a broad genre of popular music that originated as "rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, a style which drew heavily from the genres of blues, rhythm and blues, and from country music. Rock music also drew strongly from a number of other genres such as electric blues and folk, and incorporated influences from jazz, classical, and other musical styles. For instrumentation, rock has centered on the electric guitar, usually as part of a rock group with electric bass, drums, and one or more singers. Usually, rock is song-based music with a 4/4 time signature using a verse–chorus form, but the genre has become extremely diverse. Like pop music, lyrics often stress romantic love but also address a wide variety of other themes that are frequently social or political.

By the late 1960s "classic rock" period, a number of distinct rock music subgenres had emerged, including hybrids like blues rock, folk rock, country rock, southern rock, raga rock, and jazz rock, many of which contributed to the development of psychedelic rock, which was influenced by the countercultural psychedelic and hippie scene. New genres that emerged included progressive rock, which extended the artistic elements, glam rock, which highlighted showmanship and visual style, and the diverse and enduring subgenre of heavy metal, which emphasized volume, power, and speed. In the second half of the 1970s, punk rock reacted by producing stripped-down, energetic social and political critiques. Punk was an influence in the 1980s on new wave, post-punk and eventually alternative rock. From the 1990s alternative rock began to dominate rock music and break into the mainstream in the form of grunge, Britpop, and indie rock. Further fusion subgenres have since emerged, including pop punk, electronic rock, rap rock, and rap metal, as well as conscious attempts to revisit rock's history, including the garage rock/post-punk and techno-pop revivals in the early 2000s. The late 2000s and 2010s saw a slow decline in rock music's mainstream popularity and cultural relevancy, with hip hop surpassing it as the most popular genre in the United States.

Rock music has also embodied and served as the vehicle for cultural and social movements, leading to major subcultures including mods and rockers in the UK and the hippie counterculture that spread out from San Francisco in the US in the 1960s. Similarly, 1970s punk culture spawned the goth, punk, and emo subcultures. Inheriting the folk tradition of the protest song, rock music has been associated with political activism as well as changes in social attitudes to race, sex, and drug use, and is often seen as an expression of youth revolt against adult consumerism and conformity.
Taylor Swift

**Taylor Alison Swift** (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her narrative songwriting, which often centers around her personal life, has received widespread critical plaudits and media coverage. Born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Swift relocated to Nashville, Tennessee in 2004 to pursue a career in country music. Her 2006 eponymous debut studio album was the longest-charting album of the 2000s on the *Billboard* 200. Its third single, "Our Song", made her the youngest person to single-handedly write and perform a number-one song on the *Billboard* Hot Country Songs chart. Swift's second studio album, *Fearless* (2008), expands on country pop styles and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Buoyed by the success of crossover singles "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me", *Fearless* was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). *Speak Now* (2010), her third studio album, blends country pop with rock sensibility and spawned the top-10 singles "Mine" and "Back to December".

Swift's fourth studio album, *Red* (2012), experiments with various pop, rock, and electronic genres. It included the top-five singles "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", her first *Billboard* Hot 100 number-one hit, and "I Knew You Were Trouble". With her fifth studio album, *1989* (2014), she announced her full transition to pop. The synth-pop record made Swift the first female solo artist to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year twice and amassed three *Billboard* Hot 100 number-one hits—"Shake It Off", "Blank Space", and "Bad Blood". She extended the electronic-pop sound on her next two studio albums: *Reputation* (2017), which incorporates elements of hip hop and featured the *Billboard* Hot 100 number-one single "Look What You Made Me Do", and *Lover* (2019), which was the world's best-selling studio album of 2019. Swift's indie folk and alternative rock eighth studio album, *Folklore* (2020), and its lead single, "Cardigan", made her the first act to debut atop both the *Billboard* 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously.

With sales of over 200 million records worldwide, Swift is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her accolades include ten Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and seven Guinness World Records; she is the most-awarded act and woman at the American Music Awards (29 wins) and *Billboard* Music Awards (23 wins), respectively. She has been included in multiple power rankings, such as *Time*'s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world (2010, 2015 and 2019), *Rolling Stone*'s 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time (2015), the *Forbes* Celebrity 100 (placing first in 2016 and 2019), and *Billboard*'s Greatest of All Time Artists Chart (placing eighth). She was named Woman of the Decade (2010s) by *Billboard* and the Artist of the Decade (2010s) by the American Music Awards, and two of her albums have been listed in *Rolling Stone*'s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020).
The Smiths

**The Smiths** were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. Consisting of vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce, critics consider the band one of the most important to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s. Internal tensions led to their break up in 1987 and subsequent offers to reunite have been refused. In 2012, all four Smiths' studio albums (and a compilation) appeared on *Rolling Stone*Template:'s list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", while "William, It Was Really Nothing" and "How Soon Is Now?" were included in the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.

Based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr, the Smiths' focus on a guitar, bass, and drum sound, and fusion of 1960s rock and post-punk, were a rejection of the synthesiser-based dance-pop of the time. Marr's Rickenbacker guitar work was reminiscent of the jangle pop sound of Roger McGuinn from the Byrds. Morrissey's complex, literate lyrics combined themes of ordinary lives with mordant humour.

The Smiths were signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records. Several Smiths singles reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and all of their studio albums reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including the number-one album *Meat Is Murder* (1985). They achieved mainstream success in Europe with *The Queen Is Dead* (1986) and *Strangeways, Here We Come* (1987), both of which entered the top twenty of the European Albums Chart. Their live album *Rank* (1988) reached the top 10 in Europe.

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2. ↑ Rosen, Steven. Johnny Marr on Fender Signature Guitar: 'It Was Such A Privilege'. *UltimateGuitar.com (interview)*. Retrieved on May 5, 2014.
3. ↑ Template:Cite magazineTemplate:Cite magazine
4. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
Chuck Berry

**Charles Edward Anderson Berry** (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. Nicknamed the "Father of Rock and Roll", Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive with songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958). Writing lyrics that focused on teen life and consumerism, and developing a music style that included guitar solos and showmanship, Berry was a major influence on subsequent rock music.

Born into a middle-class African-American family in St. Louis, Berry had an interest in music from an early age and gave his first public performance at Sumner High School. While still a high school student he was convicted of armed robbery and was sent to a reformatory, where he was held from 1944 to 1947. After his release, Berry settled into married life and worked at an automobile assembly plant. By early 1953, influenced by the guitar riffs and showmanship techniques of the blues musician T-Bone Walker, Berry began performing with the Johnnie Johnson Trio. His break came when he traveled to Chicago in May 1955 and met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess, of Chess Records. With Chess, he recorded "Maybellene"—Berry's adaptation of the country song "Ida Red"—which sold over a million copies, reaching number one on *Billboard* magazine's rhythm and blues chart.

By the end of the 1950s, Berry was an established star, with several hit records and film appearances and a lucrative touring career. He had also established his own St. Louis nightclub, Berry's Club Bandstand. He was sentenced to three years in prison in January 1962 for offenses under the Mann Act—he had transported a 14-year-old girl across state lines. After his release in 1963, Berry had several more hits, including "No Particular Place to Go", "You Never Can Tell", and "Nadine". But these did not achieve the same success, or lasting impact, of his 1950s songs, and by the 1970s he was more in demand as a nostalgic performer, playing his past hits with local backup bands of variable quality. In 1972 he reached a new level of achievement when a rendition of "My Ding-a-Ling" became his only record to top the charts. His insistence on being paid in cash led in 1979 to a four-month jail sentence and community service, for tax evasion.

Berry was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986; he was cited for having "laid the groundwork for not only a rock and roll sound but a rock and roll stance." Berry is included in several of *Rolling Stone* magazine's "greatest of all time" lists; he was ranked fifth on its 2004 and 2011 lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll includes three of Berry's: "Johnny B. Goode", "Maybellene", and "Rock and Roll Music". Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" is the only rock-and-roll song included on the Voyager Golden Record.
The Monkees

**The Monkees** are an American rock and pop band originally active between 1966 and 1971, with reunion albums and tours in the decades that followed. Their original line-up consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork with English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conceived in 1965 by television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for the situation comedy series *The Monkees*, which aired from 1966 to 1968. The band's music was initially supervised by record producer Don Kirshner, backed by the songwriting duo of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.

The four actor/musicians were initially allowed only limited roles in the recording studio for the first few months of their five-year career as "the Monkees". This was due in part to the amount of time required to film the television series. Nonetheless, Nesmith composed and produced some songs from the beginning, and Tork contributed limited guitar work on the sessions produced by Nesmith. All four contributed lead vocals to various tracks. They eventually fought for the right to collectively supervise all musical output under the band's name, acting as actors, musicians, singers, songwriters, and producers.

Following the television show's cancellation in 1968, the Monkees continued to record music until 1971, after which the group broke up. A revival of interest in the television show came in 1986, which led to a series of reunion tours and new records. The group has reunited and toured several times since then with different line-ups (but always containing Micky Dolenz and at least one of the other original members) and with varying degrees of success. Jones died in February 2012 and Tork died in February 2019. Dolenz and Nesmith remain active members of the group.

1. ↑ Template:Cite book
Weezer

**Weezer** is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1992. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums), Brian Bell (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals).

After signing to Geffen Records in 1993, Weezer released its self-titled debut album, also known as the Blue Album, in 1994. Backed by music videos for the singles "Buddy Holly", "Undone – The Sweater Song", and "Say It Ain't So", the Blue Album became a multiplatinum success. Weezer's second album, *Pinkerton* (1996), featuring a darker, more abrasive sound, was a commercial failure and initially received mixed reviews, but achieved cult status and critical acclaim years later. Both the Blue Album and *Pinkerton* are now frequently cited among the best albums of the 1990s. Following the tour for *Pinkerton*, bassist Matt Sharp left the band and Weezer went on hiatus.

In 2001, Weezer returned with the Green Album, with new bassist Mikey Welsh. With a more pop sound, and promoted by singles "Hash Pipe" and "Island in the Sun", the album was a commercial success and received mostly positive reviews. After the Green Album tour, Welsh left the band and was replaced by Shriner. Weezer's fourth album, *Maladroit* (2002), achieved mostly positive reviews, but weaker sales. *Make Believe* (2005) received mixed reviews, but its single "Beverly Hills" became Weezer's first single to top the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and the first to reach the top ten on the *Billboard* Hot 100.

In 2008, Weezer released the Red Album, featuring "TR-808s, synths, Southern rap, and baroque counterpoint". Its lead single, "Pork and Beans", became the third Weezer song to top the Modern Rock Tracks chart, backed by a Grammy-winning YouTube music video. *Raditude* (2009) and *Hurley* (2010) featured more "modern pop production" and songs co-written with other artists, achieved further mixed reviews and moderate sales. The band's ninth and tenth albums, *Everything Will Be Alright in the End* (2014) and the White Album (2016), returned to a rock style and achieved more positive reviews. Their eleventh album, *Pacific Daydream* (2017), featured a more mainstream pop sound. In 2019, Weezer released an album of covers, the Teal Album, followed by the Black Album. Weezer has sold 10.2 million albums in the US and over 35 million worldwide.
The Hollies

**The Hollies** are a British rock group best known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. The Hollies became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid 1970s. The band was formed by Allan Clarke and Graham Nash in 1962 as a Merseybeat-type music group in Manchester, although some of the band members came from towns further north in East Lancashire. Graham Nash left the group in 1968 to form Crosby, Stills & Nash.

They enjoyed considerable popularity in many countries (with at least 60 singles or EPs and 26 albums charting somewhere in the world, spanning over five decades), although they did not achieve major US chart success until "Bus Stop" was released in 1966. The Hollies had over 30 charting singles on the UK Singles Chart and 22 on the *Billboard* Hot 100.

The Hollies are one of the few UK groups of the early 1960s, along with the Rolling Stones, that have never disbanded and continue to record and perform. In recognition of their achievements, the Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. The band's lineup in the Hall of Fame includes only the seven band members from 1964 through 1971. The most famous member during this time was Graham Nash, who went on to form Crosby, Stills, and Nash in the US.
Billy Idol

**William Michael Albert Broad** (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as **Billy Idol**, is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor who holds dual British and American citizenship. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as a member of Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the United States. The name "Billy Idol" was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of him as "idle".