60 YEARS OF THE ROCK ERA. This update: 1979.

60 YEARS OF

ROCK

(1955-2015)

1979

 

    

 

-The trial of Sid Vicious begins.

-A concert for UNICEF is broadcast with artists donating royalties for hit songs.

-Donny Hathaway dies, His death is either a suicide or murder. 

-Sid Vicious dies of a heroin overdose.

-Rod Stewart marries Alana Hamilton.

-Chic's "Good Times" is sampled for "Rappers Delight".

-Van McCoy dies. 

-Minnie Riperton dies.

-Music videos are becoming increasingly more popular. 

-'The Rose' starring Bette Midler premieres.

-11 Who fans are trampled to death at a concert.

 

   

   

As the 1970s came to an end, genres were merging. Donna Summer mixed rock with disco on "Hot Stuff"; Kiss mixed disco with its rock for "I Was Made For Lovin' You". Gary Numan & The Tubeway Army incorporated disco and funk to its electronica on "Are 'Friends' Electric". Rock bands like The Knack exploded with the catchy "My Sharona". Dire Straits broke through. Ska rock caught on, thanks to groups such as The Specials and Madness. As the world became more aware of Bob Marley, The Police added elements of reggae to its rock music. The Sugarhill Gang unleashed the first rap hit "Rappers Delight". By year's end, Michael Jackson dropped "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough": a preview of his impact on pop music in the subsequent decade.  Fittingly, The Buggles scored a hit wit the prophetic "Video Killed The Radio Star".