The Era of Excess

1. The Era of Excess Chpt. 14 History of Rock and Roll

2. “It’s a Very selfish decade” • During the mid-and late 1970’s, many former 1960s’ radicals turned inward for fulfillment. • Mind set turned to: “you can’t make a revolution if you have to make a living.”

3. The “Me” Decade • End of the Vietnam War • Ended early 1970 • Signed Paris Peace Accord: Formal peace treaty with North Vietnam • 56,555 dead American soldiers • Ended the military draft • Transformed 1960s radicals into 1970s yuppies

4. Richard Nixon • Reelected to presidency • 49 out of 50 states • The reelection + the end of the Vietnam war deflated the rage of college radicals. • “People just found themselves living lives – settling in, getting a job because you had to buy food and pay the rent”

5. The baby-boom generation • End of the Vietnam War meant a better economy. • Baby boomers were indulging in new 1970s consumer products: • Automatic garage door openers, hot tubs, food processors, air-conditioned cars, Snowmobiles, Ten-speed bicycles

6. Indulgence

7. Drug Indulgence • “Drugs are now just another thing people can buy to make themselves feel one way or another” • By 1975 smoking marijuana had been decriminalized in some states • Baby boomers began to indulge in more expensive drugs like cocaine. • Pot had become commonplace…some people were looking for new thrills.

8. Personal Indulgence • Baby boomers sought excitement through open relationships • Married boomers discussed open marriage • Wife swapping • Free sex clubs Believed personal relationships would be enhanced, rather than shattered, by the elimination of sexual possessiveness.

9. Homosexuality • Homosexuals became more open and vocal about their sexual orientation • Experimented with many sexual partners • In June of 1969, homosexuality was still illegal in every state except Illinois. • Gays resisted police arrest and rioted • Banded together in the Gay Liberation Front • Published newspapers such as Come Out! • Called for gay power

10. Gay Activists • Gay Activist Alliance 1969

11. Elton John • Reginald Dwight • Mirrored the extravagance of the era • One of the most commercially successful acousitc solo acts • Pianist: raised in England

12. Indulgent Elton • Developed a wild stage act that included handstands on the piano and kicking over the piano bench • Extravagant Costumes • Sequined, gaudy jumpsuits, platforms & pink boas • Owned 200 pairs of glasses including: • mink-lined glasses • diamond-inlaid spectacles • a pair with 57 tiny lightbulbs that spelled ELTON.

13. Elton John

14. David Bowie • David Jones • Changed his name in 1966 to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees • Took mime and dance lessons • During the time of the first moon landing he released “Space Oddity” • Later changed his image, appearing in a dress publicly

15. Bisexual Bowie • Created the bisexual, space-age, glittery persona of Ziggy Stardust • Materialized from a cloud of dry ice wearing a tight-fitting, glimmering jumpsuit, high topped, sequined hunting boots and orange-tinted hair. • “The only thing that shocks now is an extreme” • The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars sold one million copies.

16. From Bowie to Ziggy

17. The New York Dolls • Adopted the Bowie-defined image of heavy-metal • Thrashing, driving, pro-punk anthems • “Personality Crisis” • Delivered a wild, extreme heavy-metal act • Wore cellophane tutus with army boots • Blew up more equipment than anybody

18. New York Dolls

19. KISS • Tried to outdo the New York Dolls • Cross-town rivals • Started by former schoolteacher, Gene Simmons • Put on bizarre makeup to grab attention • skin-hugging, bejeweled, spandex pants, platform shoes, and black, glittering leather shirts

20. The KISS Experience • Assaulted their audiences with rockets, police lights, snow machines, smoke bombs and levitating drum kits. • Released “Dressed to Kill and Alive!” which sold 1 million copies.

21. Alice Cooper • Matched Kiss with overtly sexual, heavy-metal, apolitical rock theatrics. • Born Vince Furnier • Formed his first band in high school • Performed wearing Janis Joplin’s gold lame’ pants, high-heeled boots, and mascara

22. School’s Out

23. Queen • Rivaled Alice Cooper in extravagance • Formed in 1971 by guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor • Featured vocalist Freddie Mercury (b. FarokBulsara) who named the group • Sometimes Mercury favored dresses, tights, and black nail polish (Liza Minnelli) • Other shows he wore leather storm-trooper outfits that emphasized the gay connotation of the band’s name

24. Queen Hits • Bohemian Rhapsody • We Are the Champions • We Will Rock You

25. Bowie and Mercury • Collaborated on “Under Pressure” • “Freddie took it further than the rest…He took it over the edge. And of course, I always admired a man who wears tights”. • Not to be confused with Ice Ice Baby…

26. Funk from Outer Space • George Clinton – covered funk with heavy-metal glitter • Sly Stone – combined funk with rock-and-roll

27. Disco…. • A simplified version of funk • Began in new York at African American, Latin, and gay all-night clubs • Disc jockeys played nonstop dance music with an insistent, funky, thumping beat.