VH1 Classic Presents the U.S. Premiere of 'Seven Ages Of Rock' a Landmark Seven-Part Series Exploring the Story of Rock Music Premiering on VH1 Classi

LOS ANGELES, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- "Seven Ages of Rock," a
co-production with the BBC, will make its U.S. debut on VH1 Classic Monday,
December 17. MTV veteran Mark Goodman narrates this 7-part series, which
showcases the various genres of rock music that impacted and shaped pop
culture.
From the birth of rock to metal to alternative rock -- there is a genre
for every music fan -- some that have stood the test of time and others
that have not. This exclusive series will delve into what made each of
these genres of music resonate with fans across the world.
Each of the seven episodes will take a deeper look into the individual
ages of rock by evaluating the music itself -- breaking down key tracks,
getting behind the songs and composing ideas, as well as looking into the
social influences of the time and the social context that influenced the
progression of the music. Throughout each episode viewers will hear from
some of rock music's biggest icons including Keith Richards, David Bowie,
Roger Waters, Lou Reed, Ozzy Osbourne, James Hetfield, Deborah Harry, Gene
Simmons, Roger Taylor, Stewart Copeland, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van
Zandt, Michael Stipe, Henry Rollins, Dave Grohl, Frank Black, Noel
Gallagher and many more.

Here's a breakdown of each night:
Episode 1: The Birth of Rock - Rock music emerges in the late 60's as a
fresh branch of rock 'n' roll. Becoming popular through artists like The
Who, Cream, and The Rolling Stones, rock groups exemplified this era of
protest through a tone of seriousness in their music.
Episode 2: Art/Prog Rock - As rock music made a name for itself,
upcoming rock artists began to experiment with their sound. Groups
including The Velvet Underground, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Genesis were
all a part of this innovative and varied sound.
Episode 3: Heavy Metal - A new sound that emerged from the UK, heavy
metal conveyed an intense and powerful resonance. Artists like Black
Sabbath and Led Zeppelin paved the way by establishing the heavy sound
while artists like Metallica and Motley Crue added their own rock 'n' roll
twist.
Episode 4: Punk - Continuing with the evolution of the sound of rock, a
genre of music emerged in the 1970s that can best be described as anti-
establishment. Demonstrated by bands including The Sex Pistols, The Clash
and Television, these artists created music that went hand-in-hand with the
rebellion of youth at the time, often containing lyrics that incorporated
political outrage and a "do-it-yourself" attitude.
Episode 5: Stadium Rock - Rock music became more dominant in mainstream
pop culture in the 80s allowing artists such as Queen, The Police, Bruce
Springsteen, and U2 to sell out stadium-sized venues.
Episode 6: Alternative/Grunge - Influenced by punk, bands including
Nirvana, REM, Sonic Youth, and Pearl Jam shunned the traditions of the
music industry and signed with independent record labels. Despite their
deviance from traditional mainstream success, many alternative bands were
commercially successful.
Episode 7: UK Indie - Growing out of the UK punk scene, bands such as
The Smiths, Oasis, and the Stone Roses possessed an independent spirit that
embraced their artistic power and financial control. These groups created
music that provided a strong and sometimes arrogant counterpoint to the pop
sounds dominating the charts.
"Seven Ages of Rock," a VH1 Classic co-production with the BBC is
executive produced by Michael Poole for the BBC and Michele M. Dix and Ben
Zurier for VH1. William Naylor serves as the series producer for the BBC.
To learn more about these series and other VH1 Classic series and
specials please visit http://www.vh1classic.com.
For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including releases
and photographs, visit VH1's press-only Web site at http://www.vh1.com/press
Launched in May 2000, VH1 Classic is a 24-hour network that present
videos, concerts and music specials all day long, featuring the best of
rock, soul and pop artists from the 60's, 70's and 80's, including The
Beatles, The Stones, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, The Who,
Stevie Wonder, The Police and many more. Learn more at
http://www.vh1classic.com.