Pub rock is a style of Australian rock and roll that peaked in popularity throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and that continues to influence Australian music into the 21st century. It is named after the live music circuit in which most associated bands developed their sound: inner-city and suburban pubs. These often noisy, hot, small and crowded venues favoured loud, riff-based heavy rock.

Australian pub rock emerged in the early 1970s, with bands such as Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, Buffalo, Coloured Balls and Blackfeather pioneering the sound by incorporating hard rock and blues rock, and occasionally elements of progressive rock and psychedelic rock. It developed separately from British pub rock, with the Australian sound being heavier, bluesier and more hard-edged. Later acts such as AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and Cold Chisel expanded the sound further and achieved mainstream success.

In a few Australian cities, particularly Melbourne, pub rock was associated with the Sharpies youth subculture.

History

Background

The emergence of the Australian version of the pub rock genre and the related pub circuit was the result of several interconnected factors. From the 1950s to the 1970s, mainly because of restrictive state liquor licensing laws, only a small proportion of live pop and rock music in Australia was performed on licensed premises (mostly private clubs or discotheques); the majority of concerts were held in non-licensed venues like community, church or municipal halls. These concerts and dances were 'all-ages' events—often with adult supervision—and alcohol was not served.

During the 1960s, however, Australian states began liberalising their licensing laws. Sunday Observance Acts were repealed, pub opening hours were extended, discriminatory regulations — such as the long-standing ban on women entering or drinking in public bars — were removed, and in the 1970s the age of legal majority was lowered from 21 to 18. Concurrently, the members of the so-called "Baby Boomer" generation — who were the main audience for pop and rock music — were reaching their late teens and early twenties, and were thus able to enter such licensed premises. Pub owners soon realised that providing live music (which was often free) would draw young people to pubs in large numbers, and regular rock performances soon became a fixture at many pubs.

First bands emerge

In the early 1970s, Sydney-based groups such as Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, Blackfeather and Buffalo pioneered the Australian pub rock sound. and The Chats.

See also

  • Music of Australia
  • List of public house topics
  • Roots rock
  • Grunge

References

General references

  • Note: Archived [on-line] version has limited functionality.

pl:Pub rock