Garage rock, also known as garage punk or 1960s punk, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s, primarily in the United States and Canada. It is characterized by simple chord progressions played on electric guitars, often with distortion effects, and by energetic, sometimes aggressive vocal delivery. The genre’s name stems from the association with amateur bands who practiced in domestic garages, although many groups were professional musicians.
The popularity of surf rock and the British Invasion, particularly the Beatles and other beat bands, inspired a wave of young musicians in North America to form bands between 1963 and 1968. Many of these groups produced local hits, and some achieved national recognition, typically through airplay on AM radio. As psychedelic rock gained prominence, some garage bands began to incorporate new sonic elements. By the end of the 1960s, the rise of more polished rock styles led to a decline in the genre’s visibility on music charts. Similar rock movements emerged in other countries during this period and have occasionally been described as forms of garage rock.
Although the term "garage rock" was not in use during the 1960s, the genre was retrospectively recognized and defined by music critics in the early 1970s. The 1972 compilation album "Nuggets" played a key role in shaping the understanding and preservation of the style. During this time, some American critics referred to the genre as "punk rock," making it the first type of music associated with the term. This usage predated the later punk movement, which was influenced by garage rock’s raw sound. By the 1980s, the term "garage rock" had become more widely adopted among writers and fans. The genre has also been labeled as "proto-punk" or, in some contexts, "frat rock."
In the 1980s, a revival of garage rock occurred, with bands emulating the sound and aesthetic of 1960s garage music. This revival later evolved into a more contemporary subgenre that blended garage rock with punk and other styles, sometimes referred to as garage punk. In the 2000s, a new wave of garage-influenced groups emerged within the post-punk revival movement, and several achieved mainstream success. Garage rock remains popular among artists and listeners who favor a stripped-down, do-it-yourself approach to music.
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