Funk rock
 | This article possibly contains original research. (May 2008) |
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| Funk rock | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Funk Rock music Rockabilly Rock and roll |
| Cultural origins | Early 1970s, United States |
| Typical instruments | Bass guitar - Electric guitar - Drums - Keyboard - Vocals - Rapping |
| Subgenres | |
| Funkcore - Funk metal - Punk funk (complete list) | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Minneapolis sound | |
Funk rock (also typed as funk-rock) is a music genre that fuses funk and rock elements.[1] Its earliest incarnation was heard in the late 1960s through the mid-1970s by acts such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience (last two albums), Eric Burdon and War, Funkadelic, Betty Davis and Mother's Finest.
Characteristics
Funk rock is a fusion of funk and rock. Many instruments may be incorporated into the music, but the overall sound is defined by a definitive bass or drum beat and electric guitars. The bass and drum rhythms are influenced by funk music but with more intensity, while the guitar can be funk-or-rock-influenced, usually with distortion.
Genre history
Funk rock acts of 1970s
Jimi Hendrix was the first well-known recording artist to combine the rhythms and riffs of early funk to his rock sound. Perhaps the earliest example is his song "Little Miss Lover" (1967). His live album Band of Gypsys features funky riffs and rhythms throughout (especially the song "Power of Soul") and his unfinished album also included a couple of funk-rock songs such as "Freedom", "Izabella" and "Straight Ahead".
George Clinton has been considered the godfather of this genre since 1970. Clinton created the name "P-Funk" for the innovative new concepts of funk that he culled from former members of James Brown's band (such as Maceo Parker and Bootsy Collins) and new young players like the guitar hero that rivaled Hendrix named Eddie Hazel. His groups, Funkadelic and Parliament, practically defined funk since the release of the influential funk rock Funkadelic classic, Maggot Brain (1971). Latter funk rock albums by the group include Cosmic Slop, Standing on the Verge of Getting It On, Hardcore Jollies and Let's Take It To The Stage. Later albums such as One Nation Under A Groove and Electric Spanking of War Babies had a bit more radio-friendly sound but still preserved much of group's funk rock approach. These work served as the primary influence on an entire generation of funk and hip hop artists from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop Dogg.
Other pioneers of funk-rock evolved in the 1970s in the music of the British rock-band Trapeze and American groups Shotgun, Mother's Finest and Black Nasty. Also singer-model Betty Davis recorded important funk rock albums. The funk rock acts were not favoured by R&B recording companies. For example guitarists of Chic wanted initially to record funk rock but they eventually became a disco act after being turned down by recording companies. Despite of its considerable influence to latter popular music, funk rock was not very visible phenomenon during the 1970s. Only few funk rock acts could be seen on record charts.
Funk influences of major 1970s groups
In addition to few genuine funk rock groups that emerged, many seminal bands of the era flirted with funk rock sounds. These cases include The Rolling Stones ( Miss You & Hot Stuff ), Led Zeppelin (The Crunge and Trampled Under Foot) & singer David Bowie with his hit song "Fame"; The Mark III & IV lineups of Deep Purple (with Glenn Hughes of Trapeze, David Coverdale of Whitesnake and Tommy Bolin of The James Gang) featured mature elements of funk in such songs as "Sail Away (Tomorrow)" and "Coronarias Redig", enough of which was believed to prompt the exit of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore; American artists Frank Zappa ("My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama", "Dirty Love" and "I'm The Slime", like best examples), Steve Miller Band ("Fly Like an Eagle"), Aerosmith ("Last Child"), Edgar Winter Group ("Frankenstein"), KISS ("their" cover of "New York Groove" and their original song "I Was Made for Lovin' You") and Gary Wright (My Love is Alive), good example of early Synth-funk as well, along with bands like Graham Central Station, Rufus, & the Isley Brothers (The Heat Is On & 3 + 3 albums ) all experimented with the blending of Funk & Rock rhythms.
1980s
In the early 1980s Gang of Four, Iggy Pop in his LP The Idiot, The Big Boys, Xavion (An Afro-American group whose Asylum/Mirage LP in 1984 predated the formation of Living Colour) & Rick James along with New Wave mainstays Blondie & the Talking Heads created their own sound mix of Punk Funk. One famous funk rock song of the period was "Another One Bites the Dust" by British Rock icons Queen.
The genre's representatives from the 1980s to present day include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Fishbone, Mr. Bungle, Primus, Living Colour, Spin Doctors, as well as Prince leading the way with spinoffs, The Time, and one hit wonders, Mazarati, who all have created, expanded and defined the Funk Rock style.
1990s
In the early 1990s, several bands combined funky rhythms with Heavy Metal guitar sounds, resulting in "Funk metal", where the emphasis is in using much Heavier distorted guitar sounds in the mix. Funk Rock employs more of a lighter, "crunchier" distorted guitar sound, and the musical emphasis tends to be more beat-driven with prominent Bass lines; more rhythmic in the R&B sense. One of the best examples of the fusion can be heard by the critically-acclaimed Blood Sugar Sex Magik by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Lenny Kravitz is one of the most prominent musicians today in the fusion of rock riffs and funk rhythms, as exampled in tracks such as "Tunnel Vision," "Always on the Run," and "American Woman." Incubus has dabbled in the genre as well with albums such as Fungus Amongus and S.C.I.E.N.C.E.. During the making of his acclaimed studio album Voodoo (2000), neo soul musician D'Angelo was influenced by the funk rock sound of P-Funk, Jimi Hendrix and other such artists, while his hit single "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" has been noted by critics for containing elements of and similarity to the "Maggot Brain" sound of Funkadelic.[2][3]
Subgenres
Funkcore
| Funkcore | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Funk Punk rock Hardcore punk |
| Cultural origins | mid-1980s, United States |
| Typical instruments | Bass guitar - Electric guitar - Drums - Keyboard - Vocals - Rapping |
Funkcore is a fusion of punk and funk created in the 1980s. Hard, loud and fast guitars are featured, but unlike in most rock music, it does not overpower the bass, which is heavy and driving. Drums are often funk-influenced, but with intense punk-styled pounding. Synthesizers or horn sections sometimes make an appearance, although they are not integral. Examples of funkcore bands are Jungle Fever, Adequate Seven, and Big Boys. Funk Core Website.[4]
Punk-funk
| Punk-funk | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Funk Funk rock Punk rock Hardcore punk |
| Cultural origins | mid-1980s, United States |
| Typical instruments | Bass guitar - Electric guitar - Drums - Keyboard - Vocals - Rapping |
Punk-funk (or funk-punk) is a mix of punk or post-punk songs with funk elements, also known as dance-punk. Some times, the punk influence is replaced by an alternative rock influence. The first appearance of this subgenre was in 1979, when Gang Of Four released their debut album, Entertainment!. In the 1980s, bands such as Talking Heads, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Clash made punk-funk become more famous. The style was revitalized in the early 00s with a more electro-influenced sound at New York by such acts like The Rapture, Radio 4, !!!, Liars, Out Hud and LCD Soundsystem.
Funk metal
| Funk metal | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Funk Funk rock Heavy metal Occasionally Rap metal |
| Cultural origins | mid-1980s, United States |
| Typical instruments | Bass guitar - Electric guitar - Drums - Keyboard - Vocals - Rapping |
| Fusion genres | |
| Nu metal | |
| Other topics | |
| Alternative metal | |
Funk metal (sometimes typeset differently such as funk-metal) is a fusion genre of music which emerged in the 1980s.[5] It typically incorporates elements of funk and heavy metal. It features hard-driving heavy metal guitar riffs, the pounding bass rhythms characteristic of funk (incorporating slap bass technique), and sometimes hip hop-style rhymes into an alternative rock approach to songwriting. Examples include Eric Burdon, Infectious Grooves, Primus,Incubus (early material), Living Colour, Rage Against the Machine and Faith No More
See also
References
- ^ Vincent, Rickey (2004). "Hip-Hop and Black Noise:Raising Hell". That's the Joint!: The Hip-hop Studies Reader. pp. 489–490.
{{cite conference}}: Unknown parameter|booktitle=ignored (|book-title=suggested) (help) ISBN 0415969190 - ^ Philament Issue 4: Greg Levine - Wagner, D'Angelo and A Song. University of Sydney. Retrieved on 2008-12-21.
- ^ Spin magazine - August 2008 - Body & Soul article by David Peisner (pgs. 64-72). www.spin.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-09.
- ^ http://www.funkcore.org
- ^ Scaruffi, Piero (2003). A History of Rock Music, 1951-2000. p. 475. ISBN 0595295657.