Anti-War Rock

tagStarted 1965Peak 1969-1973Last big hit still active

Located in 1 route

Rock → Political / Conscious / Protest Rock

Rock aimed at the machinery of war and its dead — from swamp-rock indictments of the draft to soul-rock laments and acid-rock howls. The sound ranges from CCR's tight roots-rock to Hendrix's feedback 'Star-Spangled Banner', united by imagery of soldiers, mothers and body counts, and choruses built to be chanted at marches. Mourning and accusation in equal measure.

History

Surged with the Vietnam draft from 1965, as Barry McGuire's 'Eve of Destruction' topped charts and Country Joe mocked the war at Woodstock. Edwin Starr's 'War' brought soul-rock fire; the mode revived for the Gulf and Iraq wars, proving war's perennial pull on rock's conscience.

Defining artists

Creedence Clearwater RevivalSpotify YouTube
Edwin StarrSpotify YouTube
Country Joe and the FishSpotify YouTube
Barry McGuireSpotify YouTube
Jimi HendrixSpotify YouTube
Black SabbathSpotify YouTube

Essential listening

Fortunate Son — Creedence Clearwater RevivalSpotify YouTube
War — Edwin StarrSpotify YouTube
I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag — Country Joe and the FishSpotify YouTube
Eve of Destruction — Barry McGuireSpotify YouTube
War Pigs — Black SabbathSpotify YouTube
Machine Gun — Jimi HendrixSpotify YouTube

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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-war_song
https://www.allmusic.com/song/fortunate-son
https://www.britannica.com/art/protest-song