Rock music became the banner of rebellion draped across the proud shoulders of youth when the first chord was struck on an electric guitar. Since the creation of rock and roll in the fifties, the sound of defiance was heard blaring from radios.

The term rock 'n' roll was heard first on radio waves when DJ Alen Freed spun the phrase to describe the developing rhythm and blues music of the day, and make the new sounds popular among the young white generation. Soon after, the rock band replaced the ensemble on stage, smashing guitars replaced soft melodies, and mosh pits took over where a more stoic audience once sat.

Since the time of Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, hard rock became popularized over the smooth, R&B-like tones. But since the first moment when "rock" came to define music over stones, one aspect prevailed-controversy.

From the seemingly innocent swinging hips of Elvis, to the bloody beverage of a parched Ozzy Osborne drank from his guitar on stage, rock embodies defiance. More often than not, the lyrics contain an insolent message screamed between power chords, shaping history and opinions. Rock was the first genre to be divisive generationally. Rock became the voice of youth in the fifties, and the loudest anti-war speech in the seventies. Still today, the popular music scene is directed at youth, and rock holds its position as the most popular genre. While rap gains a strong foothold in pop culture today, those who fear that the last heart beats of rock will be drowned out by the bass line of rap need not fear. As long as there are people to rebel, there will be rock music playing on the radio, record player, 8-track, or IPod of every angsty teenager.