Introduction

The introduction sets out the main aims of the book, in particular by addressing the terms in the title (namely definitions of ‘rock’, particularly British ‘rock’, and what it means by the ‘primary text’). In doing so, it focuses on issues of style and genre, and the distinctions between them, on what is to be understood as the ‘text’ in rock music, and on the perspective of the listener. The emphasis throughout is on developments in British rock music.