Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on 'Listening strategy, style and functions'. It argues for the development of a musicology particular to rock, which may share aspects of established musicology, but which acknowledges that rock differs in its purposes, publics and aims. There are material differences between UK and US rock, not only in terms of cultural practices, but in terms of stylistic factors too. The internal consistencies of rock's rules and practices enable rock history to be explained in a relatively immanent way, and 'progressive' rock occupies a pivotal position in such an explanation. The concept of style is crucial to an understanding of these rules and practices, since it is in this context that their consistencies are most clearly exhibited.