History Main / ArenaRock

Although the spectacle and accessability of arena rock has pretty much always been [[CriticProof popular enough with the public]], it isn't always [[DeadHorseGenre treated as kindly by music critics]], many of whom seem to see it as HairMetal without any make-up on. "Corporate Rock" is often tossed around as an epithet for this genre by its detractors.

Although the spectacle and accessability of arena rock has pretty much always been [[CriticProof popular enough with the public]], it isn't always [[DeadHorseGenre treated as kindly by music critics]], many of whom seem to see it as HairMetal without any make-up on.

* Music/DireStraits (YourMileageMayVary)
* Music/FleetwoodMac (YourMileageMayVary)

* Music/JohnMellencamp (once more, YourMileageMayVary)

It's worth noting that the sort of stadium rock played by {{U2}}, INXS or SimpleMinds doesn't necessarily come under this heading; their sound was typically more influenced by post-punk and "modern rock" (such as it was in the 1980s).

* AprilWine

* PatBenatar

* DefLeppard
* DireStraits (YourMileageMayVary)
* FleetwoodMac (YourMileageMayVary)

* PeterFrampton

* JeffersonStarship[=/=]Music/{{Starship}}

* JohnMellencamp (once more, YourMileageMayVary)

* NightRanger
* {{REO Speedwagon}}

Since bands of any genre can fill an arena if they're popular enough, arena rock has several characteristics that differentiate it from other rock subgenres. "Guitar pyrotechnics" and massed vocal harmonies performed by the whole band were very common, as were [[AudienceParticipationSong Audience Participation Songs]] with big, anthemic choruses. Most singers had cleaner-sounding vocals than a lot of the other HardRock or HeavyMetal groups of the time and often performed with an operatic flair. Lyrically, most arena rock songs were pretty simple, with many a straightforward PowerBallad for audiences to sing along with.

* JeffersonStarship

Although rock groups had been filling some of the largest venues in the world since TheBeatles played at Shea Stadium in the 1960s, this subgenre of rock music began to develop in the late seventies. Also known as pomp rock, melodic rock, anthem rock, stadium rock or [=AOR=], the main exponents of the style were bands that wrote songs specifically to be performed in big stadiums in front of big audiences.

* BryanAdams

* {{Foreigner}}

* {{Heart}} (mid- to late-eighties output)
* {{Journey}}

* {{Loverboy}}

* {{Toto}}

* [[FanNickname Detractor Nickname:]] Critics sometimes refer to Arena Rock as "Corporate Rock" because of its commercial, radio-friendly nature and because the tours often have corporate sponsors.
** And in some cases, like {{Toto}}, they were formed by professional musicians with strong connections in the music industry and access to enough budget to properly record and balance the albums.

Although rock groups had been filling some of the largest venues in the world since TheBeatles played at Shea Stadium in the 1960s, this subgenre of rock music began to develop in the late seventies. Also known as pomp rock, melodic rock, anthem rock, stadium rock or [=AOR=] (its detractors often refer to it as "corporate rock" due its commercial, radio-friendly nature and because tours were often sponsored by large corporations), the main exponents of the style were bands that wrote songs specifically to be performed in big stadiums in front of big audiences.

Although rock groups had been filling some of the largest venues in the world since TheBeatles played at Shea Stadium in the 1960s, this subgenre of rock music began to develop in the late seventies. Also known as stadium rock or [=AOR=] (its detractors often refer to it as "corporate rock" due its commercial, radio-friendly nature and because tours were often sponsored by large corporations), the main exponents of the style were bands that wrote songs specifically to be performed in big stadiums in front of big audiences.

Bands commonly associated with the genre include:

* {{Music/Chicago}} (late-eighties output)

* {{Heart}}

Although rock groups had been filling some of the largest venues in the world since TheBeatles played at Shea Stadium in the 1960s, this subgenre of rock music began to develop in the late seventies. Also known as stadium rock or [=AOR=], the main exponents of the style were bands that wrote songs specifically to be performed in big stadiums in front of big audiences.

Although rock groups had been filling some of the largest venues in the world since the 1960s, this subgenre of rock music began to develop in the late seventies. Also known as stadium rock or [=AOR=], the main exponents of the style were bands that wrote songs specifically to be performed in big stadiums in front of big audiences.

* BryanAdams (eighties output)

* {{Music/Chicago}} (eighties output)

* SimpleMinds (mid-eighties output)

* {{Boston}}

* AudienceParticipationsSong

Since bands of any genre can fill an arena if they're popular enough, arena rock has several characteristics that differentiate it from other rock subgenres. "Guitar pyrotechnics" and massed vocal harmonies performed by the whole band were very common, as were AudienceParticipationSongs with big, anthemic choruses. Most singers had cleaner-sounding vocals than a lot of the other HardRock or HeavyMetal groups of the time and often performed with an operatic flair. Lyrically, most arena rock songs were pretty simple, with many a straightforward PowerBallad for audiences to sing along with.

Although the spectacle and accessability of arena rock has pretty much always been [[CriticProof generally popular enough with the public]], it isn't always [[DeadHorseGenre treated as kindly by music critics]], many of whom seem to see it as HairMetal without any make-up on.

* DireStraits (debatable)

* JohnMellencamp (debatable)

!!Tropes

* {{Styx}}