Progressive Rock: Cold War - Hot Music
(Up To 1968)
Jimi Hendrix
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In the 1960s there was a broad change in the nature of western
mainstream popular music. There was a transformation of early Rock n Roll to what became known simply as Rock – or ‘Progressive Rock’. The Beatles were a major force behind this change. The 1960s represented a tumultuous era in the evolution of Popular music. It was also a tumultuous era in the international politics and domestic politics of the major Western powers. We'll now briefly look at the emergence of Progressive Rock (and later try and draw out some political connections with this form of |
music). And then look at the hard cold politics of the era.
It’s very hard to know where to start with the 1960s and when to end. So let’s broadly
run up to the beginning of 1968 – which is generally accepted as the pinnacle or
watershed year of both politics and Popular Music, at least in the Western World.
In the 1960s – Pop music, and domestic and even international politics became as one.
While much of the most Popular Music among teen audiences of this time in the West
came out of Britain, the United States turned out to be major the engine of social
change. The US was at the center of the political- military world which makes the US
most relevant to focus on.
It’s very hard to know where to start with the 1960s and when to end. So let’s broadly
run up to the beginning of 1968 – which is generally accepted as the pinnacle or
watershed year of both politics and Popular Music, at least in the Western World.
In the 1960s – Pop music, and domestic and even international politics became as one.
While much of the most Popular Music among teen audiences of this time in the West
came out of Britain, the United States turned out to be major the engine of social
change. The US was at the center of the political- military world which makes the US
most relevant to focus on.
An Overview To 1968
Although Rock n Roll was largely dead by 1960 – the Beatles soon re-injected life back into it. But while the Beatles were the major force behind this re- emergence they were not alone. There |
The Beatles - Hello, Goodbye
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was also the Rolling Stones, and so many other mainly British groups of this era, which
together formed what became known as the ‘British Invasion’ of the US market.
The 1960s was a tumultuous era in the evolution of Popular Music in the West, but not
only the evolution of Popular Music, the 1960s also saw the emergence of countering
value systems and challenges to the cultural and political status quo in America, Britain
and elsewhere. In short, the 1960s saw the emergence of the ‘counter culture' in the
West.
together formed what became known as the ‘British Invasion’ of the US market.
The 1960s was a tumultuous era in the evolution of Popular Music in the West, but not
only the evolution of Popular Music, the 1960s also saw the emergence of countering
value systems and challenges to the cultural and political status quo in America, Britain
and elsewhere. In short, the 1960s saw the emergence of the ‘counter culture' in the
West.
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Bob Dylan Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
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The Two Giant Acts Of The Era The 1960s was certainly a tumultuous era in international politics and the domestic politics of the major Western powers. And we are still feeling the impact of that era today and still seeing the influence of it. It was also in this decade that the intertwining of Rock as Popular Music and Politics overtly formed the tightest and strongest link. It was also in this era that we saw the death of Rock n Roll, the emergence of Schlock Rock, and then what became known simply as Rock, and then Folk Rock and Progressive Rock and many other variants of what became simply known as Rock music. And most heavily influencing the events of this decade were two of the giant acts of Popular Music – Bob Dylan and the Beatles. And to some extent we need to focus on these above all others. But first we need to put the years of the 1960s into their political context, both internationally and domestically. |
The International Politics Of The Early 1960s. What Was Happening In These Early Turbulent Years?
The Answer - The Cold War Was Continuing!
At the end of the 1950s, the US was still vigorously pursuing the containment of
perceived communist expansionism and getting dragged further and further into
Vietnam.
In the early 1960s the Cold War was continuing in all its ferocity. In 1960, the
Americans had tried to get rid of President Fidel Castro in Cuba but this ended with the
debacle at the Bay of Pigs.
In 1959, Cuba had fallen to Castro scaring the hell out of the Americans. President
Kennedy came to power in 1960 (in Camelot) and tried to flex his anti-communist
muscles. The world consequently slumped deeper into a more dangerous Cold War as
US President Kennedy implemented his 'Doctrine of Limited Wars' – wherein he
pledged to commit the US to intervene anywhere thought necessary with Special
Operations Forces and others to combat the perceived spread of communism in the
Third World.
Squaring off against both the Soviet Union and China in an international arms race
Kennedy did his best to beef up US armed forces to keep ahead with conventional and
nuclear weaponry, and particularly missiles and the Soviet advances into Space. But
with the Soviets already having launched the 'Sputnik', in the late 1950s the US was
being left behind, completely unnerving both the Government and the US people.
The US had already put a total embargo on the Cubans, trying to starve the Castro
regime out of business. The Americans, still stunned from losing Cuba to Castro and
believing communists were on the march everywhere in the world, further tried to turn
the situation around by getting rid of Castro in Cuba via what is known as the Bay of
Pigs invasion, which was beaten back by Castro’s armed forces. This resulted in an
enormous loss of face for the Americans which only strengthened their resolve to get
rid of Castro and get tough on communism everywhere.
- Meanwhile In The Soviet Union, Premier Khrushchev was in power and,
determined to match it strategically and militarily with the Americans, was similarly
pursuing a full on Cold War; while nevertheless from time to time trying to reach some
sort of easing of tensions with the US – like forging a detente. However, the Soviets
were soon enraged after discovering US secret high altitude U2 flight spying missions
over their territory, thereby breaking all sorts of international protocols. As a
consequence, the Soviets soon locked the US into a deadly phase of the Cold War,
further intensifying the massive conventional and nuclear arms race. This included the
added dimension of a 'space race' with both leaders trying to get the upper hand.
- Meanwhile in China, Premier Mao and the Soviets were quarreling over
competing strategic, economic and even ideological interests and the two communist
giants entered into a bitter split that eventually broke out into actual fighting in 1969.
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- And In Vietnam
In another part of Asia, US President Kennedy decided to
also draw the line against perceived communism expansionism
in Vietnam. Thus the story of the 1960s was one of continued
expansion and intensification of the US-Vietnam War until
the US commitment peaked at around one half a million men
in a dirty war that the US was losing with such a high social,
human, political and economic cost.
- Meanwhile in Europe
In Europe the superpowers were in a stalemate with the two massive military machines, the Warsaw Pact and NATO facing each other. By this time Soviet Premier- Khrushchev had also built the Berlin Wall dividing Berlin and figuratively Germany into two. |
Toni Fisher - West Of The Wall
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The 'Wall' soon became symbolic of the whole Cold War stand off - a barrier between
two competing systems and life-ways and a deadly one at that. It was a stalemate of
nuclear proportions and all was somewhat peaceful but extremely tense. The bi-polar
world, while squared off against itself, was beginning to crumble both in the East and
the West.
Returning to the main game, by 1962 both Superpowers were too scared to confront
each other directly, so instead were combating each other’s allies, both real and
perceived around the globe, with the US backing corrupt President Diem in Vietnam
and opposing Castro in Cuba. This led to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and World
War Three nearly breaking out – thereby becoming the lowest and most deadly point
of the Cold War.
- The Missile Crisis In The Carribean
On the other side of the globe in 1962 Castro, with the help of the
Russians, installed nuclear missiles as a way of defending Cuba
against a future US invasion and as a means for the Soviets to get
one back on the US which had already surrounded them with a
ring of nuclear bases in Europe and the Pacific. This enraged
Kennedy and the US producing the all time low of the Cold War
with the onset of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and nearly World War
Three. Both Superpowers and the world stood on the brink of
nuclear war, but eventually the Soviets blinked and backed off.
- Test Ban And Talking
The Cuban Missile Crisis did have a positive however as it led to agreements on
nuclear test bans in 1963 and talks between the two Superpowers. But the Cold War
between East and West continued on in the Third World while all remained relatively
quite for a while in Europe.
Russians, installed nuclear missiles as a way of defending Cuba
against a future US invasion and as a means for the Soviets to get
one back on the US which had already surrounded them with a
ring of nuclear bases in Europe and the Pacific. This enraged
Kennedy and the US producing the all time low of the Cold War
with the onset of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and nearly World War
Three. Both Superpowers and the world stood on the brink of
nuclear war, but eventually the Soviets blinked and backed off.
- Test Ban And Talking
The Cuban Missile Crisis did have a positive however as it led to agreements on
nuclear test bans in 1963 and talks between the two Superpowers. But the Cold War
between East and West continued on in the Third World while all remained relatively
quite for a while in Europe.
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Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction
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Still, even though some talks were held – the world remained in the grip of nuclear standoff and possibly nuclear war and everywhere people dug nuclear bomb shelters. It was a depressing mindset for all and sundry, and for a time this apparent eve of destruction of the world was directly expressed in Pop Music. Moreover, there was soon the proliferation everywhere of the 'Peace Movement and many ‘Ban the Bomb’ groups in Britain, the United States and even Australia. |
But The Focus Of The Cold War Remained On Vietnam
The Western Alliance in the early 1960s was still united at this
stage, but under Kennedy’s lead, the US was still determined
to defeat perceived communist expansionism everywhere.
Thus the focus of the Cold War remained on Vietnam.
With a standoff in Europe and hands tied with Cuba (although
the US tried at least 8 times assassinate Castro ( and possibly
many more) perceived Chinese expansionism became a major
target of US ambitions to reshape the world in its own image.
Vietnam became the target of this obsession with disastrous
consequences for everyone.
In Vietnam, Kennedy decided to draw the line against
perceived communist expansionism and the sad story of the 1960s is a story of
continued expansion and intensification of the US-Vietnam War until the US
commitment peaked at around one half million men in 1969.
It was a dirty war that the US waged with such social, human political and economic
cost. As such, Vietnam became both synonymous with, and the focus of, the Cold War.
But it was also the Vietnam war which ultimately proved a political watershed for it
ultimately caused a redefining of international relations, a redefining of the US political
culture, and reassessment of the nature of politics and culture for many nations on this
earth. In essence, it was the Vietnam War which sparked a massive social and
‘cultural revolution’ in the West which ultimately changed our whole globe and left
nobody untouched.
The Course Of The War
In 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated, and Lyndon Johnson came into power
deepening the US involvement in Vietnam. In 1965 Australia entered the war somewhat
misguidedly to prevent the so-called 'spread of communism' in Asia and to prevent its
spread southwards via the 'Domino' effect. But the conflict was really a nationalist
conflict for the re-unification of Vietnam.
While domestically nothing much was said by the US public at first, by 1968 after
heavy losses it became clear the war was un-winnable particularly after the Tet
Offensive. It was also above all seen as an unjust war particularly by a growing amount
of the US public. Increasingly, the war was seen for what it really was - nothing less
than a nationalist struggle for re-unification – and not about communist expansionism
as such.
At home in both Australia and the US, the Vietnam War began tearing both countries
apart. A massive domestic anti-war movement grew fed by the emergence of the
counterculture in the West. Along with this there emerged the popularity of guerrilla
leaders, such as Che Guevara, whom became revered as cult figures in many sections
of the counterculture, with subsequent social challenges to the status quo in the West.
There was also the beginnings of the break up of bipolarity and the disintegration of the
two power blocs, as many Western countries began to assert more independence and
do their own thing – after many disagreeing with the US role in Vietnam.
The US economy also entered into decline steadily drained by its costly involvement in
Vietnam where it was fighting the wrong cause and trying to fight 'peoples war' with
conventional war and losing.
Throughout the 1960s, the war continued and became very much the centre piece of
the play off between East and West. Meanwhile the Soviets for their part continued
their massive build up in armed forces against the Chinese, both of whom became
enemies over personal rivalries of their leaders, ideological differences and conflicting
national interests as well as disputes over historic border differences etc (all the stuff of
normal disputes over national self- interest), thereby exposing the notion of monolithic
communist expansionism in the Third World to be a myth.
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Nixon Enters
By 1968 President Johnson wanted out, and Nixon came to power
in 1969 promising a way out of the war. But he tried to do it by
bombing the North into submission and spreading the war into
Cambodia (more later).
Domestic Politics In The West
During the mid to late 1960s economies were booming in
both the US and Australia. There were high living standards
and full employment in the First World (not so in the Third
World though). Above all it was a time of prosperity and
education expansion, a time of freedom and questioning by the
youth - a growing time of rebellion brought on by the Cold
War and other influences. But in the US there was also the assassination of Senator
Robert Kennedy, the tensions of the Vietnam War - and the influence of Rock music
that itself had undergone a revolution. There was also the generation gap fed by the
War, Rock music and education freedom that exposed many flaws in the politics of the
status quo and the older generation. As such Western youth began to question the
foundations of society, particularly in the US. The Kennedy era of 'Camelot' had
imploded into an era of disquiet and rebellion. The system that sent the youth to die in
an unjust war and continued to deny black civil rights soon became the enemy,
especially so with the Nixon Administration.
Interlocking Forces And Processes In The 1960s
Now it is probably here in this decade that the intertwining of Rock /Popular Music
and Politics forges the tightest, strongest link, and in a lot of ways is the essence of
Rock Mountain's central interest - and hence this warrants much attention.
Let's Now Look At The Era Of 'Rock Politics' In Detail Up To And
Including 1968.
both the US and Australia. There were high living standards
and full employment in the First World (not so in the Third
World though). Above all it was a time of prosperity and
education expansion, a time of freedom and questioning by the
youth - a growing time of rebellion brought on by the Cold
War and other influences. But in the US there was also the assassination of Senator
Robert Kennedy, the tensions of the Vietnam War - and the influence of Rock music
that itself had undergone a revolution. There was also the generation gap fed by the
War, Rock music and education freedom that exposed many flaws in the politics of the
status quo and the older generation. As such Western youth began to question the
foundations of society, particularly in the US. The Kennedy era of 'Camelot' had
imploded into an era of disquiet and rebellion. The system that sent the youth to die in
an unjust war and continued to deny black civil rights soon became the enemy,
especially so with the Nixon Administration.
Interlocking Forces And Processes In The 1960s
Now it is probably here in this decade that the intertwining of Rock /Popular Music
and Politics forges the tightest, strongest link, and in a lot of ways is the essence of
Rock Mountain's central interest - and hence this warrants much attention.
Let's Now Look At The Era Of 'Rock Politics' In Detail Up To And
Including 1968.
Go To Segment Four - Continued
The Era
Of Rock Politics
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Go To Death Of
Rock N Roll And Rise Of Schlock Rock 
Death Of Rock n Roll
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To Rocking The World 
Rocking The World
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