| Funk rock | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Funk - Rock - Rock and roll |
| Cultural origins | Early 1970s, United States |
| Typical instruments | Bass guitar - Electric guitar - Drums - Keyboard - Vocals |
| Mainstream popularity | Moderate |
| Subgenres | |
| Funk metal - Punk funk - Manguebeat (complete list) |
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| Regional scenes | |
| Minneapolis sound | |
Funk rock is a music genre that fuses funk and rock elements.[1] Its earliest incarnation was heard in the late 1960s through the mid-1970s by acts such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience (last two albums), Eric Burdon and War, Trapeze, Parliament-Funkadelic, Betty Davis and Mother's Finest. The 1990s were known for acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine. After over a period of time where the genre had died down in popularity, Audioslave revived the genre with the release of their 2006 album Revelations.
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Funk rock is a fusion of funk and rock. Many instruments may be incorporated into the music, but the overall sound is defined by a definitive bass or drum beat and electric guitars. The bass and drum rhythms are influenced by funk music but with more intensity, while the guitar can be funk-or-rock-influenced, usually with distortion, which is similar to overdrive or fuzz.
Jimi Hendrix was the first well-known recording artist to combine the rhythms and riffs of early funk to his rock sound. Perhaps the earliest example is his song "Little Miss Lover" (1967). His live album Band of Gypsys features funky riffs and rhythms throughout (especially the songs "Who Knows" and "Power of Soul") and his unfinished album also included a couple of funk-rock songs such as "Freedom", "Izabella" and "Straight Ahead".
George Clinton has been considered the godfather of this genre since 1970. Clinton created the name "P-Funk" for the innovative new concepts of funk that he culled from former members of James Brown's band (such as Maceo Parker and Bootsy Collins) and new young players like the guitar hero that rivaled Hendrix named Eddie Hazel. His groups, Funkadelic and Parliament, practically defined funk since the release of the influential funk rock Funkadelic classic, Maggot Brain (1971). Later funk rock albums by the group include Cosmic Slop, Standing on the Verge of Getting It On, Hardcore Jollies and Let's Take It to the Stage. Later albums such as One Nation Under a Groove and Electric Spanking of War Babies had a bit more radio-friendly sound but still preserved much of group's funk rock approach. This work served as the primary influence on an entire generation of funk and hip hop artists from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Snoop Dogg.
Other pioneers of funk-rock evolved in the 1970s in the music of the British rock-band Trapeze and American groups Shotgun, Mother's Finest and Black Nasty. Also singer-model Betty Davis recorded important funk rock albums. The funk rock acts were not favoured by R&B recording companies. For example guitarists of Chic wanted initially to record funk rock but they eventually became a disco act after being turned down by recording companies. Despite of its considerable influence to latter popular music, funk rock was not very visible phenomenon during the 1970s. Only few funk rock acts could be seen on record charts.
In the early 1980s Gang of Four, Iggy Pop in his LP The Idiot, The Big Boys, Xavion (an Afro-American group whose Asylum/Mirage LP in 1984 predated the formation of Living Colour) & Rick James along with New Wave mainstays Blondie and Talking Heads created their own sound mix of punk funk. One famous funk rock song of the period was "Another One Bites the Dust" by British rock icons Queen. Also in the 1980s, a fusion genre probably best described as synth-funk (a combination of synthpop and funk) was prominent in some synthpop bands such as Scritti Politti, a notable album being Cupid & Psyche 85 and also the british group Level 42.
The genre's representatives from the 1980s to present day include Jane's Addiction, Fishbone, Mr. Bungle, Primus, Living Colour, Spin Doctors, as well as Prince leading the way with spinoffs, The Time, and one hit wonders, Mazarati, who all have created, expanded and defined the funk rock style.
Red Hot Chili Peppers's second and third albums (which were released 1985 and 1987 respectively, and featured guitarist Hillel Slovak) are seen by many fans as the more funk-oriented albums of their collection. This is often characterized by a driving bass-line which is played over a sparse guitar track occasionally punctuated by metal-like riffs and solos (such as the solo in the middle of "Backwoods").
In the early 1990s, several bands combined funky rhythms with heavy metal guitar sounds, resulting in "funk metal", where the emphasis is in using much heavier distorted guitar sounds in the mix. Funk rock employs more of a lighter, "crunchier" distorted guitar sound, and the musical emphasis tends to be more beat-driven with prominent bass lines; more rhythmic in the R&B sense. One of the best examples of the fusion can be heard on the critically acclaimed Blood Sugar Sex Magik album, released in 1991 by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Other notable 1990's artists in the funk-rock genre, although not widely-known in North America, include guitarist Stevie Salas and funk-metal bassist TM Stevens. The latter's 1995 album Boom! is an excellent example of bass-heavy songs mixed with rhythmic guitar riffs.
Lenny Kravitz is one of the most prominent musicians today in the fusion of rock riffs and funk rhythms, as exampled in tracks such as "Tunnel Vision," "Always on the Run," and "American Woman." Incubus has dabbled in the genre as well with albums such as Fungus Amongus and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. During the making of his acclaimed studio album Voodoo (2000), neo soul musician D'Angelo was influenced by the funk rock sound of P-Funk, Jimi Hendrix and other such artists, while his hit single "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" has been noted by critics for containing elements of and similarity to the "Maggot Brain" sound of Funkadelic. Jane's Addiction have included many funk based routines in tracks. Furthermore, Slipknot had a funk rock sound in their early days, with tracks like "Bitchslap" and "Confessions" (both from Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.); Korn and Limp Bizkit also have a funk metal sound, as well. Irish band Republic of Loose are also noted for their funk rock sound which has earned them several awards and critical acclaim.
The famous, now defunct, alt rock supergroup Audioslave's third and final album Revelations released in September 2006, is a landmark in the time line of funk rock in the modern era. The songs Original Fire and Jewel of the Summertime are noted as having a heavy funk and soul sound. The album itself is described by guitarist Tom Morello as "Earth, Wind and Fire meets Led Zeppelin".[2] As of 2011, the album has been certified gold by the RIAA, selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone. In 2009, The Supergroup Street Sweeper Social Club released their debut album of the same name that infused the sound of mid-1990s Heavy funk rock with a brand of modern rapping, which created a unique sound. In 2010, the band released The Ghetto Blaster EP that also retained a great influence of funk rock in sound and in the feel of the EP in general; with most notably the group's hit single Promenade.
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