Rocking And Riding

Have you ever wondered why Rock & Roll and Motorcycles go hand in hand? Chances are, if you are reading this article, you are associated with motorcycles. Maybe you ride, perhaps have a motorcycle-themed business., or you just freaking love bikes. Whichever the case, you have also probably noticed that wherever there are bikes, more times than none, there is Rock & Roll.

The 50s Known as the ‘Golden Era of Television,’ It was prime for capturing our society’s youth when it came to music expression and motorcycles. Especially considering that both were the ultimate symbol of rebellion. This was a time when the youth of America were trying to discover their identity. Gone was the desire to continuously spin the vinyl of their parent’s choice. Not when they had the likes of James Dean and Marlon Brando to now look up to. Pushing back against what was expected of them was just an added benefit. As Brando and Dean built a reputation around their love of ‘New Rock Music’, and their love of motorcycles became more public, it was easy to capture a young audience. Dean, who had managed to win over the youth of the time with his portrayals of a rebellious outcast was also known to own several impressive motorcycles. Following his young and tragic death, his dangerous, bad-boy image became what everyone wanted to emulate. When you combine an idol, edgier music, and twowheeled rides, it was the perfect recipe in that time, to express angst and frustration. As the motorcycle culture grew in the 50s and the invention of transistor radios, Fender guitars and radio DJs, rock and roll and motorcycles took on a natural progression. Songs like “Leader of the Pack”, which told the story of a girl and her motorcycle-wielding boyfriend, rose to be regarded as one of the greatest songs in American history. Brando would create a cult classic in “The Wild One”. On screen, he took on the character of a real-life biker and would paint the image of “biker” and “outlaw” with the same stroke. Interesting fact, “The Wild One” was given credit for taking the black leather jacket from a military standard to a motorcycle staple. Rockers and Café Racers in Britain were on the rise as counter-culture and anti-establishment. The self-proclaimed rebels donned leather jackets and greased hair popular with rock musicians at the time. They rode stripped-down and fast bikes, and quickly built a reputation of, trouble on two wheels.

The 60s Motorcycles and Rock & Roll were reserved for the outcasts and the non-conforming within what had become a rapidly growing phenomenon. The fifties may have been the catapult that set the popular connection of rock and bikes, but it was the sixties that saw a shift and popularized, challenging the norms of the older, middle-class generation on a grander scale. A new era of nonconformity and resistance to traditional viewpoints was built on showcasing loud music and fast bikes.

The 70s Custom bikes took it to another level, brought on by the craze of 1968’s “Easy Rider.” This created a movement from European manufacturers to American and Japanese bikes, rejuvenating the nearly underwater HarleyDavidson and bringing an entirely new respect to Honda. Harley-Davidson’s saw a revitalization and with that came a rise in the loner and outlaw stereotypes surrounding bikers. The 1970s saw the greatest mix of Rock & Roll and Motorcycles in American history. From Lemmy of Motorhead (80s) to Brian May, legendary Queen guitarist, they were putting their mark on the biker craze. Of course, how can we leave out Meatloaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” album, which was one of the most iconic crossovers, featuring a famed motorcycle solo in its title track!

Today Throughout the decades, both motorcycles and rock music became one with resistance to authority and separation from the mainstream. The love for motorcycles amongst Rock and Rollers continues with the likes of Steven Tyler and Kid Rock. Not to leave the ‘Rocking and Riding’ to men, Pink, and our own local favorite rocker, Jasmine Cain has a love of two wheels. As years have passed and culture has changed, the opinions surrounding both Motorcycles and Rock & Roll have shifted. For the most part, gone are the days when motorcycles, leather, and rock and roll are seen as the sign of a criminal or bandit. More likely, while driving down the highway, when you hear that sound of rumbling pipes or an old two-stroke cruising from behind, You turn up whatever rock station that’s in range, look back into the rearview mirror, and appreciate the iconic duo of loud music and fast bikes.