Hard rock is an aggressive rock music subgenre defined by distorted electric guitars, powerful vocals, and driving rhythms. It emerged in the mid-1960s from garage, psychedelic, and blues rock, with early influential bands including The Kinks, The Who, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The genre skyrocketed to major popularity in the 1970s, featuring iconic acts like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Queen, and AC/DC.
By the 1980s, hard rock reached its commercial peak, diversifying with glam metal bands such as Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi, and achieving further success with the rawer sound of Guns N' Roses. While its mainstream dominance receded in the 1990s due to the rise of grunge and other genres, the 2000s saw a renewed interest, with many post-grunge bands adopting a hard rock sound. Distinct from heavy metal, hard rock generally maintained a bluesy rock and roll identity, including a characteristic swing in its rhythms.