In the early years of the music scene, which we now call rock music, i.e., the 1960s, media marketing and sophisticated stage performances did not play any role. Closer to the origin of "making music", for the majority of musicians a simple stage would do – and, of course, their instruments. Therefore, it is all the more surprising that The Rolling Stones played a recorder during their gig in the Bremer Stadthalle in 1967 while the graffiti and the drum set of the opening act "Creation" had not been removed! The simple curtain as the primary structuring element seems to be the adequate stage setting and, indeed, appears to be 'authentic' in the picture, which is unconceivable today for The Stones or other bands..

The protest movement of the 1960s is to be considered an important manifestation of a political idea in art. Many artists, among them the lyric poet and musician Bob Dylan, used simple arrangements, which were based on folk tradition, to address socially relevant topics. The singer and songwriter Donovan even went one step further and was singing together with three kids live on stage, representing the so-called 'generation of tomorrow", which artists supported with their pacifist and democratic attitudes.

A classic subculture was the Mods, who arose in London in the early 1960s, trying to combine the consciousness of the English working class with Edwardian elegance. Their icon was the scooter as well as a life style fluctuating between (drug-related) excesses and weekends of bourgeois conformism. The Who, in particular, represented this ideal and became the identification mark of an entire generation.

In the 1970s, social constraints were considered less rigid, not least because of the rebellion in the previous decade. Using sophisticated and complex, so-called psychedelic compositions, an aesthetic parallel world was created, a way "to drop out" from society and everyday life. Pink Floyd was the pioneer of a new conception of music. The band extended their legendary performances to holistic medial events, coming close to theatrical staging.

The German music scene in the decades after the Second World War was characterized by British and American influences. Seeking a national identity, a young generation of musicians mingled American influences with experimental sounds that characterized many local bands. The scene that we now refer to as "Krautrock" is not only influenced by the spirit of the 70s but has also become important in terms of music history, even if bands like 'Ihre Kinder' or 'Embryo' are probably little known today.

Making music seems to have become more sophisticated in the course of the years. The selection of photos clearly documents how concerts have evolved from a simple gig on stage to a sophisticated and highly technical major event. The selected frame may suggest that the music and sometimes even the musicians are pushed to the background, just as if they were hidden behind the security staff or stage scaffolding.

On stage, it's rarely just about performing the individual songs; a concert is rather a combination of musical and visual elements. It includes the famous poses and gestures of the bands, especially of their singers, regardless if male or female. Are these poses and gestures an expression of a creative individuality or a macho pose degenerated into a stereotype? Without the accompanying music, the movements are particularly impressive, as if they were liberated from their original context. They give rise to questions and expose the musicians on stage. Sometimes you are not sure if these poses are a kind of narcissistic image cultivation or artistic self-realization.

The visual aspects of a concert are as important as the musical ones. Musicians are often part of, if not the creator of a particular lifestyle which we often describe as 'zeitgeist'. The band Mungo Jerry, sitting on the lawn during a press conference, is as an image just as meaningful for the late 60s and early 70s as the seemingly postmodern Space Ritual of the same band in the year 2005.

The classic instrument of rock music is the guitar, shaping the typical sound of many bands, and the lead singers often play the guitar as well. The 'traditional' band structure is extended by bass and drums; however, this is obviously not enough for some musicians. They try to extend the sound spectrum with everyday objects which are rather unusual for making music and experiment with a hammer, knife or scissors. So it is clear to see that also the aspects of the stage performance play a part.

Why do people go to rock concerts? There are a number of psychological, sociological and cultural explanatory approaches. Certainly it is also about the collective experience, the experience in the large, anonymous masses. The size of the event plays a key role in the success of the event. decisive role. The more people come together, the more "shadowy" the artists become on stage. Sometimes you get the impression that you're in the middle of something, to feel a certain isolation among so many people.

In the late 1960s, a version of rock music emerged from which blues and hard rock have evolved. This style of music rooted in the tradition of blues and R'n'B as well as in the garage rock of the 60s. The songs were based on famous blues patterns and were presented in a hitherto unknown explosive and loud way. Besides the stars of the genre like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, it was particularly the British bands such as Uriah Heep, Ten Years After and Taste that shaped the typical blues and hard rock sound of that era. Uriah Heep released impressive eight LPs from 1979 to 1975 and has been very popular particularly in Germany.

A myth is created when we, often unconsciously, elevate a certain public figure. With then associate certain emotional values and associations with these stars, and the result is that these people are symbolic of a particular idea or vision of approach to life. Jimi Hendrix is a typical example. He is considered a myth, and his virtuoso guitar playing, hiss eccentric personality and his early death have turned him into an epitome of the rock' n 'roll lifestyle. Another example is Paul McCartney. He is representative of the Beatles myth. The very first super band stands for, among others, hysteria, success and creativity.