The Blank Generation — How Rock Moved From Political Opposition to Sheer Nihilism

Rock has always been about cultural and social conflict, ever since its birth in the Memphis-style boogie (over-amplified 'jump' tunes whose driving rhythms kept country time) which permeated the searching blues of men like John Lee Hooker. Sam Phillips' Sun label — until it spawned rock with record No 209, Elvis Presley's 'That's All Right' — was a blues label, and Sam was the man who had recorded almost all Memphis-style bluesmen.