Rock 'N' Roll Inventions

The jukebox. The transistor radio. The shellac record. The methods of how we listen to rock 'n' roll have been as transformative as the genre itself, constantly changing the music industry and how listeners experience it. Put your headphones on as we journey from wind-up gramophones to vinyl records to radio to the digital revolution. Some of the biggest names in rock 'n' roll producing and recording explain the impact of each innovation, and how it shaped rock 'n' roll as well as American culture.

The electric guitar came about during the Big Band era, invented only so it could be heard with the other instruments. But over the next few decades, it would come to dominate popular music and change the industry forever. Follow its evolution, from a slab of wood and wires to the instrument that has defined the spirit of rock 'n' roll. Interviews with top music producers, historians, and guitar heroes Andy Summers, Graham Nash, and Dave Davies help us celebrate this instrument of power, speed, and swagger.

Enter the rooms where artistry and technology meet and new sounds take shape and become immortalized: the recording studio. Travel from England to the United States and visit the world's most iconic studios, from Abbey Road to Motown to Sun to Capitol. Here, legendary bands and artists made music history under the guidance of innovative super-producers, using the latest inventions, from multitracks to stereo and beyond, changing music forever.

From the 1960s to the present, synthesized sounds have played a huge part in shaping music, often to the dismay of rock 'n' roll traditionalists. Join us as we follow the rise of the electric keyboard, from the fringes of modern music to the mainstream, and how these futuristic instruments remain a part of today's most popular acts. Music legends Moby, Booker T. Jones, Andy Summers, Gary Numan and more share their personal stories about working with, and being part of, one of the biggest revolutions in rock 'n' roll.

Nearly every day, new special effects burst onto the music scene, each one expanding the sound of rock 'n' roll. Join us as we explore how new effects, developed in recording studios and in the homes of producers, transformed today's popular music, from bouncing echoes off tiled-bathroom walls to stretching tape tracks to sampling any sound ever recorded. Interviews with top music producers, historians, and performers such as Andy Summers and Moby take us through decades of new innovations that expanded musical boundaries.

Today's concerts aren't just about live music. They are visual extravaganzas, driven by innovation and teams of technicians. But half a century ago, performances happened on town bandstands, without light shows, choreography, and speaker towers. Witness the evolution of the rock concert and see how the music industry continues to push technology to its limits to wow audiences in amazing ways. Footage of pioneering concerts, festivals, and tours, plus interviews with legendary artists and producers, give you front row seats and backstage access.