Iranian rock
Iranian rock refers to rock music produced by Iranian artists. Rock music has been popular in Iran since the late forties, with the emergence of singers such as Kourosh Yaghmaei, Farhad Mehrad, Fereydoon Foroughi and Habib Mohebian, but was largely forgotten after the Cultural Revolution. Like most rock styles, electric guitar and bass guitar and drums are the main instruments in this type of music. In some groups, the keyboard also has the task of adjusting the rhythms and symbols.
Iranian rock music is influenced by English rock, American rock and European styles. Because of the Iranian performers of this music, all kinds of Iranian rhythms and tones in this genre are separated from other rock genres. Iranian rock is not yet recognized as a legal style in Iran. Most bands and singers of this genre operate underground. The movie "No One Knows About Persian Cats" is about this.
Iranian rock began in Iran as British Invasion began. The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Bill Haley & His Comets, and later Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, had a great impact on Iranian rock.
Early years
Rock music was introduced in Iran by the 1960s, together with the arrival of other Western musical genres in the country's music industry. Iranian rock music was developed by the emergence of artists such as Farhad Mehrad, Kourosh Yaghmaei, Black Cats, The Dangers and Scorpio. It soon grew as a popular musical genre among the young generation, especially at the nightclubs of Tehran and Abadan.Couchini Restaurant
The origin of many Iranian rock artists, including Farhad and the Black Cats, is Couchini Restaurant. The restaurant was founded by Vida Ghahremani in the early 1960s. Farhad Mehrad played the piano at this restaurant and was the lead singer of the Black Cats group. He also sings the songs of Ray Charles. The Americans in that area had given Farhad the nickname "Ray Charles of Iran". Ebi also performed her first performance at Couchini Restaurant. After the Black Cats became famous, they no longer performed at the restaurant. That's why other groups like Scorpio replaced them. In general, Couchini Restaurant was the most important place to cultivate Iranian rock music.Kourosh Yaghmaei and Psychedelic Rock in Iran
began releasing his albums in 1971. He brought a lot of innovation to Iranian rock. Using the keyboard as the rhythm of the song instead of the guitar is part of this innovation. Kourosh Yaghmaei released two albums before being banned, both of which are important works of Iranian rock. His most important work is "Ice Flower". Based on international standards, the flower of ice quickly penetrated beyond the borders of Iran, and thereafter various performances in other countries of the world continued to this day. According to Ebrahim Nabavi : "Kourosh Yaghmaei has had a profound impact on Psychedelic Rock in Iran." Kourosh Yaghmaei is known as the father of Iranian rock because of his deep influence on Iranian rock music.Habib Mohebian and Fereydoon Foroughi, pioneers of blues rock
began his work a year after Farhad Mehrad. His debut album Zendoone Del was one of the first albums of Iranian blues rock. Fereidun Foroughi's scratchy voice greatly contributed to his reputation. His most famous song is "yar dabestani man" sweetheart. Fereydoun Foroughi's work ended with this album. The bad sales of this album made it impossible to release another album. With the Iranian Revolution happening, the voice of Fereydoun Foroughi was never heard again. Although Fereydoon Foroughi's work was not long, his influence on rock music is significant. In 1977, Habib Mohebian began preparing his first album. Four months ago Habib's mother released the album. Habib sang a song called "Mother" because of her mother's death that was used in the album. Habib Mohebian has two other self-titled songs, "Lonely Night Man" and "My Shahla", both of which are on his first album. Until the Iranian Revolution, Habib onlyhad the opportunity to release another album called Hello Neighbor. After the revolution, Habib stayed in Iran until 1983 and then moved to Los Angeles. His most notable work during this period was "Swamp Crabs", an important work in blues rock. Habib returned to Iran in 2009. Habib did little work until the end of his life and died in 2016.
Contemporary poets and political currents
Rock's arrival in Iran provided an opportunity for poets to present their poems. Many of these poets were of the Nima Yooshij generation. Shahyar Ghanbari is the greatest of all poets of this period. The poem "Friday", written by Shahyar Ghanbari and read by Farhad Mehrad, is a political poem about the Siahkal incident. Shahyar Ghanbari also wrote another poem called "The Smell of Wheat" by Dariush Eghbali. Shahyar Ghanbari was detained for several months by Savak for the song. On 18 February 1974 Marxist poet and writer Khosrow Golsorkhi was executed for plotting to assassinate the Crown Prince of Iran. Iraj Janatie Ataie, one of the great poets of that time, wrote a poem called "Rain of Flowers" in protest of the execution of Khosro Golsorkhi, also read by Dariush Eghbali. The poem was banned for protesting the execution of Golsorkhi, and Iraj Janatie Ataie was detained for months for the poem and was released only by changing one part of the song.Iraj Janati Ataei wrote another song for Dariush called "The Song of the Jungle" which was related to Siahkal Incident. Ardalan Sarfaraz may be the only poet of this period who did not go to prison. Criticism of the execution of Khosro Golsorkhi can be found in some of the poems he wrote for Googoosh. Viguen's brother Karoo Derderiyan was a major opponent of Mohammad Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was banned from working while he was in Iran for his reckless poetry. Karo was also always rejected by the public for his fight against poverty and superstition. Karo died in 2007 at the height of anonymity. Zoya Zakarian and Bijan Samandar are other political poets of the period who both had to leave the country. Bijan Salamander died in 2018 in Santa Monica.Tehran Sound
The number of rock bands gradually increased, each performing in cafes and restaurants. Some of these bands, such as The Robles, The Dangers, and Golden Ring, have released albums. Most of the works published by these groups did not succeed. In time, these rock bands were renamed Tehran Sound. All bands in Tehran Sound released their songs with the Apollo label. But most of them did not succeed. Kamran Yaghmaei, brother of Kourosh Yaghmaei, formed a band that played the songs of Kourosh. Andy started playing music with the band, he played in the Bass Guitar. Tehran Sound had almost disappeared by the dissolution of key groups such as the Golden Ring by 1977. One of the last artists to call themselves a member of Tehran Sound was Faramarz Aslani, who blended flamenco with rock. Tehran Sound ended with the start of the Iranian Revolution.Regional scenes
Astara
In 1969 and 1970 Golden Ring first introduced rock garage into Iranian rock music. As a result, large groups of enthusiasts of this genre were formed throughout Iran. The most important Astara rock band was Cheshm Azar Group, founded by Nasser Cheshm Azar. The song "God of the heavens" is the band's most popular song, which many have covered. Other highlights of Astara are the miracles.Mashhad
and Pepe Flovy were active rock bands in Mashhad. In 1966, The Sinners performed " Satisfaction" at the hall of Mohammad Reza Shah. Andranik Asaturian formed the Super Five band in 1969. This band was one of the first examples of jazz fusion in Iran. the Super Five lasted only a year.Abadan
group was formed in Abadan. Some members of this group later joined the Scorpio group. Son Soul Brothers was a group that Martik Kanian and Mehdi Khashe founded. Martik and Mehdi Khashe were both from Abadan, playing guitar for Mehdi Rahmati's orchestra. In 1971, Martik and Mehdi Khasheh were separated from the Mehdi Rahmati Orchestra. Martik and Mehdi Khashe, along with Firouz Sarkarde, Behrouz Lari, Mohammad Moradi and Hossein Hosseini formed the Son Soul Brothers band. The group was originally covering foreign works such as Pastime Paradise. The band have been making their own songs since 1972, with the most successful being "Cheshmaye To" in 1975. "Cheshmaye To" was listed in the number 90 list of my network and you as "Top 100 Persian Songs". Son Soul Brothers was the first Iranian band to perform a disco song. The group was dissolved in 1977., known as Sultan of Jazz, was a role model for many Armenian singers.The role of Armenians
The Armenians were very capable musicians. Viguen was a pioneer in the integration of pop music with Persian poetry. Artoush and his band The Wonders also pioneered the creation of symphony rock in Iran. But Artosh's work was not well known, and Artosh remained anonymous until his death in 2018. Varoujan, a great Armenian musician, had arranged many popular Iranian songs. He died of cardiac arrest very early in his forties. Like many other Armenian singers, Georges Hvansian tried to imitate Viguen. He became famous for reading Greek works. The Poppy band was one of the first Armenian rock bands. Some of the songs in this band are outstanding. Armenian works are very important and influential in Iranian rock music. And still these works have maintained their fame.After the 1979 Revolution
Following the 1979 Revolution, the authorities of the new regime imposed significant restrictions on the music industry and other fields of art and media in Iran. Later, by the late 1990s, Reformist president Khatami advocated more openness in terms of the policies on cultural activities. The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which was formed in 1984, is responsible for monitoring and sanctioning music and other types of cultural industries within post-revolutionary Iran.In post-revolutionary Iran, live performances are heavily restricted by the authorities. Rock musicians may obtain permission to perform on live stage, provided their music is approved by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. However, many would have to rely on the Internet and underground scenes, as they fail to get permission from the authorities.
127 were the first Iranian underground rock band to tour the United States and play at the festival of South By Southwest.
New subgenres
Alternative rock
in Iran has a tumultuous history. Following Abdi Behravanfar, the O-Hum and Comment Band groups began to make alternative works. Alternative bands, like other rock genres, operate underground in Iran. Alternative rock bands with roots and blues, psychedelic, and garage rock influences created a thick and powerful sound making use of highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, high beats, and overall loudness. The lyrical themes of these groups are mostly related to the consequences of the mechanization of life, life and death, and protest against capitalist governments. The heavy rhythms and defiant lyrics made this style popular in Iran. B-band is one of the most influential bands of this genre and is considered a pioneer of Iranian alternative rock. The music of bands like B-band incorporates traditional Iranian melodies as well as elements of jazz music. Their lyrics tend to speak of their own cultural and personal experiences, and reflect on the loneliness, hope and despair of the world at large.Heavy Metal and Hard rock
The inspiration for many of Iran's hard rock songs of the 1970s was bands like Cream, The Who and above all The Jimi Hendrix Experience. With the victory of the Iranian Revolution, heavy metal and hard rock in Iran disappeared for a while. After the 1979 Revolution, Iran engaged in an eight-year war with Iraq. It was at this time that some Iranian youths, led by Farshid Arabi, were playing unauthorized heavy metal. Over time, Farshid Arabi formed a group called Silent Death and continued to operate underground. The most important source of inspiration for Farshid Arabi and his band was Black Sabbath, which later became the source of inspiration for many Iranian metal bands. By the beginning of the 1990s, heavy metal has grown in Iran and gained many fans and supporters. During this period, the works of the Grunge bands were sold underground in Iran, the works of Nirvana group being the most popular and best-selling. Many bands formed during this period in Iran such as Kahtmayan, Angband, Mordab, Arsames and Master of Persia. Heavy metal and hard rock music are illegal like many other rock styles in Iran. but in recent years some bands like Gereh received permission to play concerts in Tehran.In 2008, power metal band Angband signed with German record label Pure Steel Records as the first Iranian metal band to release internationally through a European label. In 2017 Tim Aymar joined the band as the new singer.