Rock Rebellion

Ok, if you don't know it by now, I just wanna be a rockstar! And why wouldn't I? They're so cool, the rebels of our generation, speaking of.. check out the 15 greatest acts of rock rebellion!

14. Jim Morrison and The Doors get higher on The Ed Sullivan Show, 1967

The Ed Sullivan Show, the variety program famous for breaking acts like Elvis Presley and The Beatles, is almost as famous for censoring them. On September 17, 1967, The Doors were fresh off the success of their breakout hit, “Light My Fire,” and were about to perform the song on the show. The group was even set to sign a deal that would put them on seven more times. All they had to do was appease the show and its sponsors’ request for lead singer Jim Morrison to not sing the line “girl we couldn’t get much higher,” a supposed drug reference. Morrison sang the line as originally written, and not only was the group banned from the show, but Sullivan refused to shake the Lizard King’s hand at the performance’s end. Rumor has it that Ed Sullivan later saw 2 Live Crew perform “Me So Horny” from Heaven and gave Morrison a hug. — G.D.

13. Jarvis Cocker interrupts Michael Jackson, the BRIT Awards, 1996

While performing his new “Earth Song” at the British awards show, Michael Jackson rose above the stage on a construction worker’s crane, striking poses that were more King James than King of Pop while a chorus of children (and a rabbi!) danced below. Jarvis Cocker, lead singer of alt-rock band Pulp, rushed the stage, pointed his ass in Jacko’s general direction, smirked for the camera, waved at Michael, and ran in circles to avoid security. Cocker was eventually held by police on suspicion of assault, but never charged. The rocker said he did it because Michael’s Jesus act was “not right” and “rock stars have big enough egos,” though Cocker probably didn’t mind the boost in Pulp record sales. He insisted that rock ‘n’ roll was meant to stick it to “The Man,” and in this case “The Man” was Michael Jackson. — Eric Larnick

11. The Sex Pistols play “God Save the Queen” at the House of Parliament, 1977

From the moment groundbreaking punk rockers The Sex Pistols wrote “God Save The Queen,” the song was marred in controversy. On March 10, 1977, the band was signed by A&M Records — then released from their contract just six days later, leaving 25,000 copies of the single to be destroyed. In May, Virgin Records signed the band, but the song’s lyrics and album cover — featuring the Queen’s face with the title over her eyes and mouth — offended employees at the pressing plant, who then refused to work. The single eventually was released on May 27. In June of that year, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee, her majesty was to set sail down the River Thames, past the House of Parliament. Two days before the procession, the Pistols stole the Queen’s thunder by chartering a boat for same route, while blasting their “tribute” to her. Eleven people were arrested as a result — but that’s a small price to pay for lasting rock ‘n’ roll infamy. — G.D.

6. Elvis Costello on Saturday Night Live, 1977

Back in 1977, most of America hadn’t heard of Elvis Costello. His albums were available via import, but the British rocker hadn’t yet connected with the general public. Saturday Night Live was the hippest show around, and all eyes were locked on its taste-making power. After the Sex Pistols’ legal troubles forced them to back out of the December 12 show, Costello was brought in as a last-minute musical guest. For his television debut he wanted to play “Radio, Radio” — a raging indictment of radio’s increasingly commercial direction, and record companies’ strict control of what people hear — but his label was clearly unfamiliar with the definition of irony. Columbia Records ordered him to play “Less than Zero” instead. Elvis had barely begun playing their chosen song when he launched into “Radio, Radio.” The impromptu moment got him banned from SNL for twelve years; in 1999, with a little help from the Beastie Boys, he returned as a conquering hero. — E.L.

5. Kurt Cobain wears a dress on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, 1991

Strange to remember now, but before there was such a thing as “grunge,” fledgling Seattle rockers Nirvana got filed in the “heavy metal” section. That’s how they ended up on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, home of all the teased hair, misogyny, and homophobia that ’80s metal had to offer. Needless to say, feminist homophile Kurt Cobain couldn’t resist the chance to appear on the show in a dress, raising a wry middle finger to the macho audience he despised (see also “In Bloom“). Nevermind might’ve knocked metal off the charts, but symbolically, Cobain’s gown was the last nail in the coffin. — P.S.

1. Bob Dylan Goes Electric, Newport Music Festival, 1965

Bob Dylan was the wunderkind of the folk community. At the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, he took the stage with an electric guitar and a full band. The crowd’s reaction was not pretty; the hardcore folk purists who’d made Dylan their young-buck god considered his new sound the worst kind of treason. After three songs, Dylan threw up his hands and walked offstage. While the official backlash happened after the performance, there are still conflicting tales about that night. Some festival-goers contended Dylan’s performance was met with a smattering of boos; others claim there were no boos whatsoever. Some say the bad reception came from the audience, others camps state it was from other musicians backstage, or the press section. Pete Seeger recanted his negative reaction to the set — “If I had an axe, I’d chop the microphone cable right now” — with the explanation that he was reacting to the poor sound system and not the radical act of Dylan going electric. Whatever happened, it was an iconic moment and a huge spark for rock ‘n’ roll. — L.C.