Seven ages of rock - a history of rock music over the past 50 years

The rather unpromising sounding London Skiffle Centre becomes the hub for a generation of young blues players clustered around their father figure Alexis Korner.

The saviour of American folk music walks on stage with an electric guitar and a full band; chaos ensues.

Townshend and company arrive with a furious slice of proto-punk containing some (almost) bad language and a bass solo.

Keith Richards plugs in a fuzzbox and creates one of the most iconic riffs of all time.

Ex Animals bass player Chandler sees Hendrix in New York at the suggestion of Linda Keith, and is blown away.

While Clapton may have been God, Hendrix proves himself to be slightly higher up the scale at the Central London Polytechnic.

The guitarist buys a copy of the album and performs the title track (in front of an audience that includes its creators) just 48 hours later.

Jimi Hendrix truly arrives with an explosive set which culminates in the ritual burning of his Stratocaster.

Three days of peace, and music turn into a war zone as Hendrix turns The Star Spangled Banner into an anguished howl of protest at the war in Vietnam.

Mick, Keith and co disprove the notion that hiring The Hell's Angels to handle security a large open air gig is a good idea.

Over half a million people descend on an island with a population of 100,000 to see out the last gasp of the hippy era.

End of an era, Jimi's body was found on 18 September at the Samarkand Hotel, he was only 27. A first it looked like a drug overdose, but the truth was even more unsettling...

Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground mount the first multi-media rock show in front of an audience of psychiatrists.

Virtually ignored on its release, the Velvet's debut album would go on to be cited as the most influential of all time.

Ahead of the release of their debut album, Pink Floyd top a list of 41 acts in a highpoint of the psychedelic era; if you were there, you probably won't remember it.

The pressure of fame and an over-reliance on LSD forces Pink Floyd's golden boy into ever more disturbing and erratic behaviour.

The first meeting of David Bowie, Mick Ronson and some silly costumes results in the first stirrings of glam rock.

David Bowie puts his arm round Mick Ronson and outraged parents up and down the country throw things at their televisions.

Bowie pulls out the stops with a theatrical tour de force involving Roxy Music, mime artists and a lot of costume changes.

Pink Floyd hit the big time with the release of one of the biggest selling albums of them all.

Pink Floyd take their concept album out on the road with the help of some giant inflatable puppets and 45 tons of equipment.

The Ramones' CBGBs sets would become the stuff of legend; lasting barely half an hour and stuffed with a primal energy that was an inspiration to many.

The young John Lydon finds himself auditioning for a job he didn't want, all because of a Pink Floyd T-shirt.

Smith's spiky fusion of three chord rock and poetry inspired a generation of musicians and made a young Michael Stipe throw up.

The Ramones turn the former hippy palace into a sweaty garage in front of a crowd of nascent UK punks. A seminal moment.

The Pistol's first TV appearance on a local late night programme (courtesy of future Factory boss Tony Wilson) electrifies all who watch it.

The first recording issued from the UK punk scene appears courtesy of maverick label Stiff and some cheap cider.

Though pipped to the post by the Damned, the Sex Pistols' debut single is a fierce, monolithic statement of intent.

The moment which launched a thousand tabloid headlines; TV presenter Bill Grundy goads the Pistols into using four letter words on live television.

Inspired by the Notting Hill Carnival riots of the previous year, The Clash's first single is a positive rallying cry for disaffected white youth.

The Sex Pistols implode on stage at the end of their disastrous American tour, leading to Rotten's defection from the band.

Recorded in 12 hours for £600, Sabbath's debut changes the face of the emergent metal scene for ever.

Purple's seventh album in three and a half years contained the rifftastic 'Smoke On The Water'.

Ozzy Osbourne's difficult behaviour and increasing reliance on chemical stimulants forces his exit from Sabbath at the hands of guitarist Tony Iommi.

The first festival devoted to metal, featuring Rainbow, The Scorpions, Judas Priest and some equally heavy rain.

Osbourne proves himself to be a big seller with the help of virtuoso guitarist Randy Rhoads.

One of the first albums to define the New Wave of British Heavy Metal; harder, faster and grittier.

Energised by the presence of new vocalist Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden take metal to the top of the UK charts.

Heavy Metal finds itself in the dock, and not for the first or last time as Judas Priest are accused of encouraging fans to kill themselves.

With the 'Black Album', Metallica turn themselves into superstars with the help of aptly named producer Bob Rock.

The first ever stadium gig, featuring poor security, a band who couldn't hear what they were playing and an audience who were louder than the band.

Plant, Page and company play to over 100 000 people in two days and get themselves in the record books in the process.

The album that propelled Springsteen to superstar status.

Freddie Mercury and the boys stage a free concert in Hyde Park to well over a hundred thousand people, and are almost arrested in the process.

One of the biggest bands of the 80s play the scene of the Beatles' disaster nearly 20 years earlier and sell 15 000 more tickets.

Springsteen tours the stadiums once more, prompting one critic to refer to his gigs as 'a masterwork of crowd control'.

The largest single event in rock history; 1.5 billion viewers, 100 countries, $280 billion raised.

'The Joshua Tree' breaks U2 in America and makes them 'rock's hottest ticket'.

With live satellite feeds and video projections, U2's tour in support of 'Achtung Baby' took the rock tour into the multimedia age with a vengeance.

One of the world's most renowned bands make their debut at a birthday party in a church hall.

One of the most intense Californian punk bands pick up a new singer and get a new lease of life in the process.

R.E.M. make their first platinum seller together with new producer Scott Litt.

The first stirrings of grunge are heard in this raw, gritty and explosive debut single.

The Pixies debut album is unleashed on an unsuspecting public (including Kurt Cobain).

After 8 months on the road, R.E.M. take a breather before recording their biggest album yet.

The self-styled 'King of Pop' loses his crown to three scruffy white boys from Seattle, and the world takes notice.

A defining moment for Cobain and co as they confound their critics and take a 50 000 strong crowd by storm.

After absconding from rehab, Nirvana's frontman is found dead at his home with a shotgun wound to the head.

Morrissey and Marr make their television debut with the help of a bunch of gladioli and a sense of humour.

The end of an era as Morrissey and Marr part company ahead of the release of their last album.

The Roses open the decade with the ultimate expression of the Madchester vibe and move into the glare of the mainstream.

A song written in praise of Club 18-30 holidays becomes one of the defining moments of Britpop.

After three classic singles, the release of their debut album made Oasis the new kings of British rock.

Ahead of the release of their debut album, relative unknowns Suede perform at the Brits thanks to pressure from the NME.

The Britpop rivals battle it out for the #1 slot; class war, evidence of the North-South divide or just record company hype?

Oasis really hit the big time with their biggest, brashest performance to date in front of a quarter of a million people.

Hailed as the UK's best new band, Pete Doherty's outfit decide to hold a series of gigs in a flat in Bethnal Green, attracting the attention of the local constabulary.