Rockabilly music is alive and well after practically 60 years on the scene. Modern rockabilly fans keep the music alive by supporting the bands that play it. But these fans do not just purchase rockabilly records and go to rockabilly shows. Much of them live the rockabilly lifestyle. They dress in vintage clothing. Decorate their homes with vintage furnishings, art work, and color design. They drive classic automobiles. And obviously, they listen to their favorite music on vintage hi-fi devices. These fans are frequently referred to as The Rockabillies.
The rockabillies use the features of 1950s style to express their love for rockabilly music and the good parts of the rockabilly way of life. They're not trying to forget that the 1950s had its share of concerns and troubles . They're not pretending that the atomic bomb scare never existed or that the widespread fear and hatred of communists wasn't distasteful. They don't pretend that the bigotry that contaminated 1950s America wasn't every bit as outrageous as we all know it was. Even if they are rockabillies does not imply that they reside in a world of deception.
Rather, their love for the 50s culture and look is more an effort to celebrate what appears excellent about that era. It represents what appears to us looking back now to have been a easier, more carefree time. Whether it really was or not isn't really the point. It appears that method. Sporting the 50s look is its own distinct brand of cool. It's an easy way to reveal to other rockabillies that you are one of them-- that you share similar interests and a love for the wonderful art form of rockabilly.
Obviously, you do not need to visibly be a rockabilly to delight in and love rockabilly music. I personally don't live as a rockabilly to any great degree. I do tend towards a rockabilly haircut and I enjoy vintage cars as much as the next man. But I do not head out of my way to dress in 50s fashions (aside from my stage clothes when I'm carrying out.) Still, I love rockabilly music and (as evidenced by this, my other posts, and my blog site) invest a lot of time thinking about it, writing about it, and in general simply sharing the pleasure of the music with anybody who will listen.
However the rockabillies are a special type. They express their love for the music and the category outwardly in vivid 1950s colors. When you see a rockabilly, you know immediately what type of music they enjoy. It's a community. Rockabillies are bros and siblings in a common quest to keep rockabilly and the 1950s alive. The clothes they wear, cars and trucks they drive, and the furnishings in their homes simply augment the soundtrack of their lives: The rockabilly music that binds everybody fans together. Whether you are a full-out rockabilly or, read more like me, just a fan who loves the music despite usually non-rockabilly looks, a fan is still a fan. In the end, it's the music that gives us all commonalities. The music is our king, we fans are the rockabilly army, and the rockabillies are our happy flag bearers!
In one of my posts I confessed that when I initially started playing in a rockabilly band years earlier, I didn't even understand adequate about rockabilly to understand that my bass guitar wasn't " genuine" rockabilly equipment. Cliff Gallup, who played for Gene Vincent's Blue Caps used a strong Gretsch DuoJet guitar and most rockabilly fans consider his guitar work as some of the outright finest rockabilly playing of all time.
Robert Gordon was doing straight-out rockabilly and having a bit of success while bands like The Blasters were using rockabilly impact greatly to form a brand-new "roots rock" sound.
These fans don't simply buy rockabilly records and go to rockabilly programs. The rockabillies use the features of 1950s style to reveal their love for rockabilly music and the good parts of the rockabilly way of life.