The history of rock 'n' roll and its evolution into rock is marked by seismic cultural moments intrinsically tied to its visual identity.** It ignited in the mid-1950s with Elvis Presley's electrifying hip-shaking television performances and Chuck Berry's iconic duck walk, visually defining youthful rebellion against a conservative backdrop. The British Invasion of the 1960s, spearheaded by The Beatles' mop-top haircuts and tailored suits, and The Rolling Stones' deliberately ragged anti-establishment look, reshaped global fashion and attitude. Psychedelia exploded next, exemplified by The Jimi Hendrix Experience's flamboyant stage presence and Peter Max's swirling posters for events like Woodstock (1969), which itself became a defining visual symbol of the counterculture. The 1970s saw the rise of stadium rock spectacle, with bands like Led Zeppelin and Kiss employing elaborate stage shows, costumes, and makeup, while punk rock's late-70s eruption delivered a raw, DIY visual assault via ripped clothes, safety pins, provocative album art (like the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen"), and gritty club flyers. Finally, the 1981 launch of MTV irrevocably fused rock music with high-concept video narratives, making iconic imagery – from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to Nirvana's slacker aesthetic in "Smells Like Teen Spirit" – central to an artist's identity and the genre's mainstream penetration, solidifying rock's power as both a sonic and visual cultural force.

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