By: Tracy Heck

Ahead of her passing on Tuesday, Dolly Parton had more than earned her status as “America’s
Sweetheart,” with her charm, unique goodness, humility, quick wit, generosity, talent, business
sense and beauty.

She ruled country music, sparkled in her acting roles, built a business empire that included
everything from clothing to an amusement park and was legendary for her generosity.

Along the way she also had a heavy influence on the rock world, which culminated in her 2022
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction and 2023 release of her rock album Rockstar.

Here are just ten ways that she left her mark on the rock genre.
1: Rock N Roll has always had deep roots in rhythm and blues and country and much of Dolly's
work defied genres. She blended her brand of country with pop, rock, R&B and even disco
influences. The biggest example of this being her labor force exploitation hit “9 to 5.”

2. Dolly herself said many times that she had been rocking since the day she was born. She grew
up listening to and being inspired by artists like Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.

3. Long before her rock album release, Dolly had a number of memorable rock covers. In
addition to a fiery rendition of Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire,” Parton tried her hand at Collective
Soul's “Shine,” The Beatles “Help,” The Animals “House of the Rising Sun” and John Lennon's
“Imagine,” among others.

4. At the same time, Dolly's music also inspired other artists and many of those were rock artists
who put their own spin on her music. Among those were The White Stripes, who performed a
raw live cover of “Jolene,” swedish punk rock band Millencolin, who recorded a version of “9 to
5,” and Sinead O'Connor, who covered “Dagger Through the Heart.”

5. Dolly’s husband Carl Dean, who she was married to for nearly 60 years, was a huge rock fan.
Dolly shared in many interviews that it was all he listened to and as a result, she was exposed to
a number of artists and songs that she was inspired by. Dean's favorite band was Led Zeppelin
and Dolly recorded their epic “Stairway to Heaven” as a bluegrass/gospel interpretation on her
2002 album Halos & Horns. She later did a more straightforward cover on her Rockstar album.

6. Much like her fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Fame contemporaries Jackson Browne and Tom
Waits, Dolly's songwriting was at the core of her success as an artist who crossed boundaries.
She wrote real stories about real people that everyone could relate to. She tackled issues like
suicide on “The Bridge,” feminism on “Just Because I’m A Woman,” vengeance on “I Don’t
Want to Throw Rice” and infidelity on “Jolene.” Of course, it is the beauty of “I Will Always
Love You,” which she wrote about leaving her song partner/mentor Porter Wagoner that she will
most be remembered for. Whitney Houston’s awe-inspiring cover is still the best selling female
single of all-time, which just highlights Parton’s songwriting skills.

7. Dolly's life was full of punk rock spirit. She set new standards: first as a female in a male-
dominated country world and then on a larger scale as a shrewd businesswoman who set
standards for artist control and as a philanthropist.

8. When the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame came calling, Dolly initially turned down the invitation
because she felt there were too many deserving rock artists who hadn’t been inducted yet. Fans
across the world and a number of other musical artists urged her to accept the honor. She
reluctantly agreed, but not before deciding to record a rock album of her own and when Rockstar
was released, it featured collaborations from a number of rock mainstays from Paul McCartney
and Stevie Nicks to Elton John and Debbie Harry.

9. At the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, Dolly shined taking the stage in a black
studded latex jumpsuit and a black bejewelled matching black guitar and ripped through
“Rockin” a song she wrote just for the occasion complete with a shredding solo. Later, she
performed a rousing rendition of “Jolene” with All-Star group of musicians that included Pink,
Rob Halford, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Pat Benatar, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow and Simon
Left Bon.
​
10. Dolly always lived her life in a authentic way and much like Elvis was able to reach far
beyond just the country music world. Her impact on music,along with her impact on tv, movies,
fashion and humanity as a whole is immeasurable. She truly was a “rock star” in the truest sense
of the world.

By: Brandon Yeagley

Preparing for a tour abroad is like prepping for childbirth. You run through that checklist striking off each item. Passport, check; visa, check; electric adapters, check; auto-responder email, fuck it, mostly spam infiltrates my inbox anyways.

Years of dust-collecting discount codes live free in my phone like a psychotic ex-girlfriend. “Oh yeah, I forgot about the Victoria’s Secret mailing list. Guess I did subscribe to that, didn’t I?” Ahhhh, but I digress.

Where was I?

Oh, yes…the birth of both of my children resembled these feelings of the false sense of preparation. Alright, I think I’m prepared. I’ve got my trusty Fathering for Dummies handbook and I’ll never leave an easily obtainable knife on the table again.

Then reality hits faster than the flight attendants can say “turbulence.” Nothing can really condition your ass and hemorrhoids to sit in one place for eight hours on your own glorified personal five-gallon bucket, complete with the veil of safety buckled across the lap. Of all the modern marvels of the world, and how often we the people sit on our asses these days — can anyone tell me why the hell seats keep getting more uncomfortable?
I’d like to think it’s aerodynamics and planned obsolescence, and not the growing density of my hindquarters.

Crobot is setting sail across the Atlantic for a second time in a year, and I can’t help reflecting on our adventures over the ages and eras of the band. Aside from young bucks Willie and Nico entering the fold, and the sharper shadows on a face fresh off my 39th birthday, this time doesn’t look all that different. A handful of shows, thrown across the map like dice on a chessboard, complete with my playable character dressed like the quintessential American, from Hanes to a Buc-ee’s baseball jersey. Inside, though, some sentimental thoughts are playing batting practice with my skull.

Gone are the days when I’d plan my trips in each city, mapping out the 4.9-star-and-above local hotspots, touring the castles, searching for statues older than my hometown. Give me Nando’s, Buckfast, and whatever kebab is still open after midnight, and I’ll take my chances. Still, I light up when I see anyone bite into black pudding for the first time. After all, you only have your first fried haggis once.

As each tour comes and goes, I feel it more and more necessary to stop thinking, stop talking, stop searching. These moments, these tours, these shows in different countries, these days in general, all seem finite. How long will people care about us enough across the world, or at least across the ocean, to show up to hear me scream about Spaceborne Killers and supermoons? How many times can we book a tour and hope promoters stay afloat and these venues won’t go away? How many more miles (errrr, kilometers?) can my asshole take before complete prolapse?

I’m not quite sure, but what I do know is this time I’m going to make certain to treat this tour like we perform every show: as if it were the last. The last time I’ll long for decent coffee. The last time I’ll wish I’d never eaten that Greggs pasty at 10:30 a.m., knowing it’s already got a few hours of life and fermentation under its belt. Or the last time I’ll have a warm pint at Wetherspoons.

I genuinely feel like I’m at an old relative’s house when touring overseas. Like visiting an old great-aunt whom I don’t see terribly often, but when I do, I realize why she stayed away from the family reunions all these years. I suppose her trip into existence resembles mine in a way. Squashed undercarriages reeking of afterbirth, elbows to assholes, waking up around people who can smell that there’s an impostor in the room, all to end up screaming to myself — “how the hell did I get here?”

​

By: Cole Bandit

Every generation believes their era produced the greatest rock music ever made. While every decade has contributed legendary artists and unforgettable albums, some periods simply changed the course of music forever. Whether it was pioneering new sounds, producing iconic bands, or creating albums that still influence musicians today, these six decades each left a permanent mark on rock history.
Here's Sound Fury Magazine's ranking of the greatest decades in rock music

1. The 1970s
The Golden Age of RockNo decade comes close to matching the sheer diversity, creativity, and influence of the 1970s.
Rock music exploded into countless directions. Hard rock became arena sized. Heavy metal was born. Progressive rock pushed musicianship to unbelievable heights. Southern rock, punk rock, glam rock, and singer-songwriter movements all flourished simultaneously.
This wasn't just one style of music it was an era where artists were encouraged to experiment without limits.
The decade gave us legendary albums from bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Queen, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac, Boston, Van Halen, The Eagles, Rush, The Who, and countless others.
Many critics consider the 1970s to be the greatest album era in music history. Artists weren't chasing viral hits they were crafting complete records designed to be experienced from beginning to end.
The 1970s didn't just define rock music.
It became the blueprint for nearly everything that followed.

2. The 1990sAlternative Took Over the WorldFew decades changed rock music as dramatically as the 1990s.
Grunge turned Seattle into the center of the music universe almost overnight. Alternative rock replaced hair metal on mainstream radio, while nu-metal, industrial rock, and post-grunge quickly emerged.
Bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Korn, Deftones, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, and Green Day completely reshaped what rock music sounded like.
The decade wasn't driven by image. It was driven by authenticity.
Many of today's biggest rock acts still draw inspiration from the songwriting, production, and emotion that defined the '90s.

3. The 2000sRock Refused to DieDespite predictions that rock music was fading, the 2000s proved otherwise.
This era produced an incredible wave of modern hard rock, metalcore, post-hardcore, emo, and alternative bands that still headline festivals today.
System of a Down, Linkin Park, Avenged Sevenfold, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Three Days Grace, Seether, Disturbed, Chevelle, Trivium, Alter Bridge, Bullet For My Valentine, and countless others helped define the soundtrack of the decade.
Meanwhile, classic artists like Metallica, AC/DC, Green Day, Foo Fighters, and Nine Inch Nails continued releasing important music.
The internet also transformed how fans discovered new artists, making independent bands more accessible than ever before.

4. The 1960sWhere It All BeganWithout the 1960s, none of the other decades exist.
This was the birth of modern rock.
The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Kinks, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, and Creedence Clearwater Revival all helped redefine popular music.
The British Invasion forever changed American radio while psychedelic rock expanded what audiences believed music could be.
Recording studios became instruments themselves.
Albums became artistic statements rather than collections of singles.
Everything started here.

5. The 2010sKeeping Rock AliveThe 2010s often receive criticism because rock wasn't dominating the pop charts.
That criticism overlooks how much incredible music was actually released.
This decade saw bands like Ghost, Halestorm, Rival Sons, Greta Van Fleet, Bring Me The Horizon, Nothing More, Badflower, Highly Suspect, Dorothy, Mammoth WVH (at the decade's close), and countless independent artists push rock forward.
Streaming changed everything.
Instead of relying on MTV or radio, fans discovered new music through Spotify, YouTube, and social media.
While mainstream exposure declined, the rock community became stronger, more connected, and more passionate than ever.

6. The 1980sBigger Hair. Bigger Hooks. Bigger Everything.Putting the 1980s last on this list doesn't mean it wasn't an incredible decade.
Quite the opposite.
Hair metal exploded with Mötley Crüe, Poison, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Skid Row, Cinderella, and Warrant becoming household names.
Thrash metal was born thanks to Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax.
Alternative rock quietly began taking shape with bands like R.E.M. and The Cure.
The only reason the '80s lands at No. 6 is because so much of mainstream rock became image driven. While countless legendary records were released, many bands leaned heavily on fashion, excess, and MTV appeal. Even so, the decade's biggest acts remain some of the most successful touring artists in rock history, and the influence of both glam metal and thrash continues to shape modern rock and metal.

Final ThoughtsEvery decade has produced timeless music, unforgettable artists, and albums that continue to inspire new generations. The beauty of rock is its ability to evolve while never losing its rebellious spirit.
Whether your playlist is filled with Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Linkin Park, The Beatles, Ghost, or Mötley Crüe, one thing is certain:
Rock has never belonged to just one generation.
Sound Fury Magazine's Rankings

1. 🥇 1970s
2. 🥈 1990s
3. 🥉 2000s
4. 1960s
5. 2010s
6. 1980s

Agree with our rankings? Which decade do you think produced the greatest rock music of all time? Let us know—this debate is never really over. 🤘