Dissertation

Many critics ‘dismissed the creative opportunities’
of the electric guitar.

‘The volume and aggression of his sound, [Hendrix] alienated many people outside the rock circle and
public. But the audio visual feast provided, with
smashing and burning guitars fulfilled his audience’s demand for a cathartic experience.’

‘Guitar Hero gives you all the excitement and thrill
of being a rock star without leaving your home!!’3


This study investigates the rise of the electric guitar in popular culture, looking into the role played by both Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townshend whose performances pushed the electric guitar into the mainstream.
The electric guitar became a tool of expression and a symbol of mass resistance. The third chapter looks at Guitar Hero and the affect it had on the cultural
significance of the electric guitar.