The Miracles (American R&B group) The Miracles Influential Detroit R&B vocal group led by Smokey Robinson; Motown's first major success with hits such as "Shop Around", "The Tears of a Clown" and "Love Machine."
The Misfits: American horror‑punk pioneers from New Jersey The Misfits Overview of The Misfits, a New Jersey punk band known for horror themes, theatrical imagery, the Crimson Ghost skull logo, influential merchandising, and later projects by members…
The Monkees: American pop-rock band created for television The Monkees The Monkees were a 1960s American pop-rock group assembled for a television sitcom. Four members, chart hits, collaborations with professional songwriters and a mixed critical lega…
The Monsterican Dream — Lordi album overview and context The Monsterican Dream Overview of The Monsterican Dream, the second studio album by Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band Lordi: background, musical style, personnel notes and its place in the band's early…
The Moody Blues — English rock band and progressive pioneers The Moody Blues English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, noted for blending orchestral arrangements with rock, pioneering art and progressive rock, and charting hits from the 1960s through…
The Musical Offering (BWV 1079) The Musical Offering The Musical Offering, BWV 1079, is a collection of contrapuntal pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach built on a theme given by Frederick the Great; it includes canons, fugues, ricercars…
The Naked Truth — Lil' Kim album The Naked Truth Fourth studio album by rapper Lil' Kim, released Sept 27, 2005. Noted for its raw themes and release amid the artist's legal sentencing; final album with Atlantic Records and first…
The Nameless (Slipknot song) The Nameless A song by American metal band Slipknot, appearing on Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) and later issued as a live single from 9.0: Live; noted for its shifts between aggression and m…
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians A comprehensive, scholarly reference work on music and musicians, tracing its 19th‑century roots to a major modern print and online encyclopedia used by scholars, performers, and s…
The Night Santa Went Crazy A darkly comic original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic that uses an alt‑rock style parody to satirize Christmas tropes, mixing shock humor with 1990s rock production.
The Number of the Beast — Iron Maiden album The Number of the Beast Third studio album by Iron Maiden, released 22 March 1982. First with singer Bruce Dickinson; propelled the band to international success, produced notable singles and stirred cont…
The One That Got Away (Katy Perry song) The One That Got Away A 2011 pop ballad by Katy Perry from the album Teenage Dream. The song reflects on lost love, references Radiohead and Johnny Cash, and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot…
The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage (song) The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage A song by Panic! at the Disco written by Ryan Ross for the debut album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out; released as a radio-only single and often shortened to "The Only Difference."
The Ordinary Boys English indie rock band formed in the early 2000s, known for energetic ska-tinged indie, albums like Over the Counter Culture and Brassbound, and a name taken from a Morrissey song…
The Osmonds: American family music group and entertainers The Osmonds American family singing and entertainment act that rose from childhood barbershop and gospel performances to 1960s–70s pop stardom, a hit television variety show, and long careers…
The Pale Emperor: Marilyn Manson's ninth studio album (2015) The Pale Emperor The Pale Emperor, Marilyn Manson's ninth studio album released January 15, 2015, blends dark rock tones; dedicated to his late mother, it reached the Billboard 200 top 10 and toppe…
The Pharcyde The Pharcyde is an American alternative hip hop group from Los Angeles known for inventive beats, playful and introspective lyrics, and influential tracks such as "Passin' Me By",…
The Piano Guys The Piano Guys are an American instrumental ensemble known for piano–cello arrangements and cinematic YouTube videos. They mix classical and pop, gained viral fame, and released ch…
The Pillows (Japanese rock band) The Pillows The Pillows are a long-running Japanese alternative rock band formed in 1989, known for melodic guitar-driven songs and international recognition after their music featured in the…
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn Debut album by Pink Floyd led by Syd Barrett. A landmark of 1960s British psychedelic rock, noted for whimsical lyrics, experimental instrumentals and wide influence on later rock…
The Pipettes English indie pop girl group formed in Brighton in 2003, noted for 1960s-inspired harmonies, a retro visual style, lineup changes and the single “Pull Shapes.”
The Planets, Op. 32 — Gustav Holst's orchestral suite The Planets A guide to Gustav Holst's seven-movement orchestral suite The Planets, Op. 32: its structure, instrumentation, premiere history, astrological inspiration, and lasting influence on…
The Pleasure Principle (song) A 1987 single by Janet Jackson from the album Control, notable for its theme of independence, dance-driven production, and an influential solo choreography in its music video.
The Pogues: pioneers of Celtic punk The Pogues An overview of The Pogues — their sound, origins in London, key members including Shane MacGowan, major recordings such as "Fairytale of New York", instrumentation, history and las…
The Pointer Sisters: career, style, and cultural legacy The Pointer Sisters American vocal group formed in 1969 in Oakland. Known for genre-blending R&B, pop and disco hits in the 1970s–1980s, dynamic harmonies, and lasting influence on popular music.
The Police — English rock trio known for blending reggae, punk and jazz The Police English rock trio The Police fused reggae rhythms, punk energy and jazz-influenced musicianship into concise, rhythm-driven songs; they sold millions of records and were inducted i…
The Poodles (Swedish glam and heavy metal band) The Poodles Swedish glam/heavy metal band formed in 2005, known for the 2006 Melodifestivalen song "Night of Passion", a string of studio albums and a modern take on 1980s melodic metal.
The Power Within (DragonForce album) The Power Within Fifth studio album by British power metal band DragonForce, released in April 2012. Notable as the first record to feature vocalist Marc Hudson and for its fast, melodic power-meta…
The Prayer (Bloc Party song) A concise encyclopedia-style article about "The Prayer," a single by British indie rock band Bloc Party from the album A Weekend in the City, covering composition, release, recepti…
The Predator (Ice Cube album) The Predator The Predator is Ice Cube's third solo studio album, released November 1992. It combines politically charged commentary and radio-ready singles, produced in the aftermath of the 199…
The Pretenders: British rock band led by Chrissie Hynde The Pretenders Overview of The Pretenders, an English rock band formed in Hereford in 1978, covering members, style, history, notable songs and legacy.
The Pretty Reckless — American rock band led by Taylor Momsen The Pretty Reckless An overview of The Pretty Reckless: members, style, history, notable recordings and influence in contemporary rock from their late-2000s origins to later albums and singles.
The Prodigy (English electronic music group) The Prodigy English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990, known for aggressive breakbeat sound, high‑energy live shows, and mainstream success that helped popularize big…
The Quarrymen — John Lennon’s skiffle group that preceded the Beatles The Quarrymen A concise overview of the Quarrymen: a 1950s Liverpool skiffle and early rock band formed by John Lennon that evolved into the Beatles, including origins, members, repertoire and l…
The Rascals (formerly The Young Rascals) — American rock and soul band The Rascals American rock and soul group formed in the 1960s, known for hits like "Good Lovin'", "Groovin'" and "People Got to Be Free", influential in blue-eyed soul and 1960s pop.
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 2003 and known for the 2006 single "Face Down". They mix emo, post-hardcore and pop-punk, have released studio albums and E…
The Rembrandts American pop-rock duo formed by Danny Wilde and Phil Solem in 1989; best known for the song "I'll Be There for You," widely recognized as the theme to the sitcom Friends.
The Remo Four: Liverpool rock group of the Merseybeat era The Remo Four An overview of the Remo Four, a Liverpool rock group active in the late 1950s–1960s, their ties to the Beatles scene, recordings, collaborations and role on George Harrison's Wonde…
The Replacements: Minneapolis rock band that shaped alternative and indie rock The Replacements (band) The Replacements, formed in Minneapolis in 1979, mixed punk urgency with melodic songwriting and released influential 1980s albums that helped define alternative and indie rock.
The Resistance (Muse album) The Resistance The Resistance is the fifth studio album by British rock band Muse, released in 2009. It blends rock, orchestral arrangements and electronic elements and includes the three-part 'E…
The Return (The Return of the Darkness and Evil) — Bathory album The Return (Bathory album) Second studio album by Swedish extreme metal band Bathory, released in 1985. Noted for its raw production and early influence on death metal and black metal aesthetics.
The Righteous Brothers: American Pop Duo and Pioneers of Blue-Eyed Soul The Righteous Brothers The Righteous Brothers were an American vocal duo formed in California in 1962, known for dramatic, soul-influenced ballads such as "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Unchained…
The Roches: Irish‑American Sibling Vocal Trio Known for Close Harmonies The Roches American sisters Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy Roche formed a vocal trio active from the mid‑1970s through 2007, noted for tight harmonies, witty songwriting, and an intimate, comedic s…
The Rolling Stones: English rock band and enduring cultural icons The Rolling Stones Formed in London in 1962, The Rolling Stones drew on American blues to shape rock music, producing landmark hits, notable lineup changes, and a career spanning decades of recording…
The Ronettes: 1960s New York Girl Group The Ronettes The Ronettes were a 1960s American girl group from New York City, noted for hits like "Be My Baby," their work with producer Phil Spector and a landmark tour with the Beatles.
The Roots: an American hip hop band from Philadelphia The Roots The Roots are a Philadelphia-born hip hop band known for live instrumentation, genre-spanning collaborations, and long-term work as the house band for Jimmy Fallon's late-night TV…
The Runaways: pioneering 1970s all-female rock band The Runaways An overview of The Runaways, the Los Angeles–formed all-female rock group of the 1970s, their members, music, reception, and legacy including Joan Jett and Cherie Currie.
The Saga Begins — Weird Al Yankovic's Star Wars parody of American Pie The Saga Begins A comic retelling of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace set to the tune of Don McLean's "American Pie," written and recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic for his 1999 album.
