During the late '70s, a certain strand of American rock & roll emerged that was later dubbed Heartland Rock in the '80s. At its core, heartland rock was straightforward rock & roll infused with Americana — more streamlined than garage rock, but not as traditionalist as roots rock. Ironically for a style so distinctly American, the Rolling Stones was a clear influence on most of the rough & tumble rockers. But the Stones weren't the only main influence — so were the Byrds, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and '60s garage rock. The result was a frequently exciting hybrid of melody, rhythm, and message.
