Creem magazine editor Lester Bangs discusses the future of rock and roll, and the place for the aging icons of youth such as The Rolling Stones and Black Oak Arkansas. How will culture embrace them as they grow old? What place in history will the golden age of rock and roll hold?

Tony Palmer introduces his landmark series.

David Bowie, Kiss, Elton John - with these musical giants came a transformation of rock and roll. Slick costumes, garish theatricality, and extensively produced sounds contrast the raw sounds that had previously dominated the airwaves. Is glitter rock a sign of the death of rock and roll?

Tony Palmer takes us through the riots, the power, the inspiration, and the chaos of The Rolling Stones era music and the infamous San Francisco concert at the Fillmore.

Ragtime holds an unexpectedly profound place in the history of music, and it can be said to have laid the cornerstone of American popular music.

No musical group has had as profound an impact on pop music as The Beatles. Tony Palmer's groundbreaking documentary gives us an intimate look at one of the most influential groups in musical history.

With a wide array of influences, rock and roll often evades definition. Its influence however, cannot be denied, sparking fiery debate from its inception. Featuring Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, and Elvis Presley, this episode explores this profound genre.

The modern American musical - in film form or on stage - borrows and expands on many genres. A musical and narrative performance full of spectacular showmanship, the musical's place in history is explored in this episode.

Unquestionably American, pop music has a profound debt to blues. This episode explores the tumultuous history of blues from its New Orleans origins to its current state.