--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a…" description: "\"Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of approaching things. Writing can be rock 'n' roll..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/lester-bangs-9750_attitude_rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-mu_994110.jpg" --- # Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a… ![“Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of approaching things. Writing can be rock 'n' roll, or a movie can be rock 'n' roll. It's a way of living your life.” quote by Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/lester-bangs-9750_attitude_rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-mu_994110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/lester-bangs-9750_attitude_rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-mu_994110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/lester-bangs-9750_attitude_rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-mu_994110.jpg) > “Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of approaching things. Writing can be rock 'n' roll, or a movie can be rock 'n' roll. It's a way of living your life.” [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rock 'n' roll represents a mindset of bold, unconventional action, not just a music genre. **In simple terms:** Attitude over genre. Key Takeaway Adopt a daring, creative approach. Themes creativity rebellion authenticity Mood energetic defiant inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic projects - personal branding - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts mindset cultural identity expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply a rock 'n' roll attitude to your work? - What boundaries can you challenge responsibly? A Different Perspective May be misinterpreted as reckless without discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Doing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-things/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Live your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-your-life/) [Living your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-your-life/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rock Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Roll Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roll-attitude-1273297/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Strict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strict/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-living/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-rock-2054774/) ## Related quotes > [Good rock 'n' roll is something that makes you feel alive. It's something that's human, and I think that most music today isn't. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/good-rock-n-roll-is-something-that-makes-you-feel-alive-it-s/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [The thing that sometimes gets lost is people look at the harder edge of me ... the leather jacket and the tough rock 'n'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/the-thing-that-sometimes-gets-lost-is-people-look-at-the-harder-edge/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [I tried to stick with what I knew best, which is writing rock n' roll songs and melodies. I am as passionate as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cherone/i-tried-to-stick-with-what-i-knew-best-which-is-writing-rock-n-roll/) [Gary Cherone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cherone/) > [I've always believed that there's an amazing number of things you can do through a rock'n'roll song and that you can do serious writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-ve-always-believed-that-there-s-an-amazing-number-of-things-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Rock n' roll is about attitude and rebellion. It's supposed to be fun and spontaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slash/rock-n-roll-is-about-attitude-and-rebellion-it-s-supposed-to-be-fun/) [Slash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slash/) > [I don't find writing for the theater that different from writing a rock song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/i-don-t-find-writing-for-the-theater-that-different-from-writing-a/) [David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/) > [Writing is the rock on which everything is built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/writing-is-the-rock-on-which-everything-is-built/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [I had the idea to spend the year off in 2008 and start writing a rock album. I wanted to do something else other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floor-jansen/i-had-the-idea-to-spend-the-year-off-in-2008-and-start-writing-a-rock/) [Floor Jansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floor-jansen/) > [“What is more important - Pretending to live OR living your life? Forget about what others think about you and your way of living.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-arora/what-is-more-important-pretending-to-live-or-living-your-life-forget/) [Manoj Arora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-arora/) > [Magic is not so much something which you do occasionally behind closed doors or in the space behind your closed eyes, but a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hine/magic-is-not-so-much-something-which-you-do-occasionally-behind/) [Phil Hine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hine/) > [A disciple...can never imitate his guide's steps. You have your own way of living your life, of dealing with problems, and of winning. Teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-disciple-can-never-imitate-his-guide-s-steps-you-have-your-own-way/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There is only so much energy available to us in life. Spending it on solving problems is one possible way of living your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-moritz/there-is-only-so-much-energy-available-to-us-in-life-spending-it-on/) [Andreas Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-moritz/) > [“It’s taboo to admit that you’re lonely. You can make jokes about it, of course. You can tell people that you spend most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-o-connell/it-s-taboo-to-admit-that-you-re-lonely-you-can-make-jokes-about-it-of/) [Ryan O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-o-connell/) > [Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/don-t-ask-me-why-i-obsessively-look-to-rock-n-roll-bands-for-some/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [The Mekons are the most revolutionary group in the history of rock 'n' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/the-mekons-are-the-most-revolutionary-group-in-the-history-of-rock-n/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) ## More by Lester Bangs > [I think that if most guys in America could somehow get their fave-rave poster girl in bed and have total license to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-think-that-if-most-guys-in-america-could-somehow-get-their-fave/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [I can guarantee you one thing, we will never agree on anything as we agreed on Elvis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-can-guarantee-you-one-thing-we-will-never-agree-on-anything-as-we/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Here we are in the 70's when everything really is horrible and it really stinks. The mass media, everything on television everything everywhere is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/here-we-are-in-the-70-s-when-everything-really-is-horrible-and-it/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [The ultimate sin of any performer is contempt for the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/the-ultimate-sin-of-any-performer-is-contempt-for-the-audience/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [I don't see that there are any particular changes in popular music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-don-t-see-that-there-are-any-particular-changes-in-popular-music/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“Look at it this way: there are many here among us for whom the life force is best represented by the livid twitching of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/look-at-it-this-way-there-are-many-here-among-us-for-whom-the-life/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“Art", "Bop" and "rock and roll" and whatever is all just a joke and a mistake, just a hunka foolishness so stop treating it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/art-bop-and-rock-and-roll-and-whatever-is-all-just-a-joke-and-a/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/don-t-ask-me-why-i-obsessively-look-to-rock-n-roll-bands-for-some/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [No, I see it as meaning very little at the moment because none of the groups are about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/no-i-see-it-as-meaning-very-little-at-the-moment-because-none-of-the/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [A young woman is dead. I don’t care. You probably don’t care. The police don’t care. The papers don’t care. The punks for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/a-young-woman-is-dead-i-don-t-care-you-probably-don-t-care-the-police/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Sexual chaos reigns currently, but out of chaos may flow true understanding and harmony, and either way Elvis almost singlehandedly opened the floodgates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/sexual-chaos-reigns-currently-but-out-of-chaos-may-flow-true/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [When kids can't afford to see it anymore maybe we'll have a whole resurgence of garage bands all over America and this New Wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/when-kids-can-t-afford-to-see-it-anymore-maybe-we-ll-have-a-whole/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [The Mekons are the most revolutionary group in the history of rock 'n' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/the-mekons-are-the-most-revolutionary-group-in-the-history-of-rock-n/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“But since death is inevitable we don’t have to deal with it (it’ll deal with us when it decides to). What we do have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/but-since-death-is-inevitable-we-don-t-have-to-deal-with-it-it-ll/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) [Explore all 70 Lester Bangs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of approaching things. Writing can be rock 'n' roll, or a movie can be rock 'n' roll. It's a way of living your life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lester Bangs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-musical-form-of-a-strict-sort/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-musical-form-of-a-strict-sort/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/lester-bangs-9750_attitude_rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-mu_994110.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/lester-bangs-9750_attitude_rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-mu_994110.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/lester-bangs-9750_attitude_rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-mu_994110.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of…” — Lester Bangs", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lester Bangs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Rock 'n' roll is an attitude,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-musical-form-of-a-strict-sort/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/rock-n-roll-is-an-attitude-it-s-not-a-musical-form-of-a-strict-sort/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```