Rockabilly

Example of a Rockabilly couple.

Other names

Rockabella (feminine)

Decade of origin

1950s (initial popularity)

Late 1970s (revival)

Creator/s

Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Burnette, Jerry Lee Lewis (early influential artists)

Key motifs

Vintage cars, motorcycles, diners, soda fountains, jukeboxes, polka dots, checkerboard patterns, skulls, old-school tattoos, pin-up imagery, red roses, poodles, barber poles

Key colours

White, red, black, bright pastels

Key values

Nostalgia for 1950s Americana, rebellion, individualism, authenticity, passion for music and vintage culture

Related aesthetics

Americana
Biker
Burlesque
Country
Diner
Greaser
Gothabilly (subgenre)
Hot Rod
Old Hollywood
Pin-up
Psychobilly (subgenre)
Raggare
Rock 'n' Roll
Stilyagi

Related media

American Graffiti, Cry-Baby, Grease

Rockabilly is a music genre and associated subculture that originated in the American South during the early 1950s. The term itself combines "rock," from "rock 'n' roll," with "hillbilly," a reference to country music, which was a significant influence. This early style of rock and roll fused country music with rhythm and blues, and incorporated elements from western swing, boogie-woogie, jump blues, and electric blues. Defining musical characteristics included strong rhythms, vocal twangs, boogie-woogie piano riffs, and the use of tape echo. Artists such as Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Burnette popularized the genre.

The rockabilly subculture also encompasses a distinct aesthetic rooted in 1950s Americana. This visual style often includes elements like vintage cars, motorcycles, and imagery associated with diners and soda fountains. Fashion commonly features wide dresses, tight jeans, leather jackets, and specific hairstyles such as men's slicked-back "greaser" dos and women's pinned-up hair. The color palette frequently incorporates white, red, and black. While drawing from 1950s styles, the aesthetic can also include modern elements like tattoos and piercings.

While its initial widespread popularity declined in the late 1950s, rockabilly experienced a revival in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The subculture continues to exist in the 21st century, with enthusiasts often embracing a lifestyle and fashion inspired by 1950s rock and roll, sometimes exhibiting exaggerated motifs of that era. Rockabilly has influenced other genres, including punk rock, and has spawned various sub-styles, such as Psychobilly and Gothabilly.

Visuals[]

The rockabilly aesthetic is founded on an exaggerated portrayal of 1950s Americana, drawing particularly from teenager, greaser, and biker subcultures, alongside leisure activities of that period. Vintage cars and motorcycles, often rare models, are central visual elements. Diners, carhops, and soda fountains, which are tied to 1950s road-trip culture and milkshake consumption, are also prominent motifs. These themed establishments typically feature neon lighting, checkerboard tiles, and bright colors.

Rockabilly distinguishes itself from a general admiration of 1950s culture by incorporating an alternative and edgy appearance. Many adherents display tattoos, piercings, and ear gauges. The aesthetic deliberately avoids the "clean" or "wholesome" visuals associated with preppy styles or 1950s suburbia. Artwork and merchandise within the subculture may feature illustrations of housewives contrasted with swearing, dark humor, or rude imagery. The aesthetic also incorporates a sexual tone through pin-up motifs, including fashion photography that emphasizes the body, and influences from the BDSM community, referencing figures like Bettie Page.

Common visual elements found in rockabilly include polka dots, roller skates, jukeboxes, red roses, poodles, paisley patterns, skulls, old-school tattoos, vintage cars, and barber poles.

Fashion[]

Rockabilly fashion for women, often referred to as "rockabellas," emphasizes the female silhouette. Key garments include dresses with petticoats, pencil skirts, high-waisted trousers and shorts, and halter dresses. Common patterns and prints feature polka dots, leopard print, stripes, and sailor styles. Footwear includes open-toed shoes to complement dresses, and platform creepers or printed boots. Bridal wear within the rockabilly aesthetic can incorporate hoop skirts and bows.

For men, known as "rockabillys," essential clothing items include white t-shirts, cuffed blue jeans, and leather jackets. Suspenders often accessorize these outfits. Footwear for men typically consists of perforated lace-up shoes with a small heel.

How_to_do_a_Rockabilly_Make_Up_Style_Tutorial — How to do a Rockabilly Make Up Style Tutorial

Hair and makeup are defining elements of the style. Black hair is a common choice and is often dyed. Women's hairstyles frequently feature curled parts, are pinned up, and may include hair accessories like flowers or small bows. For makeup, various deep shades of red lipstick are used, along with winged eyeliner and mascara. Blush is applied to the apples of the cheeks, and fake beauty marks are sometimes added. Men frequently sport pompadour hairstyles, maintained with styling products.

Motifs common in rockabilly clothing and accessories include dice, cherries, pin-up girls, swallows, playing cards, stars, and skulls.

Activities[]

Participation in the rockabilly subculture involves various activities. Attending vintage car shows is a common pursuit, reflecting an appreciation for classic automobiles and motorcycles. Vinyl collecting is another significant activity, centered around acquiring and listening to rockabilly music and other related 1950s genres. Swing dancing is a popular social activity, often practiced at events and gatherings. Members of the subculture also engage in a broader embrace of 1950s-inspired leisure activities, including visiting themed diners and carhops, and attending live music performances by rockabilly bands. These activities contribute to the community aspect of the subculture.

Subgenres[]

Psychobilly[]

Main article: Psychobilly

Psychobilly, also known as Punkabilly, is a distinct music genre that emerged in the early 1980s, primarily in Britain. It is defined as an aggressive and loud form of rockabilly, incorporating elements of punk rock.^[1] The genre mandates the inclusion of a double bass, often played with an overdriven sound, along with full rock drum kits and overdriven guitars. Lyrical themes in psychobilly diverge from traditional rockabilly by focusing on graveyards, vampires, zombies, and other horror film and death-influenced subjects, often presented with humor. The Meteors are often cited as pivotal in codifying the genre, advocating for "pure psychobilly" which rejected traditional rockabilly themes like cars, pinups, or bubble gum. The aesthetic involves big quiffs, unconventional clothing, makeup, and props such as blood and skeletons. Early psychobilly audiences, often a mix of rockabillies seeking a punkier sound and punks desiring something different, established their own circuit, exemplified by venues like Klub Foot in Hammersmith. The genre fostered its own dance style known as "wrecking," characterized by frantic flailing.

Gothabilly[]

Main article: Gothabilly

Gothabilly, also known as Hellbilly, is a music genre that blends rockabilly with elements of the goth subculture.^[2] The term was first used by The Cramps in the late 1970s to describe their blend of rockabilly and punk rock, which had a somber tone. It gained wider recognition in the mid-1990s with the release of international gothabilly compilation albums. Musically, gothabilly distinguishes itself from psychobilly by fusing bluesy rockabilly with gothic piano and guitar, typically featuring slower tempos and an emphasis on mood rather than aggression. Fashion associated with gothabilly incorporates elements of gothic style, such as black silks, satins, lace, velvet, corsets, top hats, antique jewelry, PVC, and leather. Common fashion pieces include black skirts and dresses, black and white pinstripe, cat eye glasses, and black or "box red" hair.