Iranian rock

Early years

Iranian rock music roots in American and European rock music, with influences from traditional forms of Iranian music and remarkable events such as the Shiraz Arts Festival. It was developed in the 1960s and 1970s, with the emergence of artists such as Farhad, Kourosh Yaghmaei, Black Cats, and Scorpio (not to be confused with the German Scorpions). Soon it became popular among the young generation, especially at the nightclubs of Tehran.

After the 1979 Revolution

Following the 1979 Revolution, the music industry experienced some period of encounter with prohibition in Iran.

During the late 1990s, president Khatami advocated a more open cultural atmosphere in his domestic policies. As a result, a number of new singers emerged from within the country. Since the new administration took office, the Ministry of Ershad adopted a different policy, mainly to make it easier to monitor the industry. The newly adopted policy included loosening restrictions for a small number of artists, while tightening it for the rest. However, the number of album releases increased.

In post-revolutionary Iran, live concerts are heavily restricted by the government. Rock bands might obtain permission to perform on live stage, provided their music is approved by the Ministry of Ershad. Most of the rock bands who cannot obtain permission rely on the Internet and underground scenes.

127 were the first Iranian underground rock band to tour the United States and play at the festival of South By Southwest.

In 2008, power metal band Angband signed with German record label Pure Steel Records as the first Iranian metal band to release internationally through a European label. They had collaborations with the well-known producer Achim Köhler.

Notable figures

The following samples a list of homegrown Iranian rock bands and individual artists, mostly active in Iran. Some are officially sanctioned, others continue to operate unofficially and independently due to the restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Ershad.