Boléro in Rock | Ravel's Boléro Drumbeat in Rock Music Throughout the Decades

Ravel's Bolero

Boléro by Maurice Ravel (1928). Wikipedia article here.An impressive performance of Ravel's Boléro by the orchestra directed by the Dutch violinist and conductor Andre Rieu. Notice the rhythm, and especially the drumbeat, that's played throughout and then listen to the rock songs below; you can hear the Boléro in them.

White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane

White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (1967). Wikipedia article here. The rhythm similar to Boléro is pronounce throughout the song.

"Set to a rising crescendo similar to that of Ravel's famous Boléro" - from Wikipedia article

You Keep Me Hanging On by Vanilla Fudge

You Keep Me Hanging On by Vanilla Fudge (1967). Wikipedia article about Vanilla Fudge here.

The Boléro beat is played from the 1:07 to 1:20 mark.

Beck's Bolero by the Jeff Beck Group

Beck's Bolero by Jeff Beck (1967). Wikipedia article here.

"Beck's Bolero" is a short, rock-based instrumental piece heavily influenced by Maurice Ravel's Boléro, recorded by Jeff Beck with Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, Nicky Hopkins on piano, and Keith Moon on drums." - from Wikipedia article

How Many More Times by Led Zeppelin

How Many More Times by Led Zeppelin (1969). Wikipedia article here.

It consists of several smaller sections held together by a bolero rhythm that pushes the piece along. At the end, the song pans between the left and right channels. Elements of this song are faintly reminiscent of previously-recorded instrumental "Beck's Bolero" by Jeff Beck" - from Wikipedia article

The Boléro piece starts at the 3:10 mark.

Lizard ("Bolero - The Peacock's Tale") by King Crimson

Lizard ("Bolero - The Peacock's Tale") by King Crimson (1970). Wikipedia article here.

"Bolero" provides a showcase for the supporting musicians Tippett, Miller, Charig, and Evans. Playing over McCulloch's bolero-like drum part, they are given the space to develop progressively more jazzy solos around a central theme. When this section of "Lizard" was excerpted for inclusion on the compilation Frame by Frame: The Essential King Crimson, Gordon Haskell's bass guitar was replaced with a part recorded by subsequent King Crimson bassist Tony Levin.

The Bomber by the James Gang

The Bomber by the James Gang (1970). Wikipedia article here.

"On the initial pressing of Rides Again, a 90-second electric rendition of Boléro is interpolated into the song "The Bomber." However, Ravel's estate (which still owns copyright on the work) objected, and as a result the track was edited and that section was removed from the song on subsequent pressings of the album until the late 1970s. CD re-issues of Rides Again contain the full version of "The Bomber," with the "Boléro" section restored."- from Wikipedia article

The Boléro piece starts at the 3:28 mark.

The Knife by Genesis

The Knife by Genesis (1970). Wikipedia article here. The Bolero beat comes in at 7:15 and lasts until 7:52. Is this truly the Bolero beat - the first couple beats of each measure fits Bolero and then it's slightly different at the end of the measure. When does a beat no longer become considered the Bolero beat?

Child in Time by Deep Purple

Child in Time by Deep Purple (1970). Wikipedia article here.

Boléro is played at the 3:20 mark.

Abaddon's Bolero by Emerson Lake & Palmer

Abaddon's Bolero by Emerson Lake & Palmer. Wikipedia article here.

"Abaddon's Bolero" sounds like a martialized Boléro (in 4/4 rhythm rather than the usual 3/4). A single melody containing multiple modulations within itself is repeated over and over in ever more thickly layered arrangements, starting from a quiet hammond organ making a flute-like sound over a snare drum, and building up to an ear-shattering wall of sound. This aspect may well be a nod to the similar effect in Maurice Ravel's famous Bolero. Abaddon's Bolero is very replete with overdubs. Almost every time another instrument comes in, it's another overdub." - from Wikipedia article.

School's Out by Alice Cooper

School's Out by Alice Cooper. Wikipedia article here.

The Boléro rhythm is played throughout including at the 0:46, 2:00 and 2:50 minute marks.

Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973). Wikipedia article here.

The boléro beat can only be heard in the extended version of the song (below) and the beat runs from 9:25 to 9:38.

Lady by Styx

Lady by Styx (1973). Wikipedia article here. The Boléro beat starts at the 2:11 mark and runs till the end of the song.

Living On Your Own by Budgie

Living On Your Own by Budgie. From the album "In for the Kill" (1974).

The Boléro starts at the 4:02 mark and continues until 5:56 and then again from 8:26 to 8:39. The longer Boléro section is actually a take on Beck's Bolero (see above for Beck's Bolero).

Stranglehold by Ted Nugent

Stranglehold by Ted Nugent (1975). Wikipedia article here.

Boléro is played at 5:55 mark and again at 6:27.

The Ides of March by Iron Maiden

The Ides of March by Iron Maiden (1981). The Bolero beat runs from 0:42 to 1:20 minute mark.

Zappa Does Bolero

Here's Frank Zappa's band playing Bolero (1982). Wikipedia article on Zappa here. I have no idea what year this was in so I took a wild guess. If you have any better idea, let me know. The video includes Zappa talking about his outlook on people, success and life in general.