Tells about foreign rock music from the 40s to the present day. Tracing this path, the author shows what significant changes it has undergone. To better understand them, a number of concepts are introduced, such as "rock," "funk," "soul," "reggae," "disco," "beat," which arose in the process of the historical movement of popular music, their content is revealed. The relationship of rock music at all stages of its development with other areas of musical culture is also considered: urban and rural folklore, jazz, chamber and symphonic music. For a wide range of readers.