OSBOURNE, HETFIELD, SIMMONS Featured In VH1 Classic's 'Seven Ages Of Rock' Series

"Seven Ages of Rock", a co-production with the BBC, will make its U.S. debut on VH1 Classic Monday, December 17. MTV veteran Mark Goodman narrates this seven-part series, which showcases the various genres of rock music that impacted and shaped pop culture.

From the birth of rock to metal to alternative rock — there is a genre for every music fan — some that have stood the test of time and others that have not. This exclusive series will delve into what made each of these genres of music resonate with fans across the world.

Each of the seven episodes will take a deeper look into the individual ages of rock by evaluating the music itself -- breaking down key tracks, getting behind the songs and composing ideas, as well as looking into the social influences of the time and the social context that influenced the progression of the music. Throughout each episode viewers will hear from some of rock music's biggest icons, including Keith Richards, David Bowie, Roger Waters, Lou Reed, Ozzy Osbourne, James Hetfield, Deborah Harry, Gene Simmons, Roger Taylor, Stewart Copeland, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Michael Stipe, Henry Rollins, Dave Grohl, Frank Black, Noel Gallagher and many more.

Here's a breakdown of each night:

* Episode 1: The Birth of Rock - Rock music emerges in the late 60's as a fresh branch of rock 'n' roll. Becoming popular through artists like THE WHO, CREAM, and THE ROLLING STONES, rock groups exemplified this era of protest through a tone of seriousness in their music.

* Episode 2: Art/Prog Rock - As rock music made a name for itself, upcoming rock artists began to experiment with their sound. Groups including THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, DAVID BOWIE, PINK FLOYD and GENESIS were all a part of this innovative and varied sound.

* Episode 3: Heavy Metal - A new sound that emerged from the UK, heavy metal conveyed an intense and powerful resonance. Artists like BLACK SABBATH and LED ZEPPELIN paved the way by establishing the heavy sound while artists like METALLICA and MÖTLEY CRÜE added their own rock 'n' roll twist.

* Episode 4: Punk - Continuing with the evolution of the sound of rock, a genre of music emerged in the 1970s that can best be described as anti-establishment. Demonstrated by bands including THE SEX PISTOLS, THE CLASH and TELEVISION, these artists created music that went hand-in-hand with the rebellion of youth at the time, often containing lyrics that incorporated political outrage and a "do-it-yourself" attitude.

* Episode 5: Stadium Rock - Rock music became more dominant in mainstream pop culture in the 80s allowing artists such as QUEEN, THE POLICE, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, and U2 to sell out stadium-sized venues.

* Episode 6: Alternative/Grunge - Influenced by punk, bands including NIRVANA, REM, SONIC YOUTH, and PEARL JAM shunned the traditions of the music industry and signed with independent record labels. Despite their deviance from traditional mainstream success, many alternative bands were commercially successful.

* Episode 7: UK Indie - Growing out of the UK punk scene, bands such as THE SMITHS, OASIS, and the STONE ROSES possessed an independent spirit that embraced their artistic power and financial control. These groups created music that provided a strong and sometimes arrogant counterpoint to the pop sounds dominating the charts.

"Seven Ages of Rock", a VH1 Classic co-production with the BBC is executive-produced by Michael Poole for the BBC and Michele M. Dix and Ben Zurier for VH1. William Naylor serves as the series producer for the BBC.