Rock music in France

American rock and roll began entering the French mainstream in the 1950s, when stars like Johnny Hallyday arose, rivaling the popular yé-yé craze. In the 1960s, as psychedelic rock spread throughout the world, France produced only a few bands, most notably Aphrodite's Child and Jean-Pierre Massiera.

In the 1970s, France saw the arrival of Alan Stivell's Breton folk-rock as well as a wave of progressive rock bands like Ange, Shylock, Magma, Eskaton, Atoll and Pulsar. French punk rock also appeared, including bands like Oberkampf and Metal Urbain.

By the 1980s, French progressive rock was peaking, with the bands Dun, Terpandre and Emeraude achieving the most success. Telephone (pub rock), Telex (synth pop) and La Muerte (psychobilly) also took French rock to new levels.