THE TERM "rock star" is defined as “a person celebrated for their talent, especially one who inspires fanatical admiration.”
When we think of the first “rock stars”, we often think of the music icons in the 1950s, the birth of rock ‘n roll.
But what if I told you the first true “rock star” was born in the early 19th century, before the music that inspired the name?
What if I told you that the first “rock star” was piano virtuoso Franz Liszt?
VERDICT:
TRUE
According to the BBC, Franz Liszt was music’s first “rock star. " His electrifying stage presence enraptured audiences and caused young women to shriek, sob, and swoon.
Long before Beatlemania and Elvis Presley, in the early 19th century, an extraordinarily talented Hungarian pianist rose from poverty to become a genuine celebrity of his time.
In 1844, the German writer and cultural critic Heinrich Heine coined the term “Lisztomania” to describe the intense fan frenzy that erupted during Liszt's performances.
Liszt’s admirers took their devotion to remarkable lengths—his portrait adorned brooches and cameos (a type of jewellery), while female fans feverishly sought locks of his hair, crafted bracelets from broken piano strings, and even collected his cigar butts and coffee dregs.
References:
1. https://www.bbc.com/culture/
2. https://www.wagner-heavymetal.
