History Main / RottenRockAndRoll

* Zigzagged with Wolfgang in the fourth game in the ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' series. After accidentally discovering the musical note of pain, he was driven mad after being shunned and turned into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] of the [[{{Necromancy}} Undead element]], and has a nasty HairTriggerTemper, leading him to join the Doom Raiders, a gang of Skylands' worst criminals led by the Golden Queen. His instrument is a harp he plays like an electric guitar [[BadWithTheBone made of bone]], letting him wield it like [[AnAxeToGrind a literal axe]] or [[MusicalAssassin play notes that deal damage]]. He also has aspects of TheStarscream, but considering that [[BadBoss the Golden Queen showed no concern for her minions getting captured by the Skylanders]] while [[UndyingLoyalty he considers them part of his pack]], it makes him more sympathetic, and even offers [[WeCanRuleTogether the Skylanders a chance to join him in ruling the future]]. However, he can be trapped and used as a playable character, and come the sixth game, he makes a full HeelFaceTurn while becoming a playable [[MasterArcher Bowslinger Sensei]], subverting the trope entirely. Through both his appearances, his {{Leitmotif}} is a very fitting [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oinAyYehWbQ rock solo]] with a wailing electrical guitar as the highlight.

* Creator/MartinScorsese is well known for his love of using rock and roll in his various gangster movies, usually to set the stage for new twists and developments. In particular, he has a fondness for Music/TheRollingStones song "Gimme Shelter", which shows up in ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'', (when Hill first begins selling cocaine and making real money) ''Film/{{Casino}}'', (as Nicky's infamy grows) and ''Film/TheDeparted''. (During mob boss Costello's EstablishingCharacterMoment.) [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q9S9my8zR0 See here]].

** Tabuu from ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' has a ProgressiveMetal [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjAqgJFfMM&t=56s battle theme]].

** In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros 4'', Bowser, his son and the Koopalings have a special victory fanfare, which is a rock rendition of the other ''Mario'' characters' fanfare.

** Tabuu from ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' has a ProgressiveMetal [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0PvTo9Dkt0 battle theme]].

* In ''Film/{{Joker}}'', the first thing Arthur does after becoming the Joker is to dance insanely on the stairs to the backdrop of Music/GaryGlitter's "Rock and Roll (Part 2)" (fittingly, Glitter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Glitter#Sex_offences has become infamous for his own crimes]]).[[note]]By the way, no, [[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-10-11/joker-gary-glitter-rock-and-roll-part-2 Glitter does not receive any royalties for his music,]] including "Rock and Roll", today. He sold off the rights years ago.[[/note]]

* In ''Film/{{Joker}}'', the first thing Arthur does after becoming the Joker is dancing insanely on the stairs to the backdrop of Music/GaryGlitter's "Rock and Roll (Part 2)" (fittingly, Glitter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Glitter#Sex_offences has become infamous for his own crimes]]).[[note]]By the way, no, [[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-10-11/joker-gary-glitter-rock-and-roll-part-2 Glitter does not receive any royalties for his music,]] including "Rock and Roll", today. He sold off the rights years ago.[[/note]]

The association between rock music and evil is the origin of the trope TheNewRockAndRoll. If both the hero and the villain are associated with music, the latter will be harder on the MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness. Considering the sheer popularity of rock music, this often results in EvilIsCool.

* Despite the entire song being HeavyMetal, a variation of this features in Music/{{Alestorm}}'s ''Death Throes of the Terror Squid''. While Alestorm is usually a FolkMetal[=/=]PowerMetal band, the awakening of and battle with the eponymous Terror Squid results in the song [[OutOfGenreExperience jumping up]] the MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness into outright BlackMetal.

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rrar.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Some rockers are [[TheUndead more rotten]] than others.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rrar.png]]]]

[[quoteright:300:[[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lordraptor.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Some rockers are [[TheUndead more rotten]] than [[Music/SexPistols others]].]]

Ah, rock and roll. Loud, violent, rebellious and, most importantly, [[PowerofRock powerful]]. Since these traits also perfectly fit a villain, in media, rock music is often associated with evil characters. Whether a simple {{Leitmotif}} or a full-blown VillainSong, these villains rock!

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyANewGeneration'': "Danger, Danger", the VillainSong sung by Sprout Cloverleaf, has some rocking electric guitar riffs, in contrast to the pop-like songs sung by the protagonists.

* In ''{{WesternAnimation/Moana}}'', Tamatoa the GiantEnemyCrab sings the David Bowie-esque "Shiny" about how much he loves treasure and how fabulous he is. This is the only rock-style song in the movie.

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Films -- Animated]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'', the Once-ler accompanies his FaceHeelTurn with a rock song, "How Bad Can I Be?"
* In ''{{WesternAnimation/Moana}}'', Tamatoa the GiantEnemyCrab sings the David Bowie-esque "Shiny" about how much he loves treasure and how fabulous he is. This is the only rock-style song in the movie.

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'': Immortan Joe's army prominently features a guitarist (whose guitar is also a flamethrower) who constantly plays regardless of the action around him. He also serves a more practical purpose of sounding general orders during battle.
* Jareth the Goblin King, the BigBad of ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}'', sings several pop-rock songs over the course of the movie. Not surprising, considering that he's played by Music/DavidBowie.

* The entire premise of ''Film/RockItsYourDecision'' is that listening to rock music will make you lose your faith in Jesus and bring you to a life of sin.

[[folder: Literature]]
* In ''Literature/SoulMusic'' [[spoiler: the main antagonist is the "Music With Rocks In" itself, manifesting through a magical guitar. The music turns young bard Imp Y Celyn into TheRockStar, and then attempts to kill him young so that he'll become a legend.]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Music]]

[[folder: Puppet Shows]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Theatre]]

* ''Theatre/TheLionKing'': "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NSHzZQ0gPE Chow Down]]," in which [[HeinousHyena Shenzi and Banzai]] sing about how eager they are to [[WouldHurtAChild eat Simba and Nala]], is heavily rock-influenced.

[[folder: Video Games]]
* I-no from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' is a sadist heavy metal musician who's a DungeonPunk take on the HotWitch archetype, complete with pointy hat and ability to fly. Bonus points for one of her finishing moves literally destroying your eardrums.
* Villains of the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' video game franchise, especially the BigBad Bowser, are often associated with rock music:
** Several villains of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' are [[NamedAfterSomeoneFamous named after rock musicians]], including [[Music/IggyPop Iggy Koopa]], [[Music/ThePlasmatics Wendy O. Koopa]], [[Music/{{Motorhead}} Lemmy Koopa]], [[Music/RoyOrbison Roy Koopa]], and [[Music/NineInchNails Reznor]].
** Bowser gets a rock/metal {{leitmotif}} in ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''. It starts out with pounding drums, and then the electric guitar comes in. The song has an oddly calm, controlled mood that helps Bowser seem more threatening.
** In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros 4'', Bowser, his son and the Koopalings have a special victory fanfare, which is a rock rendition of the other ''Mario'' characters' fanfare.
** In many of the ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' games, the level "Bowser's Castle" has a rock theme tune.
* Tabuu from ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' has a ProgressiveMetal [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0PvTo9Dkt0 battle theme]].
** ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' has [[spoiler:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9RsfOvRjYM Dharkon's theme]], a SymphonicMetal piece that's much more chaotic and sinister than [[AngelicAbomination Galeem's]] more majestic orchestral theme.]]
* Zazz from ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' gets his own rock theme just before he fights Sonic. Fittingly, Zazz himself resembles a punk rocker thanks to features such as a mohawk and eyeliner-like CreepyShadowedUndereyes.
* Vulturon the Condorroid (aka Condorrock the Vulturoid) in ''VideoGame/MegaManZX Advent'' is one of the Pseudoroid bosses, a vulture robot who fights with an electric guitar and has a crazy rockstar personality.
* Vulturon's predecessor of sorts, Lord Raptor (aka Zabel Zarock) in ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'' is a zombie rockstar. In life, he made a cult with his rock concert and his last one doubles as a massive suicide of him and his followers. Then Ozom, one of the demon lords, resurrected him as a zombie.
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', the dance animation of the male Forsaken (the playable race of TheUndead) is head-banging and playing an air guitar. While not all Forsaken are evil (some of them are examples of DarkIsNotEvil), they are considered creepy and unnatural even by their non-undead comrades in the Horde. Also, they are literally rotting away at the joints.
** Since 2017, the Darkmoon Faire has a Forsaken band, the Blight Boar, playing in a concert cave adorned with graves and the like, the Cauldron of Rock. The Death Metal Knight is a (Death Knight class) boss who seeks to disturb concerts at the place and can be fought by players. He can drop a guitar (used as a two-handed weapon) that can turn the player into a guitar-playing member of the Blight Boar for a few seconds.

* In ''VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw'', each of the bosses are based on different genres of music. 3 of them are based on sub-genres of Rock: Syd is based on Punk Rock, Vikk is based on metal, and Lewis Legend is based on Classic Rock.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF1n0GflZMg Team Plasma's theme]] in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'': While not a straight up villain, Susie starts off as antagonistic and violent - even before she ends up in the Dark World, she's enough of a bully for her classmates to fear her - and her theme consists of a short guitar riff. The theme later gets a BossRemix during [[spoiler: her fight with Lancer in the basement/dungeon]], which happens right before [[spoiler: she makes a full HeelFaceTurn]].
* Slimyscaly and Daveybird from ''Creator/RandleSimRacing'' always have Rock as their themes and favorite music, definitely played up when they're villains.

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' features the CardCarryingVillain Lord Hater, #1 superstar. Rocking the galaxy with his electric guitar. His music is contrasted to the cheery country ditties of Wander and the FreakyElectronicMusic of rival supervillain Emperor Awesome. He even has a BraggingThemeTune rock song!
--> "Who is the universe's awesomest evildoer? HAATEEER!"
* Peculiar villain Bootes Belinda from ''WesternAnimation/LoonaticsUnleashed'' invites Zadavia to a rock concert, then attempts to blast her to a frazzle in mid-performance. Bootes' bandmate is Rupes Oberon, who takes Zadavia hostage and compels Tech Coyote to build a double-neck guitar that can open spatial wormholes.
* In the original ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'' TV series, the Misfits were harder-rocking than the Holograms as in the later comic (see above), but were much more openly evil, several times outright trying to murder the good guys. They did have their sympathetic moments but weren't friendly, especially towards anyone outside their band.

* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] and [[{{Reconstruction}} Reconstructed]] in ''Toys/EverAfterHigh''; Raven Queen wants to play a soft acoustic guitar ballad she wrote for the annual talent show, but the DeanBitterman does not approve because the song is "too nice" for a student he is counting on to become the next [[Literature/SnowWhite Evil]] [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen]]. By showtime, Raven reaches a compromise: play the song but as a rock ballad. It turns out to be as big a hit with the audience as the Headmaster.

* ''WesternAnimation/BikerMiceFromMars'' subverted this trope in "Hard Rock". While the titular character is patterned after a rock musician, uses an electric guitar that fires energy blasts as a weapon, and was employed by Plutark to cause destruction on countless planets, Hard Rock is now [[HeelFaceTurn a changed man]] and is only working for Limburger because [[IHaveYourWife his girlfriend is being used as a bargaining chip]]. In the end, the Biker Mice help him save his girlfriend and ruin Limburger's plan.
* In the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse, particularly in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', the villain ComicBook/{{Lobo}} has a rock {{Leitmotif}}, and he also has the "rocker" look with the leather vest, spiky belt, long black hair and face paint.
* [[WellIntentionedExtremist Bismuth]] in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' isn't so much as rotten so much as [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope morally-challenged]], but her electric guitar theme becomes much more ominous during the Breaking Point scene.

* The Goat from ''WesternAnimation/GreenEggsAndHam2019'' is an [[ImplacableMan extremely tough]] [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels motorbike-riding]] bounty hunter chasing the protagonists, whose appearances are accompanied by an electric guitar {{leitmotif}}.

* In the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse, particularly in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', the villain SelfDemonstrating/{{Lobo}} has a rock {{Leitmotif}}, and he also has the "rocker" look with the leather vest, spiky belt, long black hair and face paint.

* Zigzagged with Wolfgang in the fourth game in the ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' series. After accidentally discovering the musical note of pain, he was driven mad after being shunned and turned into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] of the [[{{Necromancy}} Undead element]], and has a nasty HairTriggerTemper, leading him to join the Doom Raiders, a gang of Skylands' worst criminals led by the Golden Queen. His instrument is a harp he plays like an electric guitar [[BadWithTheBone made of bone]], letting him wield it like [[AnAxeToGrind a literal axe]] or [[MusicalAssassin play notes that deal damage]]. He also has aspects of TheStarscream, but considering that [[BadBoss the Golden Queen showed no concern for her minions getting captured by the Skylanders]] while [[UndyingLoyalty he considers them part of his pack]], it makes him more sympathetic, and even offers [[WeCanRuleTogether the Skylanders a chance to join him in ruling the future]]. However, he can be trapped and used as a playable character, and come the sixth game, he makes a full HeelFaceTurn while becoming a [[MasterArcher Bowslinger Sensei]], subverting the trope entirely. Through both his appearances, his {{Leitmotif}} is a very fitting [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oinAyYehWbQ rock solo]] with a wailing electrical guitar as the highlight.

* Zigzagged with Wolfgang in the fourth game in the ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' series. After accidentally discovering the musical note of pain, he was driven mad after being shunned and turned into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] of the [[{{Necromancy}} Undead element]], and has a nasty HairTriggerTemper, leading him to join the Doom Raiders, a gang of Skylands' worst criminals led by the Golden Queen. His instrument is a harp he plays like an electric guitar [[BadWithTheBone made of bone]], letting him wield it like [[AnAxeToGrind a literal axe]] or [[MusicalAssassin play notes that deal damage]]. He also has aspects of TheStarscream, but considering that [[BadBoss the Golden Queen showed no concern for her minions getting captured by the Skylanders]] while [[UndyingLoyalty he considers them part of his pack]], it makes him more sympathetic, and even offers [[WeCanRuleTogether the Skylanders a chance to join him in ruling the future]]. However, he can be trapped and used as a playable character, and come the sixth game, he makes a full HeelFaceTurn while becoming a [[MasterArcher Bowslinger Sensei]], subverting the trope entirely. Through all this, his {{Leitmotif}} is a very fitting [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oinAyYehWbQ rock solo]] with a wailing electrical guitar.

* Zigzagged with Wolfgang in the fourth game in the ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' series. After accidentally discovering the musical note of pain, he was driven mad after being shunned and turned into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] of the [[{{Necromancy}} Undead element]], and has a nasty HairTriggerTemper, leading him to join the Doom Raiders, a gang of Skylands' worst criminals led by the Golden Queen. His instrument is a harp he plays like an electric guitar [[BadWithTheBone made of bone]], letting him wield it like [[AnAxeToGrind a literal axe]] or [[MusicalAssassin play notes that deal damage]]. He also has aspects of TheStarscream, but considering that [[BadBoss the Golden Queen showed no concern for her minions getting captured by the Skylanders]] while [[UndyingLoyalty he considers them part of his pack]], it makes him more sympathetic, and even offers [[WeCanRuleTogether the Skylanders a chance to join him in ruling the future]]. However, he can be trapped and used as a playable character, and come the sixth game, he makes a full HeelFaceTurn while becoming a [[MasterArcher Bowslinger Sensei]], subverting the trope entirely.

* Played with in ''ComicBook/JemAndTheHolograms''. The titular band is a pop band while the rival band The Misfits is a metal band. Due to some AdaptationalHeroism compared to the original ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'' cartoon, the Misfits aren't "evil", but they're the antagonists and are less friendly than Jerrica's bandmates.

* I-no from VideoGame/GuiltyGear is a sadist heavy metal musician who's a DungeonPunk take on the HotWitch archetype, complete with pointy hat and ability to fly. Bonus points for one of her finishing moves literally destroying your eardrums.

* ''Theatre/TheLionKing'': "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NSHzZQ0gPE Chow Down]]," in which [[HeinousHyena Shenzi and Banzai sing about how eager they are to [[WouldHurtAChild eat Simba and Nala]], is heavily rock-influenced.

* Zigzagged with Wolfgang in the fourth game in the ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' series. After accidentally discovering the musical note of pain, he was driven mad after being shunned and turned into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] of the [[{{Necromancy}} Undead element]], and has a nasty HairTriggerTemper, leading him to join the Doom Raiders, a gang of Skylands' worst criminals. His instrument is a harp he plays like an electric guitar [[BadWithTheBone made of bone]], letting him wield it like [[AnAxeToGrind a literal axe]] or [[MusicalAssassin play notes that deal damage]]. He also has aspects of TheStarscream, but considering that [[BadBoss the Golden Queen showed no concern for her minions getting captured by the Skylanders]] while [[UndyingLoyalty he considers them part of his pack]], it makes him more sympathetic, and even offers a [[WeCanRuleTogether chance to the Skylanders to join him]]. However, he can be trapped and used as a playable character, and come the sixth game, he makes a full HeelFaceTurn while becoming a [[MasterArcher Bowslinger Sensei]], subverting the trope entirely.

* Zigzagged with Wolfgang in the fourth game in the ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' series. After accidentally discovering the musical note of pain, he was driven mad after being shunned and turned into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] of the [[{{Necromancy}} Undead element]], and has a nasty HairTriggerTemper. His instrument is a harp he plays like an electric guitar [[BadWithTheBone made of bone]], letting him wield it like [[AnAxeToGrind a literal axe]] or [[MusicalAssassin play notes that deal damage]]. He also has aspects of TheStarscream, but considering that [[BadBoss the Golden Queen showed no concern for her minions getting captured by the Skylanders]] while [[UndyingLoyalty he considers them part of his pack]], it makes him more sympathetic, and even offers a [[WeCanRuleTogether chance to the Skylanders to join him]]. However, he can be trapped and used as a playable character, and come the sixth game, he makes a full HeelFaceTurn while becoming a [[MasterArcher Bowslinger Sensei]], subverting the trope entirely.

* Zigzagged with Wolfgang in the fourth game in the ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' series. After accidentally discovering the musical note of pain, he was driven mad after being shunned and turned into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] of the [[{{Necromancy}} Undead element]] with, and has a nasty HairTriggerTemper. His instrument is a harp he plays like an electric guitar [[BadWithTheBone made of bone]], letting him wield it like [[AnAxeToGrind a literal axe]] or [[MusicalAssassin play notes that deal damage]]. He also has aspects of TheStarscream, but considering that [[BadBoss the Golden Queen showed no concern for her minions getting captured by the Skylanders]] while [[UndyingLoyalty he considers them part of his pack]], it makes him more sympathetic, and even offers a [[WeCanRuleTogether chance to the Skylanders to join him]]. However, he can be trapped and used as a playable character, and come the sixth game, he makes a full HeelFaceTurn while becoming a [[MasterArcher Bowslinger Sensei]], subverting the trope entirely.