MARTHA BAYLES
It still makes millions of dollars, but rock has lost its soul.

While the blame is often placed on crude commerce, Martha Bayles finds that American music went astray when if misunderstood, and then lost touch with, the rich blues tradition.

, eople used to tap their feet and smile
when they listened to American
popular music. Now they sit open-

mouthed and stare: at "speed metal" rockers with roadkill hair who, despite a certain virtuosity on guitar, treat music as...