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There is only one band in the history of American music that had a proven influence on both the Beatles and the rapper Ice Cube, and had a hit in six straight decades, from the ‘50s to the ‘00s. That band is the mighty Isley Brothers, one the most influential bands in American musical history, who recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.

Formed in the mid-’50s as a teenage gospel quartet by the eldest four Isley Brothers (O’Kelly, Rudolph, Ronald and Vernon), the original configuration of the group quit performing when Vernon was tragically killed at age 13 when riding his bike. In 1957, at the urging of their parents, the remaining three brothers moved to New York City to make it as a rock ’n’ roll band, and the first song they wrote together was “Shout!” — a massive smash that had multiple lives thanks to its inclusion on the Animal House soundtrack and is probably playing at an event near you, right now.

From that first single and album in 1959, the Isley Brothers repeatedly redefined what their music was and what it was called, and dominated the black music charts like no band before or since. The Isley Brothers can count both Jimi Hendrix (who toured as their backing guitarist in the early ‘60s) and Elton John (whose band backed the Isleys up in the U.K.) as backing musicians, and have arguably the most legendary run of albums in R&B history. After early rock ‘n’ roll success, and an incredible detour with Berry Gordy and his Motown Records (two albums, including This Old Heart of Mine), the band released all of their albums independently on their own T-Neck Records, reinventing R&B over and over again in the process.

There’s the underrated and brilliant Givin’ It Back, the folk-influenced album that featured covers of songs by the white rock artists that took the Isleys’ sound to hit the charts in the ‘60s. There’s the soul-funk opuses (3+3 and Go For Your Guns) and a glitter rock album (Brother, Brother, Brother). The lead single from their finest pure dance album, The Heat Is On, “Fight The Power (Part 1 & 2)”, was later interpolated on the most iconic Public Enemy song (“Fight the Power”). They’d go full disco (Winner Takes All) before slowing it down to make one of the best quiet storm albums ever (Between The Sheets), before transitioning in the ’90s to baby-making jams (Mission to Please) and a commercially successful 2001 comeback (Eternal).

All of this to say: If you have a pulse, there is an Isley Brothers album for every mood you will ever have. They have a peerless catalog of songs and albums that has more styles and vibes than any other classic band from their era.

The Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, in a class with their old backing guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. The band received a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2014, and have sold millions of records the world over, 16 of their albums hitting the Top 40 and all of them powerhouses on the R&B charts. They are, in many respects, the most important and influential band in the history of American music, the only band who could be sampled by Notorious B.I.G. and covered by the Yardbirds who also sold millions of records.

And you can still see the Isley Brothers–Ron and Ernie–on tour today. The Isley Brothers are forever, living legends still rocking crowds 60 plus years after they first taught us how to “Shout.”

The first rebellion started in 1986.

New Jersey kids, punk and metal attitude, determined to conquer the world. All for one, banded together with single-minded purpose. The battlefield was the stage, the songs their arsenal in an us-against-them musical coup d’état.

​Top Ten singles. Gold and multi-platinum sales. No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. The world was theirs, the rebellion won, until there was nothing left to fight for — so they fought each other. Following an ill-advised South American tour in 1996, the band was finished.

But the core camaraderie never died.

​“When we put the band back together, we needed to reintroduce Skid Row as relevant without relying too much on past success,” explains bassist Rachel Bolan. “We wrote songs and hit the road. We sunk our heart and soul into it, letting people know we weren’t doing it for lack of anything better to do.”

​Snake Sabo continues, “We seem to be at our best when we’re faced with adversity. It’s us against the world again — and by us I mean the band and the fans who stick with us and carry the Skid Row torch without fail.”

​Now, Skid Row is gearing up to record the final installment of the United World Rebellion trilogy.

Recording new songs means capturing the signature Skid Row energy for drummer Rob Hammersmith. “That sound and energy is what resonates with people and knocks them on their ass! We have a lot of great ideas to work with, so we’re all really excited about this new music.”

​As the energy for the new album and tour is reaching fever pitch, enter ZP Theart. “I’ve been a mad fan of this band since I was a teenager, and to now be a member of Skid Row, is beyond any sense of my imagination!”

​“We’ll be hitting the studio to get started on some new material and I’m beyond excited to say the least. This is a whole new deck of cards and there’s gonna be no holding back!” Theart adds.

​Classic dual-guitar teams are a key component of great songs — K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton. Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. Add Snake and Scotti Hill to that list. “Playing as a team for over thirty years, our styles are still as unique as our personalities — as unique as our band,” Scotti says. “Combine them together on United World Rebellion – Chapter Three and you have the Skid Row guitar sound.”

That sound is rambunctious exuberance. They got older, but Skid Row never really grew up. United World Rebellion – Chapter Three is still the youth gone wild, their musical spark still burning gasoline.

​“I will always be that 16-year-old kid in front of the mirror, pretending to be Ace Frehley or Michael Schenker,” Snake admits. “It’s still about writing a great song with your friends, praying it connects with someone. That has never left me. That willfulness will always exist, and there’s so much left to say!”

And so the rebellion continues.