The War on Disco chronicles the cultural war sparked by disco's rapid rise to popularity in the late 1970s. Originating in underground Black and gay clubs, disco had surpassed rock as America's top music. However, many die-hard rock fans viewed disco as shallow and superficial due to its repetitive beat and emphasis on pleasure. The backlash revealed a cultural divide, with some perceiving it as driven by racism and homophobia. The tensions culminated in a riot on July 12, 1979, during a baseball game in Chicago's "Disco Demolition Night."
American Experience
Disco music's cultural phenomenon is examined, following its origins from underground Black and gay clubs to its peak as America's top music in the late 1970s, despite facing opposition from rock fans.
