The Roar That Refused to Fade
There are songs that whisper their way into history, and then there are songs that explode into it. Few instrumentals have ever made an entrance quite like “Rock and Roll (Part 2).” With its pounding beat, brassy swagger, and that unforgettable chant—“Hey!”—the track became more than just a B-side curiosity. It transformed into a cultural phenomenon, an anthem of adrenaline that has echoed through arenas, dance floors, and radio waves for decades.
Released in March 1972 as the B-side to “Rock and Roll (Part 1)” by Gary Glitter, the single quickly outgrew its supporting role. While Part 1 delivered a nostalgic lyrical tribute to the roots of rock and roll, it was Part 2—raw, wordless, and pulsing with energy—that captured the hearts (and lungs) of a generation eager to shout along.
In the United Kingdom, the combined single climbed to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, held back from the top only by Donny Osmond’s sugary smash “Puppy Love.” But across the Atlantic, something even more explosive happened: “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” became Glitter’s biggest U.S. hit, surging to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cementing itself in American pop culture.
From Jam Session to Juggernaut
The story behind the song’s creation is as intriguing as its sound is primal. The origins trace back to a little-known recording titled “Shag Rag, That’s My Bag,” an experimental track conceived by producer and songwriter Mike Leander. Sensing untapped potential in its pounding rhythm, Leander reworked the material, distilling a sprawling fifteen-minute jam into a tight, radio-ready cut.
The result? A split composition. Part 1 carried vocals and historical references to rock’s pioneers. Part 2 stripped everything down to the bone—no elaborate lyrics, no narrative arc—just drums, saxophone riffs, handclaps, and the now-iconic shouted interjections.
It was minimalism with muscle.
The track later appeared on Glitter’s debut album, Glitter, and became one of the defining sounds of the glam rock explosion sweeping Britain in the early 1970s.
Glam Rock in Full Glitter
To understand why “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” hit so hard, you have to step into the shimmering world of glam rock. This was an era of platform boots, metallic jumpsuits, bold makeup, and theatrical bravado. Artists weren’t just performers—they were larger-than-life characters. Music was spectacle.
Gary Glitter embodied that spectacle perfectly. With his glittering costumes, stomping rhythms, and high-energy stage presence, he became one of the genre’s most recognizable faces. Glam wasn’t about subtlety; it was about impact. And “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” delivered that impact in pure sonic form.
The song didn’t need verses or a chorus. It relied on repetition, rhythm, and collective participation. That simple, shouted “Hey!” invited everyone into the performance. It erased the barrier between stage and crowd. Suddenly, everyone was part of the band.
The Birth of “The Hey Song”
While the track enjoyed immediate chart success, its afterlife proved even more remarkable. In North America especially, “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” found a second identity as a sports anthem. Played in hockey arenas, basketball courts, football stadiums, and baseball parks, it became shorthand for celebration and hype.
Fans would stomp their feet in rhythm. Entire stadiums would chant “Hey!” in thunderous unison. The instrumental hook was tailor-made for collective excitement—short, punchy, and impossible to ignore.
It wasn’t long before the song earned a nickname: “The Hey Song.”
Few instrumentals have managed to achieve such widespread recognition without traditional lyrics. Its success demonstrated something profound about music’s power: sometimes emotion doesn’t require explanation. Sometimes it just needs a beat.
Why It Still Works
More than fifty years later, that beat still hits. Why?
Because “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” taps into something elemental. The rhythm is tribal. The saxophones snarl with swagger. The percussion drives forward like a heartbeat racing at full speed. And the chant is instinctive—almost childlike in its simplicity.
In a world where songs are often dissected for lyrical meaning and layered production, there’s something refreshingly direct about this track. It doesn’t ask you to interpret it. It commands you to feel it.
It’s the sound of youthful abandon.
The soundtrack to letting loose.
The musical equivalent of throwing your hands in the air and shouting without inhibition.
A Cultural Time Capsule
The early 1970s were a transitional moment in pop music. Psychedelia had faded. Hard rock was rising. Disco was waiting in the wings. Glam rock filled the space with color and attitude. “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” sits squarely in that vibrant window of history.
Listen closely and you can almost see the flashing stage lights and mirrored platforms. You can picture teenagers in flared trousers and glittered cheeks, dancing without restraint. The song captures not just a genre, but a mood—a belief that music could be bold, brash, and unapologetically fun.
Even listeners too young to have experienced its initial release can recognize its energy instantly. The opening drum pattern alone signals something big is about to happen.
Simplicity as Strength
It’s tempting to overlook a song with so few words. But perhaps that’s precisely its brilliance.
By removing complex lyrics, “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” becomes universal. There’s no story to decode, no cultural barrier to cross. Anyone, anywhere, can chant “Hey!” in rhythm. The track becomes communal rather than individual—a shared pulse rather than a personal diary.
In this way, it anticipated the stadium-rock ethos that would dominate later decades. Crowd participation wasn’t an afterthought; it was the foundation.
The Echo That Lingers
Today, hearing that chant triggers instant recognition. For some, it sparks nostalgia for school dances and radio countdowns. For others, it recalls playoff games and championship celebrations. For many, it’s simply a reminder of a time when pop music embraced spectacle without irony.
“Rock and Roll (Part 2)” may have started life as a B-side experiment, but it evolved into something far larger—a sonic stamp of its era. It represents a moment when glam rock shimmered at full brightness, when youth culture demanded volume and visibility, and when a single shouted word could unite thousands of voices.
In the end, its legacy isn’t about complexity. It’s about impact.
That pounding beat.
That brassy swagger.
That collective “Hey!”
Decades later, the roar still resonates.