The original Rock-a-billy men and women tended to be rebellious in many different ways.

Their style of dress broke away from the standard, hair styles were different than what was popularly acceptable and the music was a brand new creation like nothing that had ever been heard before.

The Rock-a-billy look is achieved through a vintage-inspired style that emulates the rockers and pin-up girls of the 1940s, '50s and '60s.

Rock-a-billy rules

Rock-a-billy is a genre of music created by combining the sultry sounds of rhythm and blues that were popular in the 1950's with the burgeoning beat of what was to become rock and roll, and topping it off with the twang of country music.

However, Rock-a-billy is much more than just a musical style ' it's a sub-culture with its own set of rules.

A set of Rock-a-billy dress rules:

1. Men always wore slacks.  Rock-a-billy is not country music, and jeans and boots don't fit the bill in this genre. 
   Neither do baggy pants or leather ' pull out a nice pair of khakis or dress slacks if you want to fit in.
2. Pastel or Daddy-O style shirts are a necessity.  Collars are usually required by the Rock-a-billy rules of fashion as well, so that the look can be completed.

3. A baggy overcoat is worn over the shirt, but the shirt collar is worn OVER the coat collar.  Think Buddy Holly or Jerry Lee Lewis.
4. The shoes are very important.  Creeper shoes are a must. 
   Color doesn't matter ' Rock-a-billy rules aren't that strict, and creeper shoes come in every color under the sun. 
   However, plain black and white are still the most common.
5. Complete the look with a little brylcreme pompadour hair is one of the most important elements of Rock-a-billy fashion. 
   Your hair should be kept high and stiff, much like early Elvis or Johnny Cash.

Following these simple Rock-a-billy rules will have you swinging with the 'billies' in no time. 

Rock-a-billy Stuff

What other Rock-a-billy stuff is there? Well, take a look at the band. In a Rock-a-billy band, you won't find an electric bass. You'll find an upright bass, played slap style most of the time. You'll find a rhythm guitar and a lead guitar. The vocalist will be someone who isn't shy ' much of Rock-a-billy music includes what most people would consider odd yelping and gulping sounds. To hear a true sample of Rock-a-billy music, listen to Carl Perkins's Blue Suede Shoes. This is considered somewhat of a Rock-a-billy anthem.

Other Rock-a-billy stuff is hard to define. There is a certain attitude of a 'Rock-a-billy' or 'billy', as followers of the trend are often called. Also, the topics of the music can't be easily defined.

Most Rock-a-billy bands sing about any old thing that inspires a good tune with a strong beat. Whatever you may find in your search for Rock-a-billy stuff, you're sure to have a load of fun doing it!

Rock-a-billy Tattoo

Rock-a-billy tattoos were some of the first in a trend that would explode through the decades. Other cultures across the world had been decorating their bodies with ink for centuries, but as an American art tradition, this was practically unheard of and looked down upon severely.

However, this did not stop Rock-a-billy tattoos from becoming a fashion statement among these rebels.

Girls, cars, and musical symbols and instruments tended to dominate the subject matter of a Rock-a-billy tattoo. Women, for whom it was much less acceptable to have a tattoo, often wore necklaces with pendants referred to as 'Rock-a-billy tattoo necklaces'.

The pendants on these pieces of jewelry often sported the same artwork as men's Rock-a-billy tattoos, like cars and pinup girls, as well as sayings like 'faith' or 'rock' written with an artistic fashion and surrounded by decoration.
Rock-a-billy tattoos began a trend that turned into a phenomenon.

It's gone far beyond the pretty heart with a woman's name worn on a man's arm. Whatever the favored subject matter, Rock-a-billy tattoos were some of the first body art to be worn in visible places, and the showy artwork inflamed society into a world of tattoos.

Rock-a-billy Pinup

Rock-a-billy pinups became the sex symbols of the era. The Blonde Bombshell herself, Marilyn Monroe, became a Rock-a-billy pinup. Rock-a-billy chicks of the 1950's often imitated her style of dress because she was seen as such a sex symbol and was practically worshiped by men. More pictures and posters can be found of Marilyn Monroe than most any other famous woman.

Another popular Rock-a-billy pinup was Bettie Page, seen as naughty and exotic. Her 23-inch waist was a topic of jealousy for many women, who strived to equal the stats of the woman named 'the girl with the perfect figure'. Rock-a-billy pinup favorites also included Jayne Mansfield.
Rock-a-billy pinups were goddesses to men and idols to women. Men wanted them, and women wanted to be them. Much like poster children of the modern rock movements, they influenced hairstyles, clothing, and attitude through their confident and often provocative poses.

The Rock-a-billy pinup girl was playful, naughty, and full of rebellion that spread through the entire Rock-a-billy movement.

Rock-a-billy style today

Rock-a-billy remains a vibrant and active subculture, with strong interest not only in current revivalist musicians, but also in performances and recordings by surviving artists from the 1950s. A significant reason for the continuing phenomenon of new generations discovering and embracing Rock-a-billy is their dissatisfaction with mainstream culture, music, and stylistic icons.

Rock-a-billy often becomes a way of life or lifestyle to those involved, who consider the larger group to be a brotherhood.

The Rock-a-billy lifestyle is not confined to just the music but also the home furnishings, cars, and even small things like the cigarettes smoked. The Rock-a-billy culture is an antithesis to current trends as it embraces its roots in "old school" societal fringes ("The Wild One", "Rebel Without A Cause", etc.) concentrated in countries like USA, Australia, New Zealand, UK, and Europe.