Bosstown Sounds

How and where Boston forever changed the landscape of rock ‘n’ roll.

- Alex Oliveira

PAUL SIMON’S “GRACELAND” tells the story of a man who feels his life coming apart. Hoping to set things straight, he and his son embark on a pilgrimage down the highway to Graceland, the hallowed home of Elvis Presley. Exactly what they’ll find is unclear, yet one thing feels certain: whatever it is can surely be found in the place where rock ‘n’ roll incarnate lived and died.

To many, rock ‘n’ roll holds a spirituality akin to religion, the power to uplift, to redeem, to transform and deliver; and like all great faiths, rock too has its holy lands. Historians and archeologists differ, but most contend that the rock ‘n’ roll Garden of Eden lies somewhere within Memphis, New York, Detroit or Chicago. However, with the publication of Ryan Walsh’s “Astral Weeks” and the upcoming book about rock photographer Barry Schneier’s experiences, “Rock and Roll Future,” that contention is being rewritten to include a crucial element: Boston.

While Paul Simon and his son travelled south to find their musical salvation, pilgrims of rock ‘n’ roll passing through Boston need look no further than the sidewalk beneath their feet. Here are five of the most important Boston landmarks in the history rock ‘n’ roll.

GREEN STREET, CAMBRIDGE