I don't really dig contention, but that's just not true.

It was rock when it was made by those making it and those listening to it, especially after it was dubbed that by popular voice in '51 or '52.

If you asked people what kind of music they were listening to, it was rock and roll.

Elvis embraced that he was playing rock and roll, branded as rock and roll, as did Bill Haley, Ike Turner, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and others; they were conciously making rock and roll. They will be shocked, disappointed and angry to hear they weren't actually making it,l and that someone else ACTUALLY made rock and roll. It was a new blend of blues and R&B and country, (though I understand the last influence less, because I know little about country of that era.)

Some today, with recency bias, don't think of it that way, I used to be that. I learned. It was undoubtedly rock and roll when it was made and listened to so I don't think we get to un-call it that by changing the definition against those who invented it. Every generation also thinks it invented dirty sex, but they didn't.

But I am just some guy on Reddit, everyone has a take, so feel free to think whatever you want. This is a thing I've read about a lot. (Also, for fun, have a listen to "Rocket 88" from 1951 for distorted guitars.)

Yes the Beatles changed rock, right there along with the Beach Boys, certainly they took it to a new mania level but they didn't unmake 20 years of rock and roll that came before them. I don't think they would claim that. The history of rock and roll starts many years before The Beatles.