When/why did vocals-guitar-bass-drums become the vast majority of rock music group makeups? Even with the occasional keyboardist, bands are almost entirely the same instruments.
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I’d expect this traces directly from early field recordings of folk/bluegrass/blues which could often be very simplistic, a guitar and a vocalist for instance. And later with punk rock, like The Ramones, which insisted on a no-frills aggressive sound that helped guide even more instrumental rock and roll (think hair metal) into a more stripped sound.
In between there’s a pretty unbroken trend of musical styles which focus on the simplicity of vocals + guitar or banjo, and sometimes drums. Blues/bluegrass, folk, punk, grunge, rock n roll.
It’s a formula that appeals us artistically and aurally. It allows the vocals to really take precedent, seems to captor the emotions, vulnerability, and nuance of a human voice if you have fewer layers on a track. Not to mention is imo a better means of delivering lyrics you want someone to really digest. And you can be as delicate or as aggressive as you want with that simple lineup.
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