Classic Rock Music

Classic rock music is a staple of American history, extremely influential and monumental for its time. Many classic rock bands have lived on as legends; some are still packing venues today. Born out of a time of change, classic rock music ideals and messages are carried on by its listeners and successors.

A Brief History
The term "classic rock" is often hard to define and, as such, has grown to include an increasingly large number of artists over the years. Though the music may be from decades ago, it should never be confused with oldies. Classic rock is, in the most basic of terms, the most influential music of the 1960s and 70s, although many fans and scholars are beginning to also include significant albums from the 1950s and 1980s.

Classic rock really started in the 1960s, as new genres emerged from the 1950s rockabilly and folk rock. Stemming from what is known as AOR, or album oriented rock, these groups were pioneers of their time, creating new kinds of hits that weren't made for Top 40 air play. Radio stations quickly discovered this different kind of music still gained listeners, and soon the genre had a huge following.

Bob Dylan led the pack in the early 60s folk scene and the Beach Boys introduced the lighthearted surfer sounds to the rock scene. The infamous British Invasion took over in 1964 which introduced The Beatles, who became one of the most successful and recognizable groups in the world. Not far behind them came the Rolling Stones, who still have an epic following and even tour to this day.

1969 saw the famous Woodstock festival and its "three days of peace and music." The festival would go down in history as one of the most epic music events of all time. Performers included classic rock greats Santana, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix, along with 27 other acts. With over 450,000 attendees participating in four days of sex, drugs and rock and roll, it provided the culmination of a decade known for its youth and change.

In the 1970s rock music became more progressive and experimental as it was a flourishing time for American culture. The Who, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin lead the pack with strange lyrics and epic songs lasting over five minutes. Fleetwood Mac, Queen, the Doors, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Van Halen are all classic rock gods who stated their claim throughout the 70s. During this time the Beatles disbanded and Elvis Presley died, marking the end of two huge music influences. Aerosmith and the Eagles also created hits that have lived on and are even sampled by other artists today.

Influential People
Classic rock music would be nothing without the influential guitarists of the time. Jeff Beck, most notably of The Yardbirds, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Eddie Van Halen all stole the show with riffs created with abilities that may never be duplicated. Iconic lead singers Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Jim Morrison of the Doors and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac will forever have recognizable tones and styles. These people not only were musical geniuses, but influenced people all over the world from multiple generations. They were pioneers not only in the music industry, but were also forerunners of fashion, style and culture.

The classic rock genre is much more than just a type of sound. Influential and groundbreaking, the groups and people that qualify as classic rock have forever changed the face of music; their legacy will live on for a very long time.