5 Classic Rock Stars Who Praised Taylor Swift
Classic rock icons don’t always appreciate modern pop music, but these rock stars can’t get enough of Taylor Swift. Some have praised her as a musician, and one has praised her as a person. And while Dave Grohl once said he was obsessed with Swift, don’t look for his name on the list now.
1. Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr is a big fan of Swift. Interestingly, he compared her to Miley Cyrus. Both Swift and Cyrus became famous in the 2000s and straddled the worlds of pop and country.
During a 2021 interview with Esquire, the “Photograph” singer praised both stars. “There’s a lot of good bands out there, but nobody’s doing anything,” he opined. “A lot of people are on that stepping stone to a bigger career, it’s got to be a downer for them. It’s really tough.
“Taylor Swift is the only one who’s doing well,” he added. “She likes to play by herself. I love her. I love Miley — she went through many stages of life in front of us, and that’s what it’s like. So there are a few, and a few incredible bands out there, but we’re all on hold.”
2. Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney and Swift are close enough that they’ve interviewed each other. During a 2021 Rolling Stone article, they discussed a myriad of topics, such as Gothic literature, religion, and Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up.”
In that article, Paul said he wished he had played the 50th anniversary of the Glastonbury Festival with the pop superstar. He said he wanted to play “Shake It Off” with her. Swift was honored by that comment. “Shake It Off” doesn’t sound much like a Beatles song, but it has some of the empowering vibes of a classic Paul composition like “Hey Jude” or “Let It Be.”
3. Billy Joel
Billy Joel isn’t shy about admitting he’s a Swiftie. During a 2021 interview with USA Today, he said the “Cardigan” singer is the modern equivalent of The Beatles. He praised her work ethic and her songwriting.
In a way, one could argue that Swift is carrying the torch that Joel once held. Both of them know how to switch genres without their musical decisions feeling forced. In addition, they both knew how to juggle being a pop star and a respected singer-songwriter. Both of them have also made headlines by being part of a power couple or two.
4. Liam Gallagher
While Liam Gallagher was one of the driving forces behind alt-rock icons Oasis, today he’s most known for beefing with his brother, Noel. One would expect him to have a smarmy out-down for the “Love Story” singer. However, in a 2022 interview with NME, he called Swift “cool,” praising her for writing her own songs.
Some rockers take issue with pop stars working with co-writers, essentially seeing it as cheating. Liam is fine with Swift’s decision to work with co-writers. She’s collaborated with visionaries such as Jack Antonoff, Max Martin, and Lana Del Rey.
5. Patti Smith
Swift is many things but a punk rocker she is not. That didn’t stop punk poet Patti Smith from defending her. In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, Smith said that she believes Swift is trying to influence her fans to do good in the world.
Smith didn’t elaborate on what she meant. Perhaps she was talking about Swift’s political influence. The “You Belong With Me” singer has encouraged her fans to vote for Democratic politicians in the past and used her platform to promote liberal causes such as feminism and LGBTQ rights.
