classic rock Showbiz Cheat Sheet

classic rock
Jimi Hendrix | Walter Iooss Jr./Getty Images
classic rock
Classic rock is a genre made up of some of the greatest rock artists and groups of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The genre emerged in the 1980s on traditional radio stations in the United States. Radio stations were trying to diversify their content, with many playing rock hits from the '60s and '70s and thus coining the term "classic rock." Over the years, the genre has evolved to include rock hits from the '80s and, to some, the '90s.
Subgenres: Rock, punk, alternative, rock alternative, pop-rock Notable Classic Rock Musicians: Jimi Hendrix, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Ozzy Osbourne, Stevie Nicks Notable Classic Rock Bands: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac

Featured Articles:

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The Rolling Stones

A black and white picture of Bianca Jagger and her husband Mick Jagger sitting together. She wears a headband around her head.

Music

Bianca Jagger on Marrying ‘The Worst Husband a Woman Could Have’

Bianca Jagger said that Mick Jagger was not an easy person to have as a husband. She shared what he wanted in a spouse.

by Emma McKee

Published on June 22, 2024

2 min read

Music

John Lennon Hated the Idea of a Charity Concert With Mick Jagger (or Anybody Else)

John Lennon's music has inspired many people to live better lives. That doesn't mean he wanted to get onstage and do a charity concert with The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger.

by Matthew Trzcinski

The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger in black-and-white

Music

The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger Named the 2 Rock Stars Who Give Him Hope

The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger named two modern pop-punk singers he likes. Here’s how they compare to The Rolling Stones.

by Matthew Trzcinski

John Lennon’s Son Felt ‘Rejected and Unimportant’ in the Beatle’s Life

John Lennon had two sons. After he divorced his first wife, he hardly spent any time with his eldest child.

by Emma McKee

Published on November 12, 2024

3 min read

The Beatles in suits during the "I Want to Hold Your Hand" era

Music

The Worst Cover of The Beatles’ ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ You’ll Ever Hear

The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" inspired way too many covers. One of them came from a fellow British Invasion star who completely missed the song's appeal.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

The Monkees Made Their Own Version of The Beatles’ ‘A Day in the Life’

The Beatles' "A Day in the Life" is the band's magnum opus. Interestingly, The Monkees released a song with a lot of the same elements.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Stevie Nicks Admitted She ‘Hardly Talked’ to Christine McVie Before Her Death

Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie didn't talk much before McVie's death. Nicks viewed this as a tragedy.

by Emma McKee

Published on October 25, 2024

3 min read

Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, and John McVie pose together in front of a blue background. They smile.

Music

Christine McVie Said She Got by on ‘Laziness’ Until Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham Joined Fleetwood Mac

Christine McVie said she unintentionally took a backseat role in Fleetwood Mac. She shared what made her realize this.

by Emma McKee

Mick Fleetwood drums from behind Stevie Nicks, who plays the tambourine, and Lindsey Buckingham who plays guitar.

Music

Mick Fleetwood Hopes Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham Can Heal Their Relationship

Mick Fleetwood hopes to see a reunion between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. He shared what he hopes to see in their future.

by Emma McKee

‘Alice’s Restaurant’: Arlo Guthrie Revealed the True Story Behind His Thanksgiving Song

During an interview, Arlo Guthrie explained how actual events inspired his classic Thanksgiving song "Alice's Restaurant." He said the song isn't an anti-war song so much as a critique of something else. The song's parent album became a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Chad Kroeger Said Nickelback’s ‘Photograph’ Was Inspired by a Picture of This Rock Musician

Chad Kroeger said Nickelback's "Photograph" was inspired by certain universal emotions, as well as a photograph of a rock musician who worked with Nickelback. "Photograph" became a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. The song's parent album, 'All the Right Reasons,' was a smash.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Avril Lavigne, and Marilyn Manson Once Made a Song Together

Nickelback's Chad Kroeger courted Avril Lavigne as they wrote songs together for her self-titled album. Marilyn Manson provided guest vocals to one of the songs Kroeger wrote with Lavigne. The album Lavigne made with Kroeger became a minor hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Broadway / Music

U2’s Bono Wrote a Song About Spider-Man That Was Supposed to Make Fans Cry

U2's Bono and The Edge wanted to write an anthemic song for a Spider-Man musical. The song was supposed to be as good as one of Bono's favorite songs ever, which is a Roger and Hammerstein track. Bono's Spider-Man anthem hit the Billboard Hot 100.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Bruce Springsteen Gave ‘Because the Night’ to Patti Smith and She Didn’t Want to Sing It

Patti Smith didn't want to sing a song Bruce Springsteen co-wrote. She later changed her mind. Smith contributed lyrics to the finished version of the song. The track became a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. A 1990s band covered the song and its rendition became an even bigger hit.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

The Beatles: George Harrison Said His Follow-up to ‘Here Comes the Sun’ Sent Him to a ‘Dream World’

George Harrison discussed one of his songs when he appeared on a program with Michael Jackson. George said he was hesitant to write a followup song to The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," but he did so anyway. George released his followup to "Here Comes the Sun" on a hit album.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

This Rock Star Covered an Elvis Presley Song About Talking Shrimp

One of Elvis Presley's movies includes an infamous song about talking shrimp. The track appeared on a darkly comedic bootleg album. The song was later covered by a singer from a 1990s rock band who made the song sadder. The cover was not a hit.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

George Harrison Felt He Couldn’t Beat the Riff from This Rolling Stones Song

The Beatles' George Harrison said one member of The Rolling Stones was incredibly talented. The former Beatle really liked the riff from one of The Rolling Stones' most famous songs. This song became a No. 1 hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Tom Petty Wrote ‘Free Fallin” in 30 Minutes to Amuse This Rock Star

Tom Petty was in a band called the Traveling Wilburys with fellow rock stars Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne. Petty wrote "Free Fallin'" to amuse one of his bandmates. "Free Fallin'" became a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Nickelback: Chad Kroeger Called the Band’s Only No. 1 Song ‘Revenge’ Against His Girlfriend

One of Nickelback's classic songs outperformed all the rest in the United States. The song was partly inspired by an argument Chad Kroeger had with his girlfriend. Not every member of Nickelback wanted the song to be a single, but it became an international hit.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

The Rolling Stones’ 1st Hit Song Was Written by Chuck Berry

The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger had mixed feelings about Chuck Berry's songs. Regardless, The Rolling Stones covered one of Berry's songs early in their career. Subsequently, Jagger felt The Rolling Stones should stop covering blues songs. The cover became a hit in the United Kingdom but not the United States.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Kiss’ Ace Frehley Hated That Gene Simmons Made a Song With Helen Reddy

The members of Kiss all released solo albums in 1978. Ace Frehley said Gene Simmons made a mistake when he worked with Helen Reddy on his solo album. The album included a song that became a minor hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Paul Stanley Reveals Why Kiss Was ‘So Much More’ Than Aerosmith

Kiss' Paul Stanley revealed critics did not always appreciate his band. He said his band's closest contemporary was Aerosmith. He said Kiss was so much more than Aerosmith. Both classic rock bands worked with the same producer. Kiss worked with this producer on an album that reunited the group's original line-up.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

James Blunt Said ‘You’re Beautiful’ Is a ‘Creepy’ Song Based on a True Story

James Blunt said "You're Beautiful" was inspired by an event from his life. He thinks the song is creepy rather than romantic, as it's about a stalker. Blunt was unprepared for the track's popularity. "You're Beautiful" became a massive hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

David Bowie’s Hit Song ‘China Girl’ Allowed Iggy Pop to Get Married

During an interview, Iggy Pop revealed David Bowie's "China Girl" had a major impact on his personal life and finances. He also commented on a few of Bowie's cover songs. Bowie’s "China Girl" became a big hit in the United States, as did its parent album, ‘Let’s Dance.’

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Kiss’ Ace Frehley Said He Made This Rolling Stones Song ‘Something Special’

Kiss' Ace Frehley credits songs by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and other British Invasion bands with saving his life. Kiss covered one of the songs from The Rolling Stones' 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' on the album 'Dynasty.' 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' and 'Dynasty' became hits.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

RuPaul: Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain Loved 1 of His Songs

Kurt Cobain of Nirvana really liked one of RuPaul's most famous songs. RuPaul said Courtney Love and the members of Nirvana understood drag in a way others do not. The song in question was a minor hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

John Lennon Wrote This Love Song as a Tribute to All Women

John Lennon said one of his love songs was written to every woman. He said his relationships with women were often poor, but that he was trying to change. The song in question was a big hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

John Lennon Told Paul McCartney He Was Leaving The Beatles in a ‘White Album’ Song

John Lennon used a comedic lyric in The Beatles' 'White Album' to send a message to Paul McCartney. The song features references to "Strawberry Fields Forever," "The Fool on the Hill," "I Am the Walrus," and other Beatles songs. The 'White Album' was a huge hit.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

The Beatles’ George Harrison Said Listening to This Elvis Presley Song Was a Spiritual Experience

The Beatles' George Harrison heard one of Elvis Presley's songs while riding his bike. George said the song provided hope to the people of Great Britain and said listening to it was a spiritual experience. The song became popular in the United States and the United Kingdom.

by Matthew Trzcinski

classic rock

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