classic rock

Classic Rock is kind of a tough category to pigeonhole. True, it's a brand of oldies rock, but fifties music doesn't qualify (too old) and, to purists at least, neither does most eighties music (too new). If you find this at all confusing, you are hardly alone.

Broadly defined, classic rock is music that was first popularized during the FM Rock era of the late sixties and seventies. The cut-off, if there is one, comes at roughly the same time that the MTV era began (although many also consider bands of the same period like U2, R.E.M., and Dire Straits as classic rock).

Mostly, though, classic rock is a radio format created by onetime FM Rock radio programmers who found themselves in a time warp when they didn't expand their playlists beyond groups like Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and the Stones. Other classic staples include Boston, Bad Company, Bruce Springsteen, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Who.

As a radio format, classic rock remains hugely viable and such stations as Seattle's KZOK regularly top the ratings in their markets. You'll find classic rock fans talking about their favorite music at blogs like Classic Rock Central, Layla's Classic Rock and Classic Rock Revisited.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “classic rock”

• Rock & Roll Rental Car Part 2

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  As I sit here in the Lansing, MI airport while the Muzak version of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” plays over the sound system, thought I’d share part two of my Rock & Roll rental car excursion. After my tremendously fun keynote speech this morning at the MI NADONA Conference (I delivered The Rock & ...
  13 hours ago

• “What’s important in this life?” The Pretenders ask a Rock & Roll Philosophical Question

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  “What’s important in this life?” -The Pretenders This may well be the most important question you will ever ask yourself, and I highly recommend asking it on a daily basis. Take some time to reflect on this question and answer it truthfully. If you really want to embed your answer into your subconscious mind, ...
  18 hours ago

• Rock & Roll History: November 11

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  Here are four things every rocker should know on this date in Rock & Roll History: 1945: Chris Dreja, a guitarist who was a founding member of The Yardbirds, was born. Oddly, when I think of Yardbirds’ guitarists, Chris is not the first name that comes to mind. Can you say Eric, Jeff & Jimmy? 1965: The ...
  19 hours ago

• Tooboard Radio | Today in Grateful Dead History | November 11th

  
  Tooboarders.net — Authority: 119
  Listen Live with Windows Media PlayerListen Live with Real PlayerListen Live with Tooboard Radio11/11/67Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CASet 1:Turn On Your Love LightBeat It On Down The LineDeath Don’t Have No MercyGood Morning Little School GirlCryptical EnvelopmentThe Other OneCryptical EnvelopmentNew Potato ...
  1 day ago

• Rock & Roll Rental Car

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  I’m on the road today for a speaking gig tomorrow morning. I’ll be kicking off the Michigan NADONA Conference by delivering The Rock & Roll Guide to Patient Loyalty. When I got to my rental car this afternoon at the Lansing airport I immediately turned on the radio. Imagine my delight when I found it tuned to ...
  1 day ago

• Rock & Roll History: November 10

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  Here’s some Rock & Roll History that caught my attention for November 10th: 1948: Greg Lake was born. Greg was a founding member of both ELP and King Crimson. The singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter & producer also toured briefly with the band Asia. 1966: The English newspapers announced that the ...
  1 day ago

• Shooting Star

  
  Music — Authority: 144
  Bad Company took our wannabe theme to a dark conclusion, which happens too often. While many go on to enjoy years of fame and fortune, some of our Jukebox Heroes flamed out and came to a bad end. The list is long, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin , just to name a couple. A lifestyle of drugs, prolonged adrenalin ...
  1 day ago

• “I just want to celebrate…” Rock & Roll Wisdom from Rare Earth

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  “I just want to celebrate another day of livin’, I just want to celebrate another day of life.” -Rare Earth Just for today, celebrate another day of life. Celebrate the good, the bad, the ugly and the fantabulous. As long as you didn’t see your name in the obituaries this morning, celebrate and appreciate all ...
  1 day ago

• Jukebox Hero

  
  Music — Authority: 144
  A decade later, Foreigner took up todays theme with their hit, Jukebox Hero .     Foreigner - Juke Box Hero by Augenblicke  
  1 day ago

• New Live Meat Loaf DVD Hits Stores Today

  
  Rock Music Report. The place for Rock and roll news. — Authority: 143
  Shot at the Stadthalle Offenbach, Bat Out of Hell: The Original Tour catches the raw exhilaration of Meat Loaf’s colossal stage performance. Larger-than-life songs such as “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)” and “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” sounded utterly extravagant performed ...
  1 day ago

• So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star

  
  Music — Authority: 144
  Its been happening for decades. A skinny, pimply faced, unpopular teenage boy buys a guitar, learns to play and presto!...his social life is totally transformed. Its a dream for millions of young men and women yet today, but of course, not everyone gets it right. It usually takes more than the right clothes, right ...
  1 day ago

• Emerson, Lake and Palmer – Toccata

  
  too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged daily — Authority: 151
  Greg Lake , Brit musician; King Crimson founding member and one-third of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Tagged: classic rock, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Greg Lake, King Crimson, November 10 birthdays, prog rock, progressive rock, rock
  2 days ago

• Atlanta Rhythm Section – Imaginary Lover

  
  too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged daily — Authority: 151
  Ronnie Hammond, American vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with Atlanta Rhythm Section Tagged: album rock, Atlanta Rhythm Section, classic rock, November 10 birthdays, rock, Ronnie Hammond, southern rock
  2 days ago

• KISS – Killers

  
  Metal Excess — Authority: 125
  KISS – Killers (1997, Mercury Records – German Import) Original Release: 1982, Phonogram Records 1. “I’m A Legend Tonight” … 4:00 2. “Down On Your Knees” … 3:31 3. “Cold Gin” … 4:20 4. “Love Gun” … 3:17 5. “Shout It Out Loud” … 2:39 6. “Sure Know Something” … 4:01 7. ...
  2 days ago

• Steven Tyler Quits Aerosmith

  
  Blippitt.com — Authority: 591
  It looks like Steven Tyler has quit Aerosmith .  Ill give you a minute to let that sink in. Guitarist Joe Perry said that Tyler, who recently hurt his shoulder, has left the band "as far as I can tell." Tyler hasnt made any sort of official announcement on the matter but Perry, 59, says that Steven Tyler, 61, ...
  2 days ago

• Aerosmith Tour Over: Steven Tyler Quits Band of 40 Years

  
  Music Vixen Blog — Authority: 431
  photo credit: John Griffiths Steven Tyler has quit Aerosmith, as far as I can tell,” guitarist Joe Perry told the Las Vegas Sun newspaper following weeks of speculation. ( Read: Joe Perry and Steven Tyler, Not Speaking ) The members of the 40-year-old Boston rock band have indicated that they are ...
  2 days ago

• Grateful Dead at the Forefront of Marketing Technology

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  Whether you are a Deadhead or not, you’ll want to check out this video from my buddy, Dead tribe member and PR/Marketing guru David Meerman Scott. David interviews long-time Dead tour photographer Jay Blakesberg, who discusses how The Dead is at the forefront of marketing technology…45 years later. Grate job, ...
  2 days ago

• Kansas: A Philosophical Rock & Roll Question

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  “How far to the point of no return?” -Kansas How far to the point of no return? Who cares?!?! What matters is that we are moving in that direction and constantly testing the limits. Our cue that we are nearing the point of no return is that we tend to get a little nervous. This is nothing more than our instincts ...
  2 days ago

• Monday Music: The Story in Your Eyes

  
  Daisy's Dead Air — Authority: 527
  Extremely busy this weekend...I barely got home in time for the Mad Men season finale, which I found disappointing. In fact, I cant remember the last season finale (or any other finale) that Ive enjoyed. The worst in history was Battlestar Galactica , which was so upsetting in its overall badness that I ...
  2 days ago

• Rock & Roll History: November 9

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 143
  A few events caught my eye on this day in Rock & Roll History: 1961: Brian Epstein met George Harrison and Paul McCartney for the first time after they played a luncheon gig at the Cavern in Liverpool. The rest, as they say, is history. He learned of the boys when customers of his record store asked for their ...
  2 days ago

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