The Most Famous Rock Music of All Time

A look at the most famous rock songs of all time. These are the tunes that have stood the test of time and have become classics.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several genres, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements in innovative ways. In 1963, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”; as the group’smusic grew in sophistication, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, they came to be perceived as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the young counterculture of the 1960s.

The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960, with Stuart Sutcliffe initially serving as bass player. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a succession of drummers, including Pete Best, before asking Starr to join them in 1962. Manager Brian Epstein molded them into a professional act and producer George Martin guided and developed their recordings releasing A Hard Day’s Night (1964) to critical acclaim; Can’t Buy Me Love (1964), Help! (1965), Rubber Soul (1965), Yesterday (1965); followed by Revolver(1966) Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band(1967), Magical Mystery Tour(1967); The Beatles(1968) Yellow Submarine(1969); Abbey Road(1969) Let It Be(1970).

After the band’s break-up in 1970, all four members enjoyed successful musical careers of varying lengths. Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment building on 8 December 1980; Harrison died of lung cancer at his home Los Angeles on 29 November 2001; Starr remains active as a musician; McCartney released his first album with Wings “Band on the Run” in 1973; he has since worked on an extensive catalogue of songs as a solo artist including: “Pipes of Peace” (1983), “Flowers in the Dirt” (1989), “Choba B CCCP” (1991), “Off the Ground” (1993), “Flaming Pie” (1997); he has also pursued projects such as collaborative work with Youth on The Fireman’s1989 album…

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound has led them to be cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal. They are widely considered to be one of the most successful, innovative and influential rock bands of all time.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after Stewart, leaving Richards as the only original member of the band who is still active.

The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the US in 1964. The band identified with the rebellious counterculture of the 1960s. They were instrumental in making blues a major part of rock and roll, and of changing the international focus of blues culture to Britain and North America from its birthplace, Chicago.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is one of the most well-known and influential rock bands of all time. Formed in London in 1965, the group is known for their psychedelic and progressive rock music, as well as their use of innovative technology in their live performances. Pink Floyd has released fifteen studio albums, including “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall”, both of which are among the best-selling albums of all time. The band has won numerous awards, including nine Grammy Awards, and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Nirvana

Nirvana was one of the most famous and influential rock bands of all time. They were formed in 1987 in Aberdeen, Washington, and their music quickly became popular with alternative and grunge fans. Nirvana’s members were Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar), Krist Novoselic (bass), and Dave Grohl (drums).

Nirvana’s first album, Bleach, was released in 1989. It was followed by Nevermind in 1991, which became a huge commercial success. Nirvana’s third and final album, In Utero, was released in 1993.

Nirvana achieved massive success with Nevermind, which featured the hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The song became an anthem for disaffected adolescents and helped make Nirvana one of the most popular rock bands of the early 1990s.

Sadly, Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994, at the age of 27. Nirvana disbanded soon afterwards. However, their music continues to be popular and influential.

Queen

Few would argue that Queen is one of the most iconic and influential rock bands of all time. Hailing from England, this band captured the hearts of music lovers around the world with their unique sound, classic hits, and flamboyant stage presence.

Queen was formed in 1970 by singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, and drummer Roger Taylor. They soon added bassist John Deacon to the lineup. Queen released their self-titled debut album in 1973, followed by a string of successful follow-ups including “A Night at the Opera” (1975), “A Day at the Races” (1976), and “News of the World” (1977).

Queen became true rock legends thanks to their anthemic hits like “We Will Rock You,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The band continued to tour and release new music until Mercury’s untimely death in 1991. May and Taylor carried on as Queen + Paul Rodgers before finally returning to their original moniker in 2011 with American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert on vocals.

Today, Queen’s music continues to inspire new generations of fans. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and they received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2018.

AC/DC

AC/DC is a rock band formed in Australia in 1973. The band is composed of brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, who are the founding members, Phil Rudd, and Cliff Williams. The band rose to prominence with their fourth studio album “High Voltage”, which was released in 1975. Since then, they have released seventeen studio albums, two live albums, and multiple compilations. They are one of the best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 200 million records worldwide. They are also one of the most influential rock bands of all time, having helped to pioneer the sound and style of heavy metal music.

The Who

The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered to be one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

The band’s classic lineup was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. They have received multiple Grammy nominations, including a win for Lifetime Achievement in 2008. In 2002, The Who were ranked number 29 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” list, and in 2008 they were ranked number 8 on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” list.

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath is often cited as the pioneers of heavy metal music. Formed in Birmingham, England in 1968, the band rose to prominence with their self-titled debut album, which was released in 1970. The band went on to release a string of successful albums, including “Paranoid” (1970), “Master of Reality” (1971), and “Vol. 4” (1972). Sabbath’s distinctive sound – characterized by Iommi’s heavy guitar riffs and Ozzy Osbourne’s eerie vocals – has influenced generations of rock musicians.

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was one of the most influential rock guitarists of all time. He is best known for his brief but prolific career in the late 1960s, during which he released three studio albums, all of which are considered classics. Though Hendrix only recorded a handful of songs, his impact on the world of rock guitar was immense. He popularized a number of techniques that are now considered standard, such as feedback and sustain. His style was highly influential on subsequent generations of guitarists, and he remains one of the most celebrated musicians in rock history.