There could be only one, couldn't there? It had to be this, right? Being "banned in guitar shops" doesn't alter the fact that this epic from Zep's fourth album is undeniably better than ANY other song because it somehow manages to cram pretty much every single rock genre into one sprawling eight minute slice of brilliance. Oh, and don't forget THAT guitar solo Easily the most subversively ingenious song to ever reach number 1 in the UK charts. This song, above all others, summed up exactly what Queen were whilst changing rock music forever. Perhaps the greatest compliment you can pay Free Bird is that when that fade starts to happen about 30 seconds before the end you simply don't want it to end. It's like five minutes of foreplay followed by an almighty explosion of duelling guitar solos and Southern rock brilliance. Who would have thought that the story of a burning casino would have become the most recognisable rock song in history? Undeniably iconic, and a brilliant song to boot.


55. That’ll Be the Day (1957)

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Rock along to Scorpions’ “Rock You Like a Hurricane.”
A rock guitarist since the s, Kelley has been a fan of rock, blues and jazz since the s. This list tries to include some of the greatest rock tunes ever, all of which are classics; that is, songs released before the year Also keep in mind it only includes mainstream rock and roll and we all know what that is, right? Moreover, most of these songs were released as singles, so their exposure has been much greater than songs only available on albums. Rock and Roll is the most brutal, desperate, vicious form of expression it has been my misfortune to hear. In the old days, this was usually the first tune learned by rock guitarists the chords A, D, Em,D.
Subscriber Account active since. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Not only has Aerosmith made an impact in the music industry, but they've also devoted time to philanthropic efforts over the course of five decades. These rockers are true icons of the classic rock genre. Classic rock in itself has long been established as a true American music genre. In fact, one could argue that classic rock is the staple of American music culture. Of course, the definition of classic rock has been under contention for years, with some people arguing a rock song of any genre merely needs to be 25 years old to be considered a "classic. While bands like Aerosmith and The Doors are often considered to be the fathers of classic rock, the fluid lines of what defines a "classic" will vary depending on the part of the world you're in. For the sake of this article, the definition of classic rock is music created between the s and early s with an emphasis on guitar-focused compositions.