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What Is Classic Rock?

  • 25-08-2012 10:37am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,978 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    For Pete's sake - the first Classic Rock forum controversy!

    What is classic rock? Is it powder puff mainstream light rock or actual proper wade through blood and gore heavy music for heavy people?

    Snow Patrol are the sort of "rock band" politicians pretend to like in a misbegotten attempt to look vaguely aware of modern cultural trends. We all know they're faking by even mentioning such a band (hell even Queen are cooler by dint of being so uncool), when clearly they should name check the likes of King Crimson, Blue Oyster Cult or Steely Dan - names sufficiently left field yet accessible to be both a bit hip and yet plausible.

    If Snow Patrol is classic rock does that mean Ash are? or heaven help us Coldplay? Should there be a cut off point of some description, are bands less than 20 years old classic? Are bands that can't rattle glass at 100 metres Classic Rock? Is it about attitude and age? (or the forum posters own sad nostalgia?).

    What is Classic Rock?


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,944 ✭✭✭✭ Rebekah Easy Numismatist


    Electric guitar music released up to and including Nirvana's Nevermind.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    I think Dr. B captured it succinctly with the following observations about Classic Rock bands:
    They die on drugs on these.
    They pioneered fashion.

    They play music that makes guitars weep.
    They play so loud that it makes ladies undergarments fall off
    People talk in whispers about their bizarre sexual behaviour.
    They have a midget balancing a plate of coke on his head on speed dial.

    in this post.

    I'm not sure the above could be said about Snow Patrol.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,943 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    More like snow patroll.

    Yadig?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 41,926 ✭✭✭✭_blank_


    Electric guitar music released up to and including Nirvana's Nevermind.

    Woah.

    Rage Against The Machine's eponymous album was released in 1992.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭big b


    This:cool:




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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Regional Midlands Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators, Regional North Mods, Regional West Moderators, Regional South East Moderators, Regional North East Moderators, Regional North West Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 8,002 CMod ✭✭✭✭Gaspode


    Well, cars tend to be called 'classic' if they're 20-25 years or so old, and vintage if older than 35 years so maybe a similar rule should apply to rock . Has to be good stuff though, not any piece of crap car can be a true classic and the same goes for rock. It has to sound as good and kick-ass as it did the first time I heard it.

    Or

    It's all 100% objective and there can be no rules applied, as what I consider classic being nearly 50 yrs old is vastly different to what a 19yr old considers classic. Thus we can have a good old argument on just about every thread in this shiny new forum!


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    Gaspode wrote: »
    what I consider classic being nearly 50 yrs old is vastly different to what a 19yr old considers classic. Thus we can have a good old argument on just about every thread in this shiny new forum!

    Pfft. A 19 year old probably considers Snow Patrol classic.

    :eek:


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Regional Midlands Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators, Regional North Mods, Regional West Moderators, Regional South East Moderators, Regional North East Moderators, Regional North West Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 8,002 CMod ✭✭✭✭Gaspode


    Tom Dunne wrote: »
    Pfft. A 19 year old probably considers Snow Patrol classic.

    :eek:

    Exactly!


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,971 ✭✭✭Orim


    In the words of Homer Simpson - I start nodding my head, like I'm saying 'yeeess' to every beat. Yes Yes Yes, this rocks. And then sometimes I switch it up like. No, No, No! Don't stop-a-rockin'!

    That's what classic rock does.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,943 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    I think of it as dad rock.

    You know, Zeppelin, the stones, the doors, floyd etc. I don't think the definition of "classic rock" is necessarily a moving one, IE I don't think nirvana would be classic rock as opposed to CSNY or something like that.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 41,926 ✭✭✭✭_blank_


    I think of it as dad rock.

    You know, Zeppelin, the stones, the doors, floyd etc. I don't think the definition of "classic rock" is necessarily a moving one, IE I don't think nirvana would be classic rock as opposed to CSNY or something like that.

    It is definitely a "moving" definition.

    In ten years Nirvana will be "dad rock" - there will be 14/15/16 year old kids listening to Nevermind who's fathers were 14/15/16 when it came out.

    Also, Zep, Rolling Stones, The Doors, Floyd are all "clasic rock" but they also come under other subgenres - progrock, rock n roll - Black Sabbath are a Heavy Metal band, but I doubt anyone here wouldn't have them in their videos posted in the Classic Rock forum.

    Paranoid, Iron Man - definitely Classic Rock Anthems, also monstors of the early Heavy Metal genre too. \m/

    Similarly, Teen Spirit and In Bloom from Nirvana - Jeremy from Pearl Jam, Black Hole Sun from Soundgarden - rightfully take their place as representing the Grunge table in the hall of Classic Rock - if not today, then in ten years most definitely.

    They are all Classic songs/bands, and no-one can really say that they aren't Rock.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    I think of it as dad rock.

    I'm not changing the forum name. Just no.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,943 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    Des wrote: »
    It is definitely a "moving" definition.

    In ten years Nirvana will be "dad rock" - there will be 14/15/16 year old kids listening to Nevermind who's fathers were 14/15/16 when it came out.

    Also, Zep, Rolling Stones, The Doors, Floyd are all "clasic rock" but they also come under other subgenres - progrock, rock n roll - Black Sabbath are a Heavy Metal band, but I doubt anyone here wouldn't have them in their videos posted in the Classic Rock forum.

    Paranoid, Iron Man - definitely Classic Rock Anthems, also monstors of the early Heavy Metal genre too. \m/

    Similarly, Teen Spirit and In Bloom from Nirvana - Jeremy from Pearl Jam, Black Hole Sun from Soundgarden - rightfully take their place as representing the Grunge table in the hall of Classic Rock - if not today, then in ten years most definitely.

    They are all Classic songs/bands, and no-one can really say that they aren't Rock.

    Could be a good source of discussion..

    For example, is never mind now classic rock?

    The certainly had the lifestyle. It is guitar driven rock... But at the same time they weren't so much tight pants and long solos rockers either :D.

    Do you think it's mostly time that makes something classic rock? I'd always view Nirvana and Pearl Jam as Grunge and it will always seem like that to me...

    Like Grunge wouldn't relate to classic rock to me, but then what about 80s hair metal? That's definitely falling into the area. Maybe in 5 years time I'll view never mind as classic.

    However as I said I'd always view classic rock as being very much of the stones / zeppelin / doors era... But I guess the more you think on it the more the definition can be made wider in scope.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    Could be a good source of discussion..

    For example, is never mind now classic rock?

    I think personally, for me, classic rock must stop by the time I was born. I'd be very hard pushed to consider 1980's music classic rock.

    If that means for someone that Nevermind is classic rock, then so be it. I mean they are completely 100% wrong, but they are allowed think it.:)


  • Registered Users Posts: 79 ✭✭Deschain


    Despite not really caring much for genre pigeon holing etc I think the term 'Classic Rock' is music from a certain time. This time would be from around 1967-1977 or there about. From 1977 onwards rock music splintered off quite a bit with the emergence of punk, thrash, new wave, whatever. It doesn't matter what age you are or if a 19 year old thinks Nirvana is a classic rock band (or Snow Patrol for that matter), or if its 21 years since the release of Pearl Jam's Ten, classic album that it is, it is not Classic Rock, Classic Rock was the golden era of 20th Century contemporary music.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,943 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    classic-rock.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭excollier


    So, debate aside, who's your favourite "Classic Rock" band? For me, some days it's Deep Purple (Gillan & Glover, 1970-73), some days it's Pink Floyd, then Led Zeppelin, Wishbone Ash........the list is endless depends on the mood, same for my favourite track/song.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,943 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    I think the doors for me.

    I just love the guitar, the keys. It sounds somewhat unique, raw yet musically complex.

    Love that band.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,938 ✭✭✭mackg


    I think the whole what counts as classic rock is very tricky, I get the whole sixties/seventies thing but then you have to include those bands later stuff too like Bowie in the 80s.

    When Nirvana come up I still personally consider them grunge but have a much harder time discounting The Manic Street Preachers from the genre.

    The whole pidgeon holing stuff can get a little excessive but I find it makes interesting reading hearing peoples opinions on it.

    I'd still probably say The Beatles are my faves just because I've gotten so much mileage out of their whole catalogue but saying that I listened to a huge amount of The Doors and The Stones when I was in school.


  • Registered Users Posts: 48 ElectricTaurus


    that's a good question what is Classic Rock?

    I'll say that it's really a style that ended up around '74 with the Glam Rock explosion, the main characteristic are pounding drums, heavy guitars riffs, great vocalists, lots of improvisation on stage and extended jams.

    I consider Nevermind and Appetite to be more "Classic Album" and not really related to the "Classic Rock".

    What i noticed that much of the forum revolve around Pink Floyd,The Who, Zep and Purple, but how many of you are on with bands that maybe don't get the cover of Classic Rock magazine but there are pivotal to the style like:

    Leafhound

    Budgie

    Sir Lord Baltimore

    Pentagram

    Iron Claw

    Writing on the Wall

    Primevil

    Granicus

    just to name few, also there are bunch of bands that nowadays are keeping the style alive like:

    Orchid

    Graveyard

    Witchcraft

    Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats

    Astra.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭excollier


    Definitely Budgie


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,444 ✭✭✭Rigsby


    Twenty two posts into a "Classic Rock" thread and so far not a mention of "Free". Gotta put that right. ;)

    I decided to give their excellent "Woman" an airing, as everyone knows "Alright Now".




  • Registered Users Posts: 5,176 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    I like to liken it to the stages of civilisation. Classic rock is like the era of classical antiquity in rock music. Just like the ancient Greeks or Romans classic rock is full of mythology, in terms of the antics of artists and the concept albums which incorporated mythological/narrative themes. Furthermore, music from that era was not apologetic for being what it was, it was full of bombast and grandeur and it was ornate just like the architecture, ceremonies and ballads of ancient times. Not co-incidentally the era of classic rock was when prog rock was at its most popular. Then the barbarians (punk) came along and ushered in a dark age of rock from 1977-1990. Music journalists got a stranglehold in terms of defining tastes and the mentality of simplicity became an orthodoxy, deviation from which was met with accusations of self indulgence by the journalists and proto-hipsters/scenesters/posers. Out of this harsh climate of savagery emerged the metal bands, hardened versions of their classic rock forebears who, like the Knights of Camelot and the medieval times, battled ferociously against the barbarian hordes by adopting some of their traits but combining it with classic rock and prog principles in order to keep the spirit of rock alive. They were the Metallicas, Motorheads and Judas Priests of their era. Verily they put in a good service in maintaining a semblance of civilisation, for by the end of the 80s you had the Renaissance (1987-1992). Classic rock came back with Guns and Roses. It was also conveyed albeit in a modified form with grunge bands like Pearl Jam and The Smashing Pumpkins. Even Britpop bands were significantly influenced by classic rock eg Oasis. 1992-1995 would be definable as the Age of Reason as the alternative scene was beginning to consolidate itself. The mid 90s would have been the Victorian era which lasted until 2003. Then from 2004 with the exception of The Darkness we're in the first half of the 20th century and wow does it suck. There is a world war against rock music with the rise of the hipsters, no different from nazis in terms of their behaviour. Bands like Snow Patrol and Coldplay reign supreme, playing "rock" music for people who don't like rock. The same applies to indie/hipster music. Rock is truly dead, people have sunk from the heights of classical antiquity to the lows of post Weimar Germany. This is a war between the Allies and Axis powers and right now the Axis are winning. People actively like sh1t music. They like sh1t like The Kings of Leon, a band so sh1t that they're dismissive of their audience and don't bother to put on a good show when that's all they can do to salvage their sh1tty music and sh1tty musical ability. This is an age of horrors for rock music fans, it's an endless onslaught of indie and hipster music, and people are oblivious, brainwashed in fact against liking real rock n' roll. All that is left are a few sites of resistance in the form of metal and hard rock bands who keep the flame alive, but will it be enough? A brave new world indeed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 318 ✭✭audidiesel


    id say the definition of classic rock is different for each and every person. as im around 30, id say in my opinion everything pre 1990 is crossing over into that kinda territory. for someone in their 40's/50's it could well be up to the 70's. neither of us is really wrong in the definition.

    the one think i think everyone mostly agrees on is it should have a lot of guitar and be best played loud....

    but not snow patrol. never snow patrol


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,736 ✭✭✭Irish Guitarist


    I think it's a meaningless label that someone came up with.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,317 ✭✭✭Dublin Spur


    What is classic rock ? For me it's

    Blues based rock n' roll artists that peaked between around 1965 and 1980.

    These were the godfathers of classic rock, rock bands that came after this era like GNR and Oasis (for example) were just reincarnations of the originals.

    My own personal favourites would be Aerosmith, The Stones, CCR, AC/DC but the list of course is endless...

    (Great forum BTW) :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 353 ✭✭EchoO


    For me there would be a fairly vague cut off point around the mid-70's, or pre-punk, but it's not a definition I would hold anyone else to.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,449 ✭✭✭blastman


    Just noticed this forum and groaned inwardly. While I like the music that will invariably feature (although we referred to it as hard rock/heavy metal/punk/blues/whatever), the Rock/Metal forum was good enough and open-minded enough to cover everything

    Classic Rock is a magazine, not a genre.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,943 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    blastman wrote: »
    Just noticed this forum and groaned inwardly. While I like the music that will invariably feature (although we referred to it as hard rock/heavy metal/punk/blues/whatever), the Rock/Metal forum was good enough and open-minded enough to cover everything

    Classic Rock is a magazine, not a genre.

    Would suggest you post your feedback about the forum here:
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056751472
    As opposed to here in the forum itself.

    Alternatively if you want a permanent opt-out please let me know via PM.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 5,449 ✭✭✭blastman


    Sorry, only saw that thread after I'd posted here.


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