The Classic Rock of Yesterday, Today
The "classic rock" scene is alive and well, but of course when I remember listening to it, it wasn't quite classic yet. Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, AC/DC - coming out with new records, my friends and I rushing to the store to buy the latest "album." My son is one of the guilty ones - paying for the shirts that, had I known would become popular again, would've held onto and just given them to him. Hindsight is always 20/20.
They say fashion goes around in a circle. Have I gotten "that old" that I've been around for a full cycle? Neah... it can't be. I like to think of it as an age that was just so incredibly good that it never actually went away. It's a self-relieving form of denial in my own mind anyway. It's great to hear the old songs again on the car radio- with a speechless teenage boy next to you, rolling his eyes at doing a "sing-along" with mom. Can't I enjoy the classics too? You would think it'd be a great opportunity to bond, since we both know the words, and my mind hasn't gone that far into senility yet. How embarrassing it must be to have to admit your mom liked a "cool" band! It's wonderful to have great memories, gently easing me into my old age. It's a comfort level that I'm not sure I'm ready to break out of yet.
Will this stage continue? Probably not. They never do. Bellbottoms came and went, and came back again, and went again. "My" tee shirts came and went, came back again and I'm sure will leave again. This time, my advice to that teenager would be "hold onto them, they'll be back!" Twenty-five years from now, you'll make a killing on them! What will scare me though is when dropped waistlines and hip huggers come back, I don't know if I can picture my nearly centurion body wearing that fashion. I guess I'll have to wait, and keep in shape, and forego the belly button piercing!
Published by Cee Belair
Working mom of 3. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentMy theory: Classic Rock is an antidote for the over-produced, over-dubbed pap that passes for new music on many stations. Sure, the voices aren't great, but at least you know the artist is acutally singing the notes! Thanks for a good article.
Oh dear! Vanilla Ice and Steven Tyler together?! barf! I really hope this doesn't go away like some other phases do. I love listening to the stuff. I can't believe how badly Ozzie has failed though! Who would've knew?
I hope it will continue--I am 26 and loved this stuff in high school (graduated in 1999). My favorite station is still the classic rock one!
I was lucky enough to see Peter Frampton on the Frampton Comes Alive tour in 1977 in the Kingdome in Seattle. Of course Foghat and the J. Geils Band were on the tour too. But you can't forget Boston or Foreigner also. And the ladies of Heart - At least my daughter listens to them still even without me around.
It is a large part of my daily commute. And with all the "crap" playing today, it is a relief that real music is still played and enjoyed. I would agree that its either making a comeback or its the product of our parents playing great music on road trips and now growing up i crave the same sound. Some bands now a days that do come out try to do so with the classic tone to it.
My son is totally into classic rock! I love it! He just said to me today "darn you mom for getting me into all these great songs" He grew up listening to it and finally now realizes how much he loves it. His friends love it too. Pink Floyd, Ozzy, Led Zep, AC/DC and many more are very popular with the teens today. I think the Osbournes show really got teens into what used to be. He didn't show as much interest in the music until he watched it for awhile. He also like modern music too. On a side note, my hubby just told me that the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is letting Hip Hop and Rap artists in now!! Say it isn't so :( Imagine Steven Tyler and Vanilla Ice in the same Hall of Fame! What a shame, I cannot say how heartbroken this decision has made me! I don't know the details so maybe it's not as bad as it sounds???
A few years ago my then 15-year-old daughter was boasting about going to OzFest with a relative. I asked her who Oz was and she said Ozzie Osbourne. He has a really funny TV show on MTV. Never heard of Black Sabbath but wore the Ozzie shirt for months. Good idea for an article and very well presented.
I think it's great - I love all of those "old" songs (altho' I won't admit that I'm getting old) It cracks me up that my son wears AC/DC shirts and likes Led Zeppelin! Talk about bringing back memories!
As a radio show producer and host whose Internet station is temporarily on hiatus while I straighten out my finances, I can say for a fact that "classic rock" is indeed popular again. It's one of the top five formats across the country, and was a big part of my programming.