There is a quiet argument happening in dive bars, pickup trucks, and YouTube comment sections: When did Classic Rock die? Some say it faded with the shag carpet of the 1970s. Others argue it mutated into hairspray and spandex in the 80s. A defiant few insist the 90s were the genre’s final, beautiful gasp.
Spotify’s “Rock This” playlist had 5 million followers—mostly under 25. Kids discovered Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours (1977) because a TikTok trend used “Dreams.” In 2019, songs from 1971 (Led Zeppelin IV) outsold 90% of new rock releases. Classic Rock 70s 80s 90s 2019
Turn it up. The classics never die. They just wait for a new generation to find them. There is a quiet argument happening in dive
By J. Rivers