By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 30, 2024
The 1970s may seem like they were a long time ago, but certain parts of the decade have lived on. Whether you’re talking about the fashion that has seemingly come and gone in popularity multiple times or the food habits, people have loved going back to talking about the 1970s. Another famous staple of the 1970s was rock music.
The 70s were filled with incredible rock bands who all had their own sound. From punk rock to hard rock, there’s something for everyone in this decade.
Whether it was an English rock band, a progressive rock band, or a hard rock band, there were plenty of choices to listen to. Some of the most famous rock bands in history enjoyed mainstream success in the 1970s. So which 70s rock band are you? Find out by answering a few questions.
70s rock band
In the 1970s, some of the most influential rock bands ever rose to fame. Many acts from that era ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some of the band members are still incredibly well-known today. There are so many iconic classic rock bands of the 70s. The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Electric Light Orchestra are just a few that come to mind.
The best rock bands of the 1970s usually had successful studio albums and hit songs that made it onto the radio. From heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath to progressive rock bands like Rush, there were so many great artists working in this decade.
What 70s Rock Band Are You?
Exploring the crackle of vinyl and flamboyance of feathered hair, we journey back to an era where rock music was a force that defined a generation. The 1970s birthed some of the most iconic and enduring rock bands, each with a sound as distinct as the bell-bottoms were wide. From the progressive licks of Pink Floyd to the glittering road anthems of Kiss, this was a decade that set the stage for stratospheric solos and killer riffs. Ready to find out where you fit in this pantheon of musical gods? We bet you've air-guitared to "Stairway to Heaven" at least once in your life, haven't you?
Every classic rock band from the swinging 70s had their own vibe, whether it was the rebellious roars of punk or the soothing harmonies of folk rock. So, when you crank up the 8-track player, is it Led Zeppelin that gets your motor running or do you find your groove with the smooth tunes of Fleetwood Mac? (Admit it, we've all been mesmerized by Stevie Nicks at some point.) The musical tapestry of the 70s had threads of glam, punk, metal, and yes, even the early twinges of disco.
Before your Spotify existed, our ancestors had to rewind their cassettes with a pencil! So dust off that old band tee and prepare to travel in a time machine powered by thumping bass lines and face-melting solos. Let's take a rockin' trip down memory lane, and figure out which 1970s classic rock band resonates with your soul. Don't forget to do the quiz – you wouldn't want to miss which rock music legend mirrors your own inner rockstar. Let's rock 'n' roll, and maybe, just maybe, you'll find you were born several decades too late!
Rock Genres and Revolutionaries
Before we dive into the electric world of '70s rock, let's get our air guitars tuned for an era of boundary-pushing and tight pants. The '70s blasted open the doors for rock diversity, giving us everything from the raw energy of punk to the soulful twangs of southern rock.
The Rise of Punk and Glitter
When the '70s rolled around, it was out with the flower power and in with the power chords. Punk rock struck the music scene like a safety-pinned lightning bolt. Bands like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols cranked out rapid-fire tunes that were all about speed, simplicity, and spit-streaked rebellion. Checkered vans anyone?
Speaking of sparkle, let's not forget glam rock, the flashier cousin of punk. With its roots in glitter, this genre had bands like Queen adding a sprinkle of theatricality and a blast of Eddie Van Halen's guitar solos to the mix. It was bold, brash, and made for those who didn't mind their rock stars in a bit of mascara.
Southern Comfort and Hard Edges
If you fancied a dash of whiskey with your guitar riffs, then southern rock had you covered. The Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd serenaded us with songs that smelt like sweet home wherever-you're-from. Their classic rock anthems wrapped us in the warm embrace of the south.
Then there was the hard-hitting world of heavy metal, where Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath ruled with iron fists and headbanging hymns. Trust Ozzy to bring the bats to the party, right? This genre was known for its powerful vocals, mythical lyricism, and enough guitar solos to make your hair grow faster.
So, which 70s rock band aligns with your soul? Are you ready to rumble with the punks, strut with the glam crowd, sip some moonshine with the southerners, or headbang with the metalheads? Each one is a piece of the rock 'n' roll puzzle that made the 70s unforgettable!
Band Anthem Breakdown
Ready to rock and roll through the annals of '70s music with an air guitar in one hand and a trivia book in the other? Let's unravel the tapestry of iconic '70s rock anthems that have left a permanent groove in our hearts and on our vinyls.
Epic Guitar Solos and Stairway to Heaven
When we speak of guitar solos that shaped a genre, we must bow down to the high priest of rock theatrics, Jimmy Page. His work on Stairway to Heaven is nothing short of a religious experience for the eardrums. Led Zeppelin turned the world on its axis with this monumental strain of progressive rock, amalgamating mystic symbols with a melody that gently weeps then fiercely roars. Just listen to Page's fingers dance on those strings and try not to ascend to rock heaven!
Guitarist heroes weren't in short supply in the '70s. From Sweet's anthemic Ballroom Blitz with its crunchy power chords to Aerosmith's Joe Perry delivering his heart-pumping solos, the era was an electric banquet. Heart brought a fresh dimension to hard rock with Nancy Wilson steering the ship, while Styx and KISS kept the flame of showmanship burning bright.
Beyond the Hits: Deeper Cuts
Now, if we dig a little deeper beyond the radio darlings, we find the soul of '70s rock in its deeper cuts — tracks that may not have topped the charts but absolutely captured the zeitgeist. The Rolling Stones cast a long shadow with their blues rock, giving us layers of Can't You Hear Me Knocking. Meanwhile, Pink Floyd elevated mind-expanding soundscapes to an art form, leading us down the rabbit hole with Shine On You Crazy Diamond.
And who can forget the glam rock glory that Sweet bestowed with Fox on the Run? Or the way Freddie Mercury commanded both the stage and the waves of the air, infusing a classical ethos into rock with Queen? Let’s not overlook the schools of thought that propelled psychedelic rock and the unforgettable choruses that still echo from KISS to Styx. Our musical palette was as rich as our flared jeans were wide and our hair untamed.