Classic rock is not a genre.

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

DFan17902

What?!:lol:

[QUOTE="DFan17902"]

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

rockguy92

What?!:lol:

I'm not joking. That's my point.

if people think it's a genre then it's a genre. That's how genres were created.

And yes, classic rock is amazing.

Classic rock is a radio genre. Anything that gets played on a classic rock radio station becomes "classic rock".Cerussite

This person speaks the truth.

Since when Green day, nirvana and lenny kravitz are considered classic rock :?. U offend Led zeppelin by including that in the list.TanKLoveR

Why start an arguement about this? The only people who fight over music genre are elitist pricks.Sports-Fan

Why is everyone using the word "elitist" ever since the Obama incident?

[QUOTE="Sports-Fan"]Why start an arguement about this? The only people who fight over music genre are elitist pricks.Darth_Tyrev

Why is everyone using the word "elitist" ever since the Obama incident?

But Danzig is.

muhahahah

[QUOTE="TanKLoveR"]Since when Green day, nirvana and lenny kravitz are considered classic rock :?. U offend Led zeppelin by including that in the list.Sports-Fan

I dont mean to offend nirvana i like them too, but compared to Led zeppelin everything else sucks its that simple.

I would say it's mainstream music from atleast two decades ago.

It's the I-can't-stand-today's-music genre.SolidSnake35

Listen to this man.

He speaks the truth.

[QUOTE="Sports-Fan"][QUOTE="TanKLoveR"]Since when Green day, nirvana and lenny kravitz are considered classic rock :?. U offend Led zeppelin by including that in the list.TanKLoveR

I dont mean to offend nirvana i like them too, but compared to Led zeppelin everything else sucks its that simple.

That is just a list of stuff that I've heard on the "classic rock" station. I didn't say any of it was classic rock. At least read the post before telling me that I'm offending Led Zeppelin. :?

In my eyes (or ears, whatever) classic rock is defined as anything rock related 1980's and prior. The last classic rock band I think was Guns N Roses, as their last (good) albums was 1991. Modern classic rock can be argued as a genre if the band sounds like it is classic rock, but in my opinion that's like arguing something is an antique if it's artificially aged.AirGuitarist87

What does classic rock sound like?

[QUOTE="AirGuitarist87"]In my eyes (or ears, whatever) classic rock is defined as anything rock related 1980's and prior. The last classic rock band I think was Guns N Roses, as their last (good) albums was 1991. Modern classic rock can be argued as a genre if the band sounds like it is classic rock, but in my opinion that's like arguing something is an antique if it's artificially aged.MrGeezer

What does classic rock sound like?

There can't be any new classic rock which is why it's a radio station format not a genre.

Classic rock is a genre because that is the common name for a majority of the music produced during that era. It's just the name most critics and fans use when refering to that era of music, just like earlier Rock was Rock 'n' Roll.

It's like different art periods: Classical art refers specifically to art produced in ancient Greece and Rome, yet Phoenician, Egyptian and Babylonian art is older and could be considered "classic". Classical is just the term used by a majority of critics and fans when refering to Greecian art from 480 BC to 282 BC.

Classic rock is a genre because that is the common name for a majority of the music produced during that era. It's just the name most critics and fans use when refering to that era of music, just like earlier Rock was Rock 'n' Roll.

It's like different art periods: Classical art refers specifically to art produced in ancient Greece and Rome, yet Phoenician, Egyptian and Babylonian art is older and could be considered "classic". Classical is just the term used by a majority of critics and fans when refering to Greecian art from 480 BC to 282 BC.

ElZilcho90

People are only able to lump music and art together if the majority of it shares strong similarities. You can't, however, take a Black Sabbath song and say that it's in the same genre as Crosby Stills and Nash just because both songs were made before 1980

Classic rock is a genre because that is the common name for a majority of the music produced during that era. It's just the name most critics and fans use when refering to that era of music, just like earlier Rock was Rock 'n' Roll.

It's like different art periods: Classical art refers specifically to art produced in ancient Greece and Rome, yet Phoenician, Egyptian and Babylonian art is older and could be considered "classic". Classical is just the term used by a majority of critics and fans when refering to Greecian art from 480 BC to 282 BC.

ElZilcho90

But it's not a genre of music. If I started a band today and someone asked me what genre we played, I couldn't say "uh, we're a classic rock band". That wouldn't make any sense. IMO the term is horribly misused, but whatever.

No...it's not a genre. It's just a catch all phrase for old music.

Classic Rock is a sub-genre of Rock (just like Metal, British Rock, Punk, etc.) that began after the release of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. Since the album didn't have any singles, radio DJ's would play tracks off the album. This became known as 'Album Rock'. Before that, DJ's would only play Top-40's hits, which was more contemporary. With albums, the music was concentrated to certain artists or albums.

'Album Rock' lasted until the early-to-mid 80's, with the advent of CD's. After which, 'Album Rock' came to be known as 'Classic Rock', for the time in which DJ's would play vinyl albums on the radio.

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

DFan17902

[QUOTE="DFan17902"]

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

MissRiotmaker

[QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="DFan17902"]

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

MissRiotmaker

But a genre is a style of music. I can't make classic rock right now which means it's not a style.

[QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="DFan17902"]

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

gobo212

But a genre is a style of music. I can't make classic rock right now which means it's not a style.

[QUOTE="gobo212"][QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="DFan17902"]

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

Fox-sama

But a genre is a style of music. I can't make classic rock right now which means it's not a style.

But that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the music genres. Speed Metal is Speed Metal no matter when it comes out. Same with big band or gangsta rap. This just proves my point that cla$sic rock isn't a genre but a radio format.

[QUOTE="Fox-sama"][QUOTE="gobo212"][QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="DFan17902"]

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

gobo212

But a genre is a style of music. I can't make classic rock right now which means it's not a style.

But that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the music genres. Speed Metal is Speed Metal no matter when it comes out. Same with big band or gangsta rap. This just proves my point that cla$sic rock isn't a genre but a radio format.

actully ****c rock is from the seventies.

For example, what is a genre, by definition? A category. Just a category. In order to be included into that category, it must meet certain requirements.

Now, let's take the sub-genre 'Classic Rock'. The original definition/requirement for that category was that in order to be considered 'Classic', the music had to be from the mid-60's to early-mid-80's (and American 50's music as well), although DJ's are starting to include artists from the late 80's now.

But that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the music genres. Speed Metal is Speed Metal no matter when it comes out. Same with big band or gangsta rap. This just proves my point that cla$sic rock isn't a genre but a radio format.

gobo212

Are you trying to argue that rock composed in the 60s and 70s is identical to rock composed in the 2000s? It is entirely possible to imitate music from either period. There are certain stylistic differences, though all rock music is still rock, just as speed metal falls under the general label 'metal.'

Whether or not you think cIassic rock is an acceptable label for the type of rock music it describes, you can't deny the stylistic difference between bands who wrote in the 60s by comparison to modern bands. The subtle differences are no different than the subtle differences that have resulted in countless subgenre labels in metal (mostly un-necessary as far as I'm concerned).

I'm posting this again...

Classic Rock is a sub-genre of Rock (just like Metal, British Rock, Punk, etc.) that began after the release of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. Since the album didn't have any singles, radio DJ's would play tracks off the album. This became known as 'Album Rock'. Before that, DJ's would only play Top-40's hits, which was more contemporary. With albums, the music was concentrated to certain artists or albums.

'Album Rock' lasted until the early-to-mid 80's, with the advent of CD's. After which, 'Album Rock' came to be known as 'Classic Rock', for the time in which DJ's would play vinyl albums on the radio.

Fox-sama

[QUOTE="gobo212"][QUOTE="Fox-sama"][QUOTE="gobo212"][QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="MissRiotmaker"][QUOTE="DFan17902"]

"Classic" rock is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a definable genre of music. My local '"classic rock" station plays Genesis, AC/DC, Kansas, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Nirvana, Phish, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, KISS, Queen, Johnny Cash, Fine Young Cannibals, and a bunch of other stuff. Those artists are all part of different subgenres of rock music...

So why do people use the term classic rock as though it were a genre of music?

Discuss :)

iusm78

But a genre is a style of music. I can't make classic rock right now which means it's not a style.

But that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the music genres. Speed Metal is Speed Metal no matter when it comes out. Same with big band or gangsta rap. This just proves my point that cla$sic rock isn't a genre but a radio format.

actully ****c rock is from the seventies.

Well that really just proves my point. It's not a genre so much as an era of rock.

[QUOTE="gobo212"]

But that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the music genres. Speed Metal is Speed Metal no matter when it comes out. Same with big band or gangsta rap. This just proves my point that cla$sic rock isn't a genre but a radio format.

pianist

Are you trying to argue that rock composed in the 60s and 70s is identical to rock composed in the 2000s? It is entirely possible to imitate music from either period. There are certain stylistic differences, though all rock music is still rock, just as speed metal falls under the general label 'metal.'

Whether or not you think cIassic rock is an acceptable label for the type of rock music it describes, you can't deny the stylistic difference between bands who wrote in the 60s by comparison to modern bands. The subtle differences are no different than the subtle differences that have resulted in countless subgenre labels in metal (mostly un-necessary as far as I'm concerned).

Of course I'm not arguing that modern rock is the same as classic rock. However if I made music right now that sounded very much like Led Zeppelin and other hard rock bands of the time my music would simply be called "hard rock" not "classic rock" because it doesn't fit into the era that is associated with classic rock.

Of course the music has evolved over time but classic rock doesn't really describe a specific style but instead an era of rock music. Am I making any sense here?

[QUOTE="pianist"][QUOTE="gobo212"]

But that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the music genres. Speed Metal is Speed Metal no matter when it comes out. Same with big band or gangsta rap. This just proves my point that cla$sic rock isn't a genre but a radio format.

gobo212

Are you trying to argue that rock composed in the 60s and 70s is identical to rock composed in the 2000s? It is entirely possible to imitate music from either period. There are certain stylistic differences, though all rock music is still rock, just as speed metal falls under the general label 'metal.'

Whether or not you think cIassic rock is an acceptable label for the type of rock music it describes, you can't deny the stylistic difference between bands who wrote in the 60s by comparison to modern bands. The subtle differences are no different than the subtle differences that have resulted in countless subgenre labels in metal (mostly un-necessary as far as I'm concerned).

Of course I'm not arguing that modern rock is the same as classic rock. However if I made music right now that sounded very much like Led Zeppelin and other hard rock bands of the time my music would simply be called "hard rock" not "classic rock" because it doesn't fit into the era that is associated with classic rock.

Of course the music has evolved over time but classic rock doesn't really describe a specific style but instead an era of rock music. Am I making any sense here?

not to me. but i don't listen to classic rock cause its kind old now.

[QUOTE="pianist"][QUOTE="gobo212"]

But that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the music genres. Speed Metal is Speed Metal no matter when it comes out. Same with big band or gangsta rap. This just proves my point that cla$sic rock isn't a genre but a radio format.

gobo212

Are you trying to argue that rock composed in the 60s and 70s is identical to rock composed in the 2000s? It is entirely possible to imitate music from either period. There are certain stylistic differences, though all rock music is still rock, just as speed metal falls under the general label 'metal.'

Whether or not you think cIassic rock is an acceptable label for the type of rock music it describes, you can't deny the stylistic difference between bands who wrote in the 60s by comparison to modern bands. The subtle differences are no different than the subtle differences that have resulted in countless subgenre labels in metal (mostly un-necessary as far as I'm concerned).

Of course I'm not arguing that modern rock is the same as classic rock. However if I made music right now that sounded very much like Led Zeppelin and other hard rock bands of the time my music would simply be called "hard rock" not "classic rock" because it doesn't fit into the era that is associated with classic rock.

Of course the music has evolved over time but classic rock doesn't really describe a specific style but instead an era of rock music. Am I making any sense here?

[QUOTE="gobo212"][QUOTE="pianist"][QUOTE="gobo212"]

But that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the music genres. Speed Metal is Speed Metal no matter when it comes out. Same with big band or gangsta rap. This just proves my point that cla$sic rock isn't a genre but a radio format.

Fox-sama

Are you trying to argue that rock composed in the 60s and 70s is identical to rock composed in the 2000s? It is entirely possible to imitate music from either period. There are certain stylistic differences, though all rock music is still rock, just as speed metal falls under the general label 'metal.'

Whether or not you think cIassic rock is an acceptable label for the type of rock music it describes, you can't deny the stylistic difference between bands who wrote in the 60s by comparison to modern bands. The subtle differences are no different than the subtle differences that have resulted in countless subgenre labels in metal (mostly un-necessary as far as I'm concerned).

Of course I'm not arguing that modern rock is the same as classic rock. However if I made music right now that sounded very much like Led Zeppelin and other hard rock bands of the time my music would simply be called "hard rock" not "classic rock" because it doesn't fit into the era that is associated with classic rock.

Of course the music has evolved over time but classic rock doesn't really describe a specific style but instead an era of rock music. Am I making any sense here?

I guess the problem then is we simply have different definitions of the word "genre." This isn't very surprising seeing how there isn't an agreed upon definition for the word.