3 Classic Rock Bands From the 70s That Are Still Hugely Relevant

Without the 1970s, there would be no classic rock radio stations. That’s right. In cities and towns all over the world, their radio dials would be significantly altered if the course of human history jumped from 1969 to 1980. Sure, there is still a lot of great rock music from those decades. But without the 70s? It’s just not the same. To that end, it’s easy to see that certain bands from the decade continue to have a big—perhaps even outsized—impact on popular music today. No matter what genre of music you like best or what era you prefer, chances are you know at least a few rock bands from the 70s really well. Here below, we wanted to examine three such examples of classic rock bands from the 70s that are still hugely relevant today.

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Led Zeppelin

The British-born rockers Led Zeppelin ended the 1960s with a bang, releasing their first two albums at the end of the decade. And that led to six more records in the 1970s. When people talk about relevant bands that are supergroups, somehow Led Zeppelin isn’t mentioned. But when guitarist Jimmy Page put the band together, he plucked the very best that England had to offer. Robert Plant, the lithe lead singer; John Bonham, the thunderous drummer; John Paul Jones, the versatile multi-instrumentalist; and Page, the epic poet of the six-string. The result is a collection of music that almost seems like it could stand in as the greatest hits of classic rock all on its own.

Pink Floyd

While the psychedelic British-born band Pink Floyd released albums in the 1960s and 1980s, it was the 1970s when they made their legend. In that decade alone, the group released records The Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall. In fact, the rockers released all four of those albums in a row, from 1973 to 1979. And it was the LP that kicked off that run—The Dark Side Of The Moon—that cemented the band into all time-all time status. Known for sweeping harmonies, giant guitar solos, and a sense that the sound is both tornado and whisper in your ear, Pink Floyd is lasting.

David Bowie

Born in London, songwriter and performer David Bowie boasts a lasting impact on both music and culture at large. From fashion to how people carry themselves, you can see Bowie’s DNA almost everywhere. Bowie released a whopping 11 studio albums in the 1970s, including his groundbreaking The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, which saw him invent a character that would, in part, define him for the rest of his life. An actor, model, and musician, Bowie’s creativity is woven into our world even now.

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