When the music-loving world thinks about classic rock, almost always bands and songs and albums from either the United States or the United Kingdom spring to mind. Whether you’re considering projects like the Eagles, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, or Janis Joplin, most of the most prominent bands originate from the US or the UK.
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But not every classic rock band comes from those two locales. Below, we wanted to explore three classic rock bands that originate from elsewhere around the globe. Indeed, these are three beloved classic rock songs from those outfits that don’t come from the US or UK.
“Back In Black” by AC/DC from ‘Back In Black’ (1980)
The skyscraping rock band AC/DC originated down under in Sydney, Australia. That’s where the group first garnered fans thanks to its shrieking vocals and rumbling music. Later, of course, they became a global sensation thanks to songs like “Back in Black” from the 1980 record of the same name. In fact, the band boasts a number of popular albums, including T.N.T. (1975) and Highway to Hell (1979). While there have been a number of big-name groups to come from Australia, none had the wattage of AC/DC.
“Tom Sawyer” by Rush from ‘Moving Pictures’ (1981)
Born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1968, Rush rose to fame and fortune thanks to songs like “Tom Sawyer” from their 1981 LP, Moving Pictures. Like AC/DC, the group features vocals that seem to scrape the tippy-top of the atmosphere. Indeed, the Canadian rockers, who came onto the scene in 1974 thanks to their self-titled LP, have since made their mark thanks to myriad more albums, including their most recent in 2012, Clockwork Angels. If you want to get pumped up, put on Rush.
“The Weight” by The Band from ‘Music From Big Pink’ (1968)
While many in the 1960s came to know of the Band thanks to the group’s role as Bob Dylan’s backing musicians, the collection of artists later went on to enjoy a career as their own standalone project. Perhaps their most famous release is the delightful, catchy storytelling track, “The Weight”, which they released in 1968 on their LP, Music From Big Pink. The group, which included Canadian and American artists, started in Toronto, Ontario. They represent our neighbors to the north quite well.
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