4 Classic Rock Bands That Reinvented Their Music (For Good)

Sometimes, making it in the music industry requires a little bit of self-reinvention. At least, that’s what these four legendary classic rock bands did. Let’s take a walk through music history and explore four classic rock bands that successfully reinvented their sound!

1. The Beatles

The Beatles reinvented themselves not out of desperation to stay relevant (they were already quite relevant throughout the 1960s), but more or less out of artistic integrity. We won’t act like the Fab Four weren’t putting out tunes specifically for the mainstream masses to consume, but they didn’t have to change as much as they did around the Rubber Soul era to maintain their focus in the music industry. 

Around that time, The Beatles began to experiment with elements like folk rock, Indian classical music, and a number of visions from each of the members. The White Album is probably the best example of how the band evolved.

2. The Who

This classic rock band reinvented themselves several times, all with the goal of meeting Pete Townshend’s vision for the outfit. The Who started out with a focus on rock and R&B with a mod vibe before Townshend decided to focus on narrative storytelling in the band’s music. 

The Who Sell Out is more or less where it all started before getting even deeper into concepts with Tommy and Quadrophenia.

3. Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd evolved quite a few times through the years. Most of their music would be firmly classified as prog-rock, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t push the envelope often. The Syd Barrett era was spacey and quite psychedelic. David Gilmour’s addition to the band changed their image and sonic perception for the rest of the band’s lifespan. 

Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall sounded quite different from the band’s first album, yet all of them revolved around a core theme of the human condition and the downsides of society.

4. Queen

Classic rock bands reinvented themselves often through the years, but few were as successful in their artistic endeavors as Queen. Freddie Mercury had the kind of voice that could suit any genre, from operatic rock to classical-leaning prog rock creations. 

The Game is the best example of how the band evolved musically through the years. It’s a versatile masterpiece that weaves back and forth through hard rock, dance-worthy jams, and even rockabilly sounds.

Photo by Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images

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