4 Wild Classic Rock Facts You May Have Never Heard Of

Do you have a dinner party coming up with a bunch of classic rock fans? Why not fill your brain up with a few classic rock facts that most people probably don’t know? These facts are pretty fascinating, and even diehard fans of the genre might not be aware of them. Let’s take a look!

David Bowie Influenced Reggae in the 80s

Reggae music first began to take the world by storm in the 1960s. This form of Jamaican music was influenced by the Rastafarian movement, and it’s one of the most unique cultural genres out there. Subsequent subgenres like dancehall and jungle were influenced by reggae. And, surprisingly, a subgenre called Sleng Teng Riddim was inspired by David Bowie. 

To really dumb it down (I strongly suggest listening to Sleng Teng Riddim to get a feel for its sound), this subgenre is a mix of reggae and electronic elements. “Under Me Sleng Teng” by Wayne Smith was the first song of the genre to hit the airwaves in 1985. Apparently, that song used the rock bass preset on the Casiotone MT-40. That preset was invented by one Okuda Hiroko, who was heavily inspired by David Bowie, namely his song “Hang On To Yourself”. While Sleng Teng Riddim is a thing all on its own that is uniquely Jamaican, Bowie inadvertently had a hand in its creation.

The Rolling Stones’ Logo Was Inspired by a Powerful Hindu Goddess

Nope, that logo isn’t just a cheeky ode to how sexualized The Rolling Stones were. That famous red mouth-and-tongue logo was actually inspired (partly) by Kali the Destroyer. That particular Indian Hindu goddess is often portrayed with her tongue exposed, in a powerful stance, wearing a garland of human heads around her neck, and holding swords. The goddess is often connected to transcendental knowledge and is associated with the dark, violent realities of death and destruction. Surprisingly, this is one of those classic rock facts that isn’t common knowledge.

Angelina Jolie’s Connection to “Wild Thing” by The Troggs

This famed actress was certainly a bit of a “wild thing” back in the day, but Angelina Jolie’s connection to the famous Troggs song “Wild Thing” is a bit more literal. Surprisingly, Jolie’s own uncle, Chip Taylor, wrote the famed 1966 garage rock proto-punk tune. If you didn’t know Taylor was Jon Voight’s younger brother, you’re not alone, but the resemblance is uncanny.

The Doors Changed the Way Music Was Advertised

Drive down Sunset Strip, and you’ll see countless billboard ads for new albums by any musician who can afford the fee. But back in the day, advertising music on billboards was not a thing at all. That changed when The Doors opted to advertise their first album in 1967.

Elektra Records advertised the rock band’s album on just one billboard, and it was the first of its kind. No other musician had utilized billboards to advertise their music. The Doors started a trend, and the craze of using billboards to advertise music continued into the 1970s. It peaked in that decade, but billboards are still very much a thing today. Artists like Joni Mitchell, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, and Elton John, among others, followed suit. 

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