There’s no decade of rock music quite as comparable as the 1970s. With artists from across the world contributing to the genre, classic rock is as revered a genre today as it was when it first emerged. The five legendary acts below are among the many that gave ’70s classic rock a good name.
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1. Queen
It’s hard to imagine the world of rock music without the presence of Queen. With a stage persona like no other, frontman Freddie Mercury helped lead the charge of classic rock legends of the 1970s. The band’s electrifying live performances, coupled with legendary hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are the Champions,” make for the stuff of legends. Both of the aforementioned hits came out in the ’70s, along with other signature tracks “You’re My Best Friend,” “Bicycle Race,” “Fat Bottomed Girls” and others.
2. Wings
Paul McCartney was already the frontman of what’s largely regarded as the best band of all time, the Beatles, in the 1960s, so it’s no surprise that his follow-up band, Wings, was also a success. Formed in 1971 by McCartney, his wife Linda McCartney, Denny Seiwell and Denny Laine, Wings released seven albums over the course of the decade. They scored their first No. 1 hit in 1973 with Paul’s love song to Linda, “My Love,” followed by several other hits like “Band on the Run,” “Live and Let Die,” “Jet” and “Listen to What the Man Said.”
3. Alice Cooper
There’s perhaps no one who delivers a more theatrical stage show (complete with larger-than-life animatronic monsters and guillotines) than Alice Cooper. The legendary shock rocker dominated the ’70s both as a solo act and as the lead singer of the Alice Cooper Band. “School’s Out,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Elected” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy” are the hits that not only made a strong impression on the charts in the ’70s but also helped establish Cooper’s legacy.
[RELATED: 7 Classic Rock Bands That Ruled the 1970s]
4. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is arguably one of the most prolific guitarists to ever live. While his work spans decades, many of his greatest hits were a product of the 1970s. In that decade alone, he released his chart-topping cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff,” along with other hits “Lay Down Sally,” “Promises” and “Wonderful Tonight,” inspired by his relationship with Pattie Boyd. Clapton is a rock and roll legend, and his songs from the ’70s helped set the stage for his many other future hits.
5. The Who
Like the Beatles, The Who was one of the English rock bands to take the world by storm as part of the British Invasion in the 1960s. That success extended into the 1970s with hits like “Who Are You,” “See Me, Feel Me,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Join Together.” The decade also produced four Top 10 albums on the all-genre Billboard 200 in the U.S., further proving that The Who was one of the many acts that ruled the ’70s.
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