My Official Mount Rushmore of Classic Rock Stars—and 4 That Just Missed the Cut

If you’ve been anywhere near the internet lately, you’ve probably seen the Mount Rushmore trend in full effect. Plenty of fans of pop, R&B, rock, country, and folk have been fiercely debating over who the best four artists of a genre would be. At the risk of making some classic rock fans very mad, I put together my own ultimate four picks that would be suitable for a Mount Rushmore of classic rock. And for good measure, I included a few rock stars that came very close to making it.

1. Paul McCartney

If any one musician deserves to be at the front of the Mount Rushmore of classic rock, it would be Paul McCartney. He wrote and performed some of The Beatles’ most enduring songs. His solo career has spanned decades, proving that with enough talent, you can shine outside of one of the biggest bands of the 20th century. And even though he’s in his 80s, he can still put on one hell of a show.

2. Mick Jagger

When one thinks of classic rock, one thinks of Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones. He embodies the very stereotype of what a rock star should look like, sound like, move like… He’s on another level, and he’s considered by many to be one of the most influential frontmen in classic rock history.

3. Jimmy Page

This one was a difficult entry, as both Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin deserve to be here. Still, Jimmy Page wins out simply because he has stuck firmly to the classic rock genre more so than Plant, who has since ventured into more folk-leaning work post-Led Zeppelin.

4. Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was a certified superstar, and his spot on this list comes from his image, incredible four-octave range, and insanely good stage persona with the legendary rock band Queen.

Missed the Cut: John Lennon

For what it’s worth, John Lennon could have easily made it to the Top 4. However, his music took a turn toward the avant-garde, and his music was less rock-leaning toward the end of his career. Still, he’s a legend. There’s no doubt about that.

Missed the Cut: Keith Richards

Mick Jagger wins over his Rolling Stones bandmate Keith Richards just barely. Both these icons are classic rock gods, after all. But Jagger’s presence has historically been more prominent in the mainstream than Richards’, so I went with Jagger. Don’t kill me, please.

Missed the Cut: Robert Plant

Led Zeppelin wouldn’t be Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in equal measure. However, Page composed most of the band’s music. Plant was responsible for much of their lyricism, but the musicality of Led Zeppelin is what made them so huge. So, Plant just narrowly misses a spot at the top.

Missed the Cut: Brian May

This legendary Queen guitarist definitely deserves to be on the Mount Rushmore of classic rock, but I’ll be biased as a Freddie Mercury fan and knock the man down here in favor of Mercury. Sorry!

Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage

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