# The truth about "Classic Rock" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 8, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905 "2011-08-08T02:46:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/41 "2011-08-08T03:53:36Z")
I think he should buy a radio that has several stations. then he could turn on his music. It is a complicated thought, but who forces him to listen to classic rock? I don’t like rap. I don’t listen to it. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/42 "2011-08-08T03:53:37Z")
Who else thinks the OP should drop “punch line” from his user name? > [@punch\_line\_loser](#): > > Ace job exposing yourself as a homophobe, champ. And for the record, I don’t like Justin Bieber, but if I did it wouldn’t mean a thing to this thread. Also, **El\_Kabong** was right, it is “Jimmy Page.” My bad. > > Guess what? I like punk music. I like music with interesting guitar parts - note the use of the word “interesting” instead of “complicated” or “elaborate.” So I’m not interested in Eric Clapton climaxing all over his blues scale - I want my guitars to have some depth. Television, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Slint, Fugazi, and hey guess what, I grew up in the 90s, so I like blink182 and Third Eye Blind also. Go nuts on that one, gang! You know a lot of your favorite bands were influenced by Hendrix and the like, right? I like a lot of 90s stuff (I’m a late end Gen Xer), but I like a lot of classic rock, too. You don’t like Clapton or Page? Fine. Guess what? DON’T LISTEN TO THEM, retard. \*listening to “The Rain Song” For what it’s worth, my favorite bands are the Chili Peppers, U2, the Beatles, and Zeppelin. (Not necessarily in that order) Make of that what you will. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/43 "2011-08-08T03:53:59Z")
You like _Punk_? You have no credibility, son. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/44 "2011-08-08T03:54:56Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > **punch line loser,** do me a favor (out of curiousity) - go to my [youtube channel](http://www.youtube.com/user/goldsmice#p/f/11/XpYG5okq1ag) and look through my favorites. How do you feel about most of the music in there? Give some specific examples. Also feel free to say how you feel about the song right on the main page (Alex Chilton.) I love the first two Big Star albums, but Alex Chilton’s solo stuff (so far) hasn’t really done it for me. I imagine I’ll get it someday, but it’s hard to say. I never liked Modest Mouse that much, but I haven’t heard of a lot of the stuff listed on your channel so it’s hard for me to say. I haven’t checked out Robyn yet, but I’ve heard good things. The Swedes have an excellent track record, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/45 "2011-08-08T03:55:51Z")
The only Robyn in my videos is a video I uploaded of Robyn Lively dancing in the show _Twin Peaks!_ ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/46 "2011-08-08T03:57:32Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Who else thinks the OP should drop “punch line” from his user name? > > You know a lot of your favorite bands were influenced by Hendrix and the like, right? I like a lot of 90s stuff (I’m a late end Gen Xer), but I like a lot of classic rock, too. You don’t like Clapton or Page? Fine. Guess what? DON’T LISTEN TO THEM, retard. > > \*listening to “The Rain Song” Who are my favorite bands again? Can you point out the Hendrix influence on _Slanted and Enchanted_? @ **Argent Towers**. Oops! For the record, Twin Peaks is probably the best TV show ever invented, maybe after The Adventures of Pete and Pete. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/47 "2011-08-08T03:58:36Z")
Well, the OP got the “loser” part of his name right, as **Guin** noted. Go away, kid. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/48 "2011-08-08T03:59:41Z")
What specifically do you dislike about RHCP? I don’t fault you for disliking them; not every band is for everyone. I think they were great (no longer great, but they haven’t totally started sucking yet.) RHCP is sort of the Chicago of our generation. And they have spawned some horrible imitators. Do you think early Kings of Leon was good. I really loved them. _Pistol of Fire,_ _Taper Jean Girl_, _Joe’s Head,_ etc. As soon as they became popular and got on mainstream radio they started to suck. _Use somebody_ is a horrid song. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/49 "2011-08-08T03:59:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Well, the OP got the “loser” part of his name right, as **Guin** noted. > > Go away, kid. Come on guys, there have to have been at least ten people who have made this joke already. I’d expect more from readers of the Straight Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/50 "2011-08-08T04:00:50Z")
> [@punch\_line\_loser](#): > > @ **Argent Towers**. Oops! For the record, Twin Peaks is probably the best TV show ever invented, maybe after **The Adventures of Pete and Pete.** OK, that does it. You’re going on my “favorite people” list…I don’t care how hated you are. You pissed on a bee’s nest by insulting a lot of peoples’ favorite music. Music is near and dear to peoples’ hearts. You struck a strong emotional nerve. But you seem to be on my wavelength, culture-wise. I don’t dislike most of the stuff you dislike, but I do like most of the stuff you seem to like. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/51 "2011-08-08T04:03:05Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > What specifically do you dislike about RHCP? I don’t fault you for disliking them; not every band is for everyone. I think they were great (no longer great, but they haven’t totally started sucking yet.) RHCP is sort of the Chicago of our generation. And they have spawned some horrible imitators. > > Do you think early Kings of Leon was good. I really loved them. _Pistol of Fire,_ _Taper Jean Girl_, _Joe’s Head,_ etc. As soon as they became popular and got on mainstream radio they started to suck. _Use somebody_ is a horrid song. Well, I’m not such a huge fan of Chicago either, so I’m not sure what I could say. They operate in a style I already don’t like - I hate the sound of slap bass, I think Anthony Kiedis is an annoying prick, I think Frusciante’s a wanker, and their music is just tired and unoriginal. It’s like they only learned how to play blues scales and just focused on playing them as quickly and with the most obnoxious guitar tone possible. Totally boring, tacky, lacking sex appeal. As for Kings of Leon, not so much. Sorry music critics, but there’s only one Strokes, and they ain’t from the South. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/52 "2011-08-08T04:05:07Z")
> [@punch\_line\_loser](#): > > I’m confused. The Pit is for “rants about the outside world,” right? I already said I don’t expect anyone to agree with me, and it’s been established that I was never attempting to state anything other than my opinion. Where is all this “asshole” stuff coming from? Well, sweetheart, when you come to the Pit you better be good and ready for people to pick up on anything and everything you’ve written, and then reach from there for more shit.:rolleyes:😃 No one’s saying you have to like rock and roll, but it’s fucking dumb to act like Led Zeppelin was awful, and discount bands like Aerosmith, and I’m sure you hate the Rolling Stones as well if you hate these others. If you claim to like punk, you’re a moron if you think all those bands you like weren’t influenced by everyone that you claim to hate. It just makes you sound like an immature kid who has no tolerance for anyone else’s opinion but his own. Guess what? I hate jazz. I wouldn’t listen to it if someone paid me. But I would never sit here and pick apart the greats who pioneered it and influenced everyone who would come after them. People who like good music can acknowledge influences, and attempt a little objectivity when it comes to other genres. I find it funny that you list Sonic Youth as a favorite, because they couldn’t have existed without the many people who came before them. And even though I love Thurston and the gang, there is a lot of their stuff that is like nails on a chalkboard and I wouldn’t expect fans of theirs to bitch about anyone else’s screeching and caterwauling. Go back to the School of Rock. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/53 "2011-08-08T04:07:53Z")
What do you think about Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys? ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/54 "2011-08-08T04:11:54Z")
Well, I listen to country, so there! 😃 I started doing so mostly out of self defense as the “music” that was coming out 10-15 years ago was killing me. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/55 "2011-08-08T04:17:28Z")
Do you think Kings of Convenience are good? They are a Norwegian duo who sound somewhat like Simon and Garfunkel. Here’s one of my favorite of their songs: [Singing Softly To Me.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhiaIXp79Is) And [Toxic Girl.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw8spWkwhEY&feature=related) And [Misread.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD7lzlbkgEw) Speaking of Simon and Garfunkel, I really like them and I like Paul Simon a lot too. His album _Graceland_ is one of the best of its time and I think it paved the way for groups like the Dave Matthews Band (who I also like a lot, but only up to _Busted Stuff._ They’ve been out to lunch since then.) ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/56 "2011-08-08T04:18:20Z")
All music written after 1760 is rubbish. Go listen to some Handel, you smelly hippies! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-TGKJ9MgCOQ/hqdefault.jpg "George Frideric Handel - The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TGKJ9MgCOQ) Ahh…now there’s someone who knew how to party! “Classic” rock my left nut. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/57 "2011-08-08T04:27:50Z")
OP, your posts contain almost no objective statements other than objective statements about other people’s subjective views. These statements are obviously incorrect. Indeed, someone who both posts complaining about the ongoing popularity of a musical style, while implying “no one wants to hear that” is not only incorrect but obvious dumber than a box of hammers. Different generations enjoy different music. Stupid and close minded people of one generation (whether younger or older) often decry the music of another generation as being in some way of substantially lower quality\*. Mature and open minded people of one generation (whether younger or older) realise that while they don’t and aren’t ever going to enjoy some sorts of music, other people/generations clearly do, so live and let live. \*Typically, on these boards at least, these criticisms start out as absolute statements (“such and such music sucks” or is “not interesting”) but quickly retreats to being just “what I think” when called. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/58 "2011-08-08T04:41:33Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Well, sweetheart, when you come to the Pit you better be good and ready for people to pick up on anything and everything you’ve written, and then reach from there for more shit.:rolleyes:😃 > > No one’s saying you have to like rock and roll, but it’s fucking dumb to act like Led Zeppelin was awful, and discount bands like Aerosmith, and I’m sure you hate the Rolling Stones as well if you hate these others. If you claim to like punk, you’re a moron if you think all those bands you like weren’t influenced by everyone that you claim to hate. It just makes you sound like an immature kid who has no tolerance for anyone else’s opinion but his own. > > Guess what? I hate jazz. I wouldn’t listen to it if someone paid me. But I would never sit here and pick apart the greats who pioneered it and influenced everyone who would come after them. People who like good music can acknowledge influences, and attempt a little objectivity when it comes to other genres. I find it funny that you list Sonic Youth as a favorite, because they couldn’t have existed without the many people who came before them. And even though I love Thurston and the gang, there is a lot of their stuff that is like nails on a chalkboard and I wouldn’t expect fans of theirs to bitch about anyone else’s screeching and caterwauling. > > Go back to the School of Rock. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Who influenced whom doesn’t matter. Hear me? DOES NOT MATTER. It has not bearing on whether the music is good or whether I should like it, not for the influential, and not for those influenced. This is what I don’t get - you people are getting on my case for making objective statements about a subjective topic, as if there is any objectivity involved in whether music is “good” or not. I haven’t tried to debate to objective facts - that these are technically gifted players that have influenced a lot of people. It is my subjective opinion that they suck, for the reasons listed above. What exactly is the fucking problem? I can too discount a band like Aerosmith (the shame of my city) if, in my opinion, they should be discounted. They’re popular and they’re good players: objectively true. There songs are shitty: subjective statement that I agree with. And where does the impression that I don’t tolerate anyone else’s opinion come from? We all know what “tolerate” means, don’t we? Don’t put words in my mouth, kids. Clearly I tolerate your points of view because I’m willing to debate them, and I’m not taking it personally when you all try to crucify me for leaving obvious signifiers of my argument’s subjectivity, despite the fact that the nature of the fucking discussion already makes that subjectivity BLARINGLY APPARENT. Not liking this stuff doesn’t mean I’m immature; it doesn’t mean that I haven’t listened to it, evaluated it critically, and formed my own judgment. I’m not monopolizing anyone’s opinions here, and I wouldn’t have posted it at all if I didn’t want to hear yours. It’s the same stupid pigheaded rationale that everyone, no matter how enlightened they think they are, will adopt when they come across an opposing opinion to theirs: they assume that because someone disagrees with them, they obviously must be completely intolerant of anyone’s opinion but their own. That, my friends, is a LOGICAL FUCKING FALLACY, and shame on anyone who doesn’t recognize that. You said you like Sonic Youth, right? They say to “Kill your idols.” If I don’t like a band then I shouldn’t be required by any external force to think that they’re good, no matter how influential they are, or what place they occupy in the stupid and elitist artificial pantheon that’s been constructed by an underrepresentative critical community more concerned with aggrandizing their own place in their fabricated history than making insightful comments about music. Those who did it first didn’t necessarily do it best. If you want to disagree with my opinions, I welcome you to, but don’t let your disagreements with me lead you to making faulty (and for that matter, stupid) assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/59 "2011-08-08T04:44:36Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > OP, your posts contain almost no objective statements other than objective statements about other people’s subjective views. These statements are obviously incorrect. -puts my musicologist hat on- One can never objectively assess the value of music, because music is merely a collection of sounds, which is imbued with meaning through the listener. Because of this subjectivity, music must be examined through the matrix of politics (in a broad sense of the term). Ergo, just as politics and philosophy are inherently subjective, so too is music. Tuvan throat singing doesn’t have an objective “meaning” to all peoples in all cultures in the world, anymore than Steve Tyler whining that he “don’t wanna close” his eyes has the same objective meaning to everyone. Speaking objectively gets you very bland, meaningless statements about the music, like, “This track features a guitar, and is approximately three and a half minutes in length.” So, I suppose I’m questioning why anyone needs to preface someone giving his opinion on music that he thinks is shit with the caveat that it is not objective. Obviously not. If it was objective, it was a proveable fact. I’d like to see a footnote that cites why Aerosmith sucks. 😃 \ K, I don’t know if any of that made sense. I’m a little bit buzzed. Back to Handel I go! ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905/60 "2011-08-08T04:50:33Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Different generations enjoy different music. Stupid and close minded people of one generation (whether younger or older) often decry the music of another generation as being in some way of substantially lower quality\*. Mature and open minded people of one generation (whether younger or older) realise that while they don’t and aren’t ever going to enjoy some sorts of music, other people/generations clearly do, so live and let live. Good point. I’ll call off my planned mass extermination of classic rock fans. Jesus, do you people _listen_ to yourselves? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-classic-rock/591905.md?page=4)