Has anyone mentioned the Steve Miller Band? They epitomize pure 70s rock’n’roll to me, which is the heart of “classic rock.” (If we need transatlantic balance, consider all of Eric Clapton’s 70s albums – each created by a “band” in all but name).
Regarding CCR and the Doors, in their time the dividing line between between pop and rock was very blurry to say the least. Thanks to the Beatles and the residual influence of other British Invasion acts, rock and roll was practically coextensive with pop.
Good Choice.
I used to listen to a lot of classic rock in the late 80s early 90s and, if I think back to that period and imagine myself listening, Pink Floyd is what I imagine. So I guess Pink Floyd wins. I have zero interest in the debate about what “counts” as “rock”.
Wow. I was pretty heavily into rock in the 70s-early 80s, and you name 2 groups (Live/Cold Chisel) I’ve never heard of, and 2 (Powderfinger/Wishbone Ash) I can’t immediately name a member or song of). A couple (Midnight Oil/Golden Earring) which I definitely consider minor players, and 1 (Television) which had a HUGE rep and cult following, but IMO sure didn’t come close to epitomizing classic rock. Meanwhile, no mention of Zepplin, AC/DC, Aerosmith …
Weird list.
I had thought about Steve Miller. I dunno why I sorta discount him. Maybe put him in a category w/ Frampton. Maybe not enough of a hard edge to his music. But probably one of the least recognized superstars for the number of incredible hit he wrote.
I can see that.
Although not a real band, as for the whole picture of a rock band I’d point at Spinal Tap. However, they weren’t really like that, they were just drawn that way.
Say what??
Next you’ll be telling me Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem aren’t a real band.
Speaking of whom, they could be pretty Classic Rock…
Live were associated with the 90s. They formed in 1984, and their first album was 1989. This would be played on current classic rock stations, which go as as late as the early-to-mid 90s in their playlists
I’ve never heard of Cold Chisel (or Powderfinger or Wishbone Ash, for that matter.) OK, Cold Chisel is apparently “Australian pub rock” according to Wikipedia. So that makes sense that I haven’t heard of it. Only a handful of antipodean acts make it across here to the US. Looks like it’s the same for Powderfinger. Wishbone Ash is British.
I dislike Steve Miller, but he does come to mind when I think of a generic “classic rock” station playlist.
You are a few years younger than me (63), no? Wishbone Ash would be playing down the bill in outdoor rock festivals. A band I “heard of” more than “heard.”
Looking up “Powderfinger”, I was obviously confusing them with someone else. Possibly Badfinger. But given the inclusion of Midnight Oil, and (as you observe) Cold Chisel, I’d guess Askance is an Aussie - as well as wishing to express a somewhat contrary opinion.
I just turned 49, so growing up with the 80s for me.
Midnight Oil are AWESOME (saw them play live in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1993), but, for me, mostly associated with the 80s and beyond. I guess there’s no reason classic rock must be centered on the 70s, but to me that feels like the heyday of the genre. Plus, growing up it, mid-60s to maybe early 80s was what classic rock stations were playing at the time, so I’m very much influenced by that in my feeling of what epitomizes classic rock. If I grew up twenty years later, I might have a different view.
So, like I said above, for me it’s Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and I’d add AC/DC (hey, one of our antipodean friends). I guess my personal impressions of the genre lean towards the harder rock end of it. Sabbath, however, for some reason feels different to me. That I think of as early heavy metal. (Which I know Zeppelin were considered at one time.) CCR falls in swamp rock for me. The Stones are just the world’s greatest bar band to me. Yes, they’re all classic rock, but for whatever reason, my brain sorts it differently.
Yeah, I wonder why there has been no mention of them? Of course, the 2 times I saw them, they were backing up Aerosmith…
I think you are on the right track in your second paragraph. To the extent you feel a group/performer requires a qualifying term, I’d suggest they are less likely a candidate for the epitome of classic rock. For example, I hear so many distinctions made between metal, death metal, etc. Whereas for me, it is likely sufficient for me to lump it all together as Heavy Metal (to distinguish it from my preferences.) In my day, the big question was, “What is New Wave?”
And I think “swamp rock” is a good descriptor for CCR. Great music. But definitely in a smaller subcategory. All IMO, of course.
If we’re naming fake bands I’ll nominate Stillwater, from Almost Famous. It was an amalgam of several bands Cameron Crowe had interviewed for Rolling Stone, including The Allman Brothers Band, Eagles, Lynrd Skynrd, and Led Zeppelin. I don’t think you can get more classic rock than that.
I’ve been a member for years, so y’all probably saw this coming: Cheap Trick.
They may not be the most popular rock band, but they work awfully hard at being the “best f***ing rock band in the world.”
There has been some mention of them, though maybe less than one might expect.
Let’s not forget about The River Bottom Nightmare Band
Yeah I’d definitely consider one of the bands I think of as the “epitome” of classic rock. They didn’t write the greatest songs of all time, they wrote a some uptempo guitar heavy bangers, have fairly bad hair, are definitely a product of the 70s, and had line up changes due to rock and roll casualties. That’s classic rock to me.
Well, if you want the self proclaimed “Greatest rock and roll band in the world” I offer up The Supersuckers! Heck, that’s even the title of one of their albums, so it MUST be true!
Was amused to see on their merch page a quote from Robin Zander, “I love the Supersuckers! Our whole band loves you guys!” So if “the best f***ing rock band in the world” loves a band… 
If the thread were, "What rock and rol band would you most like to listen to night after night, Supersuckers would be awfully high on my personal list!
Yup! Familiar with the Supersuckers, but I have to confess a bias against “classic rock” bands as young as they are. I feel the same way about bands like Nirvana…good rock bands, but not in my “classic rock” category.
The Stillwater actors had a music tutor who had a bit of classic rock cred himself: Peter Frampton
"His joy of music infected everyone on the set. Peter helped these guys become a real band, not just go through the motions. He gave them practical lessons on playing and singing, but more importantly, he taught them the heart of a musician.” – Cameron Crowe