Current Events > RHCP formed in 1983, GnR formed in 1985. Only one of them is classic rock

(+) Yeah! (+)

At least I've never seen anyone describe RHCP as classic rock, or heard them on classic rock stations. While I remember GnR playing in the mid 90s on classic rock stations.

So I got to reading the "classic rock" wiki this morning and:

The music predominantly selected for the format has been identified as commercially successful songs by white male acts from the Anglosphere, expressing values of Romanticism, self-aggrandizement, and politically undemanding ideologies. It has been associated with the album era (1960s2000s), particularly the period's early pop/rock music.

Makes sense. Never really thought about it. Always thought "classic rock" was a time period (albeit a pretty vast) thing and not just some shit categorical marketing for radio stations.

Classic rock is a genre. Same way pop is a genre and not just whatever is popular. Or how JRPG is a genre and not just any rpg made in Japan.

Uh, I didn't take GnR for classic rock at all

RHCP suck

lilORANG posted...

Classic rock is a genre. Same way pop is a genre and not just whatever is popular. Or how JRPG is a genre and not just any rpg made in Japan.

I think pop is a more focused genre, and classic rock expands as time goes on. Nirvana is on classic rock stations now which is weird.

It's a genre you don't know your making until 10 years later (for GnR) I guess.

MedeaLysistrata posted...

Uh, I didn't take GnR for classic rock at all

They definitely are imo.

Smashingpmkns posted...

I think pop is a more focused genre, and classic rock expands as time goes on. Nirvana is on classic rock stations now which is weird.

It's a genre you don't know your making until 10 years later (for GnR) I guess.

They definitely are imo.

I guess, I only know 3 songs by them and one sounds more metal (or hard rock at least) but I agree on the other 2

RHCP didn't really become big until the 90s with the Blood Sugar album specifically so they're not really thought of as an "80s band," while GnR was big in the 80s but kinda flatlined in the 90s so the perception is totally different.

And really...on what planet is GnR "classic rock?" o_O Am I really that old now?

Under The Bridge is only RHCP song they play on KSHE, which is unfortunate, as in my humble opinion, it does not rock in any way. Dont get me wrong, I like the song, but I wish they would play something else.

MedeaLysistrata posted...

I guess, I only know 3 songs by them and one sounds more metal (or hard rock at least) but I agree on the other 2

Black Sabbath is metal and they're considered classic rock. The quoted part in my OP kinda opened my eyes to what kind of "genre" classic rock is. I just never really thought about it.

Like the classic rock space is always adding new acts to it. I'm sure Bush and Counting Crows are probably considered classic rock now too if Nirvana is. But why these bands and not like RHCP? Tho the other posters have said they heard them on classic rock stations so I'm willing to give that example up. I've never heard a Smashing Pumpkins song on classic rock radio but they play on alt radio all the time.

Love rhcp

Smashingpmkns posted...

Black Sabbath is metal and they're considered classic rock.

I don't remember any Sabbath on Q107 tbh, my mom had that on when she drove me to school

lilORANG posted...

Classic rock is a genre. Same way pop is a genre and not just whatever is popular. Or how JRPG is a genre and not just any rpg made in Japan.

So a brand new band could make exclusively classic rock?

This is why you'll normally find these stations also focusing on certain decades. Such as "All your favorite classics from the 70s, and 80s"

Where you might get a few 90s songs from 80s bands.

Personally I had no idea the RHCP was around in the 80s and would have guessed them being started in the 90s around the same time as Blink/Green Day ect.

mustachedmystic posted...

Under The Bridge is only RHCP song they play on KSHE

Never thought I'd see this station mentioned in the wild.

Deutschenlied posted...

So a brand new band could make exclusively classic rock?

Yes. Theres some that do just that.

Or classic rock bands releasing new music.

I'm sure you'll get new Ozzy on those stations.

That Greta Van Fleet band is a straight up Zeppelin knock off, and Wolfmother existed at one point too. They still might. But I don't think I've ever heard either on classic rock stations. The station here just plays classic rock, they don't specify an era I don't think.

Deutschenlied posted...

So a brand new band could make exclusively classic rock?

Yeah. Greta Van Fleet have an old sound to them. And if classic rockers release new music... it's still classic sounding.

I think I'm getting too far from the point of the op but what I learned today, or realized, is that the "classic rock" moniker is just a vehicle to get safe songs from older bands (doesn't matter the time period) to a wider audience and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the given genre of the band.

Like in 20 years Vampire Weekend will be on classic rock stations.

Love vampire weekend

The classic rock stations around Boston all play stuff from the 90s now. Metallica, nirvana, sound garden, etc. its really not weird when you think about it, that stuff is just as old now as most of what people consider traditional classic rock was in the 90s

Phantom36 posted...

RHCP didn't really become big until the 90s with the Blood Sugar album specifically so they're not really thought of as an "80s band," while GnR was big in the 80s but kinda flatlined in the 90s so the perception is totally different.

And really...on what planet is GnR "classic rock?" o_O Am I really that old now?

Theyve been playing GnR on classic rock stations for 20 years lol

How do people not recognize GnR as classic rock? They already had airtime on classic rock stations for like 15+ years before 90s grunge were even on those channels

I think the weirdest part about GnR is that they were considered classic rock within like a decade of their existence. They're pretty much the quintessential classic rock band.

Also I guess the "classic rock" label didn't become popularized until 1986 (tho it existed since 82 it seems) which makes it even more weird lol

Phantom36 posted...

RHCP didn't really become big until the 90s with the Blood Sugar album specifically so they're not really thought of as an "80s band," while GnR was big in the 80s but kinda flatlined in the 90s so the perception is totally different.

And really...on what planet is GnR "classic rock?" o_O Am I really that old now?

In the year 2000 Beatles and Rolling Stones were indisputably classic rock

GNRs debut is 35 years old now, older than most Beatles albums were in 2000

My local classic rock station plays No Doubt.

Classic rock is dead and GNR sucks.

Love no doubt

Deutschenlied posted...

So a brand new band could make exclusively classic rock?

That was pretty much the entire point of the Black Crowes.

Under the Bridge is played on my local "best from the 60, 70's, 80's, and early 90's station that I have to listen to everyday at work.

Take that how you will.

gnr isn't classic rock to me. even if they play them on classic rock stations.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


yeah but isn't that just because there wasn't any rock before that point?

if rock had existed in the 20s then stuff from then would have been "classic rock" in the 60s

classic rock stations here play nickelback and shit

Dark-Summoner posted...

This is why you'll normally find these stations also focusing on certain decades. Such as "All your favorite classics from the 70s, and 80s"

Where you might get a few 90s songs from 80s bands.

Personally I had no idea the RHCP was around in the 80s and would have guessed them being started in the 90s around the same time as Blink/Green Day ect.

They really didn't hit it big until 91/92 when Blood Sugar Sex Magic came out, which had Under the Bridge and Give it Away.

Their biggest hit prior to that was a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" that really didn't do much on the charts or on the radio until after they hit big.

At this point, classic rock is pretty much anything that isn't new rock music.

Deutschenlied posted...

So a brand new band could make exclusively classic rock?

New classic rock

As to the question why RHCP isnt considered classic rock its because their format follows more of a pop format than it does a classic rock formula where the guitars drive the song. In most of RHCPs songs its Keidis that is vehicle that gets you from point A to point B.

Id consider them funk rock, indie rock, grunge even before Id consider them having a classic rock sound they -do- get plenty of airplay on the classic rock station I listen to though.

Classic rock to me is everything before the 80s >_>

edit: Guns n Roses is classic rock to me since you cant have GnR without the guitars present.. its exactly how Van Halen worked out

Classic rock is a radio format and nothing else. Artists that have been featured on classic rock stations are from a wide variety of subgenres.

60s - hard rock, blues rock, roots rock, heavy metal, psychedelic rock, folk rock

70s - funk rock, power pop, soft rock, glam rock, AOR, pop rock, southern rock, progressive rock

80s - glam metal, big music (U2), new wave

That's from at least the time I was listening to classic rock station in the mid 00s. Now some have included stuff like

80s - college rock

90s - grunge, post-grunge, pop alternative

Basically a format adhering to what was mainstream at some point. Classic rock stations steer away from most punk, metal, alternative, emo, and indie subgenres. Also, they tend to play stuff post mid 60s so never rock n roll, surf rock, rockabilly, garage rock, etc... Also don't expect rock music from non-Anglosphere like tropicalia, samba rock, Jrock, Andean rock, Afrorock, krautrock, etc...

So yeah a radio format. I was no lie in the radio industry at some point.

RedLuigi posted...

New classic rock

As to the question why RHCP isnt considered classic rock its because their format follows more of a pop format than it does a classic rock formula where the guitars drive the song. In most of RHCPs songs its Keidis that is vehicle that gets you from point A to point B.

Id consider them funk rock, indie rock, grunge even before Id consider them having a classic rock sound they -do- get plenty of airplay on the classic rock station I listen to though.

Classic rock to me is everything before the 80s >_>

edit: Guns n Roses is classic rock to me since you cant have GnR without the guitars present.. its exactly how Van Halen worked out

Queen and ELO are both classic rock tho and the guitars don't drive their music. I think the genre pretty much has nothing to do with the music other than its any kind of rock from a time before lol

To be fair, GNR was an immediate smash hit, while RHCP took awhile and didn't really hit mainstream attention until the 90s.

It's almost like comparing GNR to Pantera

Smashingpmkns posted...

Queen and ELO are both classic rock tho and the guitars don't drive their music. I think the genre pretty much has nothing to do with the music other than its any kind of rock from a time before lol

IDK what Queen you were listening to but they absolutely have a ton of guitar driven music, Brian May is a damn god o.o

lilORANG posted...

Yeah. Greta Van Fleet have an old sound to them. And if classic rockers release new music... it's still classic sounding.

And they are not called a classic rock band, nor do they get played next to Zeppelin and Boston.

Nor will they ever since they kinda suck and won't have such staying power.

Smashingpmkns posted...

I think pop is a more focused genre, and classic rock expands as time goes on. Nirvana is on classic rock stations now which is weird.

It's a genre you don't know your making until 10 years later (for GnR) I guess.

They definitely are imo.

I hear Phil Collins 80's stuff on there too. Then you remember Genesis. I think the criteria should be late 60's to early 90's rock that isn't pop. I don't know where he fits to be honest

StatisticHorror posted...

IDK what Queen you were listening to but they absolutely have a ton of guitar driven music, Brian May is a damn god o.o

I agree that Brian May is a god but I'd say Mercury drives like 90% of their songs with notable exceptions like Death on Two Legs, Ogre Battle etc. that shit ass classic rock stations never play for some reason.

lilORANG posted...

Classic rock is a genre. Same way pop is a genre and not just whatever is popular. Or how JRPG is a genre and not just any rpg made in Japan.

People don't understand that pop doesn't = top 40. some top 40 is pop but they're different things and pop is more than just Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber.

Smashingpmkns posted...

I agree that Brian May is a god but I'd say Mercury drives like 90% of their songs with notable exceptions like Death on Two Legs, Ogre Battle etc. that shit ass classic rock stations never play for some reason.

Fair enough, you clearly know your Queen so I'll let it pass lol

Now I have to listen to Ogre Battle again

Dude the classic rock station in my area plays Nirvana these days. Lol.

So since I just have to give my thoughts...

Classic rock is the kind of music you could party or dance to. Once the rebellious Gen X came along, many of them were more about dismantling, both physically and metaphorically, the structures that be, inspired by past counterculture bands (yeah so maybe Ramones weren't exactly underground but I'm assuming you wouldn't put them under the classic rock umbrella). So basically once punk emerged as the predominant form or inspiration for rock in the 90's, the entire approach changed for the typical band trying to make it. Pleasing melodies were still very much appreciated (there are no shortage of infectious Nirvana, RHCP, and Green Day songs), but they were moving away from that swinging good time feeling. The tempo tightened a bit, moving from just a bit more upbeat than mid-tempo to a more intense, straightforward upper range of mid-tempo. Minor keys were much more commonly employed, not just in sad songs, but in songs meant to compel your attention, maybe partially due to the influence of the metal scene that had been developing for some time. Song themes focused more on problematic social phenomena and existential concerns, whereas classic rock, outside the occasional protest song, was more about making love and fighting for your right to party as the Beastie Boys succinctly put it (despite them not being anything classic rock, but maybe because they were a cultural byproduct of it like any other band of the time) while that era was coming to a close.

Smashingpmkns posted...

I agree that Brian May is a god but I'd say Mercury drives like 90% of their songs with notable exceptions like Death on Two Legs, Ogre Battle etc. that shit ass classic rock stations never play for some reason.

Unfortunately a large majority of people that listen to classic rock want to hear the same songs over and over, so thats what we get. Luckily for me my station has a pretty big rotation that changes regularly. And every Sunday morning they have a 4 hour block where they go deeper and play music that would never make it into the regular rotation.