Classic-Rock Birthdays (Dec 14–21)

Dec 16 — Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), born 1949

The bearded blues-rock wizard himself. Tone for days.

Dec 16 — Benny Anderson (ABBA), born 1946

More pop than rock, but songwriting that influenced everyone.

Dec 18 — Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones), born 1943

Human riff machine. Indestructible. Possibly immortal.

Dec 18 — Elliot Easton (The Cars), born 1953

The tasteful, precision-perfect lead guitarist behind some of rock’s most loved new-wave hits.

Dec 19 — Alvin Lee (Ten Years After), born 1944

One of the fastest and flashiest blues-rock guitarists of the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Dec 20 — Peter Criss (KISS), born 1945

The Catman — drummer and voice of “Beth.”

Dec 20 — Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), born 1966

Modern classic-rock soul — swaggering vocals and bluesy grit.