Rock History

Few classic rock songs capture the spirit of hard work, determination, and having a little fun along the way quite like Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “Takin’ Care of Business.” Released in 1973 on the band’s second album, Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, the song would become the Canadian rock group’s signature hit and one of the most enduring anthems […]

When John Mellencamp released “Small Town” in November 1985, he wasn’t just putting out another single—he was celebrating the values and experiences that shaped his life. Featured on his critically acclaimed album Scarecrow, the song became one of his signature hits, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cementing Mellencamp’s reputation as one […]

One of the most unforgettable songs of the late 1970s is “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty. Released in 1978 as the lead single from his album City to City, the song became an international hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and No. 3 in the UK. More than […]

When people hear the opening riff of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” they often picture a giant metal superhero. But despite the title, the song has absolutely nothing to do with the Marvel character. Instead, bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler created one of heavy metal’s most unforgettable science-fiction stories. Released in 1970 on Black Sabbath’s landmark […]

Despite its title, Alice Cooper’s 1975 hit “Only Women Bleed” isn’t about biology. Instead, it’s one of the most emotional and socially conscious songs Cooper ever recorded, telling the story of a woman trapped in an abusive relationship. Released as the second single from the Welcome to My Nightmare album, the song surprised fans and […]

By the mid-1980s, Heart was at a crossroads. After dominating rock radio in the 1970s with hits like “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” and “Magic Man,” changing musical trends had left the Wilson sisters searching for a fresh direction. That reinvention began with 1985’s self-titled Heart album, and leading the charge was “What About Love?,” the […]

Long before it appeared on the 1991 Use Your Illusion I album, “Don’t Cry” had already become one of Guns N’ Roses’ oldest songs. In fact, it predates the band’s blockbuster debut, Appetite for Destruction. Written primarily by Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin in the mid-1980s, the song was inspired by a heartbreaking real-life […]

When Led Zeppelin released “Good Times Bad Times” in January 1969, the world got its very first taste of what would become one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Serving as the opening track on the band’s self-titled debut album, Led Zeppelin, the song immediately introduced listeners to the group’s explosive blend of […]

Released in January 1989, “One” became one of the most important songs in Metallica’s career and helped bring heavy metal into the mainstream. Featured on the band’s landmark 1988 album …And Justice for All, the song was Metallica’s first official single and the first music video the band ever produced. More than three decades later, […]

When most people think of KISS, they picture fire-breathing, smoking guitars, towering platform boots, and hard-rock anthems like “Rock and Roll All Nite” or “Detroit Rock City.” But in 1976, the band surprised fans—and themselves—with a tender piano ballad called “Beth.“ The song became KISS’ biggest hit of the 1970s, proving the band could connect […]

Few songs in rock history have packed as much beauty and emotion into such a short running time as Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing.” Clocking in at just over two minutes, the song has become one of Hendrix’s most celebrated compositions, admired not only for its poetic lyrics but also for one of the most influential […]

Van Halen is indisputably one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history. From the moment they arrived in 1978, Eddie Van Halen changed the way guitars are played forever, while Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony helped create one of rock’s most unmistakable sounds. RELATED | Ranking Every Song by Van Halen: The […]