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Classic Rock

Classic rock covers enduring guitar-led songs, albums and artists that shaped modern rock culture.

Articles on Classic Rock

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Soft Rock / / Sarah Collins

Essential Soft Rock Albums Explained

These are the records that actually built the genre, not just the ones that happened to chart. Six albums, six different sides of what "soft" could mean.

Folk Rock / / Laura Mitchell

The History of Folk Rock

One electric guitar plugged into a folk song in 1965 changed everything that followed — here's the whole story, in order.

Classic Rock / / Chloe Nelson

The History of Classic Rock

From blues covers to concept albums to a radio label: the decade-by-decade story of how the sound came together, and who got left off the shortlist.

Soft Rock / / Jessica Morgan

Soft Rock Subgenres, Explained

Ask three people to define this genre and you'll get three overlapping answers. Here's a map of its main branches, and where each one pulls away from the centre.

Soft Rock / / Nicola Evans

A Beginner's Guide to Soft Rock

"Soft" doesn't mean lazy. It means the edges got sanded off. Here's what the genre actually is, where it came from, and who to hear first.

Soft Rock / / Emma Wilson

The History of Soft Rock

It crept in decade by decade, as rock's rougher edges got sanded down. Here's how a genre without a manifesto ended up defining a whole era.

Classic Rock

Classic rock for timeless guitar music

Classic rock refers to the enduring rock acts, albums and songs that shaped popular music from the 1960s onwards. For UK listeners, classic rock often means big riffs, strong vocals, memorable solos and songs that have stayed central to radio and live performance culture.

Typical sound and gear

Classic rock usually features electric guitars, bass, drums and assertive lead vocals, with production that can range from raw to polished. Musicians exploring classic rock often look for valve-style amplifiers, stompboxes, dynamic microphones and recording setups that capture a direct band feel.

Why classic rock endures

Classic rock remains popular because it offers clear songwriting, powerful energy and a strong heritage of live performance. Whether you are revisiting influential albums or building a set for pub venues and festivals, classic rock continues to define guitar-led music for many UK fans.