12 Classic Rock Covers That Did It Better Than the Artists Who Wrote Them

Covers have always played an important role in rock music. Some artists use them to pay tribute to their heroes, while others aim to give an old song a modern edge. Every once in a while, a cover version becomes so powerful that listeners forget it wasn’t the original.

In classic rock, this happens more than in any other genre. Whether it’s a live jam that redefines a tune or a studio remake that adds new energy, these performances often outshine the source material. Here are twelve covers that didn’t just honor their origins—they redefined them.

12. “Signs” — Tesla (1990)

Originally by Five Man Electrical Band (1970)
Tesla stripped away the electric noise and performed this track live for Five Man Acoustical Jam. Their version, complete with a few lyrical tweaks, gave new grit and humor to a 1970s protest anthem.

11. “Helter Skelter” — Pat Benatar (1981)

Originally by The Beatles (1968)
Pat Benatar took McCartney’s raw chaos and brought it into the sound of 1980s arena rock. Her voice hit the highs, kept the grit, and matched the song’s wild energy.

10. “Twist and Shout” — The Beatles (1963)

Originally by The Isley Brothers (1962)
The Beatles’ version, recorded in one take, sharpened the groove and added a vocal intensity that defined early rock ’n’ roll energy.

9. “Johnny B. Goode” — Judas Priest (1988)

Originally by Chuck Berry (1958)
Judas Priest’s heavy take added roaring guitars and late-’80s edge while keeping Berry’s immortal riff intact.

8. “I Shot the Sheriff” — Eric Clapton (1974)

Originally by Bob Marley (1973)
Clapton turned Marley’s reggae story into a smooth rock crossover hit that became his only U.S. No. 1 single.

7. “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” — Elton John (1975)

Originally by The Beatles (1967)
Elton John reimagined it with a thunderous piano and horn-driven arrangement, giving the psychedelic classic a vibrant new sound.

6. “Cum On Feel the Noize” — Quiet Riot (1983)

Originally by Slade (1973)
Quiet Riot’s heavy metal twist brought the song roaring into the MTV era and made it a U.S. Top 5 hit.

5. “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” — Mötley Crüe (1985)

Originally by Brownsville Station (1973)
The Crüe’s cover added glam metal attitude to a song about teenage rebellion, turning it into their first Top 40 success.

4. “With a Little Help from My Friends” — Joe Cocker (1969)

Originally by The Beatles (1967)
Joe Cocker transformed Ringo Starr’s cheerful tune into a soulful, emotional anthem that became one of the defining performances of Woodstock.

3. “All Along the Watchtower” — Jimi Hendrix (1968)

Originally by Bob Dylan (1967)
Hendrix electrified Dylan’s acoustic ballad into a storm of guitar brilliance, creating a version so strong that Dylan later adopted it himself.

2. “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” — Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (1981)

Originally by The Arrows (1975)
Jett’s fierce, no-nonsense performance turned a forgotten B-side into one of rock’s most recognizable anthems.

1. “You Really Got Me” — Van Halen (1978)

Originally by The Kinks (1964)
Van Halen’s explosive debut single redefined a British Invasion hit with Eddie Van Halen’s guitar heroics and David Lee Roth’s swagger—so completely that many assume it’s theirs.