The 5 Things That Happened in Classic Rock Culture in 2019

Despite what so many people have said, rock ‘n roll will never die. And the proof? Well, we have plenty. Over the decades, this genre has had its highs and lows but one thing’s for sure, it was NEVER on the brink of extinction. It’s not just fans who lived in the ’60s or ’70s – there’s also a resurgence in popularity because with the internet and social media, the younger generation are rediscovering a plethora of musical gems.

Here are some of the things that happened in classic rock this year:

5. We lost some legends.

The Monkees’ Peter Tork, Dick “King of the Surf Guitar” Dale, Phil McCormack, and Dave Bartholomew were just some influential and important figures in rock ‘n roll that we lost.

4. Classic rock bands and artists who hit the road again.

https://youtu.be/7X4eXbdlzq8

Is there anything better than watching your favorite group perform live and take you back in time their with their songs? Queen + Adam Lambert, Iron Maiden, Styx, Judas Priest, KISS, The Who, Paul McCartney, Steve Miller Band, Slayer, Peter Frampton, The Rolling Stones, Smashing Pumpkins, Def Leppard, ZZ Top, Sammy Hagar & The Circle, Sebastian Bach, and Crimson – there are so many others busy with touring. And the best part is? A lot of these have sold out tickets!

3. Aerosmith and their Las Vegas residency.

https://youtu.be/1igPdRIf5y4

Somehow we just knew Aerosmith wasn’t the type to simply ride off into the sunset and retire. Their Deuces are Wild shows are, not surprisingly, a huge success. Steven Tyler has always been a flat-out amazing frontman and entertainer and anyone who saw their concerts didn’t leave disappointed.

2. New albums and re-releases from our favorite artists.

Though we’re still waiting for Guns N’ Roses and AC/DC to drop their much-talked about upcoming albums, there were still plenty of other releases that made us nostalgic. From The Doors’ expanded edition of “Waiting for the Sun” to Linda Ronstadt’s reissue of “Live in Hollywood” – there’s so much to love. There may not be a lot of new material from classic rock artists but hey, we’d take what we can get.

1. Classic rock is back – sort of.

Younger bands like Greta Van Fleet have incorporated ’60s and ’70s style into their music. And though they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, it’s surely refreshing to hear this kind of “old new” songs on MTV or on YouTube. There are several other groups who found inspiration from other icons like Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin. Love ’em or hate ’em, they’re definitely helping keep rock alive.