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Legendary hard rock masterpieces and popular songs etched in the history of music

Hard rock, rooted in blues rock, transformed its sound to become heavier and more dramatic.

The achievements of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Van Halen, Queen, and Aerosmith are nothing short of legendary.

For those who listened in real time, it remains a beloved formative musical experience; for younger generations, it offers chances to discover music they didn’t know and to make new findings.

In this article, we’ve picked out great hard rock bands and classic tracks that will surely be talked about for generations to come.

Even within the hard rock genre, there are songs that head in many different directions, so please enjoy!

Playlist

Legendary hard rock masterpieces and popular songs etched in the history of music
show_chartTitlePlaylistOne point
1eastWhole Lotta LoveLed ZeppelinThis one features a biting guitar riff that leaves a strong impression...
2eastSmoke On The WaterDeep PurpleThis intro, the most famous in rock history, ...
3eastBack In BlackAC/DCMid-tempo, with a palpable weight and groove...
4eastParadise CityGuns N’ RosesWhipping up a storm in the hard rock scene of the ’80s...
5eastWalk This WayAerosmithThis song was released in September 1975 and...
6north_eastwe all fall downBlue MurderKnown for his work with former Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake...
7south_eastthe name of the roseTenGradually, from the quiet beginning of the electro-acoustic guitar in the intro…
8eastBohemian RhapsodyQueenThe original unconventional rock band, Queen. Thi...
9eastRock BottomMichael Schenker GroupYou could say they’re a hard rock band that represents the UK…
10eastCrazy NightsLOUDNESSHe took the world by storm and became synonymous with rock...
11eastRock & Roll All NiteKISSGene Simmons and Paul Stanley...
12north_easttake coverMr. BIGThe super technique that, needless to say, everyone can sing...
13south_eastCrazy TrainOzzy OsbourneIn 2020, they released a thrilling comeback album...
14eastDr. FeelgoodMötley CrüeThe heavy drum-and-bass intro is irresistib…
15eastThe Final CountdownEuropeThe heroic keyboard phrase is just too awe-inspiring...
16eastParanoidBlack SabbathThe originator of all hard rock and heavy metal...
17eastThe TrooperIron MaidenThe i… who led the global heavy metal boom
18eastBreaking The LawJudas PriestA song characterized by a simple main riff and chorus...
19eastCum On Feel The NoiseQuiet RiotThe ... of 1980s American hard rock
20eastJumpVan HalenFamiliar as a leading authority on right-hand technique…
21eastMr. CrowleyOzzy OsbourneA metal masterpiece that fires the imagination
22eastPurple HazeThe Jimi Hendrix ExperienceWhat Mr. Hendrix saw, shrouded in a purple mist…
23eastWelcome To The JungleGuns N’ RosesThe 1980s—something everyone has heard of at least once...
24eastFoxy LadyJimi HendrixA hard rock guitarist who would later become famous...
25eastEnter SandmanMetallicaJames Hetfield was la…
26eastgimme all your loveMasqueradeThey’re a band from Sweden. They remind me of TNT…
27eastRun To The HillsIron MaidenReleased as a single in 1982…
28eastHelter SkelterThe BeatlesCommonly known as “Why…,” released in 1968
29eastHot For TeacherVan HalenThis song that sings about being captivated by the teacher...
30eastTushZZ TopAt first, they gave a strong impression of being a blues rock band…
31eastRock You like a HurricaneScorpionsThe wave of hard rock was not limited to the UK and the US; it also spread to...
32eastSURRENDERCheap TrickSpeaking of Cheap Trick, back in their home country, the United States...
33eastI love Rock N RollJoan JettThe legendary girls’ band, The Runaway…
34eastComfortably NumbPink FloydThe monster band that Britain proudly boasts to the world, …
35eastPour Some Sugar On Me – Remastered 2017Def LeppardStarting with a shout, heavy and tight do...
36eastHow Come It Never RainsThe Dogs D’AmourThey gained popularity with mellow songs and hard-hitting performances...
37eastASSAULT ATTACKMichael Schenker GroupThe transitional period from hard rock to heavy metal...
38eastBad MedicineBon JoviThis is a quintessential masterpiece of 80s hard rock…
39eastPanamaVan HalenThe exhilarating guitar in the intro hits my ears and...
40eastRaining BloodSLAYERSung about the strength to defeat heaven...
41eastletting goPRAYING MANTISThe twin-guitar harmonies and chorus feel so good…
42eastovernight sensationFireHouseThey are an American band. In their early days, they were catchy...
43eastchange comes aroundHarem ScaremThey are a hard rock band from Canada. Fa...
44eastRising ForceYngwie MalmsteenTo the point where the guitar could determine the band’s popularity…
45eastRunaway TrainSoul AsylumIt is recognized as alternative rock...
46eastforever youngTYKETTOA bluesy vocal timbre paired with a weeping guitar…
47eastScatterbrainJeff BeckCounted as one of the three great rock guitarists…
48eastStill of the NightWhitesnakeFormer Deep Purple vocalist, Day…
49eastfreak of the weekFreak KitchenMatthias, known as a perverted guitarist, ...
50eaststars and the moonFair WarningOriginally, members of Germany’s ZENO gathered...
51eastIron ManBlack SabbathWatching the end of the world by going back in time...
52eastMy GenerationThe WhoAt the time, by Mr. Pete Townshend, ...
53eastWanted ManRattIt’s got a hint of darkness, kind of like Black Sabbath…
54eastBorn To Be WildSteppenwolfDennis Hopper and Peter Fonda…
55east(I Can’t Get No) SatisfactionThe Rolling StonesOn June 6, 1965, Keith Richards...
56eastMississippi QueenMountainMoun…, an American hard rock band…
57eastnative tonguePoisonRitchie Kotzen joined on guitar, and...
58easti am iQueensrÿcheThe 1994 album “promise…
59eastthe searchSIAMA British band. The vocalist Tony Mil...
60eastcan’t believeLionsheartAppearing on the scene like a comet, like a comet...
61eastmama i’m coming homeOzzy OsbourneThe ever-controversial Ozzy Osbourne…
62eastRockin’ In The Free WorldNeil YoungThe legendary musician that Canada is proud of, Nie…
63eastNobody’s FoolCinderellaLooking at it again, that’s quite an impressive band name…
64eastThe Boys Are Back In TownTHIN LIZZYIs the twin-lead guitar style around here...?
65eastMetal Health (Bang Your Head)Quiet RiotA hard rock to heavy [metal] act emblematic of the 1980s…
66eastDeserted Cities of the HeartCreamMr. Eric Clapton, Jack Blu…
67eastwicked sensationLynch MobFormer Dokken guitar hero, George L…
68eastEvery Rose Has Its Thorn – Remastered 2003PoisonA look with flashy makeup and catchy...
69eastLay It DownRattIn Japan, what was commonly called “LA metal” ba...
70eastSweet Home AlabamaLynyrd SkynyrdRock music from the American South is called Southern rock...
71eastStreet LethalRacer XStanding alongside Yngwie Malmsteen...
72eastcan you feel itManic EdenThe guitarist known for his work with Vandenberg…
73eastpickin up the piecesGlenn HughesWhen it comes to one of the pioneers of hard rock, Deep...
74eastRainbow in the DarkDioIn the history of heavy metal and hard rock...
75eastWe’re An American BandGrand Funk RailroadAs the song title suggests, something that seems to symbolize America…
76eastrenegadeFortuneTo be frank, the vocals are weak. The performance is...
77eastMother´s EyesEnuff Z’NuffInfluenced by Cheap Trick and the Beatles, …
78eastRemedyThe Black CrowesDebuting in the style of the Rolling Stones…
79eastNo One Like YouScorpionsA world-famous hard rock band born in Germany…
80eastsilent screamRiotA seasoned band formed in 1975…
81eastall sussed outTHE ALMIGHTYA band from Scotland. The lead vocalist Ri...
82eastClose My Eyes ForeverLita FordThe legendary girls' band that even got a movie adaptation, The…
83eastbreaking the gunVincent NeilThe two solo releases after leaving Mötley Crüe…
84eastRide OnGotthardA Swiss hard rock band that is well-known in Japan...
85eastSeventeenWingerThis is pure American rock! I can’t help but burst into applause…
86eastSkunkMC5Garage punk, psychedelic, rock 'n'...
87eastyou make me smileGalactic CowboysIt’s a mysterious track. With rock-solid distortion…