My freshman year of high school my older brother drove me to and from school. He was always really nice about driving me place except for the few occasions when he forgot me at school. Like many vehicle owners, he had rules for his car. You have to wear a seatbelt, unless you want to pay for the ticket he would be given if he got pulled over. You can eat in the car but if you spill then you have to pay to clean it. Family (aka myself) always got shotgun. And you can’t exit the car before the rock song was over.

My brother loves classic rock. It’s all he plays in his car. So by the end of my freshman year, I was hooked. Led Zeppelin, AC DC, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Doors and so much more became part of my lifestyle. The guitar solos, the unique vocals, and the unapologetic, nonconforming themes changed the way I looked at music.

The autotuned, catchy pop songs no longer appealed to me. In the days of classic rock, bands didn’t have computer to change and morph their music to make it sound the way they wanted. They had to work so much harder to make their music.

Like many classic rock fans, when people find out that I like classic rock they ask one of two question; “Aren’t they all dead though?” or “Oh, do you know Don’t Stop Believing...or maybe Stairway to Heaven?” No, they are not all dead. And yes I have heard Don’t Stop Believing and Stairway to Heaven. Both Journey and Led Zeppelin have great songs other than those.

Today, a lot of people don’t know about classic rock. So I want to give you, someone who has possible never heard of classic rock, the opportunity that was there all along. The opportunity to open your eyes to an old genre that is still relevant today. Take an hour or so and listen to these 25 songs.

Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles

You’re Mother Should Know by the Beatles

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by the Animals

People are Strange by the Doors

Love Me Two Times by the Doors

Five to One by the Doors

Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix

All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix

Sunshine of Your Love by Cream

Pictures of Matchstick Men by Status Quo

Baba O’Riley by the Who

Substitute by the Who

Rockin in the Free World by Neil Young

Killer Queen by Queen

Can’t Stop Me Now by Queen

Sweet Child O’Mine by Guns and Roses

Drop Dead Legs by Van Halen

Good times Bad times by Led Zeppelin

Babe I’m Gonna Leave You by Led Zeppelin

When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin

Ramble On by Led Zeppelin

Time by Pink Floyd

The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

Live Wire by ACDC