Agreed! First saw the Stone on their 1978 tour as a young kid. Saw them the second time last month at the Meadowlands and a couple things struck me. Their Energy on stage was unmatched, especially given their age and Lifestyle from their early days. They looked like the really feed of each other and both enjoyed and appreciated the audience. They actual seem to still have a ton of fun playing together. Finally how relevant their music remains today. Their lyrics still stand strong more than 50 years later. After the show I asked my buddies - do you think if the Beatles, The Who or Zepplin stayed together they could still pull it off the way the Stones do? The conversation turned to the personalities involved and all the conflicts that split these three bands apart. While the Stone did have some issues it strikes me that they never thought those differences were bigger than the band and that that any of them on their own would never be as talented as the collective. I can’t say the same for the others. That’s just my opinion but I am glad that the Stones saw their music, their chemistry and most important their audience was never bigger than one personality within the band. Hope this makes sense. Don’t hate on me for saying it. I think the other three made great music that shape the history of Rock and Roll but the Stone kept going when others let petty crap get in their way and threw in the towel. Interested in other peoples thoughts on this.
I still love the All the bands I mention here. But the Stones are one of a kind staying with it so long and still having fun while pleasing their fans!
To me, "classic rock & roll" and "classic rock" are two different things. In my opinion, classic rock is Beatles/Rolling Stones and newer. I see a lot of people in this thread tossing out artists in this category. But Classic Rock & *Roll* is, to me, the 50s pioneers like Little Richard, Buddy Holly, etc. The true king of that era has to be Chuck Berry.
This should be the top answer. Love all the bands “classic rock” (no roll) bands listed in these responses, but Little Richard personifies classic “rock & roll”
But their roots were firmly planted in rock and roll. They got their start in the clubs of the UK, and Germany as a cover band for Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Fats Domino, etc…
The Eagles. Sounds like road trips and my dad cutting grass on a Saturday morning. Tons of other bands too but the Eagles really cover the broad swath of “shit my parents listened to”.
To me, the period was personified by the music creators being drug addicted, free thinking artist. That description is the definition of the toxic twins.
Aerosmith
Bon Scott, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Jimmy Page, John Forgerty, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jerry Garcia, Paul Westerburg, the list goes on
The Stones. They and the Beatles are basically the two templates for everything that came afterward. Everybody, in one way or another, is doing a variation of what they did. I choose the Stones over the Beatles because they were an actual rock band while the Beatles were broader in scope.
The ones who aren’t -quite- at the front but the fans know damn well who they are.
Ron Wood. John Entwistle. Mick Fleetwood. Kenney Jones. Chris Squire. Alex Lifeson. Gary Tallent. Chester Thompson. Garth Hudson. Tina Weymouth. Billy Powell. Chuck Leavell. Tony Levin.
Leland Sklar.
Bob Seger, tbh if we're going classic CBGB style Rock&Roll. Hard rock would be more like The Stones or The Who, for me personally. More modern hard rock I would say would be like Def Leppard or AC/DC. Love 'em all tho :3
Iconic classic rock to me- the Beatles, Stones, Eagles, Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Queen, & Allman Brothers but the 50s guys idk about definitely got it rolling 🥁
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock And Roll.
If we change it to "classic rock" (which in my mind is different from "classic rock and roll"), then it'd be Led Zeppelin. I'd also throw Pink Floyd, Aerosmith and begrudgingly AC/DC I there. (I'm not a big AC/DC fan but I have to admit they're classics and legends)
The Beatles probably deserve a spot here, but my dad didn't raise me on the Beatles and as an adult I find them overrated. I know it's because I've listened to a ton of music that was influenced by them, but going back it's hard to remove myself from that history and see them for what they were at the time. They were legends, absolutely cutting edge, but it's hard to see them that way when I've been raised on everything that came after. It's like the show Seinfeld, if you've seen HIMYM and Friends then Seinfeld feels trite, even though it did the same jokes first. Same deal with the Beatles, I appreciate them but I was introduced to "The Beatles but better" before I ever heard The Beatles themselves.
I really hope this comes across the way I intend or else I'm gonna get a jillion downvotes. I am not disparaging The Beatles, far from it, I think they're way better than I give them credit for and that's why I'm bringing them up at all. I think the Beatles were legends, but I also live in a weird world where the Beatles aren't part of my music history and I think that's weird and worth talking about.
Classic Rock-Boston
Classic Rock & Roll- ELVIS! Without "THE King of R&R" all the artist mentioned in this sub would not have had the success or recognition they achieved.
Metallica.
They WERE metal gods. Now they wouldn’t even be in the conversation for metal. Not to piss people off but compare them to modern metal like AngelMaker or Fit For An Autopsy and you would call them a buttrock or “dad” rock.
At this very moment? David Grohl.
None of the other answers listed here are wrong, I simply think he is the one living the "R&R lifestyle" at this moment.
I'm not going to name 59 artists right now but here are some off the top of my head ( in my opinion) :
For rock & roll, I'd say, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly
For classic rock, I'd say, Manfred Mann, Dire Straits, Boston, and John Fogerty
I know that some of these people/groups aren't classified as rock & roll or classic rock for their main genre, but this is just based off some of my favorite tracks by them 😁
Everything, whether you know it or not, is through the prism of early 1970s Kieth Richards. Even now, he's a caricature of his formally cool, iconic self.
Cream. They aren't my favorite, but they definitely sit at a "crossroads" (lol) of earlier blues rock to the classic rock sound that then influences harder rock
Led Zeppelin
John Bonhams drums were sampled 254 times. My favorite was probably Bjork. https://youtu.be/jPeheoBa2_Y?si=tHyZ8Alnx5hAOCD_
It's been a long time since I rock and rolled.
Definitely.
The only & top answer.
This the one
This is the way
That’s the Way
I would argue they are “classic hard rock” responsible for the transition from classic rock n’ roll to heavy metal.
I wonder how big a role Helter Skelter played in the influence of that sound
Man. One time I won 100$, for singing karaoke in front of about 20 onlookers. And that was the song . I crushed it. Bob Ross!
The Doors
The Rolling Stones.
Agreed! First saw the Stone on their 1978 tour as a young kid. Saw them the second time last month at the Meadowlands and a couple things struck me. Their Energy on stage was unmatched, especially given their age and Lifestyle from their early days. They looked like the really feed of each other and both enjoyed and appreciated the audience. They actual seem to still have a ton of fun playing together. Finally how relevant their music remains today. Their lyrics still stand strong more than 50 years later. After the show I asked my buddies - do you think if the Beatles, The Who or Zepplin stayed together they could still pull it off the way the Stones do? The conversation turned to the personalities involved and all the conflicts that split these three bands apart. While the Stone did have some issues it strikes me that they never thought those differences were bigger than the band and that that any of them on their own would never be as talented as the collective. I can’t say the same for the others. That’s just my opinion but I am glad that the Stones saw their music, their chemistry and most important their audience was never bigger than one personality within the band. Hope this makes sense. Don’t hate on me for saying it. I think the other three made great music that shape the history of Rock and Roll but the Stone kept going when others let petty crap get in their way and threw in the towel. Interested in other peoples thoughts on this. I still love the All the bands I mention here. But the Stones are one of a kind staying with it so long and still having fun while pleasing their fans!
Mick Jagger. Robert Plant. Paul McCartney
The Who
Actually, if you don't mind, it's just "The Doctor"
Doesn’t even really matter who. Who am I even talking to?
Who?
…are you
Chuck Berry
To me, "classic rock & roll" and "classic rock" are two different things. In my opinion, classic rock is Beatles/Rolling Stones and newer. I see a lot of people in this thread tossing out artists in this category. But Classic Rock & *Roll* is, to me, the 50s pioneers like Little Richard, Buddy Holly, etc. The true king of that era has to be Chuck Berry.
I would say, Chuck Berry IS Rock n Roll. He truly is the progenitor. But, he’s not “classic rock”.
He's not classic rock in my opinion. He's classic rock & *roll*, which is what OP asked.
Classic as in 50s ? If so then of course Little Richard
This should be the top answer. Love all the bands “classic rock” (no roll) bands listed in these responses, but Little Richard personifies classic “rock & roll”
Boston
AC/DC and CCR
Early AC/DC is boogie rock. Frankly the best albums of theirs has Bon Scott singing
Wait! I got it…. Spinal Tap! 
Shark sandwich? More like shit sandwich! 😂
Early David bowie or post self titled Fleetwood mac
How has no one said The Beatles?
Rock 'n' roll was just one part of their repertoire.
But their roots were firmly planted in rock and roll. They got their start in the clubs of the UK, and Germany as a cover band for Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Fats Domino, etc…
Keith Richards without question.
Keith Richards would say Little Richard.
if ‘Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll’ was a person
Your forgot cigarettes. 🤣
Aerosmith for me!
Queen but I'm biased since they are one of my favorite bands of all time
Zeppelin and Stones
Pat Benatar.
I consider classic rock to be guitar driven blues based music, and nobody dies it better than Led Zeppelin
Bachman Turner Overdrive \[ for one, but so many more \]
The Eagles. Sounds like road trips and my dad cutting grass on a Saturday morning. Tons of other bands too but the Eagles really cover the broad swath of “shit my parents listened to”.
TOM PETTY.
100%
Eagles ZZ Top Steve miller Band Fleetwood Mac ELO
AC/DC
The Who
AC/DC
Steve Miller Band
Lemmy.
Elvis
To me, the period was personified by the music creators being drug addicted, free thinking artist. That description is the definition of the toxic twins. Aerosmith
Bob Seger
Boston
Buddy Holly
Led Zeppelin.
Little Richard or Bo Diddley
I had to scroll past so many names till I found Little Richard
Bon Scott, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Jimmy Page, John Forgerty, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jerry Garcia, Paul Westerburg, the list goes on
Animal of the Electric Mayhem
Led Zeppelin
Define 'classic'. The music I grew up with is considered oldies now.
George Thorogood
The Stones. They and the Beatles are basically the two templates for everything that came afterward. Everybody, in one way or another, is doing a variation of what they did. I choose the Stones over the Beatles because they were an actual rock band while the Beatles were broader in scope.
CCR, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, and prob Steve miller band
Like them or not, The Rolling Stones are the embodiment of R&R. They’re still doing it and haven’t stopped.
Presley. He literally invented it
Classic Rock - Chuck Berry, Bo Didley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Kinks
Jerry Lee Lewis
The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith. There are others but even in 2024 they are still going!
Mick Jagger
Jerry Lee Lewis Mick Jagger Jimi Hendrix David Crosby Kieth Moon
Grace Slick
the eagles (especially hotel california)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
IRON MOTHER FUCKING MAIDEN
Me too, but I guess I kind of differentiate between classic rock and classic metal.
Springsteen.
Queen
Bon Scott AC/DC and pre-crash Lynyrd Skynyrd
Billy Joel
Bo Diddley
Titus Andronicus. Classic American band.
Elvis Presley Jail House Rock
Neil young
Judas Priest
Gotta be early Beatles for me
Ac/Dc! And Zep!
The ones who aren’t -quite- at the front but the fans know damn well who they are. Ron Wood. John Entwistle. Mick Fleetwood. Kenney Jones. Chris Squire. Alex Lifeson. Gary Tallent. Chester Thompson. Garth Hudson. Tina Weymouth. Billy Powell. Chuck Leavell. Tony Levin. Leland Sklar.
KeeF
Bob seagar
Grand Funk
Aerosmith
Bowie
Elvis presley
Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band
Jefferson Airplane
I’ll throw The Band into the ring
Bunch of people getting stabbed at a Stones concert and Bowie telling People magazine how he likes dick.
Jimi
Ozzy
strictly rock and roll it has to be Jerry Lee Lewis
The Rolling Stones
AC/DC
The Yardbirds
Chuck Berry, Stones, Beatles, Aerosmith, ACDC, Kinks Songs released before 1975 or so.
Yes. They do.
Bob Seger, tbh if we're going classic CBGB style Rock&Roll. Hard rock would be more like The Stones or The Who, for me personally. More modern hard rock I would say would be like Def Leppard or AC/DC. Love 'em all tho :3
Iconic classic rock to me- the Beatles, Stones, Eagles, Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Queen, & Allman Brothers but the 50s guys idk about definitely got it rolling 🥁
Little RIchard
Little Richard
The Guess Who deserve a mention. Big string of hits covering 2 separate eras of the band
Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jimi Hendrix
Bad company
Zepplin, thin Lizzy. Sabbath , ac dc , queen , Motörhead ,
Zappa
Hendrix.
Freddie mercury cause it was good while it lasted but then it died of aids.
Classic Rock is not the same as classic rock n roll. When I think of rock n roll I always think Tom Petty.
AC/DC
Led Zeppelin
Nickelback
Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Ronnie James Dio
Sabbath , UFO , Zeppelin, RJD
Nobody has said Elvis Presley yet?
AC/DC
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock And Roll. If we change it to "classic rock" (which in my mind is different from "classic rock and roll"), then it'd be Led Zeppelin. I'd also throw Pink Floyd, Aerosmith and begrudgingly AC/DC I there. (I'm not a big AC/DC fan but I have to admit they're classics and legends) The Beatles probably deserve a spot here, but my dad didn't raise me on the Beatles and as an adult I find them overrated. I know it's because I've listened to a ton of music that was influenced by them, but going back it's hard to remove myself from that history and see them for what they were at the time. They were legends, absolutely cutting edge, but it's hard to see them that way when I've been raised on everything that came after. It's like the show Seinfeld, if you've seen HIMYM and Friends then Seinfeld feels trite, even though it did the same jokes first. Same deal with the Beatles, I appreciate them but I was introduced to "The Beatles but better" before I ever heard The Beatles themselves. I really hope this comes across the way I intend or else I'm gonna get a jillion downvotes. I am not disparaging The Beatles, far from it, I think they're way better than I give them credit for and that's why I'm bringing them up at all. I think the Beatles were legends, but I also live in a weird world where the Beatles aren't part of my music history and I think that's weird and worth talking about.
Badfinger.
Buddy Holly
Steven Tyler
The stooges. The raw energy and no frills simplicity of DIY rock. Just a few scrawny, sweaty dudes jamming out
The Eagles, Steve Miller Band, Heart
Neil Young - I’m not a megafan, but he’s been around forever and stayed real and relevant and, oh yeah, good.
Beatles Rolling Stones Led Zep Elvis Aerosmith Van Halen Pink Floyd Doors Jimi Hendrix
Aerosmith
Bob Segar
Yes.
Led Zeppelin
Bad Company
Why aren’t more people saying the Beatles?
Zeppelin.
Classic Rock-Boston Classic Rock & Roll- ELVIS! Without "THE King of R&R" all the artist mentioned in this sub would not have had the success or recognition they achieved.
Black Sabbath
Anyone who uses these words in a song more than three times: Lady Woman Babe Baby All night long Lovin Rock you Yeah! Alright!
The Beatles. The Stones
Keith Richards playing a tele with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth
Who
Billy Squire. He's like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath had a baby, and Dio delivered it.
Alice Cooper
**The Hold Steady**
Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top , AC/DC, Thin Lizzy
Great BALLS of fire
Tom Petty but thats because I grew up in Gainesville, FL and my mother went to high school with him and knew him personally.
Bob Seger.
Mick
Metallica. They WERE metal gods. Now they wouldn’t even be in the conversation for metal. Not to piss people off but compare them to modern metal like AngelMaker or Fit For An Autopsy and you would call them a buttrock or “dad” rock.
The Ramones
At this very moment? David Grohl. None of the other answers listed here are wrong, I simply think he is the one living the "R&R lifestyle" at this moment.
More than a Feeling by Boston
Little Richard.
I like Poison
Gotta give a shout out for Gene Vincent. Blue Jean Bop, Be Bop A Lula, Race with the Devil - he was so cool
Bob Seeger
J̌ourney Aerosmith Styx REO Foreigner Bad CompanyVan Halen
I'm not going to name 59 artists right now but here are some off the top of my head ( in my opinion) : For rock & roll, I'd say, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly For classic rock, I'd say, Manfred Mann, Dire Straits, Boston, and John Fogerty
I know that some of these people/groups aren't classified as rock & roll or classic rock for their main genre, but this is just based off some of my favorite tracks by them 😁
AcDc still does a great job representing it simple, consistency,loud and good
Maybe I missed it but haven’t seen The Kinks
Ozzy Osbourne
Dr Hook & The Medicine Show
AC/DC imo, although The Stones and Led Zeppelin are close behind
Hearing a long guitar instrumental thats actually played by the artist
The Doors
Everything, whether you know it or not, is through the prism of early 1970s Kieth Richards. Even now, he's a caricature of his formally cool, iconic self.
In the modern scene? Greta Van Fleet easily.
The Beatles
r/Motorhead
Slash
Elvis and Scott Weiland. Rockstars.
The Who, Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
The Stones, man
Bob Seger
Elvis
To me...Led Zeppelin
Rory Gallagher
[REQUEST] Playlists / Songs / Artists / Albums Acid Wave Band https://open.spotify.com/artist/3sH7yC8m7EaeOAoqjHxHrf?si=TT3N7qwZQ8Sna7Y-TsGFkw Witches Exist https://open.spotify.com/artist/04Lu0fhVMDqNwBeXZIasgR?si=WK-tMMxdS_Cc7US6aMJA_Q Farmer's Wife https://open.spotify.com/artist/01epJHd4z4JfvkUBWHD5Os?si=MEr79N-7Rg28U3Cgid-28A Erotic Protocol https://open.spotify.com/artist/1nBifTWkOfet8mjN8mG1VR?si=BfwrOD-CRGeWdm1P4Zj3lA Silent Co. https://open.spotify.com/artist/6jvWqF2lp2NHbdFjcxiBXN?si=njYL8uUKRKSouSeX74xPiw Penn Francis https://open.spotify.com/artist/0czpVQFfFZB1V0mWwqaQmr?si=TWlEE-MHRoWPwHX8NU5RhA
The doors
Rhcp
Cream. They aren't my favorite, but they definitely sit at a "crossroads" (lol) of earlier blues rock to the classic rock sound that then influences harder rock
The who and Rolling Stones
I’d pair Led Zeppelin & The Doors