5 of the Greatest Classic Rock Personalities

2023-10-26

Image of Paul McCartney in the studio.

Paul McCartney – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Mary McCartney

From Robert Plant to Paul McCartney, here are five of the greatest classic rock personalities of all time

Every musical genre has its big personalities, but classic rock’s seem to be more dramatic than many others. From the swagger of Mick Jagger to the eccentric nature of David Bowie, the classic rock genre has some of the best personalities in all of music. In that spirit, here are five of the best classic rock personalities of all time.

Bono and The Edge

Some rock personalities go beyond the music to have some kind of intangible, almost supernatural power. Bono and The Edge from U2 are a few of them. I’ll never forget seeing U2 in concert for the first time during their 360 in June 2011. I wasn’t a big fan but had to cover the show for the local newspaper. I took my mom, who also wasn’t a big fan. We both left saying it was the best concert we’d ever experienced, and it still is, to this day. Bono and The Edge have larger-than-life personalities that rule the stage, and for some reason, they’re also able to penetrate the heart. Add to that all their great charity work, and you have two of the biggest personalities in classic rock.

Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger is Sir Jagger to you. He’s an incredibly talented English singer, songwriter and musician, who obviously serves as the frontman of The Rolling Stones. Alongside guitarist Keith Richards, Jagger has co-written the majority of the band’s songs, making their songwriting partnership one of the most successful in history. Their musical collaboration continues to thrive even after six decades in the industry.

Jagger’s impact on the world of rock music cannot be overstated. He’s not only an incredible frontman and musician, but he’s also an iconic sex symbol. Generations have crushed on Jagger, and nobody has ever really taken his place.

Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney is one of the world’s biggest and best songwriters. He, of course, rose to fame as a member of the Beatles. In the “Fab Four,” he displayed his talented as a singer, on the bass guitar and with songwriting, alongside the equally talented John Lennon. It’s pretty much impossible to sum up his contributions to music, because he’s so influential. When it comes to musical styles, McCartney runs the gamut. He plays everything from rock ‘n’ roll to pop to classical to electronica. He really has no narrow sound.

Robert Plant

Robert Plant became one of rock ‘n’ roll’s biggest performers as the frontman in Led Zeppelin, a band that lasted from 1968 to 1980. He wasn’t just the group’s lead singer and lyricist, but he also was the “face” of the band. Since then, he’s lead a successful solo career, including plenty of collaborations with Alison Krauss. Even with no Zeppelin reunion in sight, Plant gives fans plenty of reasons to keep up with him.

David Bowie

Throughout David Bowie’s colorful career, he was a huge influence on the music industry and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Bowie ruled the 1970s with some of the most innovative music of the decade. He stood out with his unique songwriting, charismatic stage presence and wild persona. There is nobody like Bowie, and that makes him one of the most unique personalities you’ll find in classic rock.

Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Features, Music, Rock