From the 1970s to today, we’ve put together a playlist tribute to Hard Rock.
It’s Monday and we’re serving up a fresh AFE Spotify playlist!
Today’s drop is made up of over 30 tracks in a tribute to the hard rock of the 1970s. If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on Spotify so you can be among the first to listen to our playlists as they arrive on the scene.
But wait, this isn’t just any old playlist–the free-flowing guitars, grooving basslines, and punching drums of the 1970s have continued to meaningfully find their way to new generations of music fans and music makers.
Be sure to check out bands like Black Pistol Suns, Wolfmother, and Band of Skulls, which draw inspiration from rock-and-roll’s greatest era. From Black Sabbath to the Black Keys, Led Zeppelin to Greta Van Fleet, from KISS to Royal Blood, the signature sounds of the ’70s continue to permeate today’s music in ways that we often take for granted.
To get you in that nostalgic mood for yesteryear, we’ve put together a sampling of yesterday’s timeless classic rock hits, and today’s instant classics, to make you feel like you’re riding full tilt down a sunset highway in a classic American muscle car.
Here are just a few of the tracks for you to check out in our 70’s-Inspired Hard Rock playlist.
Greta Van Fleet – Highway Tune
Greta Van Fleet aren’t shy to fully embrace their 70’s retro sound. Image: NME
As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That must be the motto of Greta Van Fleet. Their high-soaring track Highway Tune evokes the same vibes as Led Zeppelin’s classics Rock and Roll and When the Levee Breaks. But we’re not mad, because Greta Van Fleet rocks.
Be sure to also check out the song Black Smoke Rising in this playlist.
Van Halen – Runnin’ with the Devil
In this special 70s playlist, we salute Dutch-American guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen who recently passed away on October 6th after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
A shout out to Eddie Van Halen, who lived his life “like there’s no tomorrow.” This song was named by VH1 as the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time. Find Van Halen’s soaring signature guitar stylings after the second and third chorus.
Eddie was a legend who changed the game, inspiring other great artists such as Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Guns and Roses’ Slash, as well as fellow guitar legends Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
Royal Blood – Out of the Black
Royal Blood rocks the house. Photo Credit: Matthew Shelter
With just a heavily-filtered bass and bone-pounding drumset, UK hard rock duo Royal Blood somehow manage to put out a towering sound that even some 4-piece bands can’t stand up to. Also included in this week’s playlist is their song Figure it Out from the band’s eponymous debut album.
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Black Sabbath in 1970 Image: Wikimedia
Ah yes, Black Sabbath, arguably the creators of heavy metal. The band rose in 1968 with its original lineup of guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, who you may have heard on Post Malone’s Take What You Want.
Check out the songs Paranoid and Sweet Leaf to see how Sabbath’s crunchy guitars and pounding drums gave birth to countless rock subgenres and artists, from the psychedelic stylings of Tame Impala, to thrash legends like Metallica.
Bonus Track: Beastie Boys – Rhymin’ and Stealin’
The Beastie Boys circa 1987. Photo Credit: Ebet Roberts/Redferns
Before superproducer Rick Rubin was producing powerhouse tracks for the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Adele, he was kicking it with the Beastie Boys back in 1986.
What happens when you take Led Zeppelin Drummer John Bonham’s classic drum fill from When the Levee Breaks, and the heavy guitar riff from Black Sabbath’s Sweet Leaf, and smash them all together like peanut butter and jelly? Betcha didn’t think an 80’s party hip-hop classic would pop up on this playlist. RIP MCA.
Armed Forces Entertainment
What musical dimension do you want to explore next? Follow AFE on Spotify to stay up to date with all of our latest playlist updates.
We’re working hard to bring you the best in entertainment, no matter where you’re stationed. Keep up-to-date on the latest happenings by subscribing to our newsletter.
