Name: Top 30 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time
Uploaded: 2025-05-23T05:17:39.000Z
Duration: 29 min 39 s
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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best, most important, and or most unforgettable rock tracks ever.

After pursuing punk rock for several years, The Clash expanded their horizons on London

The title song is one of their finest anthems.

It brings together many of their political and social themes into one striking track.

Joe Strummer leads the charge with his vocals, with the frontman accompanied by some driving guitars.

Musically, the group generates a strong sound for both punk and rock fans to enjoy.

The apocalyptic story buzzes through your speakers with an urgent tone.

With this exciting track, the band evolved their sound and capitalized on their earlier career.

With his fifth solo record, Peter Gabriel achieved one of his biggest successes.

The album So garnered attention for hits like In Your Eyes and Red Rain.

With a thundering intro, the latter track features some awesome percussion.

Gabriel's songwriting paints a beautiful picture while rocking the house.

Starting with the title, the singer's evocative imagery only adds to the overall production.

His smooth vocals do justice to a stunning piece of music.

He and co-producer Daniel Lanois craft a cinematic track, giving audiences a richly textured vision.

It's also another reason to explore the album beyond hits like Sledgehammer.

The opening riff immediately sets the tone, prepping listeners for a rock adventure.

Derek and the Dominoes might have been a one-off band, but this record sums up their genius.

Eric Clapton takes the vocal and offers a masterclass on lead guitar.

His work in the first section might even be a career best.

Once the unorthodox love story ends, a piano coda takes you away on a melancholic ride.

With Dwayne Allman's slide guitar, the dreamy conclusion achieves what few rock instrumentals ever could.

The haunting music even inspired the likes of Martin Scorsese for his film, Goodfellas.

This band is perhaps best remembered for this masterpiece.

Written by David Bowie, the song was recorded for their fifth album of the same name.

It's a definitive classic of the 1970s rock scene.

Singer Ian Hunter gives some of his coolest vocals, doing Bowie's lyrics justice with his performance.

Mott the Hoople more than earned the chance to play this song.

In some cases, people might not even realize the identity of the author.

The group gives a rocking effort that captures the highest highs of glam.

Influencing a number of acts, Hoople's version could be called a mainstay for a generation of musicians and music fans.

Whether or not they invented heavy metal, Black Sabbath clearly had a hand in shaping the rock subgenre.

They were also one of the most merciless acts of their time.

Their second album featured the furious song Paranoid.

Tony Iommi's opening guitar riffs might have created a thousand imitators, with metalheads hoping to sound half as good.

Black Sabbath also had bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward to kick things up a notch.

Rounding out the four-piece, Ozzy Osbourne's earth-shattering voice sealed the deal.

It's a legendary track that set a course for heavier and scarier sounds in rock.

Through many incarnations, Genesis made sure they didn't fall under one label.

The band entered the 1980s with a more rock and pop-focused sound.

They also managed to create this track full of great lyrics and instrumentation.

Phil Collins delivers his vocals with sheer force, building out his criticisms of politicians and beyond.

Land of Confusion showed that a group could redefine themselves over a decade into a legendary career.

It also revealed that they could write a much harder rock song than anyone could have guessed.

Collins and his bandmates find a way to shock the audience's senses.

The Australian band conquered the rock genre in the 1970s, but they kept growing in the 1980s.

They lost Bon Scott, but they also found a new talent with Brian Johnson.

Back in Black helps introduce another frontman with otherworldly vocals.

With the Young Brothers bringing their A-game, the guitar parts hit you right in the chest.

The track gives the group one of their signature pieces.

From an awesome album, this title song showed that ACDC was only getting started in a different decade.

The bandmates come together for a rip-roaring good time.

It's one that you want to play loud, with the instruments giving listeners a huge boost of energy.

Lighting up the hard rock scene, Van Halen occupies an important space between the 1970s and 1980s.

They also have a ton of recognizable hits like Panama.

As the highlight of every tune, Eddie Van Halen reminds listeners of his artistry throughout the track.

The guitarist lights up this songwriting with his signature licks.

Not to be outdone, David Lee Roth also reminds you why he's an unforgettable frontman.

Add in some cool backing vocals and you have a recipe for rock success.

You also get to hear Alex Van Halen's drums and Michael Anthony's bass, with the others filling out a killer rhythm section.

In over two decades of solid work, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters have created their fair share of rock staples.

Their second album, The Color and the Shape, includes the memorable single My Hero.

It's the kind of song that pays tribute to heroic people and gives you an uplifting feeling.

Underneath it all, the production is complete with some heavy-hitting drum parts.

There's also the intense growl of Grohl at the forefront.

The sharp vocals and music make for one of the band's signature songs.

You also hear an impressive bridge, building up to a dramatic drum roll that you will not forget.

These southern rockers have a style all their own, with many hits from the 1970s.

Free Bird might be their most enduring effort.

While it became a joke to call it out, the track itself is anything but a cliche.

Lynyrd Skynyrd created what might be one of the perfect closers in rock history.

Ronnie Van Zant guides listeners through some introspective lyrics, setting up the end jam.

The latter part is a mix of multiple guitars rocking out.

Skynyrd's original lineup set a high standard with their recording, but the newer members carried on the legacy.

It's a defining tune for a musical act known for their spirited work.

Through the art of power pop, Cheap Trick created some of the catchiest rock tunes of the 1970s and 1980s.

Rick Nielsen plays lively guitar riffs and Bunny Carlos lays down smooth drum tracks.

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Top 30 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time

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