Classic Rock

Less a genre than a radio marketing term, Classic Rock is reportedly derived from guys saying, "Dude, classic!" upon hearing Boston's "More Than a Feeling" for the seven-hundredth time. The tale is likely apocryphal. Essentially a blanket term for decades-old rock anthems and warhorses that consultants and program directors decide fit into the format, Classic Rock includes the arena rock of Foreigner and Boston, the Southern Rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Nazareth, the classic pop of the Beatles, classic Metal such as Black Sabbath, the Pop Metal of Ozzy Ozbourne's "Crazy Train" period, and many other disparate -- but oddly unified -- styles. Expect loud guitars, a heavy dose of hooks, and plenty of testosterone; this is the bread-and-butter of album-oriented FM radio.