Classic rock used to be an American radio genre made up of bluesy guitar bands from the past. It spawned Fathers’ Day compilation albums, a magazine and endless lists where ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Free Bird’ argued among themselves about which was the public’s favourite.

But that’s not classic rock any longer; that’s heritage rock, music by the dead or dying. When the radio format was invented, the bands it celebrated were largely extant, or only recently departed; the oldest of the musicians were not yet 40. Their music was both current and nostalgic because new groups were still nicking from them, and their songs weren’t yet period pieces.

‘Feed Me With Your Kiss’ and ‘You Made Me Realise’ made me wish I was 18 again

‘Feed Me With Your Kiss’ and ‘You Made Me Realise’ made me wish I was 18 again

Today the term classic rock should be applied to the stuff that came after punk. To the stuff that’s on TV soundtracks, BBC 6 Music and clearly also on the car stereos of the parents of young bands – just........

© The Spectator