Dave's Side One

Let's look at the top-selling rock bands of the 1970s and how their influence still echoes today

Over the years, it's turned into this catch-all for popular music, where "rock" is just a loose label. And this year's list? It's exhibit A.

Being a teenager in the 1970s wasn’t always easy. School pressures, figuring out who you were, first heartbreaks, feeling like you didn’t quite fit in. When things got heavy, I’d close my bedroom door, turn off the lights, and put on a record.

They weren't just a band; they were a family phenomenon that put Utah on the musical map.

Thin Lizzy deserved more love in the US—they were huge in Europe, but here they were often openers. That Salt Palace show proved why they were legends.

Terry Kath deserves more recognition—he was a complete musician who elevated rock in the 70s.

Equinox rocked so hard because it had everything: riffs, melodies, theatrics, and heart. It was the sound of a band on the cusp, and listening to it felt like being part of something exciting.

The arena was sold out and packed, the air thick with anticipation (and smoky odors that weren’t cigarettes), and we all thought Boston would own the night.

Nothing in the 1970s felt quite like a summer night cruise with the radio on.

Some disco was brilliant and innovative—it brought funk, soul, and dance together in a way that influenced everything from hip-hop to EDM. Most of the hate was about the hype machine killing variety.