Hey Zoinkers and Shagheads, it’s Curtis back with another blast from the past. Lately I’ve been hooked on a new rock rebel named YUNGBLUD — the singer’s got the swagger, the attitude, and that raw 70s rock star DNA. It got me thinking about the legends who set the stage, the ones who defined what “rock star” even means. So Todd and I threw down our own list of the top 20 rock icons of the 70s on the 70’s Buzz Podcast — and then I decided to double down and drop the full list here on Zoinkies. This time I brought in Christopher Todd Davis to riff with me about what makes a rock star — and yeah, we went off into the 80s too.
So what’s the formula? Well, it’s more than just the classic trifecta of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. A true rock star delivers every time, no matter the stage. They’re bold, confident, rebellious when it counts, and they’ve got a magnetic presence that makes you stop and stare. They break boundaries, they innovate, and most importantly — they inspire. That’s the rock star spirit, and these 20 legends from the 70s had it turned up to 11.
Elvis Presley
By the 70s, Elvis was the King holding court in rhinestones. His Las Vegas residency made him larger than life, bringing rock ’n’ roll into the glittering age of spectacle. Even in his final years, his charisma, voice, and hip-shaking swagger reminded everyone who invented the rock star blueprint.
Peter Frampton
With his golden curls and a talk box in hand, Frampton became the poster boy of arena rock. Frampton Comes Alive! turned him into an overnight megastar, blasting from every turntable in the mid-70s. He made teenage bedrooms and stadiums alike feel like front row at the biggest show on Earth.
Paul Stanley
The “Starchild” of KISS painted his face and strutted the stage like a peacock on fire. Paul Stanley’s mix of glam, grit, and soaring vocals made KISS concerts feel like rock ’n’ roll carnivals. He wasn’t just singing songs—he was leading a revolution of lights, pyrotechnics, and teenage rebellion.
Gene Simmons
The “Demon” with a fire-breathing tongue, Simmons turned shock rock into big business. With his towering boots and blood-spitting theatrics, he made parents shudder and kids cheer louder. More than just a bassist, Gene Simmons created an empire, proving rock stars could be brands long before it was cool.
Eddie Van Halen
When Eddie tapped those guitar strings, the whole world stopped to listen. His lightning-fast solos on Eruption redefined the instrument and inspired a generation of shredders. In the 70s, Van Halen weren’t just a band—they were a California earthquake, with Eddie’s guitar as the epicenter.
David Lee Roth
Diamond Dave was the ultimate frontman—loud, wild, and impossible to ignore. With his karate kicks, spandex, and cocky grin, Roth made every Van Halen show feel like a circus on fire. He turned swagger into an art form and left no doubt he was born to be a rock star.
Freddie Mercury
Mercury was a one-man explosion of talent and theater. With Queen, he pushed rock into operatic heights with anthems like Bohemian Rhapsody and We Will Rock You. He strutted the stage like he owned it—because he did—and left a legacy of pure, unapologetic spectacle.
Robert Plant
Plant was the golden god of Led Zeppelin, wailing with a voice that sounded straight out of Valhalla. His lion’s mane hair and mystical lyrics made him a sex symbol and a shaman rolled into one. From Whole Lotta Love to Stairway to Heaven, he set the bar for rock singers everywhere.
Mick Jagger
Nobody worked a stage like Mick Jagger. With his lips, strut, and boundless energy, he made The Rolling Stones the world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band. Jagger wasn’t just singing songs—he was embodying rebellion, lust, and pure 70s cool every time he hit the spotlight.
Steven Tyler
The “Demon of Screamin’” turned Aerosmith into America’s answer to the Stones. With scarves on the mic stand and a voice that could shred glass, Tyler was equal parts bluesman and glam rocker. In the 70s, he lived fast, sang hard, and made every song sound dangerous.
Roger Daltrey
The frontman of The Who brought raw power to the stage, literally spinning his microphone like a weapon. His leather-clad image and booming voice turned songs like Won’t Get Fooled Again into battle cries. Daltrey was proof that rock could be both soulful and ferocious.
David Bowie
Bowie didn’t just change music—he changed identity itself. As Ziggy Stardust, he turned rock into science fiction, bending gender, fashion, and sound all at once. In the 70s, Bowie was a living art piece, constantly reinventing himself while daring fans to dream bigger.
Elton John
Elton was a piano-playing rocket man in platform shoes and sequined jumpsuits. His flamboyant style and endless stream of hits made him one of the decade’s most recognizable stars. Whether behind the keys or on top of them, Elton turned pop into pure rock spectacle.
Stevie Nicks
The mystical heart of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks brought witchy poetry and smoky vocals to rock. With her shawls, tambourine, and haunting stage presence, she made songs like Rhiannon and Dreams timeless. In the 70s, she wasn’t just a singer—she was an icon of magic and mystery.
Jimmy Page
The guitar wizard of Led Zeppelin, Page conjured riffs that shook arenas to their foundations. From Whole Lotta Love to Kashmir, his playing was heavy, hypnotic, and unforgettable. In the 70s, he wasn’t just a guitarist—he was the architect of hard rock itself.
Ozzy Osbourne
The Prince of Darkness rose from the steel mills of Birmingham to front Black Sabbath. His eerie voice and onstage antics made him the godfather of heavy metal. By the late 70s, Ozzy had etched his name in history as the man who turned doom into anthems.
Alice Cooper
The master of shock rock, Alice Cooper turned concerts into horror shows complete with guillotines and fake blood. His sneer, eyeliner, and theatrical antics terrified parents but thrilled teenagers. He proved rock wasn’t just music—it was performance art with a bite.
Keith Richards
The ultimate survivor, Richards lived the rock ’n’ roll life to the extreme and somehow kept going. His riffs powered The Rolling Stones, and his outlaw image made him a symbol of rock excess. In the 70s, Keith was proof that sometimes the most dangerous players make the sweetest noise.
Meat Loaf
With his booming voice and theatrical flair, Meat Loaf made Bat Out of Hell one of the decade’s defining albums. He wasn’t your typical rock star—he was larger than life in every way, mixing operatic drama with motorcycle grit. Meat Loaf showed that rock could be both epic and heartfelt. He’s not on my list of typical rock stars but he is one.
Rick Nielsen
Another non-typical rock star but one that had an influence on me. Cheap Trick’s guitar-slinging wild man brought humor and power-pop riffs to the rock scene. With his checkerboard guitars and mischievous grin, Nielsen made rock both fun and furious. He wasn’t just playing chords—he was setting off fireworks with every strum.
So there you have it — twenty legends who turned the 1970s into the loudest, wildest, most unforgettable decade in rock history. These weren’t just musicians; they were larger-than-life characters who set arenas on fire, rewrote the rules, and carved their names into the bedrock of pop culture. Listen to the 70’s Buzz Podcast below for more.
The 80s were filled with excess and the big hair bands. Most of those guys were rock stars as well. They took everything to a higher level and many burned out. I think Slash and Axl from Guns N’ Roses were two of the best in that era. Listen to the Zoinkies! Podcast below for more.
And here’s the cool part: the rock star spirit didn’t die with bell-bottoms and vinyl. Every once in a while, somebody new comes along with that same electricity in their veins. That’s why I’ve been digging YUNGBLUD — he’s got the swagger, the danger, and the anything-can-happen vibe that made the 70s so explosive. He might not be strutting in platform boots or guzzling Jack backstage, but he’s channeling that same reckless energy and rewriting the playbook for a new generation.
Rock stars never really go away — they just evolve. The 70s gave us the blueprint, and artists like YUNGBLUD prove the legend still lives on.
70’S BUZZ PODCAST
ZOINKIES! PODCAST
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