Awesome Rock

The rock group Heart is known for its memorable melodies, awe-inspiring vocals, and killer guitar riffs. While Luna Lee’s gayageum version of Crazy on You has us missing Ann Wilson’s powerful lead vocals, it’s still a fantastic cover version.

Percussionist Dennis Chambers has performed with acts including Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, George Duke, and CAB. Drumeo challenged the legendary jazz-funk musician to listen to Tool’s Schism for the first time ever, after which he improvised a killer new drum track.

The Stylophone is a very basic analog electronic instrument that uses a conductive pen and a metal circuit board of “keys” as its input device. But with the help of a Digitech Whammy effects pedal and some quick pen play, maromaro1337 jammed out some iconic rock riffs on the monophonic keyboard. More here.

“It’s been a long time since I made a new friend… waiting on another black summer to end.” The Red Hot Chili Peppers just dropped their first new song in six years. The intro track off their album Unlimited Love also marks the return of producer Rick Rubin and guitarist John Frusciante. The album drops 4.1.22.

The members of Epic Symphonic Rock provide their orchestral take on three rock classics by Deep Purple: Smoke on the Water, Burn, and Highway Star, a song that brings back memories of getting our asses handed to us playing Rock Band on Expert difficulty.

During a halftime break, the Ohio State University Marching Band paid tribute to the legendary Canadian rock band Rush. The Buckeyes band added 20 extra toms and cymbals to their rhythm section for added oomph on tracks including Tom Sawyer, Limelight, YYZ, and Fly by Night. (Thanks Dave!)

Borrowing a page from Anthony Vincent, fellow musician Steve Welsh performs each of the songs from Nirvana’s Nevermind in the style of a different band or artist. The Green Day version of Lithium is our favorite, and we suggest listening to the full version of Weezer’s Come As You Are.

The sounds that Jimi Hendrix made with his electric guitar were unreal. Using a modified Hohner Clavinet D6 keyboard with a whammy bar, Aussie musician Lachy Doley rocked the house with a powerfully expressive performance of Voodoo Child. Doley and his band killed it with their cover of Steve Winwood’s I’m a Man too.

Most rock and metal songs get their edge with the help of an electric guitar. But what would Nirvana, Metallica, and Slipknot sound like if they could only play with acoustic guitars? Musician Jared Dines is here to show us just that.

“There’s evil in the air and there’s thunder in the sky, and a killer’s on the bloodshot streets.” These are not exactly the lyrics that you’d think would pair with a guy wearing a bowtie, a vest, and a flat cap, but Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq brings his own flair to a Meat Loaf classic with a cover performed on his banjo/ukulele hybrid.

During their appearance at VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World, Foo Fighters performed a version of the rock classic Back in Black. To help celebrate their first concert in front of an audience in over a year, they invited AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson to perform lead vocals. (Thanks Harriet!)

Bon Jovi’s hit song Livin’ on a Prayer gets a fantastic cover version from musicians Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser of 2CELLOS, accompanied by Dusan Kranjc on the drums. We always love the rock and roll energy these guys bring to the stage, despite their classical cello training.

Michalina Malisz has made a name for herself by performing rock and metal songs on a hurdy-gurdy. In this video, she performs a medley of riffs Muse tracks, including Pressure, Supermassive Black Hole, and Hysteria, which sounds super cool on the instrument. Need more? How about some Rammstein or Black Sabbath?

Musician Clint Robinson puts on his best red cardigan and comfiest sneakers to rock out a death metal version of Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, the theme song from the classic kid’s program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. We’re pretty sure Clint has scared all the children off of his block.

The Cybertronic Spree is a cover band who performs as stylized versions of the Transformers. Beyond their impressive cosplay, they’re also talented musicians, as they demonstrate with this powerful cover version of Heart’s classic Barracuda. If you missed it before, check out their cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song.

Back in 2005, UK series From the Basement featured an intimate mini-concert from Jack and Meg White. For the first time, the entire performance is available for viewing online and includes never-before-seen footage from the session. The six-song concert includes Blue Orchid, As Ugly As I Seem, Little Ghost, and Red Rain.

Marcin Patrzalek is one of the most talented guitarists we’ve ever heard. Listen to his amazing fingerstyle arrangement of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir performed in an unlikely place – inside a parking garage. Be sure to check out his YouTube and TikTok channels for more incredible music, like his cover of Still D.R.E.

The talented musicians of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain jam out on another classic rock track. This time they took on the 1983 ZZ Top tune Gimmme All Your Lovin’, minus the ridiculously long beards, hot rods, and sexy models.

I’ve got the power to hypnotize… Make a play, mesmerize. AC/DC reminds us that old guys can rock too with this single from their 17th studio album Power Up. Vocalist Brian Johnson can still scream with the best of them, and guitarist Angus Young’s schoolboy moves as solid as ever. Turn the volume up to 11 and bang your head!

Two Minutes to Late Night’s Mutoid Man managed to gather members of Coheed and Cambria, Mastodon, Primus, and Tool to record a totally badass work from home cover of the 1975 RUSH track Anthem, layered thick with guitar distortion, power bass, and impassioned vocals that would make Geddy Lee proud.

Peaches come in a can. They were put there by a man, in a factory downtown. Leo Moracchioli dusts of the 1995 Presidents of the U.S.A. hit Peaches, replacing the twangy alt-pop sounds of the original with angry electric guitar, and energetic screams about nature’s candy and some not-so-thinly-veiled sexual innuendo.

The Wurlitzer 200A electric piano has been featured in some of the most memorable songs of all time. Keyboard expert Doctor Mix walks us through a few of the best, from The Beatles Get Back to Beck’s Where It’s At to Supertramp’s The Logical Song.

Musicians Luna Lee and Han Oh teamed up to record an excellent cover version of the Stealers Wheel classic Stuck in the Middle, melding traditional asian sounds with ’70s folk rock. Of course, we can never hear this song without thinking of Reservoir Dogs.