The 1970s created a musical map so broad that no single genre can represent it. Hard-rock giants, progressive bands, singer-songwriters, soul innovators, disco stars, punks, reggae artists and electronic pioneers all shaped the decade.
Rock and heavy music
Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Queen, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest and Van Halen expanded the possibilities of loud guitar music.
Progressive, art and album rock
Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Roxy Music, Supertramp, Rush and Electric Light Orchestra treated the LP as a space for concept, arrangement and studio ambition.
Singer-songwriters and soft rock
Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt brought intimacy, storytelling and personal authorship into mainstream pop.
Soul, funk and disco
Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, Parliament-Funkadelic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Donna Summer, Chic and the Bee Gees transformed Black popular music and dance culture.
Punk, new wave and reggae
Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Patti Smith, Blondie, Talking Heads, The Police, Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff represented new forms of rebellion, rhythm and international influence.
Electronic and global pioneers
Kraftwerk, Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Fela Kuti and Miles Davis helped redefine technology, rhythm and studio space beyond conventional rock and pop boundaries.
Explore artist profiles: Led Zeppelin · Black Sabbath · Deep Purple · Pink Floyd · Queen · David Bowie · Elton John · Fleetwood Mac · Stevie Wonder · Donna Summer · Bee Gees · The Clash · Bob Marley & The Wailers · Kraftwerk · ABBA.