150 Best Rock Songs for Weddings
2020
When you think of fun songs with a good beat, you’re going to think of rock and roll. This is why rock songs are perfect for your wedding reception. A good beat is key to get people on the dance floor.
Rock and Roll was born from a faster-paced rhythm and blues style music in the late 1940s. The guitars produced by Les Paul in the late 1940s and into the early 1950s also helped progress the production of rock’n’roll music production. He also revolutionized recording but that’s another blog post.
Rock and Roll – From the 40’s Onward
The first staged performance of rock and roll did not take place until 1953 featuring Bill Haley & His Comets with The Dominoes. “Rock Around the Clock” became the first rock and roll song to top the pop charts in 1955. Other early producers of rock’n’roll included Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Fats Domino.
Sixties rock and roll were most known for the British invasion with the likes of The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. The 1960s were also filled with surf music, folk, Motown, and heavy metal. The seventies gave way to the popularity of disco. However, the 1970s had the beginning of punk rock, funk, and glitter rock.
The eighties saw new styles of rock and roll including the beginning of hair bands with glam rock, new wave, and hardcore rock and roll. In the nineties, we saw the beginning of a new type of rock and roll grunge with Nirvana at the forefront. Kids of the 1990’s also heard ska, alternative, and many types of synthesized dance music.
What Era Is Classic Rock?
Some of the best songs to play at weddings are what’s considered classic rock — coming from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some of the early 1980s brought new songs that slipped into that category but it’s rare. Think Rolling Stones instead of The Beatles and Heart over the Go-Gos. Classic rock songs are remembered by many from their youth and learned by every generation since. Here is a list of the most popular classic rock songs downloaded on Amazon.
- Thunderstruck – AC/DC
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
- Highway to Hell – AC/DC
- Africa – Toto
- Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
- Back In Black – AC/DC
- You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
- Hells Bells – AC/DC
- Piano Man – Billy Joel
What Are the Best Rock Songs For My Wedding?
Rock songs can be played during the wedding ceremony through the reception. Each song has its own theme so choose wisely and what means the most to you. 150 is a lot of songs. So, take your time browsing and click on the album to listen to the song.
Forgive us as we did our very best to remove all Pop songs from this list. Some are unavoidable. There are still a few alternative rock songs and soft rock songs as well. You will also enjoy many songs of yesteryear and through today.
Best Rock Songs Including Alternative Rock
Rock is a classic part of American culture and people of all ages love it — that backbeat gets everyone on the dance floor.
Rock wedding song list curated by Matthew Campbell
Last Updated: September 30, 2020
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Justin Bieber ain’t rock
Hi Raven. Thanks for the feedback. We will be updating our list soon and will be removing Justin from the list.
Love this list! I have been looking for some genuine songs to fill our wedding playlist. This list was perfect. Thank you so much.
Thank you Jamie.
Great stuff…from toe tapping to hip swiveling, limb flailing and body gyrating dancing music. These tunes cover it all. Thank you ?. Nirvana and the grunge movement signaled the end of rock and roll as we knew it. Ska, alternative and generally tasteless stuff filtered through the rock airwaves turning people off and leading to electronic (computer generated no soul ) dance music. In turn we are now inundated with formulated pop pap from every corner of the media (gag me with a spoon) Thanks again for a terrific list. Long Live Rock!
Thanks David for stopping by and the comment. Rock on!
Great list. As a mobile DJ, I love the variety of lists you put out and they have been a great resource. Thanks. -DC
Thanks DC for the compliment. Keep filling your dance floors!
This list was great. Both me a my fiance are huge old rock fans and we had already picked our unconventional rock first dance song, we just needed others to complete our night. Thanks
Awesome Sarah. Glad you found the songs you need!
Thanks! We are about to do our first job as a wedding band. This list has made our three sets complete! Lets get to work :D
Awesome Harald. Glad you like the list. Good luck in playing music at the wedding. Make it a fairytale!
Thanks. I was planning my wedding and thought about Rock songs that would be played. I chose your website and bang my plan is compete.
Great Samson. Glad you stopped by!
Thank you!! Looking for a song to walk down to my husband to and i found some good ideas!! Love it. We dont want normal we want us. Thank you again for the wonderful ideas.
Great we could help you out Angel!
Most of these aren’t even rock songs; Jason Mraz and Maroon 5? No.
Hi Kayla. Thanks for your opinion. Yes, we did include some pop-rock songs. Do you have any favorite rock songs we could add to the list for replacements?
Always surfing the internet to see what other playlists are put into weddings.
Thanks for putting this website together! I was trying to figure out music for my ceremony and reception, and your suggestions made it SO easy. You’re amazing, thanks again!