The term classic rock encompasses a wide range of music that extends from rock’s early days in the 1940s, all the way to the 1980s and even the 1990s. This means that it includes everything from folk groups like Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Band to punk legends like Black Flag and grunge revolutionaries like Nirvana. Still, in spite of the musical and aesthetic diversity within the genre, “classic rock” still conjures certain images, sounds, and bands.
But this doesn’t preclude artists from other genres from garnering inspiration. Musicians who play reggae, hip hop, R&B, Latin, and more have been influenced by classic rock, often incorporating the subgenre’s elements into their own work. Other times, artists from disparate genres have covered classic rock in exciting and even surprising ways, proving that genres aren’t so much boxes as they are light guidelines. Ahead, the best, most surprising classic rock covers by artists across the spectrum.
10
The Jolly Boys’ Reggae Cover of ‘The Passenger’ by Iggy Pop
Jamaican band The Jolly Boys are best known for their impact on reggae and ska music, but they identify first and foremost with mento, a style of Jamaican folk music that incorporates both African and European elements. Formed in 1945, The Jolly Boys have since become the stuff of legends, having spent the beginning of their career playing for movie star Errol Flynn, who is said to have given them their name. By the 2000s, they’d long made their way to the United States, where they ended up playing in a residential recording studio to entertain A-list artists such as Amy Winehouse, Drake, and No Doubt.
The Jolly Boys have also become known for their original, often unexpected covers. Winehouse, Lou Reed, and The Rolling Stones are just a few of the acts they paid tribute to in their 2011 album, Great Expectations. On that same project, they performed a reggae/mento cover of Iggy Pop’s The Passenger, breathing new life into the song that helped shape punk rock. Unlike Pop’s version, The Jolly Boys’ cover is light and airy, augmenting the former’s bare-bones guitar-and-drum instrumentals with a full band complete with maracas, a banjo, and a thumb piano. The Jolly Boys also draw out their vocals, in contrast with Pop’s curt delivery, and they expand the song with low, playful backup vocals.
9
Sheryl Crow’s Cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘D’yer Maker’
Led Zeppelin is a notoriously difficult band to cover. Most artists go wrong by trying to imitate Robert Plant’s distinctive voice—a near-impossible task, considering the lead singer’s ability to combine gritty edge with falsetto belts. Therefore, it doesn’t at first seem like Sheryl Crow’s soft alto would be a good fit for a Zeppelin cover.
Crow thrives in her rendition of “D’yer Maker,” however, precisely because she leans into her own style rather than trying to be Plant. Even the acoustic arrangement of her cover suits her country-infused style. The result is a playful yet soulful performance in which the singer stays true to herself while still doing justice to the Led Zeppelin original.
8
Sinead O’Connor’s Cover of ‘All Apologies’
Sinéad O’Connor was no stranger to covers, finding runaway success with her 1990 version of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Four years later, she garnered attention yet again with her emotional cover of Nirvana’s “All Apologies.” The release came just a few months after Kurt Cobain’s tragic death.
At first, O’Connor might seem like an unlikely candidate to cover a Nirvana song. Her lilting voice is remarkably different from Cobain’s, high and soft where his is low and raspy. O’Connor makes the song her own, however, reducing it to slow, mournful, stripped-down instrumentals that pay tribute to her fallen friend.
7
Miley Cyrus’ Cover of ‘Heart of Glass’
Miley Cyrus is another artist who’s made waves with her covers of beloved songs across all genres. Her cover of “Jolene” by her honorary godmother, Dolly Parton, is one of her most famous, along with her renditions of Britney Spears’ “Gimme More” and Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Delivered both onstage and in her “Backyard Sessions,” these covers are consistently unique, dynamic reinventions.
Cyrus’ most original cover just might be her version of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.” Performed at the iHeart Festival in 2020, it’s a complete rework of the original, replacing Debbie Harry’s high-pitched vocals with Cyrus’ gravelly yet crystal clear delivery. Cyrus also finds opportunities to show off her famous belt, prompting Harry to praise her for making the song “uniquely hers.”
6
Post Malone’s Grammy Performance of ‘War Pigs’ by Black Sabbath
It should come as no surprise that Post Malone loves classic rock. Before his hip hop career or his recent foray into country music, he raved about Guitar Hero’s influence on his art and sang The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” during the B-roll of an interview. Furthermore, the “White Iverson” singer’s raspy voice lends itself well to rock, as he demonstrated during the 2026 Grammy Awards when he covered Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” alongside Guns N’ Roses’ Slash and Duff McKagan, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, and singer-songwrtier Andrew Wyatt.
The performance came as part of a tribute to the artists that the music industry lost in the last year. “War Pigs,” in particular, acknowledged the power and influence of the late Ozzy Osbourne, who died on July 22, 2025. Post Malone’s gritty, showstopping performance certainly made an impact: Osbourne’s widow, Sharon Osbourne, personally thanked Post Malone for doing her husband justice, later tweeting that he was “pure magic,” gushing, “Ozzy was definitely in the building.”
5
Vic Mensa’s Tribute to The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’
Born Victor Kwesi Mensah, Vic Mensa has made a name for himself as a lyrically-driven, politically active rapper. He’s known for hip hop hits like “U Mad” and “Down on My Luck” and for collaborations with artists like Jay-Z and Pharell Williams, but he’s also demonstrated his diverse taste in music again and again. He has covered Radiohead’s “Karma Police,” for instance, and in 2019 he founded the band 93Punx, which has collaborated with the likes of Good Charlotte and Blink-182’s Travis Barker.
But Vic Mensa’s most impressive—and unexpected—cover yet is 93Punx’s version of The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” which the group released on the one-year anniversary of Dolores O’Riordan’s death. The moody, haunting cover shows off Mensa’s impressive vocal range and slows down the song’s melody in order to drive home the lyrics’ dark meaning. In that vein, Mensa also pays tribute to the context in which The Cranberries’ wrote the popular single, juxtaposing the original music video’s footage of The Troubles in Northern Ireland with contemporary footage of police violence.
4
Tito Puente’s Caribbean Tribute to “Come Together” by the Beatles
The Beatles have been covered countless times by countless artists, but one of the most successful tribute albums to the band was made by artists outside the rock genre. Tropical Tribute to the Beatles was released in 1996 by RMM Records, who brought together a number of popular Latin musicians such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and Johnny Rivera. The artists also performed the album in concert, releasing the recording later on DVD. In response to the album’s success—it boasts five Billboard chartings—the musicians also went on tour in Spain.
Among Tropical Tribute to the Beatles’ tracks is Tito Puente’s salsa arrangement of “Come Together,” from The Beatles’ Abbey Road album. In addition to being a unique, electric version of the blues hit, this cover flawlessly maintains the rhythmic ebbs and flows of the original. It also features the voices of several other musicians from the cover album, including Celia Cruz, Tony Vega, Cheo Feliciano, and more.
Shakira’s accomplishments in the realm of rock music are criminally underrated. In her early albums, she released a number of rock—infused songs such as “Te Aviso, Te Anuncio” and “Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos,” showing off her versatile voice and impressive guitar chops. But while the Colombian superstar is better known for her pop and world music hits these days, she still nods to her love for rock in her features, hooks, and covers.
Indeed, Shakira has covered the likes of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Green Day, and Radiohead, to name just a few. But her most iconic classic rock tribute is undoubtedly her version of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters,” which she blended with “Despedida,” her 2007 single with Antonio Pinto. This version of the hard rock hit pays tribute to the legendary guitar intro and soaring vocals of the original, but with a unique twist that incorporates Shakira’s Colombian and Lebanese roots.
2
Kesha’s Soulful Cover of ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right’ by Bob Dylan
In early 2010s, Kesha Rose Sebert, better known as Kesha (or, until 2014, Ke$ha), was best known for catchy, radio-ready pop hits like “Tik Tok,” “Your Love Is My Drug,” and “Die Young.” Her first album, Animal, was dismissed by some as hollow and vapid—a misogyny-laden criticism that artists like Britney Spears have also faced. However, her sophomore 2012 album, Warrior, received far more favorable reviews, particularly in like of its punk, rock, blues, and country influences.
It was in this context that Kesha contributed to the 2012 Bob Dylan tribute album Chimes of Freedom. Along with artists like Elvis Costello, Adele, Patti Smith, and Sting, Kesha sang a Dylan cover that spoke to her, ultimately settling on “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” from the folk icon’s 1963 The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Kesha’s performance was startlingly emotional, filled with audible sadness in what seemed to be an empty, echoing room with minimal instrumentals. Rolling Stone Australia wrote, “Kesha doesn’t so much perform this breakup song as she does endure it,” while the artist herself explained that the song was “like a suicide note to the love of [her] life and to [her] former life.” The result is melancholy and haunting, especially in light of the abuse we now know she experienced.
1
Tina Turner’s Reinterpretation of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’
As the undisputed Queen of Rock, Tina Turner is a legend herself. She’s also no stranger to covering her fellow rock musicians, having performed a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” that many feel outshines the original. Still, her 1985 cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” comes as a surprise to many, given the two artists’ differing vocal styles.
Turner covered “Dancing in the Dark” during a concert in Tokyo, pairing it with the explosive instrumental and vocal backing that came to define her style. Furthermore, her singular voice and infectious enthusiasm honored Springsteen’s energetic lyrics. As she danced across the stage and belted this ‘80s hit in her powerful mezzo-soprano, Turner certainly gave new meaning to the restless chorus of “You can’t start a fire/ You can’t start a fire without a spark.”