It all started with the Beatles and Ray Charles, then it grew to include Led Zeppelin and Dr. John. Then, once I started driving, the classic rock station was always on in my car and the rest is history. Literally. I’m not up to date on all the new music and chart- toppers, I never have been and I doubt I ever will be. But I can name all the members of several classic rock bands and many other fun facts. I did take Rock n’ Roll History twice, after all.

Growing up loving this music comes with its own fun set of struggles. You freak out when you’re in a friend’s car and they skip right over one of your favorite songs as they’re scanning through the radio stations. There are plenty of moments to make inside jokes with all the songs you know but nobody you’re around will get the jokes so you just keep them to yourself. One advantage is that you learn to let your freak flag fly very early on. Haters gonna hate, right? Well, music junkies are going to do their thing, too, regardless of the haters and the bullsh*t we have to put up with sometimes.

1. Making a song reference around your friends

Usually, you’ll have a few friends who will get your references. Then you’ll have those that will look at you with a confused face, smile, nod, and act like they know what you’re talking about. You either make the choice to explain it or just let it go. There are many times I think about making a reference, but don’t because I know nobody will get it.

2. Quoting song lyrics that nobody recognizes

I tend to do this on a regular basis or think about doing it but decide not to. What’s the point of wasting your breath if nobody is going to get it? When I decide to seize the moment, people stare at me like I just spoke Mandarin. Then the explanation begins and everybody is speaking the same language again. If I’m around the right person or group of people, making these kinds of references is always a lot more fun because people take it and run with it.

3. Hearing a cover of one of your favorite songs

There have been times my friends come around with this “new” song they’re all excited about, so they play it. I’ll hear it, recognize the song and ask my friends, “Do you know who first wrote this?” Then I get to explain the origins of the song while holding back the tiniest bit of frustration that they don't already know. The other side of hearing a cover is knowing the original so well you keep expecting to hear that awesome solo in the middle or that one great note but it’s been replaced by whatever the interpreter has deemed more appropriate.

4. Seeing lineups for festivals

When half the bands you’re crazy about seeing have either disbanded or don’t tour anymore, finding the lineups for the thousands of festivals that happen these days is much less exciting. I do listen to some newer music but not enough to want to spend that kind of money on a pass for a festival where I’d likely only want to see one or two bands. I’d much rather save my money and buy a ticket for an individual concert or save up for a ticket to Jazz Fest where there are bands from every genre and just about every decade.

5. Bands with different touring members

Bands like Journey, The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, Guns n Roses, and several others are still out there going strong. But for a variety of reasons, usually death, there is a non-original member in the group. While being able to still go see that band is exciting, it would be much more exciting if it had all of its original members. For instance, Journey’s lead singer, Steve Perry, is still alive and kicking. But he no longer sings with the band, someone else does. I’d love to see Journey live but the idea of not seeing Steve Perry up there on stage with them detracts from the value that experience would have. Similarly, you can’t have a Led Zeppelin reunion without John Bonham; that’s just not how it works. So, I’ll just patiently wait for the day Journey reunites or John Bonham rises from the depths to play one last concert.

6. Never knowing if your favorite band’s next tour will be their last

When bands like Guns n Roses, Def Leppard, or whoever announce a new show date or tour, you instantly want to jump on the opportunity to buy a ticket since you never know when they may drop dead. Not everybody can be invincible like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards who are still touring at nearly full force in their seventies. Props to those guys.

7. Being all your friends’ parents favorite

You get major brownie points for knowing all their favorite songs and bands and then some for being able to talk to them about the history behind it all. If you’re lucky, they may have gotten to see one or two of those bands in their glory days. Your friend will be sitting there playing on their phone while you’re having a bonding moment with their parents.

8. Never knowing any of the songs your friends know

“How do you not know this song?!"

“The same way you don’t know who Eric Clapton is.”

You’re at a party or a club and the only thing the DJ or whoever is playing is soul-less, current pop/ rap/ or whatever they call it. All your friends freak out when their favorite song comes on and you stand there looking around, unfazed by this development and try to figure out how you’re supposed to dance to it. Meanwhile, your friends still can’t believe you’ve never heard this song, but they love you so they accept your weirdness, awkward dancing and all.

9. Feeling like you were born in the wrong decade

Story of my life, my friends. All your favorite bands were alive and well and still creating new stuff and everybody around your age was into it. Just imagine all the concerts you could have gone to. Woodstock happened, so did the British Invasion, and most importantly Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and everybody else. How could you not have wanted to stand in the mud and listen to Hendrix slay the “Star Spangled Banner?” That. Had. To. Be. Epic. But thank goodness for recording technology. Without it, all this wonderful stuff would be nonexistent.

10. Taste in music is a crucial dating criteria

If the person you’re interested in doesn’t share you love for all music of times long past, it’s usually a deal-breaker. It’s just too difficult to bond over different tastes in music, especially when one party is less than open minded about it or just dismisses it by saying, “Oh this is cool. I think my mom loved this band back in the day.” The worst is when they dare ask, “Why do you even like this stuff?” They’ll get a blank stare in return and the response, “I could ask you the same thing.”

11. Being the youngest person at any classic rock concert

I was lucky enough and had the chance to see Robert Plant live here in Jackson back in March and I did feel a little strange being one of the youngest people in an auditorium packed full of music lovers. The concert was great! As strange as it was being in a crowd full of so many older people, it was awesome. It just goes to show that music can transcend time and that it will always move people, old and young.

12. Seeing someone your age in a shirt with your favorite band on it

Every time this happens to me, I wonder if the person sporting said shirt with the gnarly graphics can appreciate the awesomeness of the shirt they’re in. This new hipster phase has only exaggerated the effects of it, too. Before then, when we had Classic Rock themed pep rallies in high school, nearly the entire school showed up in T-shirts like that. I always got a little miffed, wondering how many of them actually knew the band on their shirt. How can you wear a shirt representing an awesome band and not know who they are?

13. Rocking the house with you classic rock knowledge

If there’s a classic rock question on trivia night or if you’re playing “Name that song,” you’ll probably blow your friends’ minds. But then they can slap you in the face with more pop culture knowledge and current hit songs. You give some and you take some. But everybody brings their own ability to the table.

14. Feeling kind of iffy about new releases

This may just be me but I’m always hesitant to listen to one of my favorite band’s newer albums. It just doesn’t feel right to me. However, it’s awesome that bands like Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Red Hot Chile Peppers, and whoever else are still releasing new material. I just can’t promise I’ll jump on the opportunity to listen to newer stuff. I’d much rather appreciate their classic hits and delve into that part of their careers.

15. Finding someone with the same taste in music

It’s like getting a gift, one of the best ones of all, plus an instant friendship. You can talk to them and joke with them about things you can’t with other people. The two of you can be weird together and introduce each other to people with similar interests and fall into a mutual weirdness.

16. Being permanently classified as a weirdo

“So, you’re one of those people.”

“Yep! Proud of it, too.”

Normal is boring; weird is better, even if it means being thrown into the stereotypical category of stoners and hippies. And yes, I have been asked if I was a stoner a couple of times by people who know little more about me aside from my taste in music. (I’m not, just for the record.) I like what I like and so do all the other music junkies out there. Judge us, call us what you like but you won’t get it till you’re on our level. Step to it!