Ultimate Classic Rock has published its staff-voted list of the top 25 classic rock songs released in 2025, highlighting a mix of duets, family legacies, and veteran returns. The rankings showcase innovation alongside tradition in the genre.
The list, compiled by Ultimate Classic Rock staff, reflects a year where classic rock continued to evolve while honoring its roots. Key trends include three notable duets—one created in under a month and another developed over a decade—and contributions from sons of rock icons like Nick Simmons and Evan Stanley of Kiss, who ventured into psych-folk with 'Body Down.' Veterans also made marks: Mike Campbell, longtime Tom Petty collaborator, topped the countdown at No. 25 with 'Heart of the Heartland,' a travelogue evoking American landscapes, as he noted, 'The music is very simple, but the lyrics refer to a lot of American landscapes and sentiments.'
Higher entries feature returns and reinventions. Robert Plant claimed the No. 1 spot with 'Chevrolet' from Saving Grace, drawing inspiration from Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy, echoing Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks.' Other standouts include Elton John and Brandi Carlile's 'Who Believes in Angels?' at No. 21, where John, at 76, expressed a desire to avoid coasting: 'I don't want to coast.' Guns N' Roses' 'Atlas' at No. 4 revisited demos from the Chinese Democracy era, with Slash commenting on the abundance of material: 'There's so much material at this point.'
The rankings also spotlight band evolutions, such as Megadeth's 'Tipping Point' introducing new guitarist Teemu Mantysaari and Ghost's 'Satanized' debuting Papa V Perpetua. Envy of None, featuring Alex Lifeson, defied categorization on 'Stygian Waves,' with bassist Andy Curran proud of its symphonic vocals. Overall, the list underscores resilience, as seen in Foo Fighters' 'Asking for a Friend,' where Dave Grohl affirmed their devotion: 'We have been reminded of why we love and are forever devoted to doing this Foo Fighters thing.' This compilation arrives amid broader reflections, including nods to Tom Petty's legacy through tracks by Campbell and Benmont Tench.
