Classical music quotes from rock musicians
You don't have to play a classical instrument to appreciate a great tune. Join us as we explore the best responses to the great composers and their music, from the geniuses of the rock world.
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1. Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury: We break a lot of rules. It's unheard of to combine opera with a rock theme, my dear.
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2. Matt Bellamy
Matt Bellamy: Rachmaninov has some kind of weird dark edge to his music which I don't think I've heard with any other kind of music before.
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3. Megadeth
Dave Mustaine, Megadeth: Classical music is pretty daunting - it made me a better player.
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4. Jonny Greenwood
Jonny Greenwood: Composers are influenced by all the important music in their lives – and I suppose that since radio started playing popular music, that's as likely to be The Beatles or Aphex Twin as it is to be Verdi or Ravel.
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5. Slash
Slash: I love classical music. It has left a major mark on my playing.
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6. Yngwie Malmsteen
Yngwie Malmsteen: I've always been heavily influenced by classical music, mostly by baroque music.
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7. Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page: I'm pretty optimistic about the future of rock... it will be back to composition as in classical music or jazz.
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8. Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa: Classical music is this music that was written by a bunch of dead people a long time ago.
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9. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix: I dig Strauss and Wagner. Those cats are good.
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10. Van Halen
Eddie van Halen: I took classical piano lessons from the age of five.