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.

1. 

   1. Freddie Mercury

   Freddie Mercury: We break a lot of rules. It's unheard of to combine opera with a rock theme, my dear.

2. 

   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.

3. 

   3. Megadeth

   Dave Mustaine, Megadeth: Classical music is pretty daunting - it made me a better player.

4. 

   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.

5. 

   5. Slash

   Slash: I love classical music. It has left a major mark on my playing.

7. 

   6. Yngwie Malmsteen

   Yngwie Malmsteen: I've always been heavily influenced by classical music, mostly by baroque music.

8. 

   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.

9. 

   8. Frank Zappa

   Frank Zappa: Classical music is this music that was written by a bunch of dead people a long time ago.

10. 

    9. Jimi Hendrix

    Jimi Hendrix: I dig Strauss and Wagner. Those cats are good.

11. 

    10. Van Halen

    Eddie van Halen: I took classical piano lessons from the age of five.

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