It’s really difficult to define what an immensely successful rockstar really is. Perhaps, it’s simply the fact that they’re some truly talented individuals with some exceptional qualities. Narrowing down an exhaustive list of rockstars to a few renowned ones is never an easy task.
It always ends up offending a certain number of individuals whose favorite rockstars don’t feature in the list. Nevertheless, here are some of the greatest rockstars of all time who garnered a huge number of fans worldwide:
1. Elvis Presley
Now, this is quite obvious. Such was his inexplicable force that many of his fans think he was otherworldly. His unique charm and confidence made him who he was. One of the greatest American singers and actors, he is regarded as the ‘King of Rock and Roll’. His provocative style of performance had a mix of various influences.
The King’s musical career began in Tennessee during the mid-20th century with a recording at Sun Records. His Heartbreak Hotel became a number-one hit in the US after it was released in January 1956. Later, with a series of chart-topping hits, he became a leading figure of rock ‘n’ roll.
2. Jimi Hendrix
He is one of the greatest instrumentalist in rock music history. This description of him has been given in the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’. His mainstream career was only of four years, yet he is one of the 20th century’s most celebrated musicians.
If it was not for his alcohol and drug addiction, he would have done a lot more in music. He had received many music awards during his lifetime and even after his death. He died at a young age of 27. The cause of his death was revealed as an overdose of a prescribed sleeping tablet.
3. Paul McCartney
Fans of rock music would never forget Paul Mc Cartney. Also known as ‘Sir James Paul McCartney’, he was a self-taught musician. Yet, he gained worldwide fame as the bassist and one of the lead vocalists of ‘The Beatles’. Among his most famous songs as a member of The Beatles are And I Love Her and Yesterday.
After the disbanding of this widely popular group, he pursued a successful solo career. He is considered as one of the most successful performers and composers of all time. He received knighthood for his services to music in 1997. With an estimated fortune of 800 million pounds, he also became one of the world’s wealthiest musicians.
4. David Bowie
During his lifetime, the worldwide sales of David Bowie’s records were estimated at more than 100 million. This placed him among the best-selling music artists of all time. Born David Robert Jones, he developed a keen interest in music as a child. Before starting his career as a musician in 1963, he had studied music, art, and design.
He was awarded 10 platinum album certifications in the United Kingdom. In the United States, he received 5 platinum and 9 gold certifications. He was acclaimed both by musicians and critics largely for the innovative work that he did in the 1970s. After his death in 2016, he was named the greatest rock star ever.