Steven Tyler – Then
Steven Tyler is one of the most recognizable names (and faces) in rock ‘n roll, and the Boston-based singer is best-known for his 50+ year stint as frontman of Aerosmith, with whom he released 6 studio albums in the 1970s alone.
Steven Tyler – Now
Aerosmith are still going to this day, with Tyler retaining his role as lead singer. The band has released 15 studio albums, 6 live albums, 16 compilation albums, and has sold more than 150 million records worldwide. Tyler is one of the most iconic musicians of all time, and one of the biggest names of the 70s.
Robert Plant – Then
There is no question that Led Zepplin were one of the best-selling and most influential bands of the 70s. Plant rose to fame as their lead singer and lyricist, and his flamboyant stage persona and raw performances led to him being dubbed one of the greatest singers in rock music.
Robert Plant – Now
Zepplin split in 1980, leaving a monumental musical legacy behind, and their records still continue to chart to this day. Plant went on to enjoy a successful solo career, and has released 11 solo albums and 42 singles in that time, including the multi-platinum selling Now and Zen.
Debbie Harry – Then
Considered one of the most iconic musicians (and biggest sex symbols) of the 1970s, Harry rose to prominence as lead singer of Blondie. It was here that her recognizable vocals and glamorous presence catapulted the group to stardom and success with hits including Heart of Glass.
Debbie Harry – Now
After splitting in 1982, Blondie reformed in 1997, and have released 5 records since that time, the most recent being 2017’s Pollinator. They even performed at Glastonbury 2023! Additionally, she has released a handful of solo albums, and developed a successful career as an actress as well starring in films like Hairspray (1988).
Dolly Parton – Then
Perhaps the most iconic and recognizable name in the world of country music, Parton made her debut in 1967 with Hello I’m Dolly. The peak of her commercial success would come in the 70s when she released 26 albums, both solo and in collaboration with Porter Wagoner.
Dolly Parton – Now
Parton continues to perform and record music, and has released three albums since 2020. But off stage she is also recognized for her philanthropy and charity work, as well as her theme park known as Dollywood. Her impact continues to be felt globally – what an icon!
Steve Perry – Then
Perry is perhaps best-known as the former lead singer of rock band Journey, who he fronted during their most commercially successful peak. He also wrote a number of the band’s hit songs, and was acclaimed for his powerful and wide ranging vocals. Plus, check out that hair!
Steve Perry – Now
The band split in 1987, before reforming in 1995. Perry fronted them once again, right up until his departure in 1998. Form the mid-80s to the mid-90s he also enjoyed a successful solo career, before taking time out from music. He returned in 2018 with the solo album Traces, which was a success in the US.
Meat Loaf – Then
Meat Loaf exploded onto the scene with his debut album, 1977’s Bat Out of Hell, which combined shredding guitar riffs with epic, sweeping pianos and operatic vocals. The record sold more than 43 million copies worldwide, and is one of the best-selling rock albums ever made.
Meat Loaf – Now
Following the success of Bat Out of Hell, the crooner released two follow-ups, Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell in 1993, and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose in 2016. Both were successful, and he was one of the best-selling artists ever! He sadly passed away in 2022.
Joni Mitchell – Then
Considered one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived, Mitchell developed a name as a raw and emotional folk singer, whose introspective lyrics, and hard-hitting songs made her a global star, and earned her no less than 10 Grammy Awards.
Joni Mitchell – Now
After taking a hiatus, and developing a career as a painter, Mitchell gave up touring, and health problems in 2015 led to a quiet recovery period. In 2022, she pulled her music from Spotify, protesting their platforming of controversial figures. The same year, she unexpectedly performed at Newport Folk Festival, but it’s unclear if she plans to release more music.
James Taylor – Then
With 8 albums released in the 70s, Taylor became a superstar of the decade, particularly with his 1976 Greatest Hits album, which sold more than 12 million copies in the US alone. He won 6 Grammy Awards for his music, and became known as one of the most influential songwriters ever.
James Taylor – Now
Taylor continues to record and perform, with his most recent studio album being 2020’s American Standard. Every album he released between 1977 and 2007 sold at least 1 million copies, and he has sold more than 100 million globally, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. What a career!
Carly Simon – Then
One of the leading artists of the 70s, Simon was actually marries to James Taylor from 1972-83. She rose to prominence with a string of hit singles, as well as the theme song Nobody Does it Better, for the 1977 James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me.
Carly Simon – Now
Simon has released 14 studio albums since 1980, as well as making sporadic appearances on film and television. Considered one of the great confessional songwriters, she has won two Grammy Awards, and she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Linda Ronstadt – Then
Country music superstar Ronstadt was well-known for her diverse sound, experimental records, and one of the best-selling country music artists of the decade. She released 8 studio albums in the 1970s, and has earned 11 Grammys, 3 American Music Awards, and 2 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Linda Ronstadt – Now
Ronstadt continued to be active post-70s, with her solo success and collaborative efforts selling more than 100 million records worldwide. Post-2000, she believed her singing voice began to deteriorate, and she eventually announced her retirement from music in 2011 after finding herself no longer able to sing as a result of a degenerative disease.
Pete Townshend – Then
Townshend rose to public prominence as the guitarist and principal songwriter of British rock band The Who. He earned praise for his innovative songwriting and aggressive guitar work, and wrote more than 100 different songs for the band across 12 albums.
Pete Townshend – Now
Townshend recorded 2 albums with the band in the 1980s, before the group split (for the first time) in 1982, and had a successful solo career for much of that decade. After reforming in the 00s, The Who have released 2 albums, the most recent being 2019’s Who.
Paul Simon – Then
One of the greatest and most celebrated songwriters of the twentieth century, Simon first rose to prominence as the main songwriter in rock-folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, who were sporadically active from 1956 until 2010. He wrote the duos final album Bridge Over Troubled Water, which sold 25 million records.
Paul Simon – Now
The band split after Bridge Over Troubled Water, with Art Garfunkel focusing on his acting career, whilst Simon continued to record prolifically on his music. In 1986 he released his most successful and critically acclaimed album, with the eclectic Graceland. His most recent release was 2023’s Seven Psalms.
Mick Jagger – Then
Jagger rose to fame and fortune as the frontman and lead singer of The Rolling Stones, and is widely regarded as one of rock’s greatest ever singers. He recorded 6 albums with the band in the 70s, including 1971’s multi-platinum selling classic Sticky Fingers.
Mick Jagger – Now
The Rolling Stones are still writing and recording, and continue to be one of the most exciting and influential rock bands of all time. Jagger embarked on a sporadic solo career in the 80s, and his most recent Stones record was Blue & Lonesome in 2016.
Neil Young – Then
Young began his career in the 1960s, but is best known for his critically acclaimed releases in the 70s, particularly with his backing band Cray Horse. Albums such as After the Gold Rush and Harvest remain as iconic as ever, and his work in the decade was highly influential.
Neil Young – Now
In latter years, Young has continued to perform and record, and he even entered the grunge scene, recording the 1995 album Mirror Ball with Pearl Jam. Young has also directed movies using a pseudonym, and these include Human Highway and Journey Through the Past, and he has twice been inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Eric Clapton – Then
Considered one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time, Clapton was a pioneer of blues rock. As a member of Cream in the 1960s, Clapton rose to prominence, which kick-started his 70s solo carer in style, and he released 6 albums over the decade.
Eric Clapton – Now
Clapton continues to be a prominent figure in the world of music, and has released records in every decade, the most recent being 2018’s Happy Xmas. His 1992 live album Unplugged became the best-selling live album of all time, selling more than 26 million copies worldwide.
Dave Lee Roth – Then
Best-known for his three stint spell as lead singer of Van Halen, Roth was famed for his energetic stage presence, brilliant vocal range, and captivating persona. He released two records with Van Halen in the 70s, including their phenomenally successful self-titled debut.
Dave Lee Roth – Now
Roth continued to perform with Van Halen in separate stints, as well as enjoying a successful solo career across the 80s and 90s. His most recent solo album was 2003’s Diamond Dave, whilst his final record with Van Halen was A Different Kind of Truth in 2012. He continues to be an iconic and enigmatic figure in rock music.
Ronnie Van Zant – Then
Best-known as the founder, lead singer, and primary lyricist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Zant shot to fame in the early to mid 1970s. As frontman of the band, he enjoyed success with the group’s debut album (Pronounced ‘Leh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd), which included the hit songs Simple Man and Free Bird.
Ronnie Van Zant – Now
After successfully recording six albums with Lynyrd Skynyrd in the 70s, and enjoying multi-platinum success, Van Zant tragically passed away in 1977 as the result of a plan crash. He was 29 years old, and left a strong musical legacy behind; he is frequently referenced as one of rock’s most talented and enigmatic stars.
Bruce Springsteen – Then
New Jersey native Springsteen shot to fame in the 70s, when he released his first two studio albums in 1973. A change in style resulted in follow-up Born to Run in 1975, considered one of the greatest and biggest selling albums ever. He finished off the 70s with Darkness On the Edge of Town, which cemented him as a great lyricist and songwriter.
Bruce Springsteen – Now
Still going strong at the age of 73, Springsteen is something of an American institution these days. With 21 studio albums released, along with a slew of live recordings, The Boss continues to inspire generations of musicians. He has sold more than 140 million records worldwide, and is one of the best-selling artists ever.
Tom Jones – Then
Beginning his career in the mid-60s, Tom Jones was already a big star by the time the ‘70s rolled around. The crooner, who was nicknamed ‘The Voice,’ recorded 10 studio albums across the decade, and remained one of the most important and impactful musicians of the time.
Tom Jones – Now
The Welsh legend is something of a musical shapeshifter, and has enjoyed a diverse and eclectic career post-70s. In addition to releasing numerous albums, the 83-year-old has also dabbled in acting, and worked as a judge on reality show The Voice. UK. His most recent album was 2021’s Surrounded By Time.
Bon Scott – Then
Australia born Scott rose to fame in the latter half of the 1970s as the original lead vocalist of AC/DC. During his stint in the group they released five hugely successful albums, including the multi-platinum selling Highway to Hell. A distinctive voice that’s still instantly recognisable today!
Bon Scott – Now
Tragically, Scott’s tenure in the band would be short-lived, as the enigmatic frontman passed away in 1980 from acute alcohol poisoning, whilst asleep in a friend’s Renault 5. He was just 33 years old. He was replaced by vocalist Brian Johnson, but his influence continues to endure.