14 Classic Rockers from the Midwest
Some of classic rock’s biggest names and influencers we know and love hail from the Midwest.

Some of classic rock's biggest names and influencers we know and love hail from the Midwest.
From Cheap Trick being the pride of Rockford, Ill. to John Mellencamp's deep roots in Indiana, rock and roll isn't just born on the coasts. You can find it in what some might dub "flyover country," but these names prove this area of the United States should be anything but ignored.
Scroll below to see just a sample of the incredible rock and roll talent that came from the Midwest.
John Mellencamp
Adam Bettcher/Getty ImagesSeymour, Indiana
John Mellencamp
Adam Bettcher/Getty ImagesSeymour, Indiana
John Varvatos & Sony Present The 35th Anniversary Of Cheap Trick At Budokan
Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for John VarvatosCheap Trick - Rockford, Illinois
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander and Tom Petterson of the band Cheap Trick perform on stage during the 35th Anniversary of Cheap Trick at Budokan at the John Varvatos Bowery NYC store on April 28, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for John Varvatos)
John Varvatos & Sony Present The 35th Anniversary Of Cheap Trick At Budokan
Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for John VarvatosCheap Trick - Rockford, Illinois
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander and Tom Petterson of the band Cheap Trick perform on stage during the 35th Anniversary of Cheap Trick at Budokan at the John Varvatos Bowery NYC store on April 28, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for John Varvatos)
John Mellencamp
Adam Bettcher/Getty ImagesSeymour, Indiana
John Mellencamp
Adam Bettcher/Getty ImagesSeymour, Indiana
136971837
Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty ImagesStyx - Chicago, Illinois
136971837
Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty ImagesStyx - Chicago, Illinois
John Varvatos & Sony Present The 35th Anniversary Of Cheap Trick At Budokan
Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for John VarvatosCheap Trick - Rockford, Illinois
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander and Tom Petterson of the band Cheap Trick perform on stage during the 35th Anniversary of Cheap Trick at Budokan at the John Varvatos Bowery NYC store on April 28, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for John Varvatos)
John Varvatos & Sony Present The 35th Anniversary Of Cheap Trick At Budokan
Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for John VarvatosCheap Trick - Rockford, Illinois
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander and Tom Petterson of the band Cheap Trick perform on stage during the 35th Anniversary of Cheap Trick at Budokan at the John Varvatos Bowery NYC store on April 28, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for John Varvatos)
REO Speedwagon
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesChampaign, Illinois
REO Speedwagon
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesChampaign, Illinois
136971837
Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty ImagesStyx - Chicago, Illinois
136971837
Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty ImagesStyx - Chicago, Illinois
Three Members Of Guns N' Roses
Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty ImagesIzzy Stradlin (far right) - Lafayette, Indiana
Three members of the American rock and roll group Guns N' Roses in front of a Hard Rock Cafe banner, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1992. From left, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke, and Izzy Stradlin. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images)
Three Members Of Guns N' Roses
Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty ImagesIzzy Stradlin (far right) - Lafayette, Indiana
Three members of the American rock and roll group Guns N' Roses in front of a Hard Rock Cafe banner, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1992. From left, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke, and Izzy Stradlin. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images)
REO Speedwagon
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesChampaign, Illinois
REO Speedwagon
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesChampaign, Illinois
Guns N' Roses Perform In Sydney
Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesAxl Rose - Lafayette, Indiana
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 04: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs following the V8 Supercar Grand Finale at ANZ Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Guns N' Roses Perform In Sydney
Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesAxl Rose - Lafayette, Indiana
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 04: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs following the V8 Supercar Grand Finale at ANZ Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Three Members Of Guns N' Roses
Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty ImagesIzzy Stradlin (far right) - Lafayette, Indiana
Three members of the American rock and roll group Guns N' Roses in front of a Hard Rock Cafe banner, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1992. From left, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke, and Izzy Stradlin. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images)
Three Members Of Guns N' Roses
Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty ImagesIzzy Stradlin (far right) - Lafayette, Indiana
Three members of the American rock and roll group Guns N' Roses in front of a Hard Rock Cafe banner, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1992. From left, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke, and Izzy Stradlin. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images)
The Billboard Touring Awards
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Musician Bob Seger speaks onstage during the 2015 Billboard Touring Awards at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Musician Bob Seger speaks onstage during the 2015 Billboard Touring Awards at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
The Billboard Touring Awards
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Musician Bob Seger speaks onstage during the 2015 Billboard Touring Awards at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Musician Bob Seger speaks onstage during the 2015 Billboard Touring Awards at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Guns N' Roses Perform In Sydney
Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesAxl Rose - Lafayette, Indiana
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 04: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs following the V8 Supercar Grand Finale at ANZ Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Guns N' Roses Perform In Sydney
Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesAxl Rose - Lafayette, Indiana
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 04: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs following the V8 Supercar Grand Finale at ANZ Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Iggy Pop
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesYpsilanti, Michigan
Iggy Pop
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesYpsilanti, Michigan
The Billboard Touring Awards
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Musician Bob Seger speaks onstage during the 2015 Billboard Touring Awards at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Musician Bob Seger speaks onstage during the 2015 Billboard Touring Awards at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
The Billboard Touring Awards
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Musician Bob Seger speaks onstage during the 2015 Billboard Touring Awards at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Musician Bob Seger speaks onstage during the 2015 Billboard Touring Awards at The Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards - Show
Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesBob Dylan - Born in Duluth, Minnesota. Grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota.
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 12: Musician Bob Dylan onstage during the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium on January 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1)
17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards - Show
Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesBob Dylan - Born in Duluth, Minnesota. Grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota.
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 12: Musician Bob Dylan onstage during the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium on January 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1)
Iggy Pop
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesYpsilanti, Michigan
Iggy Pop
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesYpsilanti, Michigan
Chuck Berry In Concert - January 1, 2011
Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty ImagesCHICAGO - JANUARY 01: Chuck Berry performs at the Congress Theater on January 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.
CHICAGO - JANUARY 01: Chuck Berry performs at the Congress Theater on January 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)
Chuck Berry In Concert - January 1, 2011
Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty ImagesCHICAGO - JANUARY 01: Chuck Berry performs at the Congress Theater on January 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.
CHICAGO - JANUARY 01: Chuck Berry performs at the Congress Theater on January 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)
17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards - Show
Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesBob Dylan - Born in Duluth, Minnesota. Grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota.
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 12: Musician Bob Dylan onstage during the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium on January 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1)
17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards - Show
Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesBob Dylan - Born in Duluth, Minnesota. Grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota.
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 12: Musician Bob Dylan onstage during the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium on January 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1)
Chrissie Hynde
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesAkron, Ohio
Chrissie Hynde
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesAkron, Ohio
Chuck Berry In Concert - January 1, 2011
Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty ImagesCHICAGO - JANUARY 01: Chuck Berry performs at the Congress Theater on January 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.
CHICAGO - JANUARY 01: Chuck Berry performs at the Congress Theater on January 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)
Chuck Berry In Concert - January 1, 2011
Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty ImagesCHICAGO - JANUARY 01: Chuck Berry performs at the Congress Theater on January 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.
CHICAGO - JANUARY 01: Chuck Berry performs at the Congress Theater on January 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)
Joe Walsh
Mike Windle/Getty ImagesBorn in Wichita, Kansas. Lived in Columbus, Ohio as a kid.
Joe Walsh
Mike Windle/Getty ImagesBorn in Wichita, Kansas. Lived in Columbus, Ohio as a kid.
Chrissie Hynde
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesAkron, Ohio
Chrissie Hynde
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesAkron, Ohio
The 7th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesSteve Miller - Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Steve Miller performs onstage during The 7th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit at Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom on October 20, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Little Kids Rock)
The 7th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesSteve Miller - Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Steve Miller performs onstage during The 7th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit at Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom on October 20, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Little Kids Rock)
Joe Walsh
Mike Windle/Getty ImagesBorn in Wichita, Kansas. Lived in Columbus, Ohio as a kid.
Joe Walsh
Mike Windle/Getty ImagesBorn in Wichita, Kansas. Lived in Columbus, Ohio as a kid.
Glenn Frey
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesBorn in Detroit, Michigan. Grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Glenn Frey
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesBorn in Detroit, Michigan. Grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan.
The 7th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesSteve Miller - Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Steve Miller performs onstage during The 7th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit at Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom on October 20, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Little Kids Rock)
The 7th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesSteve Miller - Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Steve Miller performs onstage during The 7th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit at Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom on October 20, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Little Kids Rock)
Glenn Frey
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesBorn in Detroit, Michigan. Grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Glenn Frey
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesBorn in Detroit, Michigan. Grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan.




