Classic Rock Holiday Gift Guide

A British artist created the familiar peace symbol in 1958. During the classic rock era, it was much in evidence at protest rallies, prominently displayed on everything from signs and banners to vehicles and protesters' bodies. Today, the peace symbol (not to be confused with the two-finger, vee-shaped peace sign) can still be seen at protest rallies. It also adorns a variety of objects of clothing, jewelery, even home appliances. Make toast, not war!

Peace symbol toaster

Peace symbol rug

Peace symbol tapestry

Peace symbol hoodie

Everybody knew you were a hippie (or a hippie wannabe) if your wardrobe consisted of multi-colored, tie-dyed shirts, skirts, pants, hats, and long, flowing robes. Arists like Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead and Joe Cocker were early adopters of tye-dye technology. The look has blossomed in recent years, now embraced not only by baby boomers, but their kids and grandkids, too.

Tie-dye lounge pants

Tie-dye hat

Tie-dye hoodie

The poet laureate of the flower power movement, Donovan urged us to "Wear Your Love like Heaven." The essence of flower power was quiet, peaceful, non-violent resistance to the Vietnam war. Now, as then, you can wear your flower power like it's the '60s with an assortment of clothes and accessories.

Flower power apparel

Come on, admit it. All the coolest tie-dyed, peace loving hippies (and wannabes) had at least one lava lamp in the house or tent or VW bus. (I'll make it easier for you. I still have one!) You didn't have to be stoned to appreciate the deeper meanings of the creeping blobs, but some folks seemed to feel that it helped. Today, the lava lamp has found new popularity with the post-hippie generation.

Compare lava lamp styles, prices

Les Paul was cool long before the first hippie flashed a peace sign at an antiwar rally. He was cool to generations before, during and long after the classic rock era. That gives you a wide potential audience of giftees who can truly appreciate this homage to hip.

"Les Is More" T-shirt

Historically, the biggest problem with the air guitar was that it could only be heard inside the head of the person playing it. Problem solved. This 21st century air guitar is equipped with a laser beam and frets for chording. Now, when you pick and strum the air, you can actually hear it. As they used to say in the infomercials back in the day, it really really works!

Watch demo video

Air guitar you can hear

More advanced musicians were not only adept at air guitar, but air drums and air keyboards as well. This modern variation on the theme lets you wear your chosen instrument while you crank it up to 11. Those who don't mind looking a little like they're scratching themselves will enjoy being able to actually play their clothing.

Interactive musical t-shirts

What is Steely Dan's middle name? How much rent do you have to pay if you land on Abbey Road? Okay, I made up the Steely Dan trick question, but the classic rock version of Trivial Pursuit will test players' knowledge of actual classic rock lore, legend, and facts. With The Beatles edition of Monopoly, the answer to the question depends on how many recording studios the owner has put on it.

Classic Rock Trivial Pursuit

The Beatles Monopoly

All you need is this five-DVD box set to learn pretty much everything there is to know about music that was popular in the second half of the 20th century. If the box set price exceeds your budget (or if you want to cherry-pick just the classic rock era) the DVDs are also available individually.

Five-DVD box set

Individual DVDs