Violin Day is celebrated on December 13th each year. The violin is associated with orchestras, but violin classic rock is also a part of the violin’s history. Some of the most epic songs of classic rock have included the sounds of the violin.

Violin Quick Facts

Find out more violin facts at musicalinstrumenthire.com

Scroll down to check out our list of violin classic rock songs that are in a league of their own and facts behind the songs.

8 Violin Classic Rock Masterpieces

• "Kashmir" - Led Zeppelin

  This could be finest performances of one of Led Zeppelin’s greatest songs.  At one point in time or another, every member of Led Zeppelin said “Kashmir” is Led Zeppelin’s finest song. Here Page and Plant perform with an Egyptian orchestra and let it all go.

• "November Rain" - Guns N Roses

  The video cost 1.5 million dollars to make in 1991. That’s the equivalent of nearly 3.5 million dollars in 2025. Inflation sucks. The video was worth it though, GNR got a ton of play on MTV and the video has been viewed more 2.2 BILLION times on YouTube.

• "Dust in the Wind" - Kansas

  Songfacts talks about “Dust in the Wind saying, “Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren wrote this after reading a book of Native American poetry. The line that caught his attention was, ‘For all we are is dust in the wind.'” Ironically, Kerry Livgren never thought the song would go anywhere and was reluctant to bring it to the band. Robby Steinhardt, the band’s original vocalist and violinist played on “Dust in the Wind.”

• "Baba O'Riley" - The Who

  Dave Arbus played the violin on the studio recording of “Baba O’Riley.” Arbus was a member of the progressive rock group East of Eden who happened to be recording in the studio next door to The Who. According to udiscovermusic.com, Pete Townshend put the “O” on Baba O’Riley” because Arbus’s violin gave the song a touch of Irish.

• "Glycerine" - Bush

  Gavyn Wright played violin and viola on the studio recording of “Glycerine.”

• "Do Ya" - Electric Light Orchestra

  Jeff Lynne wrote “Do Ya” when he was with The Move. ELO was a side project of The Move. Mik Kaminski played violin on the studio recording for ELO. Side note: Jeff Lynne is a freakin’ genius. I say this like it’s fact because it is.

• "Disarm" - Smashing Pumpkins

  The violinist who arranged and performed the violin on the studio recording of “Disarm” is David Lasater Ragsdale former guitarist and violinist for Kansas (He was with Kansas from 1991-1996 and 2006-2023).

  Billy Corgan has described “Disarm” as a song “about my childhood and how I turned into an a–hole.”

• "Paper in Fire" - John Mellancamp

  Americansongwriter.com has a great article on the story behind “Paper in Fire.” Part of that story is Mellencamp telling the band “it was the best song he ever wrote and warned them not to ‘f–k it up.’” Fiddler Lisa Germano plays on this track. She was a part of Mellencamp’s band from 1985-1993. Lisa returned to the band in 2023 for the Live and In Person tour.

Sign Up For The 94.7 WCSX Classic Rock Insider Newsletter

Get the latest Classic Rock and local stories you need to know about, plus exclusive contests, games, and more!

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.