Here Are The Top 100 ‘Dad Rock’ Driving Tunes

When you hear the words “Dad Rock,” your mind probably leaps straight to the leather-clad legends - Bon Jovi, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Guns N' Roses. For years, acts like these have epitomised the oft-cheesy genre, but now, there’s a sobering reality to come to terms with; Appetite for Destruction turns 40 in just two years’ time. By all accounts, that’s not Dad Rock anymore…that’s Grandad Rock.
Yes, the era of Zeppelin and Sabbath now qualifies for bus passes and early bird specials. Studies show our core music tastes form between the ages of 13 and 16. So if your teen years were soundtracked by soaring guitar solos and big, highly flammable hair, chances are you're pushing 60 at this point - and possibly spoiling grandchildren with the same riffs your dad once cranked on cassette.
We’re not just here to roast the boomers, mind. If you’re in your mid-to-late 30s, thinking you’ve still got that edge... well, we’ve got news: that soundtrack to your GameCube all-nighters with the boys and first road trips at 17? That is the new era of Dad Rock now.
Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Papa Roach and yes, Alien Ant Farm. They’re all Dad Rock. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Every generation needs its own brand of Dad Rock, and there’s no denying that the new age of artists and tracks still “slaps hard”.
To help you own your musical legacy, the team at private plate supplier Regtransfers has returned, for the second year running, with their definitive compilation of the Top 100 Dad Rock Driving Tunes of 2025. Whether you're ferrying kids to football or just craving a nostalgia-fuelled solo drive, this playlist is your ticket back to when music was “actually good” (and your knees didn’t crack when you got out of the car).
Check out the full playlist below, and be sure to add it to your Spotify!
Top 10 Dad Rock Tracks
10. Superman - Goldfinger
If the opening chords of this ska-punk classic don’t catapult you straight back to the glory days of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, are you even a millennial dad? With its high energy and infectious chorus, Superman is the anthem of those who believe kickflips - and parenting - are all about timing, balance, and a little bit of chaos.
9. How You Remind Me - Nickelback
Mock it all you want, but this gravel-throated power ballad defined a generation - and secretly, you still know every word. How You Remind Me is peak early-2000s angst, perfect for dads who wore wallet chains, drove a Vauxhall Corsa with subwoofers, and believed feelings should always be shouted through a car window in the rain.
8. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
A timeless, fuzzed-out and flannel-soaked explosion of teen angst that changed music forever. It’s grunge royalty, and in truth, the closest many dads ever got to rebellion was blasting this on a Walkman before double maths. These days, it’s the background music to school runs and Tesco trips, but it still hits like a punch in the face from 1991. Nirvana: for dads who once muttered “whatever” and meant it.
7. Whiskey In The Jar - Metallica
A thunderous cover of an Irish folk classic, Metallica’s Whiskey in the Jar delivers crunching riffs, growling vocals, and just enough swagger to make you feel like an outlaw - at least until you pull into the Tesco car park. It’s the perfect track for dads who like their rock loud, their stories long, and their whiskey metaphorical (until bedtime, of course).
6. Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Funk, grit, and a whole lot of west coast swagger, Dani California is that rare track that makes you feel cool and contemplative behind the wheel. With Flea’s basslines doing somersaults and Kiedis telling tales of love, loss and philosophies, it’s ideal Dad Rock for those who once wore oversized hoodies, tried (and failed) to learn slap bass, and still sing “rest in peace” whenever they hear the word “California”.
5. Last Resort - Papa Roach
Angsty, aggressive and absolutely unforgettable. Last Resort was the primal scream of the early 2000s, the unofficial theme tune for millennial burnout, and likely still a go-to for venting suburban dad stress in traffic. Whether you’re stuck in a cul-de-sac or just trying to get the kids to please stop arguing, this nu-metal classic is a full-throttle reminder that once upon a time, your emotional range included more than just “fine” and “tired.”
4. The Pretender - Foo Fighters
Explosive from the first snap of the snare drum, The Pretender doesn’t ask for attention - it demands it. It’s the anthem for every father who’s ever muttered through gritted teeth after stepping on Lego. Dave Grohl’s roar reminds us Dads there’s still fire in the tank - and at least one air-drum solo left in us before the school run ends.
3. Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
Another anthem of rebellion, nothing says “fatherhood” like blasting an anti-authority banger from your family SUV, right? Killing in the Name is pure, unfiltered rage - ideal for dads who used to protest everything and now just protest the rising price of petrol. It’s still as rebellious as ever, even if you’re yelling the lyrics while wearing Crocs and queuing for a drive-thru coffee.
2. Tribute - Tenacious D
An epic tale of two dudes facing down a demon with nothing but a killer riff and some seriously theatrical vocals - Tribute is the ultimate Dad Rock bedtime story. Whether you’re re-enacting the demon showdown or delivering the iconic monologue in front of a confused toddler, this is peak Dad Rock theatre, and perfect for dads who don’t take themselves too seriously. Get ready to put on a silly voice to ask your kids to “play the best song in the world, or I’ll eat your souls”. Side note - this might give them nightmares.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
A generational bonding exercise, a rite of passage and still the undefeated champion of Dad Rock driving playlists - because nothing says “family tradition” like a unanimous headbang at the traffic lights. Bohemian Rhapsody isn’t just a song - it’s a six-minute odyssey of drama, harmonies, and lyrical nonsense. It tops the list because no true Dad Rock playlist is complete without a full-family falsetto at a red light.

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