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Access To Rock

10 Memorable Rock & Roll Performances on the Super Bowl Halftime Show

By Colin Newby
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" has been covered by countless artists, but there will always be something magical about this live cover from The Boss, probably because he's so magical live. Try not to get goosebumps when Clarence Clemons launches into his sax solo.

The Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday night.

The world turns their attention to the NFL for one night every year during the month of February (formerly in January). The event always draws a crowd that doesn’t follow football through the fall months.

This crowd has plenty of ways to stay entertained: party planning, every company’s best commercial, and of course the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Philadelphia fans are pumped for their second Super Bowl appearance in six years, but some people are more interested in seeing Rihanna perform at halftime.

While it’s become a showcase for major performers throughout the 21st century, the Super Bowl Halftime Show actually used to consist mostly of university marching bands and local performers. Halftime performances concentrated on themes that had more to do with the game setting through 1991.

Fans of rock & roll have enjoyed legends like the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul McCartney in the perfect breaks from game action.

  • ZZ Top- Super Bowl XXXI (1997)

    Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21

    Location: Superdome (New Orleans, LA)

    Songs: Tush, Legs

  • The Temptations, Smokey Robinson- Super Bowl XXXII (1998)

    Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24

    Location: Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, CA)

    Songs: Get Ready (The Temptations), I Can’t Help Myself (The Temptations), The Tracks of My Tears (Smokey Robinson), My Girl (The Temptations with Smokey Robinson)

  • Phil Collins- Super Bow XXXIV (2000)

    St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16

    Location: Georgia Dome (Atlanta)

    Songs: Two Worlds

  • Aerosmith- Super Bowl XXXV (2001)

    Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7

    Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)

    Songs: I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing, Jaded, Walk This Way

  • U2- Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)

    New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17

    Location: Superdome (New Orleans, LA)

    Songs: Beautiful Day, MLK, Where the Streets Have No Name

  • Paul McCartney- Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)

    New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21

    Location: Alltel Stadium (Jacksonville, FL)

    Songs: Drive My Car, Get Back, Live and Let Die, Hey Jude

  • The Rolling Stones- Super Bowl XL (2006)

    Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10

    Location: Ford Field (Detroit, MI)

    Songs: Start Me Up, Rough Justice, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

  • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- Super Bowl XLII (2008)

    New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14

    Location: University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, AZ)

    Songs: American Girl, I Won’t Back Down, Free Fallin’, Runnin’ Down a Dream

  • Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band- Super Bowl XLIII (2009)

    Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23

    Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)

    Songs: Tenth-Avenue Freeze Out, Born to Run, Working on a Dream, Glory Days

  • The Who- Super Bowl XLIV (2010)

    New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17

    Location: Sun Life Stadium (Miami, FL)

    Songs: Pinball Wizard, Baba O’Riley, Who Are You, See Me Feel Me, Won’t Get Fooled Again

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