35 Rock Christmas Songs, from Chuck Berry to The Killers

What is the most famous rock Christmas song?

"Run Rudolph Run" by Chuck Berry is the rock and roll Christmas classic, and "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms is the one everyone knows. For classic rock fans, "Father Christmas" by The Kinks and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" by Bruce Springsteen are the favorites, and "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is the heaviest song most families agree on.

1950s and 60s rock and roll Christmas songs

1. "Run Rudolph Run", Chuck Berry: Christmas with a guitar riff.
2. "Jingle Bell Rock", Bobby Helms: the first rock and roll Christmas standard.
3. "Santa Claus Is Back in Town", Elvis Presley: slow, swaggering blues.
4. "Blue Christmas", Elvis Presley: the King's lonely holiday.
5. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", Brenda Lee: rockabilly cheer.
6. "Little Saint Nick", The Beach Boys: Santa in a hot rod.

Classic rock Christmas songs

7. "Father Christmas", The Kinks: punchy rock with a social conscience.
8. "Step Into Christmas", Elton John: piano-pounding glam.
9. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", John Lennon and Yoko Ono: a peace anthem.
10. "Wonderful Christmastime", Paul McCartney: synth-rock cheer.
11. "Christmas All Over Again", Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: jangly and joyful.
12. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", Bruce Springsteen: the live version on every rock station.
13. "Thank God It's Christmas", Queen: a warm rock ballad.
14. "Must Be Santa", Bob Dylan: a wild polka from his Christmas album.
15. "2000 Miles", The Pretenders: missing someone far away.
16. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", U2: a rock take on the Darlene Love classic.
17. "Merry Christmas Baby", Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: a bluesy live romp.
18. "Little Drummer Boy", Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band: heartland rock.
19. "Please Come Home for Christmas", Eagles: a bluesy plea.
20. "Merry Xmas Everybody", Slade: the glam rock party anthem.

Punk and alternative Christmas songs

21. "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)", Ramones: punk with a soft heart.
22. "Fairytale of New York", The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl: Celtic punk heartbreak.
23. "Christmas Wrapping", The Waitresses: new wave romance.
24. "Christmastime", Smashing Pumpkins: an unexpectedly sweet song.
25. "Christmas Lights", Coldplay: a lonely, glowing ballad.
26. "I Won't Be Home for Christmas", Blink-182: pop-punk holiday grumbling.

Hard rock and metal Christmas songs

27. "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24", Trans-Siberian Orchestra: carols played as heavy rock.
28. "Wizards in Winter", Trans-Siberian Orchestra: the song from a thousand light shows.
29. "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", Twisted Sister: a carol with a familiar riff.
30. "Mistress for Christmas", AC/DC: hard rock with a wink.
31. "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)", The Darkness: falsetto and sleigh bells.

Modern rock Christmas songs

32. "Don't Shoot Me Santa", The Killers: one of the band's yearly Christmas singles.
33. "A Great Big Sled", The Killers: the song that started that tradition.
34. "Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)", Pearl Jam: a fan club single turned favorite.
35. "Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You", Billy Squier: an 80s rock staple.

90s and 2000s rock Christmas songs

The alternative era added its own holiday canon: "Christmastime" by Smashing Pumpkins and "Christmas All Over Again" from the 90s, Blink-182's "I Won't Be Home for Christmas", The Darkness's falsetto-heavy single in 2003 and The Killers' run of charity Christmas songs from 2006 onward. Together they make a great playlist for anyone who grew up on alternative radio.

Instrumental rock Christmas music

For background at a party, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's instrumentals and surf-rock versions of carols keep the energy up without competing with conversation. "Wizards in Winter" is also the song behind countless synchronized holiday light displays.

A rock Christmas party playlist

• Start with the classics: "Run Rudolph Run", "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Little Saint Nick".
• Turn it up: "Father Christmas", "Merry Xmas Everybody" and "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)".
• Peak: "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" and "Wizards in Winter".
• Come down gently: "2000 Miles" and "Christmas Lights".

Rock Christmas songs for the family

For a family gathering, stick with the songs everyone can enjoy: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", "Run Rudolph Run", "Wonderful Christmastime", "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Save "Mistress for Christmas" for the grown-ups.

Rock versions of Christmas carols

Many rock bands have recorded carols: Twisted Sister's "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", Bob Seger's "Little Drummer Boy" and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's medleys are the best known. They are perfect for a playlist that keeps the carols but loses the sleepiness.

More Christmas song lists

For the full top 100, see our greatest Christmas songs of all time. For a decade-by-decade tour, see our 70s and 80s Christmas songs.

A rock Christmas song about your family

For the rock fan in the family, a personalized Christmas song in a rock style is a fun gift: their name, the year's best moments and a big chorus, played loud on Christmas morning. See our guide on how to give a song as a Christmas gift.

How to create a rock Christmas song

1. Choose the rock style from 14 genres.
2. Add the names of the people in the song.
3. Share three moments from the year and a few family jokes.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Turn up Christmas with a song about your family: create a song and hear four previews for free.