John Lennon believed in rock n' roll as a concept. Even later in his career, he typically listened to older music. He once revealed his favourite rock song.
While the opinions of rock critics have lost that aura of authority they had a few decades ago, and some of the big names, like Lester Bangs, are not even around anymore, their opinions, good or bad ...
The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame angers folk every year, because some of the greatest artists of all time still haven't been let in the doors.