Rock-and-roll, Republican style

Wednesday night in Tampa, GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan boasted that his iPod playlist “starts with AC/DC and ends with Zeppelin” — two bands from overseas who enjoyed their heydays decades ago. Here’s a look at the Romney-Ryan ticket’s other intersections with the world of rock music. —By Chris Richards

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Paul Ryan's iPod starts with AC/DC

On Wednesday, the vice presidential hopeful told the Republican convention that the veteran Australian rock band resided at the top of his iPod playlist. No Aaliyah or Abba in your life, Mr. Representative?

Jan Pitman / Associated Press

Z is for Zeppelin, Led

Critics have pounced on Ryan's out-dated tastes, but this is politics, people. For a candidate trying to forge connections with a broad swath of voters, associating yourself with a band as popular as Led Zeppelin is safe and savvy.

Neil Zlozower

The walk-on music: Thin Lizzy

Ryan took the stage Wednesday to "The Boys Are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy. The song was on message, but it's still only the fourth-best cut off Thin Lizzy's 1976 album, "Jailbreak."

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

Rage Against the Machine Against Paul Ryan

After Ryan declared his love for rock band Rage Against the Machine to the press, Rage guitarist Tom Morello shot back in a Rolling Stone editorial, describing Ryan as "the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades."

Branimir Kvartuc / Associated Press

Beach Boys at the White House?

Mitt Romney recently told Parade magazine that, if elected, he'd like to bring the Beach Boys to the White House, along with country stars Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith.

/ Dick Clark Productions/Shout! Factory

His name is Kiiiiiiid Rock!

Kid Rock performed at the convention Wednesday, rapping, "They say Obama is lyin'/That's why I'm voting for Romney and Ryan." Another good reason to have Ryan on the ticket: There aren't many words that rhyme with "Romney."

Rick Diamond / Getty Images

Sweet home Alabama

Romney is expected to win the state of Alabama on Election Day. He's said he's a fan of the band Alabama, too.

Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press

Boston's very own . . . Aerosmith

Romney is an Aerosmith fan and says that, if elected, he'd invite them to the White House. They have that Massachusetts connection.

Amy Sancetta / AP

Three Doors (turn that music) Down?

When the Mississippi post-grunge group hit the convention stage Tuesday night, one CNN reporter noted on Twitter, "I SEE NOT ONE Republican rocking, swaying or even halting to listen to the sounds of Three Doors Down." Ouch.

Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

Silversun Pickups ask Romney to drop it

The Los Angeles rock band recently asked the Romney campaign to stop playing its song "Panic Switch" at events.

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

The Killers - the coolest contemporary band to sorta-endorse Romney-Ryan?

"Anyone's allowed to like us," Killers bassist Mark Stoermer recently told Rolling Stone. Also of note: Killers’ lead singer, Brandon Flowers, is Mormon.

Stephen Hird / Reuters

The Eagles over 1600 Penn

In that same musical chat with Parade, Ann Romney said, "We have a friend in the Eagles."

Shizuo Kambayashi / AP

Play some Skynyrd, man!

Iconic Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was scheduled to perform prior to the convention on Sunday, but the gig was canceled because of the threat of Hurricane Isaac.

John Russell / AP

Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa on Wednesday.

Andrew Harrer / BLOOMBERG NEWS

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