If someone said "I've never gotten into rock music, where do I start?"
 

... what would you say? Since no one is actually going to make a thread like that (rock music is a little more popular than jazz or classical, at the era) I might as wall make a hypothetical one.

And God it's impossible to answer my own question... Auugh. I can't do it. Good luck.

I'm interested in how this thread turns out as rock is something I did not ever get into. :)

I guess it would depend on what genres of music that they do like.
If he or she likes classical then progressive rock would be a good place to start I think.
If he or she likes jazz then fusion would be a great place to start.
etc.

I'd say go to your local music shop, pick out random rock albums, listen, get the roots and the overall genre, find what you like, and go from there.

i remember a similar thread to this a long time ago on another site. only the premise made it easier to generate reactions - if we made contact with alien life and you were chosen to present to them what rock music is, how would you do that?

there, previous tastes are removed from the equation, how do you present it to something that doesn't recognize what we know as music as anything besides sound?

I'd show them all the early stuff and let them go from there. I think that's the best way to expose anyone to a genre.

Try doing it in stages;

Stage 1: Early Hard Rock
Jimi Hendrix - Are you Experienced?
Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed
The Who - Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy

Stage 2: Classic Rock
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
Led Zep IV
Black Sabbath - Sabotage

Stage 3: Punk
Clash - S/T
X - Los Angeles
Ramones - Rocket to Russia

Stage 4: Alternative Rock/Grunge
Janes Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger

If the person likes the last group, particularly Soundgarden, they're cleared to proceed to the next group.

Stage 5: Heavy Metal
Judas Priest - Screaming with a Vengeance
Iron Maiden - Power Slave
Motorhead - Ace of Spades

Stage 6: Thrash
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Metallica - Kill'em All
Megadeth - Rust in Peace

They're metalheads if they make it all the way to 6, and there are many more types of sub-genres to explore.:beer:

^
You missed prog. :(
Pink Floyd, Rush and maybe King Crimson and Yes should also be on your list as one of the stages.

That's very adventurous and I hope this newbie can hang, but it would be a great contrast before punk.

Stage 2b:
Yes - Close to the Edge
Genesis - Foxtrot
King Crimson - Red
Rush - Hemispheres
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Beatles
Stones
Queen
Led Zepp