A rock opera or rock musical is a musical piece in the form of an opera or a musical in a modern rock and roll style rather than more traditional forms. It differs from conventional rock and roll music, which is often a song that is unlinked in plot or story with other songs, but overlaps considerably with concept album or rock musical.

The distinction may be that the rock opera tells a story and a concept album sets a mood, but some albums tell moody stories and others tell stories about moods. The rock musical is defined by having no identification with a band and a generally stronger air of show business. The categories are flexible, to say the least.

Pete Townshend, both with and without his band The Who, is arguably the single artist most associated with the term "rock opera".

Examples of rock operas include:

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