I saw Cream. Sophomore year, '69, local boys Catholic high school. One of my first dates. I don't remember a damn thing about the music.
If it's any comfort, IDP, I never could stand Joplin (scrEAming! My friend admonished me, "it's not screaming, it's wailing". Yeah, okay.) nor Hendrix (never will appreciate the "let me see how many notes I can play in a minute whether it makes musical sense or not"). Still don't.
Didn't really get into The Who, nor Cheap Trick, but I do still like Petty -- "... don't back down ...".
We've a ten-year difference in age, maybe it matters at some points and particulars, maybe it doesn't, and that doesn't account for the male/female approach to things either.