The final verse of the song includes the main guitar riffs to the Beatles' "Day Tripper" and the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" played simultaneously, in tribute to these bands.

The lyrics also refer to partying late at night and singing in front of large crowds at concerts.

The same location, Le Studio, would be used in the video for the song "Tom Sawyer" by fellow Canadian rock band Rush,[4] in 1981.

"I Like to Rock" was used in the films Flower & Garnet, Gutterballs, High Life, and Drive Angry, as well as S1 E6 of Being Erica titled "Something Wrong With...", as well as the 2010 comedy television special Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town.

The song was also mentioned in an episode of Trailer Park Boys titled "Closer to the Heart" in which main character Ricky repeatedly expresses that he prefers April Wine to fellow Canadian band Rush, and requests that Alex Lifeson perform "I Like to Rock", believing it is a Rush song.