Top Five Rock Bands Of All Time

[Dr. Spec]

This was harder to choose than I thought. Hopefully not many will argue with the top five, but there are SO many candidates for honorable mention.

Here's my vote (not in any particular order):

1) Aerosmith
2) Led Zeppelin
3) Rolling Stones
4) AC/DC
5) The Who

Honorable Mention (no particular order):

1) Van Halen
2) Pink Floyd
3) Boston
4) Foreigner
5) Bruce Springsteen

[scottvamp]

From 1979 and under right..........:rolleyes:

Sepultura (pre brother split)
Black Sabbath
Korn
Metallica (black back)
White Zombie

Oooooo ya,
and the Beatles and Elvis and stuff.....
:D

[pjdami]

These are my personal favorite top five bands (not necessarily the bands that may be the top five of all time):

1) Led Zeppelin (none other)
2) Pink Floyd
3) Rush
4) Styx
5) Journey

Honorable Mention:

1) Eagles
2) U2
3) The Beatles
4) Black Sabbath
5) Queen

[PolkThug]

Can I add Steve Miller Band for honorable mention?

[dragon1952]

1. Rolling Stones
2. Beatles
3. Led Zeppelin
4. The Doors
5. Jimi Hendrix

Honorable mention

1. Pink Floyd
2. Steely Dan
3. The Who
4. Rush
5. Kansas
6. Jethro Tull

[TheReaper]

Steppenwolf
Led Zeppelin
Mountain
Pink Floyd
Black Sabath

Honorable Mention:

The Who
Rolling Stones
Queen
Deep Purple
Grand Funk Railroad
Jethro Tull

[danger boy]

1. Rolling stones
2. the Beatles
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Queen
5. Heart
(Heart has had 21 top 40 hits in their career)


HM

Journey
Eagles
Jimi Hendrix
U2
Fleetwood Mac

[Dr. Spec]

Some GREAT honorable mentions. I suppose I should have listed the Grateful Dead at the outset, but I'm not sure they qualified as a rock band. Ditto for The Beatles (absolutely HUGE following world wide).

The whole point of "All Time" is to list the bands that have gone the distance by meeting at least one or two criteria like album sales, chart toppers, decades of concerts, a global fan base, and instantly recognizable hits.

Sure, the bands I listed are a bunch of aging (or dead) rockers, but their material has withstood the test of time and still gets airplay. Is there a rock station worth its salt that doesn't have things like "Gettin' The Led Out" tribute weekends?

There might be bands that each of us personally think are the greatest, but in 25 years will they still be getting air time on classic rock stations?

Good call on Sabbath and Metallica, Scott, but don't they fall into the Heavy Metal genre more than Rock?

[Shizelbs]

I'm not old or learned enough to have the right perspective to come up with an appropriate list for ALL TIME, but, I do know that any list that doesn't have Led Zep in the top five is fundamentally incorrect.

[Ron-P]

Being an 80's man...

Oingo Boingo
Depeche Mode
Duran Duran
Bon Jovi
A-ha

HM's
Missing Persons
Bestie Boys
Midnight Oil
Flock Of Seagulls
Dead or Alive

[shack]

Best

Beatles
Rolling Stones
Allman Brothers
Eagles
Led Zeppelin

Honorable Mention

AC/DC
Beach Boys
The Who
CSNY
Van Halen
ZZ Top

[steveinaz]

Best:
1. Led Zeppelin
2. Eagles
3. Bad Company
4. Rush
5. Heart

Honorable:
1. Journey
2. Styx
3. AC/DC
4. Aerosmith
5. Kansas

[tryrrthg]

1. The might Zeppelin
2. The Beatles
3. Metallica (Simply because they're my favorite band)
4. Pearl Jam (also a favorite of mine)
5. The Stones

Honorable Mention

Guns N Roses (could have been great if Axl wasn't such an ass
Nirvana
Skynyrd
CCR

[dcarlson]

Zep
Stones
Some Neil Young
AC/DC

Pearl Jam for sure. They're one of the very few bands from the 90's that have staying power. They put on a great show and totally cater to their fans.

[scottvamp]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ron-P
[B]Being an 80's man...

Oingo Boingo
Depeche Mode
Duran Duran

Ron - ya da man!
Huge DM fan. Just bought DD greatest hits collection - SWEET!!
(all see whats is) aaahhh the PB2+
And Ron I hate to catorgirize with but the CURE, man early 80's stuff - insane, way ahead of thier time......... Almost Pink Floydish but better!!!!

[Kpt_Krunch]

Great thread - here goes:

Top 5 (in no particular order)

Led Zep
Rush
Rolling Stones
AC/DC
The Who

Others who deserve an HM:

Black Sabbath
U2
Nirvana
The Band
Deep Purple

Other notables who are not a 'Rock Band':

Stevie Ray Vaughn
Jimmy Hendrix
Neil Young (well, if you count Crazy Horse then a band)

[Ron-P]

And Ron I hate to catorgirize with but the CURE, man early 80's stuff - insane, way ahead of thier time......... Almost Pink Floydish but better!!!!
Agreed Scott. I saw The Cure in concert back in the mid-80's. Lawn seats at the Irvine Ampitheater. Their music was outstanding.

[dragon1952]

Why isn't Hendrix a rock band? :confused:
He did have other band members ya know!
Maybe we should have said 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience'.

[gmorris]

Here are some bands that are NOT my favorites, but should be mentioned.

Motley Crew
Simon & Garfunkle (not sure if Rock, but kinda?)
Elvis
The Eagles (didn't see them, could be up there, I'm lazy, sorry)
Hanson (to see if you're paying attention)

[gmorris]

AND THE GREATEST ROCK BAND OUT TODAY!!!

AUDIOSLAVE!!!!!!!!!:D :D :D

[danger boy]

Simon and Garfunkle. are considered to be folk music. great stuff..

[PolkWannabie]

In no particular order ...

Beatles
Blind Faith
Bruce Springsteen
CSN&Y
Jethro Tull
Jimi Hendrix
Led Zeplin
Pink Floyd
Rolling Stones
Who

I know ... can't count ... but I didn't want to have to decide which were below the line ...

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Originally posted by Ron-P

Oingo Boingo

I bet Danny Elfman would like to forget those years :D

[gmorris]

Since almost everyone has taken the original question to mean Greatest Classic Rock Bands of all time, I'm going to throw out some bands from the last 10 years.

Incubus
Stone Temple Pilots
[edit]
Coldplay
White Stripes
Tenacious D;)
Rage Against the Machine
of course Metallic, can't believe tryrrthg is the only one to say that
Smashing Pumpkins:D

[danger boy]

Originally posted by gmorris

Oasis



ummmm no....:confused:

[gmorris]

Originally posted by danger boy
ummmm no....:confused:

You know what, your right... I didn't mean to type that, I don't know what I was thinking. I'm going to edit that right the hell out of there. Thanks, you kept me from looking like an idiot.

[dragon1952]

Since almost everyone has taken the original question to mean Greatest Classic Rock Bands of all time

I don't think everyone necessarily took it to mean the greatest classic rock bands of all time. It just turns out that that's the era all the greatest bands happened to come from :cool:

[mrmusicman]

I would like to add:

Paul Mcartney & Wings
Elton John
Y & T
Kiss
Ted Nugent


:D

[danger boy]

who is Y & T?

[danger boy]

Originally posted by gmorris
You know what, your right... I didn't mean to type that, I don't know what I was thinking. I'm going to edit that right the hell out of there. Thanks, you kept me from looking like an idiot.

just watching out for my peeps. ;)

[danger boy]

has anyone even mentioned Nirvana yet?

i think they rank somewhere in this list, or should.

[mrmusicman]

Y&T(Yesterday & Today) Was a kick ass rock band from the Bay Area in the early 80's they sounded a bit like Truimph.

[danger boy]

ok. never heard of Y & T, but i have heard of Triumph.

[danger boy]

how could i forget. Judas Priest ?

Screaming for Vengance

i wore out two vinyl albums of this one.

[mrmusicman]

I think after Rob Halford came out of the closet he now sings, "Screaming for anal."

[wvernon]

Dream Theatre and Marillion. That should keep you busy for the next couple years digesting the best progressive rock you've never heard. Just did a search, I guess a lot of you have heard of them...ouch...

[gmorris]

wvernon, first post.:eek:

welcome aboard.

[wvernon]

Why, thank you :)

[Loud & Clear]

Yes (simply the best)
The Who
David Bowie & the Spiders from Mars
Guided by Voices
Paw

[bobman1235]

Man...

Reading some of these replies... I gotta say it's a shame that such nice systems are going to waste playing bands like "Yes" and "Heart." I never liked Rush, but only cuz of their lead singer - their music is really good. With a good singer they coulda been a contender.

Anyways, my list :
- Zeppelin
- Aerosmith (Boston boys representin!)
- Stones
- Jimi Hendrix Experience
- and I guess... Pearl Jam. I'm kinda of stuck on the fifth one, honestly. Maybe the Who.

There are some great bands listed up there, but most of them really don't qualify as ROCK bands. I mean, the Beatles are the greatest band EVER... but I just can't say they're a rock band. They were a pop band. Nirvana was grunge... I mean, that's kind of a rock genre, but I can't classify them as pure rock. Metallica is metal. Awesome band, but not a rock band. CSNY? Yeah, they really rocked the house.

Just my two cents. Figured I'd stir up some controversy :D

[gmorris]

bobman,
You make valid points. I'd like to point out all the bands you listed, except Pjam, are classic rock bands. So poo on you.;)

I think "Greatest Rock Bands" implies all genres are acceptable. I said it once before in this th'd., but why are 95% of bands listed classic rock? Is this forum a bunch of 40-50 year olds? I never really thought it was.

[bobman1235]

Personally I"m only 24. And while I do like a lot of classic rock bands better than most of today's music, I wouldn't say it's the only good music out there. The problem is that most modern bands put out three hits and are never heard from again.

That, and how do you put someone who is relatively recent (say, Audioslave, or something like that), and no matter how much you love their music, how do you compare them to someone who put out 15 albums, all of which were good and are STILL good 30 years later? I mean... top 5 of all time... it's kinda tough to put a "rookie" in that category.

Hell, a year ago, a lot of people probably would have said Tiger Woods was one of the top 5 golfers of all time. I doubt as many people would say it now, where he's more or less in a slump. He had a good run, but will he emerge in history as one of the best? Kinda gotta wait to find out, right?

Just my opinion, I'm sure many disagree. As well as disagreeing with my definition of a "rock" band :)

[danger boy]

Originally posted by bobman1235
Reading some of these replies... I gotta say it's a shame that such nice systems are going to waste playing bands like "Yes" and "Heart."

dude.. those are fighting words...

Yes and Heart are great bands.. that have withstood the test of time.

The Beatles are rock.. with some crossover pop too.

[F1nut]

Top 5

The Rolling Stones
Eric Clapton
The Who
Little Feat
Pink Floyd

HM

ZZ Top
Led Zepplin
Traffic
Allman Bros.
Roxy Music
Steely Dan
Grateful Dead
Jethro Tull
Fleetwood Mac (early stuff only)
AC/DC

[shack]

Originally posted by bobman1235
There are some great bands listed up there, but most of them really don't qualify as ROCK bands. I mean, the Beatles are the greatest band EVER... but I just can't say they're a rock band. They were a pop band. Nirvana was grunge... I mean, that's kind of a rock genre, but I can't classify them as pure rock. Metallica is metal. Awesome band, but not a rock band. CSNY? Yeah, they really rocked the house.
Based on your extremely narrow interpretation there are NO rock bands.

In reality, there is NO such thing as a PURE ROCK BAND...Not the Stones... they are "British Rock", Not Hendrix...He was "Acid Rock" or "Blues Rock". Not Led Zeppelin...they were considered "Heavy Metal Rock". Elvis, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens....surely they can't be considered Rock....etc...etc...etc...


ROCK or "Rock and Roll" as it was original termed, is the extemely broad spectrum that encompasses many genres, ALL of which are considered rock.

If you want to get really technical, the term "rock" or "rocking" was first used to describe Southern Black Gospel music back in the 1920s. A song titled "Good Rocking Tonight" was recorded in 1947 by blues artist Roy Brown and was about dancing or sex (depending on who you asked). Another Blues artist Wild Bill Moore, Recorded a song titled "Rock and Roll" in 1949. And of course the tern Rock and Roll was first used by Alan Freed to describe Black R&B music.

Since bobman1235 wants to only list PURE ROCK BANDS and given the info above I will have to now include The Swan Silvertones and The Mighty Clouds of Joy in my list of great rock bands.

[F1nut]

Look at Shack getting his history on!

[Loud & Clear]

Originally posted by bobman1235
Man...

Reading some of these replies... I gotta say it's a shame that such nice systems are going to waste playing bands like "Yes" and "Heart." I never liked Rush, but only cuz of their lead singer - their music is really good. With a good singer they coulda been a contender.

Anyways, my list :
- Zeppelin
- Aerosmith (Boston boys representin!)
- Stones
- Jimi Hendrix Experience
- and I guess... Pearl Jam. I'm kinda of stuck on the fifth one, honestly. Maybe the Who.

There are some great bands listed up there, but most of them really don't qualify as ROCK bands. I mean, the Beatles are the greatest band EVER... but I just can't say they're a rock band. They were a pop band. Nirvana was grunge... I mean, that's kind of a rock genre, but I can't classify them as pure rock. Metallica is metal. Awesome band, but not a rock band. CSNY? Yeah, they really rocked the house.

Just my two cents. Figured I'd stir up some controversy :D

~~ I don't think I liked 'Yes' when I was 24 either; of course I also didn't really know their material other than the couple of songs you hear on classic rock stations.

I'm guessing that you've probably never heard 'Close to the Edge,' 'The Yes Album,' or 'Fragile' in their entirety. Either that or you're not terribly advanced. ;>}

[wvernon]

Agreed. Yes is a terrible example of music that's not challenging enough for a good stereo.

[bobman1235]

Originally posted by shack

Since bobman1235 wants to only list PURE ROCK BANDS and given the info above I will have to now include The Swan Silvertones and The Mighty Clouds of Joy in my list of great rock bands. [/B]

LOL. OK, point made. Like I said, I'm just saying that when someone says "rock band" to me, I htink of a certain type of music. Mostly it is based on the... for lack of a better term... "hardness" of the music. Go too far in one direction, you have metal, the other, it's more pop / soft "rock".

But you're right, it's arbitrary, and completely made up by me. But in my deifnition thos eare what I consider the best rock bands.



Oh, adn the thing about Yes and Heart was a joke guys. Everyone has different tastes - I know a bunch of people who hate the Beatles which is sacrilidge to me. :)

[bobman1235]

Originally posted by Loud & Clear
~~ I don't think I liked 'Yes' when I was 24 either; of course I also didn't really know their material other than the couple of songs you hear on classic rock stations.

I'm guessing that you've probably never heard 'Close to the Edge,' 'The Yes Album,' or 'Fragile' in their entirety. Either that or you're not terribly advanced. ;>}

I'll have to listen to some other "Yes" just to be more informed, because you're right, the only Yes I've heard is "I've Seen All Good People", "Roundabout" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart". All of which casue me physical pain to listen to. I hear good music IN THERE somewhere, but then they start singing, and I throw up in my mouth.

[setzer808]

I'll throw a few in there:

Top 5: (no order)

Led Zepplin
Pink Floyd
Aerosmith
AC/DC
Cheap Trick (Haven't seen this one listed yet!)

Honorable Mention:

ZZ Top
The Who
The Eagles
Metallica
Rolling Stones
Guns and Roses
Black Sabbath

[jayhawk815]

Although I'm a Noob, I thought I'd throw in my two cents.
Here it goes, a top ten if you will, in no particular order...


Aerosmith
Rolling Stones
Guns N Roses
Lynard Skynard
Metallica
Steve Miller Band
Beatles
Pink Floyd
Credence Clearwater Revival
Pearl Jam

[simm]

Tough to narrow it down to only five but my votes go for, in no particular order:

- AC/DC
- Bruce Springsteen- just getting into his music the last 6 months or so
- The Doors
- The Allman Brothers
- Rush- pre-Moving Pictures

[gwh]

Van Halen (pre red rocker)
AC/DC
Stones
Ozzy
Mettalica

H.M.
Alice in chains
Zep
The police
Def leppard
Journey

Van Halen "Fair Warning" sounds damn good in DPII.

[Tour2ma]

My 5 in no particular order....
Yes
The Beatles
Bowie
Little Feat
Steely Dan (close call here on the "Rock" definition)

Honorable mentions that come to mind and that I don't think have been mentioned yet:
The Allman Brothers' Band
The Clash
The Beach Boys
Chicago
Neil Young

[keith allen]

The Brothers,of course
KISS!
AC/DC
The Stones
Rush





And I love...
UFO
Queen
Led Zep
Mac
Skynyrd

[rskarvan]

1. Rush
2. Yes
3. Kiss
4. Queen
5. Who

[woodyjacobs]

In no particular order:

The Beatles
Led Zep


Okay, I originally had 5 listed but got to thinking about what defines greatness in a band and I think it boils down to this:

1) standing the test of time
2) not making new music after the creative fire has died out

Now I know there are record contracts to be fulfilled and all that but I just hate to see a formerly great band embarrass themselves with "the last" reunion tour, done year after year and chunking out horrific albums to fulfill contracts. Gag.

There are tons of bands that could almost make the list that just carried on too long until they were no longer vital. Bands like Van Halen, Yes, Metallica, Pink Floyd, u2, Kiss and others just too numerous to name.

There are also newer groups that might have made my list but their careers were cut short...I don't think you can call a band great after just 3 or 4 albums (The Pixies, The Police and Nirvana, for instance...okay, so I know the Police had 5 but I still think they weren't around long enough).
But then again I'm not a professional musician and have never dealt with the pressures to keep churning out the goods. It's got to be hard.