Developing a definitive list of the “greatest of all time” requires a very thorough thought process, which will need to take into account subjective and objective angles when building such a list. When it comes to rock bands, there are several gray spaces. as to who or what is considered “rock. “In the case of this list, the selected bands and the idea come from the main subgenres of rock, whether it’s vintage rock, blues-rock, hard-rock, heavy metal, alternative rock or punk.
To keep things simple, the bands included in this list are all bands, not individual artists or solo rock bands (e. g. , Elton John, Neil Diamond, etc. ). Keeping this in mind, the main criteria for this list about rock bands whose musical painting has remained imperishable over the years and is still applicable in the modern music industry.
Featuring hard, biting rock anthems from the ’70s and early ’90s, the Massachusetts rock band is widely regarded as a prime example of true rock n’ roll fame and prowess. Since the hits “Dream On,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Crazy,” and “Walk This Way,” Aerosmith members Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, and Tom Hamilton have damaged musical barriers and created a legacy that few artists have even attempted to achieve.
While the band is lately on their final farewell tour, the love and respect for their music has disappeared. Lately, the organization is seeing a huge increase in the percentage of younger generations, especially on social media platforms like TikTok.
Inventor of Texas hard blues rock, ZZ-Top was one of the first rock bands to deliberately unite facets of Texas blues and rock n’ roll in the early ’70s and early 2000s. Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard are widely regarded as one of the most productive rhythm sections in rock music, and with multi-platinum albums and hit singles such as “Gimme All Your Lovin,” “La Grange,” and “Sharp Dressed Man. “”The band’s iconic blues-rock leap” is certainly catchier than ever.
ZZ-Top is no longer actively making music after the death of founding member Dusty Hill in 2021. The remaining members are alive and active in the current scene.
TOOL is characterized by being one of the darkest, most complicated and most prominent rock bands. With a progressive steel base, the Los Angeles band didn’t do themselves any favors in terms of marketing to the general public, however, they found good luck in the excellence of their exclusive songwriting and provocative imagery. The quartet of Maynard James Keenan, Adam Jones, Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor was formed in 1990 and has since become a multi-platinum band and winner of a Grammy in stadium sales.
While the band has been active and touring lately, their most recent 2019 record, Fear Inoculum, turned out to be the band’s first studio album in over thirteen years. Hopefully, enthusiasts may not have to wait any longer for the band’s next musical endeavor. however, if they do, they will most likely follow in the footsteps of Fear Inoculum and a number one album on the charts.
Defining an era of rock in the music scene of the ’90s and early 2000s, Oasis is part of the history of trendy rock and the UK’s musical heritage. Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher helped give birth to “Britpop” with Oasis’ signature take on the vintage classic. rock composition, which can be heard on his multi-platinum hits “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova,” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger. “
Despite the band’s dissolution in 2009, their influence has extended beyond the rock genre, with big bands such as Coldplay and Arctic Monkeys posing them as a direct influence.
Much of the rock genre and live music industry would not be what they are today without KISS. Formed in 1973 in New York City, band members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss pioneered many of the theatrical and explosive performances that the bands have embraced today. From the pyrotechnics to the levitating drums and the history surrounding the band and its members, KISS is a master at branding and cultivating an unwavering fan base.
Combined with their Anthemic Stadium hits “Detroit Rock City,” “Rock and Roll All Nite,” and “Love Gun,” it’s no wonder that KISS has had one of the most successful careers in rock. last concert in December 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. However, they have since announced that they will continue to transform, but in the form of virtual avatars.
Radiohead, one of the most eclectic and beloved experimental bands in rock music, emerged in the late 80’s and have since helped shape “art-rock”, and even more so what it means to be a rock band within the modern music industry. Like The Bends, OK Computer and In Rainbows, Radiohead has established an eternal discography from start to finish.
Original members Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien and Philip Selway still actively perform in combination and produce music. Most recently, in 2019, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“Hitmakers” would be another word that best describes the American rock band Journey. Formed in 1973 in San Francisco, Journey has become a rock and pop culture staple with their catchy radio anthems like “Don’t Stop Believe In. “”, “Faithfully” and “As you want”.
Although the band had its heyday as songwriters in the early ’80s, Journey’s music has been eternally maintained through a multitude of generations of enthusiasts and trendy artists. The band’s main lineup in the ’80s included Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory, and Steve Smith, who contributed to the band’s iconic multi-platinum albums, Departure, Escape, and Frontiers.
Spearheading the grunge movement of the ’90s and shaping much of what is the hard rock and punk trending today, Nirvana is a band as monumental as it was when it first arrived on the Seattle music scene in 1987. While the band broke up after the death of Kurt After Cobain in 1994, their multi-platinum albums and hit singles such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Heart Shaped Box,” and “Come As You Are” have attracted a new generation of listeners over the years.
Members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic are still involved in the trendy rock scene, and Grohl actively plays and writes with the Foo Fighters. Most recently, Grohl and Novoselic accepted the lifetime award at the 2023 Grammys in honor of Nirvana.
With one of the shortest careers in the genre, Cream’s legacy is quite disproportionate to the overall effect they’ve had on rock as a whole. From 1966 to 1968, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce laid the foundations for many of rock’s most iconic subgenres, from blues rock to psychedelic rock to the early days of heavy metal. The band’s experiments in the studio would lead to hit singles and now familiar anthems such as “Sunshine Of Your Love,” “White Room,” and “Strange Beer. “
Cream would also be the first band to release a double album that went platinum with Wheels of Fire in 1968. Since then, the band has played a key role in introducing many generations to the seductive brilliance of the electric guitar, and the most sensible of that. , the strength of rock ‘n’ roll.
Ann and Nancy Wilson replaced the rock face around the ’70s. Fusing elements of early rock n’ roll, folk, and hard rock, the Wilson sisters played a key role in developing sonic instructions imaginable in rock music. They took hold in 1975, the band’s debut album, Dreamboat Annie, proved that the band was capable of writing hit singles like “Crazy On You,” which would be a stepping stone to Little Queen’s seminal, multi-platinum record in 1977.
Recognizing his stature and heritage in rock, Heart We was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Lately, the band is still active and recently announced a massive North American tour for 2024.
If there’s one band that best fits the description of “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll,” it’s Guns N’ Roses. Having taken over the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles in 1985, the hard rock band has since become the king of hard rock. rock anthems. With their multi-platinum albums Appetite For Destruction and Use You Illusion I
Although the band’s founding lineup is no longer reuniting, members Axl Rose, Slash and Duff Mckagen reunited in 2015 and put on one of the highest-grossing tours with their Not In This Lifetime tour. . . (2016-2019) generating more than 584 million dollars.
Emerging from Los Angeles in 1991, Rage Against The Machine has since become one of the most popular competitive rock bands in history. In both sound and lyrics, the band has never been one to beat around the bush, thanks to their bold experimentation between funk, rap and heavy steel. genres to use their music as a platform for social and political injustices. RATM is rock music in all its essences, but in its maximum rebellious and forceful form.
The hit songs “Guerrillos angeles Radio”, “Killing In The Name” and “Bulls On Parade” perfectly illustrate this facet of their music and also show how RATM’s attitude and behavior play a role in their sound. Members Tom Morello, Zach of Los Angeles Rocha, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk have been active recently and have led Rage Against The Machine throughout North America. However, it was only recently that the band hinted at their goal of not continuing to work together. Interestingly, this comes after a successful comeback year for the band, as they had just been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2023.
RUSH, the pinnacle of “progressive rock,” is still respected for its widespread influence on progressive music. The band has been instrumental in shaping the concept of long-form concept and narrative albums in rock with iconic albums such as 2112 and Moving Pictures, and their epic songwriting, especially on singles such as “YYZ” and “Tom Sawyer”, showcases their unheard-of approach. Towards a melodic and catchy writing.
In addition, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifesome boast musical ability unprecedented since the band’s debut in 1968. Although drummer Neil Peart passed away in 2020, the remaining members of RUSH are still alive, although they are retired. of traveling and writing songs.
As one of the oldest, most esteemed, and most influential heavy steel bands, Iron Maiden is as important to the foundations of heavy steel as it is to the pillars of modern rock. Emerging from the East London music scene in 1975, Iron Maiden have since continued to make soaring lead guitars, sporadic galloping riffs and anthem choruses a staple of the steel subgenre. From hit singles like “Run To The Hills,” “The Trooper,” and “Fear of The Dark” to his horror-inspired songs. art and theater, Iron Maiden has an essential component of heavy steel and the rock genre in general.
Although the band has gone through several lineup adjustments over the years, its core members Steve Harris, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Janick Gers, Nicko McBrain, and Bruce Dickinson have remained committed to continuing the band’s legacy, whether in the studio or on the road. .
Formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1976, U2 has a family-friendly reputation since its downfall in the 1980s and beyond. With one of the highest-grossing tours in history with the U2 360 tour in the early 2000s, the band has no shortage. of enthusiasts or critically acclaimed albums.
Founding members Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton have created some of rock’s most recognizable anthems together, from “With Or Without You” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” to the most recent hit singles “Beautiful Day. “and “Vertigo. ” With the albums The Joshua Tree, War and The Unforgettable Fire, U2 cultivated a sound that any band of their generation could have, and they have continued to innovate and be a leading example of social activism in rock music and beyond.
The London Clash played a pivotal role in the emergence of the roots of punk music and the beginnings of the new wave. Formed in 1976, the band of Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon has since been one of the best-selling punk rock bands. bands from history with multi-platinum hits such as “I Fought The Law” and “Should I Stay or Should”.
One of the most admirable facets of the band and one that still applies today was The Clash’s reluctance to pursue purely successful practices within the music industry. Rather, The Clash found it more vital to express their perspectives on music’s socio-political issues. the era, which would be largely a theme for the broader punk rock genre.
The Doors are not only one of the most important and founding bands in rock music, but they are undoubtedly one of the most iconic and popularized bands in the United States in the 1960s. Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 and have since managed to break the barrier of global pop culture and become one of the most recognizable bands in history.
With the hits “Light My Fire,” “The End,” and “Riders on the Storm,” the Doors demonstrated their ability to write melodic, mind-blowing, and delightfully haunting songs. What’s more, frontman Jim Morrison single-handedly created an eye-catcher. and mystique for the rock n’ roll lifestyle that has since influenced countless other bands and artists. Although the band came to an end in the early 1970s after Morrison’s death, surviving band members Robby Krieger and John Densmore have since seen the band inducted into the 1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and revered with the Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2007.
Giving a first glimpse of what rock n’ roll music would sound like with a more biting twist and a dash of chaos, The Who is widely regarded as the spearhead of antics and drama related to loud and explosive rock concerts. Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle shaped the band in London in 1962, and they have since become one of the best-selling and critically acclaimed rock bands in the rock genre.
With the band’s concerts putting them in a league of their own, not to mention The Who breaking the 1976 Guinness World Record for being the loudest live band, their notable hits like “Pinball Wizard,” “Baba O’Riley,” and “Behind Blue Eyes” cemented them as one of the oldest rock bands in music history.
Godfather of heavy metal, Black Sabbath turned rock music upside down in 1969 and has since been identified as one of the founders of rock’s most infamous subgenre. Formed in the market town of Birmingham, England, the quartet of Ozzy Osbourne, Tonni Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward went on to produce a series of albums and songs of maximum metal impact between 1969 and the early ’80s.
With a litany of accolades and respected prestige in the steel community, Black Sabbath’s masterful sound and songwriting are undoubtedly timeless. The songs “War Pigs,” “Paranoid,” and “N. I. B. ” are discovered through new generations of musicians and rock connoisseurs, making Black Sabbath an important and popular avenue into the heavy steel subgenre. To this day, few steel bands come close to a stature and heritage similar to those of Black Sabbath, demonstrating the band’s timelessness and importance in the wonderful genre of rock.
Formed in the UK in 1967, Fleetwood Mac is a fusion of the most successful songwriters and musicians from the UK and the US. U. S. Known for combining facets of folk music with a more streamlined technique for rock songwriting, the band achieved their great fortune after singer Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham joined the band in 1974, and shortly thereafter the now-diamond-certified album Rumours was released, critically acclaimed.
To this day, Fleetwood Mac’s music resonates with a host of generations, young and old, while the hit singles “Landslide,” “Dreams,” and “The Chain” continue to serve as masterclasses in rock music composition and production. Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Christine McVie have been the key and most consistent members of the band in their years of activity, and after Christine McVie’s death in 2022, the band has rejected the idea of a new tour.
AC/DC, who embody the strength of hard rock, is Australia’s hard rock band and one of the most successful and influential rock bands. Formed in 1973, the band began to make waves after brothers Malcolm and Angus Young recruited singer Bon Scott. From 1975 to 1979, the band released many highly acclaimed rock albums, adding Let There Be Rock, Powerage, and Highway To Hell.
After Bon Scott’s death in 1979, the band discovered an even greater life with their new leader, Brian Johnson, who made his debut with the diamond-certified 1980 album Back In Black. With hits “Back In Black,” “Thunderstruck,” and “Highway to Hell,” AC/DC continued to attract hordes of listeners with their ability to write rock n’ roll songs that were purely electrifying above all else. Beyond their album sales and their great influence, AC/DC is respected to this day for maintaining the same tenacious attitude and taste for rock for more than 50 years, while maintaining a consistent fan base and overwhelming critical reaction within rock. The band remained active, betting and releasing studio albums with their existing line-up adding Angus Young. , Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, Stevie Young and Cliff Williams.
Without a doubt, Metallica is the most influential, financially successful, and universally acclaimed steel band of all time. With a string of flawless records in the ’80s and early ’90s, it’s no wonder Metallica have grown into gigantic figures. they are found today in the spaces of rock and heavy steel.
After their debut in 1981, Metallica’s James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo, along with modelling members Cliff Burton, Dave Mustaine and Jason Newsted, have especially contributed to the shape and sound of rock and steel in fashion. With the albums Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets andArray. . . And Justice For All, Metallica built a legacy that to this day is considered unrivaled in heavy steel. In addition, the trajectory and global popularity that Metallica experienced after the release of their self-titled album, also known as “The Black Album”, has yet to be noticed by any hard rock or heavy steel band to this day. Songs like “Enter Sandman,” “One,” and “Master of Puppets” have been consolidated. as a masterclass in songwriting with steel, and many listeners consider them a gateway to competitive music.
Combining elements of rock, country, and old-school folk music, The Eagles played a pivotal role in defining the genre of vintage rock and, in doing so, are widely identified as America’s greatest rock n’ roll band. Key members Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey and Don Fedder formed in Los Angeles in 1971 and have since been one of the best-selling rock bands in history, with notable hits such as “Hotel California,” “Go Easy,” and “Life. “in the fast lane. “
The band is known for its incredible musical skill on guitar and melodic writing. The band’s multi-platinum album, Hotel California, still manages to get into the hands of aspiring guitarists and rock connoisseurs, many of whom are vintage rock’s endgame. .
Shaping the sound and symbol of the rock scene on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip, Van Halen is not only the number one influence on many of Los Angeles’ biggest rock bands, but the band itself is one of the most popular. Founded by brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, the band began to make waves in 1978 with the release of their self-titled album, Van Halen. Since then, few bands have made such a confusing and shocking first impression as Van Halen with their studio album deyet.
David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen and especially guitarist Eddie Van Halen revolutionized the sound of rock with the release of their first album. For the rest of the ’80s and early ’90s, along with singer Sammy Hagar, Van Halen was a dominant force in the rock scene. With the hits “Panama,” “Jump,” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” Van Halen burst into the pop culture sphere, and to this day, his sound and legacy still resonate in nearly every corner of trendy rock music.
As one of the oldest rock bands, the Rolling Stones continue to make waves and produce new music more than 60 years later. Formed in 1962, the Stones were at the forefront of the invasion of British rock in the early ’60s. However, unlike many other bands of their time, the Rolling Stones, managed to evolve with the coming decades and the evolution of the music industry.
The band’s surviving members, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, have continued to carry on the band’s legacy to this day, performing for new generations and repurposing hits such as “Gimme Shelter,” “Sympathy For The Devil,” and “Paint. “, Black” in other media, especially in film. The fact that the Rolling Stones remain one of the most popular active rock bands in the world makes them one of the most unreleased rock bands in history.
Few musicians have single-handedly revolutionized a musical tool and genre like Jimi Hendrix. Formed in 1966, the trio known as The Jimi Hendrix Experience would go on to pioneer the sound, image, and mysticism that are still widely attributed to rock. music and electric guitar today. Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell joined forces to create an electrifying, blues-centric and provocative soundscape that spawned the world-famous hits “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” and “Foxy Lady. “”, to name a few.
While Hendrix was the key player behind the group’s good fortune and hit singles, Redding and Mitchell were the glue and rhythmic segment needed to bring such extraordinary songs to life. Despite a short career of only four years, the effect and influence The Jimi Hendrix Experience had on rock music only adds to the unnerving nature of their legacy.
Pink Floyd is one of the most internal and vital bands in the history of music, including rock. Having discovered their position in early 1965 with discoverer Syd Barrett, the band reached its full potential after the release of Barrett in 1968 and with the addition of the frontman. members Roger Waters, David Gilmore, Richard Wright and Nick Mason. With the albums Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall, Pink Floyd have become one of the best-selling and most beloved musical groups in history. .
While the band’s surviving members, David Gilmore and Roger Waters, continue to actively travel and perform Pink Floyd’s music (albeit under different names), the band’s music and message are more available than ever in today’s world.
If anything suggested their performance at Live Aid in 1985, it’s that Queen was destined to be one of the most important rock bands of all time. Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon started in London music in 1970 and since then they have been one of the most popular and enjoyed groups around the world.
Known for their original and dynamic technique for writing rock songs, Queen has penned some of rock music’s most recognizable and influential hits with the songs “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are The Champions,” and “Under Pressure,” to name a few. The band’s frontman, Freddie Mercury, single-handedly shaped much of the choreographed antics and poses used today through rock and pop icons. In addition, Mercury’s unheard-of vocal talent and leveled personality are considered popular gold when it comes to the rock genre. Although Mercury passed away in 1991, Brian May and Roger Taylor continued the band’s legacy and actively performed with the band around the world.
It’s hard to identify another band or artist that, on its own, replaced the music industry like the Beatles did. Formed in 1960, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are to this day one of the most beloved bands in history. Trendy music, leave rock.
As pioneers not only of the beginnings of rock, but also of the process of recording and generating rock music, it is no wonder that the Beatles continue to enjoy great prestige to this day. With multi-platinum albums such as Please Please Me, Abby Road, Revolver, and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles helped lead the pace of rock music and many of its prominent subgenres such as pop-rock and even psychedelic rock. Simply put, the Beatles replaced music and its global legacy and adoration. they are far from diminishing.
Led Zeppelin is thus known as a rock band. Formed in 1968, members John Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones combined to form a unit that no other four-piece rock band has been able to match.
Throughout their discography, Led Zeppelin has been able to refine a sound and tame an audience that has since shaped all rock as we know it today. Known for epic songs such as “Stairway to Heaven”, “No Quarter” and “Kashmir,” as well as undisputed anthems such as “Immigrant Song” and “Good Times Bad Times”, Zeppelin’s prestige with its musicality and songwriting was ultimately what decided to move to São Paulo, although the band was halted after the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980. Their music and stature continued to be respected in almost each and every generation of artists and rock enthusiasts who followed them.
Unlike the previous list, the following list is purely objective and is ranked according to the number of albums sold through a given rock band. The data presented below is on the RIAA’s list of the highest-grossing artists (albums sold) to date.
75 million albums sold
Best-selling album: The Wall, 23 million units.
75 million albums sold
Best-selling album: Back In Black, 25 million units.
112. 5 million albums sold
Best-selling album: Led Zeppelin IV, 24 million units
120 million albums sold
Best-selling album: Her greatest hits (1971-1975), 38 million units
183 million albums sold
Best-selling album: The Beatles (white album), 24 million units.
Conclusion
The most productive rock bands of all time have managed to remain applicable during their years in the business and beyond. This can simply take the form of new generations sharing the same monumental praise and sense of respect towards a specific band, or it can simply be noticed in a fashion act that channels one of those mythical bands through their own music. Regardless, the rock bands listed above have undoubtedly created enduring art and are therefore considered to be the most productive of the genre.