The Greatest Rock Bands of All Time
8.2 
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved international success with their progressive and psychedelic music. Distinguished by their use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, and elaborate live shows, they are one of the most commercially successful and musically influential groups in the history of popular music. (Wiki)
The kings of the concept album are undeniably among the greats. Personally, they aren't among my favorites but songs of their's are. Trekking backwards in time, once I get past The Wall, my interest flags but their footprints were left in stone and not sand.
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The band with the shortest run of any on my list yet Jimi's remarkable style and ingenuity, with regards to music, can be seen in other artists to this day. Volume, gain, treble, fuzztone and feedback were all hallmarks of Hendrix's sound. He helped make popular the wah-wah pedal and also pioneered experimentation with stereophonic phasing effects.
One of the 27 Club that some love to go on about, popular musicians that all died at the age of 27, Hendrix is - by far - the one I miss most.
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Petty and the Heartbreakers never seem to get the respect they're due; they always get lost in the shuffle. It seems that only when they are brought up that people get that look and say, "Oh, yeah! I forgot about them! They're great!"
12 studio albums, 3 solo ones and 8 live or compilations (with 54 singles released!!!) make for a hefty legacy, even were they to stop right this minute. Then there's his guest spots on other artists singles and his work w/ the Traveling Wilburys. Tom Petty has indelibly made his mark on rock n' roll forever!
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7.5 
Australia's Kings of Rock have a huge following for both of their incarnations. Some favor the Bon Scott era and others the current one with once-roadie and ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson. Personally, I like them both but the current lineup is my favorite. Most bands don't survive the loss of their lead singer, much less find renewed success with a complete restyling of their sound altogether.
Since Back in Black's release in 1980, AC/DC has release a stream of pulse-pounding rock anthems that rages like a river's rapids and never fails to put a grin on my face.
Like many popular bands AC/DC has spawned tribute bands. I don't know if any of the others have spawned all-girl tribute bands though. As an interesting diversion you might want to check out AC/DShe or Hell's Belles! ;D
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8.2 
The fourth greatest band to invade from the shores of Britainnia began their existence as the New Yardbirds but changed their name before signing the deal with Atlantic which gave them so much artistic freedom. Well known for their gargantuan tours, shows and lives of excess, they are one of the bands that pioneered heavy metal and hard rock.
Their albums saw subsequent experimentation, each a gem in it's own way that was unique but undeniably Zeppelin. With the release of IV and the song Stairway to Heaven the band cemented irrevocably their status asRock Gods.
They've been described as the biggest band of the 70's and as influential to that decade as the Beatles were to the 60's.
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7.1 
Described at one time as America's answer to both the Stones and Zeppelin, Aerosmith is the best-selling American rock band of all time. 21 Top 40 hits, 9 #1's, 4 Grammys and 10 MTV music awards under their belt, the band was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
Toys in the Attic was the album that launched the band into the mainstream and up against other popular rock bands of the time. Yet they almost fell victim to the tragedy that has brought about the demise of so many...drugs and alcohol abuse. Joe Perry and Brad Whitford left the band for this reason around 1980 and the band lost both their steam and their mojo. They released only one album before the duo's return to the fold and it didn't do well comparatively.
With Perry and Whitford's return in '84 and a new deal with Geffen Records their star proved, not only, on the rise but in meteoric ascent. Pump, Get a Grip, Permanent Vacation and more have held the majority of their hits.
Reputed to be clean and sober, Aerosmith is still going strong to this day!
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8.3 
Opera rock at it's finest, Queen's shows became some of the best offered by rock bands. Freddie Mercury was the complete showman and one of the most amazing vocal talents ever. A string of hits longer than my arm and a fan following larger than some small country's populations are just two of the things Queen is known for. The band have released a total of 18 number one albums, 18 number one singles, and 10 number one DVDs.
Freddie Mercury's loss to the world and rock music is one of the most grievous and one that the band did not recover from or choose to even try. Their legend and their music though will live on forever.
We Will Rock You indeed!!!
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6.4 
Forever touted as The Hottest Band in the World these showmen of Glamrock amassed a literal Army of followers: The KISS Army. ;)
From out of the greatest city in America came it's greatest (arguably) band. Wishing to be different, they came up with the idea of creating stage personas for themselves and, even further, chose to make their stage shows among the most memorable. Boasting fire-breathing, blood spitting, pyrotechnics, smoking guitars, levitating drum kits and rockets... they succeeded.
KISS was, at one time, shrouded under a cloud of perceived satanism but this has been forever denied by all the original band. One of them was even quoted as, laughingly, asking how they were supposed to be satanists with three Jews in the band. ;)
The lineup has changed over the years and the music has metamorphasized but the sound has always remained unquestionably KISS. KISS' early albums did not achieve great success but it was their live act that truly brought them to the fore of the rock scene and began the hysteria of fandom for them.
With one of the longest lists of fan favorite songs of any band, KISS will never run out of material for their live shows. In makeup or out, with whatever lineup they choose, as long as Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are the heart and soul of KISS, they will ever be
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7.7 
The inheritors of the Beatles crown, the Stones arrival to the forefront of the rock scene saw the rise of the us vs. them argument. Fans have, for as long as I can remember, argued over who was better...the Stones or the Beatles. You could like them both though some fans chose to ignore one or the other as inferior; there were though, always arguments. Personally, I like them both but am much more a Stones fan.
If the Beatles were the "good boys" then the Stones were the "bad boys" and they lived up to the hype and distinction. Like many bands they let success go to their heads a bit and enjoyed all the things that money could buy. Similar to Aerosmith though, they weathered the storm of drugs, alcohol and sex to emerge whole if not unscarred.
Who says you can't get no satisfaction? Mick might still sing the words but I don't believe he buys the hype. He knows better. The Glimmer Twins keep rocking with the best of them and probably will till their dying day.
They are living proof that age ain't nothing but a number and rock music isn't just for the young. It's a state of mind and a matter of the heart. In the end It's only rock n' roll...but I like it!
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8.4 
Finally we come to the end of my little countdown. Surely you weren't surprised, were you? The Beatles will, most likely, always be the greatest rock n' roll band. It's not like anyone can go back in time and supplant them - and that's the only way it could happen.
The Beatles have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles in the UK than any other act. They've also outsold every other artist of any genre in the US. They hold the record for most number-one hits on the Hot 100 chart with 20. The Beatles are the best-selling band in history with over a billion units!
What began as Beatlemania grew into musical-maturity and experimentation. The Beatles came to be viewed as the embodiment of ideals shared by the 60's sociocultural revolutions. Their later albums contained what fans and critics alike view as their finest material.
There's no telling what heights they might have risen to or what other accomplishments and offerings they might have made had they stayed together.
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