# My top 100 pop and rock bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279 "2009-01-27T20:38:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/1 "2009-01-27T20:38:10Z")
At a dare from a thread in the pit where U2, Coldplay and Radiohead were abused. Ranking is from 1 to 100. Taking into account number of favourite songs, number of favourite albums and general appreciation. Ranking is solid in the top 10, pretty solid in top 30, and becomes more fuzzy further down. Only bands, no solo artists. Personal taste obviously. Genesis Porcupine Tree Pink Floyd Kayak Simon and Garfunkel Dire Straits Roxy Music Eagles Queen Beatles Japan 10CC Talk Talk U2 Talking Heads Cranberries Marillion Keane Carpenters Yes Radiohead ABBA Renaissance R.E.M. Earth and Fire Riverside Camel Alice Cooper Uriah Heep Focus Alan Parsons Project Fischer Z Duran Duran ELO Martha and the Muffins Fleetwood Mac Manfred Mann’s Earth Band China Crisis Coldplay Dream Theater Die Toten Hosen Golden Earring Meat Loaf Nightwish Eurythmics Supertramp Bread Nena Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Moody Blues Garbage Godley and Creme Oasis Smiths The The Muse Steely Dan Santana Doobie Brothers Pain of Salvation Simple Minds Harmonium Spandau Ballet Bacamarte Icehouse Quidam Rush Sweet Slade Suede Pulp Evanescence Doors Green Day Kraftwerk IQ Police PFM Rolling Stones Los Jaivas Icehouse King Crimson Shingetsu Cats Human League SBB Queensryche Van der Graaf Generator Arena PFM Neuschwanstein Stranglers Alquin Quella Vecchia Locanda 10000 Maniacs Banco (dms) Pogues Dead can dance Gathering Lacuna Coil ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/2 "2009-01-27T20:42:18Z")
I can’t say that I agree on the ordering, but there are many fine choices here. But no Fine Young Cannibals. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/3 "2009-01-27T22:41:45Z")
No Zeppelin? No Who? No Doors? No Donovan? No America? No Mamas and The Papas? No Springsteen? No The Byrds? No Cream? No Creedence? No Steppenwolf? Sheesh. But you get props for including Dead Can Dance. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/4 "2009-01-27T22:51:52Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > No Zeppelin? No Who? No Doors? No Donovan? No America? No Mamas and The Papas? No Springsteen? No The Byrds? No Cream? No Creedence? No Steppenwolf? Sheesh. > > But you get props for including Dead Can Dance. Actually, he got The Doors. He also got 26 others that I’d likely have on my list. Dead Can Dance wasn’t one of them tho’.😛 But I’ll have The Who. Okay, and the Mamas and The Papas, The Byrds and Steppenwolf too. . 10 that he missed. Spear Of Destiny Joy Division Love The Misunderstood The Clash The Specials Can Big Audio Dynamite New Order The Chameleons ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/5 "2009-01-27T23:01:26Z")
Okay, heres the absolute official etched-in-stone Top 10\*, no order, except for the first one. The Beatles The Who The Rolling Stones Led Zeppelin Yes The Moody Blues Pink Floyd The Talking Heads Fleetwood Mac Steely Dan **Ivan** , nice call on Can. \*Subject to change at whim. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/6 "2009-01-27T23:01:39Z")
Shit, I couldn’t be arsed to do a hundred, but here’s my 10: 1. The Beatles 2. The Kinks 3. The Pixies 4. Wire 5. My Bloody Valentine 6. The Clash 7. Velvet Underground 8. The Smiths 9. Led Zeppelin 10. Sleater-Kinney ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/7 "2009-01-27T23:03:47Z")
Hey, where’s Kansas? ---
**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/8 "2009-01-27T23:06:25Z")
Somewhere in the mid-west. Completely agree on your number one Art, nice to see some appreciation where deserved. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/9 "2009-01-27T23:10:55Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > **Ivan** , nice call on Can. Tangerine Dream and Popol Vuh would have to be in there too. Oh, and how could I forget [Pere Ubu](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1hYqvtHzr48)? ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/10 "2009-01-27T23:16:11Z")
Seeing some of these makes me wonder… Have you heard/what do you think of Transatlantic Flower Kings The Reasoning Spock’s Beard The Tangent Traffic (and/or recent Steve Winwood) Kansas (and/or Proto-Kaw) Return To Forever Mahavishnu Orchestra Weather Report KISS 🙂 ? Actually I’d be curious to know what anyone has to say about the first five. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/11 "2009-01-28T00:09:41Z")
You listed PFM twice. (I remember seeing them on the Midnight Special or something as a wee lad; some song called Celebration or something). Plus: Genesis Pink Floyd Eagles ABBA Alan Parsons Project Duran Duran Coldplay Moody Blues Doobie Brothers Spandau Ballet Evanescence = u phail 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/12 "2009-01-28T00:32:26Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > You listed PFM twice. (I remember seeing them on the Midnight Special or something as a wee lad; some song called Celebration or something). > > Plus: > > Genesis > Pink Floyd > Eagles > ABBA > Alan Parsons Project > Duran Duran > Coldplay > Moody Blues > Doobie Brothers > Spandau Ballet > Evanescence > > = u phail 😃 I dunno. I think early Genesis is definitely worthwhile (as much as I generally dislike the prog rock genre), Pink Floyd is understandable (although they do nothing for me), and ABBA wrote solid and memorably bubblegum pop (or whatever you want to call it). ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/13 "2009-01-28T00:36:39Z")
1. Beatles 2. Tool 3-10. Led Zeppelin Radiohead Television Oasis Nirvana Isis Rolling Stones Metallica ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/14 "2009-01-28T00:50:44Z")
I’ll do 100 (in alphabetical order, 'cause I’m going from my iTunes library - I assume this is groups/bands only, not solo artists): Angry Samoans Animal Collective The B-52s The Bats The Beach Boys Beastie Boys The Beatles The Beautiful South Beck Belle & Sebastian Big Star Blonde Redhead Blondie Buzzcocks Can The Church Cinerama The Clash The Coup The Creation Creedence Clearwater Revival Crowded House The Cure The dB’s Devo The Divine Comedy Elvis Costello & The Attractions The English Beat The Fall The Feelies Fugazi The Fugs Funkadelic Gang Of Four The Go-Betweens The Go-Go’s Handsome Boy Modeling School His Name Is Alive Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians Hoodoo Gurus The Housemartins Husker Du The Jam The Jesus & Mary Chain Joy Division The Kinks Kraftwerk Liliput/Kleenex Love Luna Lush The Magnetic Fields Meat Puppets Mekons Midnight Oil Minutemen Mission Of Burma The Modern Lovers The Monkees Motorhead My Bloody Valentine New Order Parliament Pere Ubu Pet Shop Boys Pixies The Pogues The Police Portishead Psychedelic Furs Public Enemy Pulp Queen R.E.M. Ramones The Replacements Ride The Rolling Stones Roxy Music Saint Etienne Sigur Ros Silver Apples Sleater-Kinney Sly & The Family Stone The Smiths The Soft Boys Sonic Youth The Specials The Stooges Sugar Talking Heads Television U2 The Velvet Underground Violent Femmes The Who Wire X XTC Yo La Tengo ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/15 "2009-01-28T05:31:53Z")
I got PFM twice? well, at 100 there’s bound to be one mistake. The first one should be substituted by Blackfield, which I overlooked. And I somehow forgot postrock, so Sigur Ros and GYBE should get inthere somhow. I told you the end was fuzzy. 🙂 I’m glad to say that I know at least 80% of the bands that are supposedly “missing” which is an odd word to use, as this is my personal taste. I do not pretend that these are the best period. > [@DfrntBreign](#): > > Seeing some of these makes me wonder… > > Have you heard/what do you think of > Transatlantic > Flower Kings > The Reasoning > Spock’s Beard > The Tangent > > Traffic (and/or recent Steve Winwood) > Kansas (and/or Proto-Kaw) > > Return To Forever > Mahavishnu Orchestra > Weather Report > > KISS 🙂 ? > > Actually I’d be curious to know what anyone has to say about the first five. Transatlantic - does not ring a bell Flower Kings - have 5 albums, not making the top 100 The Reasoning - does not ring a bell Spock’s Beard - have 2 albums, not making the top 100 The Tangent - have 3 albums, the band is growing on me (fairly recent discovery) Traffic (and/or recent Steve Winwood) - know a lot of songs, don’t particularly like them Kansas (and/or Proto-Kaw) - six albums, not making the top 100 Return To Forever - does not ring a bell Mahavishnu Orchestra - two albums, not making the top 100 Weather Report - name is familiar, can’t put music with it (no albums) KISS 🙂 ? - um, no. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/16 "2009-01-28T06:29:06Z")
Off the top of my head, into the space that will never be counted, the bands I actually want to come to my birthday: 1. Beatles 2. Who 3. Crucified (look it up) 4. Daniel Amos (look it up) 5. Deep Purple 6. Beach Boys 7. Undercover (look it up) 8. Altar Boys (look it up) 9. Ramones 10. Keith Green (look it up) ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/17 "2009-01-28T07:38:45Z")
> [@Art\_Rock](#): > > I got PFM twice? well, at 100 there’s bound to be one mistake. The first one should be substituted by Blackfield, which I overlooked. And I somehow forgot postrock, so Sigur Ros and GYBE should get inthere somhow. I told you the end was fuzzy. 🙂 > > I’m glad to say that I know at least 80% of the bands that are supposedly “missing” which is an odd word to use, as this is my personal taste. I do not pretend that these are the best period. > > Transatlantic - does not ring a bell > Flower Kings - have 5 albums, not making the top 100 > The Reasoning - does not ring a bell > Spock’s Beard - have 2 albums, not making the top 100 > The Tangent - have 3 albums, the band is growing on me (fairly recent discovery) > > Traffic (and/or recent Steve Winwood) - know a lot of songs, don’t particularly like them > Kansas (and/or Proto-Kaw) - six albums, not making the top 100 > > Return To Forever - does not ring a bell > Mahavishnu Orchestra - two albums, not making the top 100 > Weather Report - name is familiar, can’t put music with it (no albums) > > KISS 🙂 ? - um, no. Just to elaborate (and cause I love talking about this stuff). Transatlantic was a project by Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard), Roine Stolt (Flower Kings (and the first two Tangent albums)), Pete Trewavas (Marillion) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). They did two CDs, the first by sending music back and forth between California, Tennesee, England and Sweden. They toured after the first, made a DVD, recorded the second CD (together in Tennesee), and toured again making a second DVD. I like it all but think the last DVD, Live In Europe (which added Daniel Gildenlow from Pain of Salvation) is my favorite. The Reasoning are a new (at least to me) band. Two albums that I know of, The Awakening and Dark Angel. You can find samples on YouTube that are pretty representative of what they sound like on disc. They (kinda) remind me of Porcupine Tree or Riverside. With some female vocals. I won’t try to change your mind about Spock’s Beard (how would that work, anyway?) but do recomend listening to V, especially the song “The Great Nothing” before writing them off completely. the music that died alone by The Tangent has been in my CD player more than any other CD for the last year (maybe two). They’ve only made four, and I like them all, but the first one is still the one I keep going back to. ---
**Author:** ![bluezooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@bluezooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluezooky)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/18 "2009-01-28T07:58:51Z")
[quote=“Art\_Rock, post:15, topic:483279”] I got PFM twice? well, at 100 there’s bound to be one mistake. QUOTE] How many ozi bands in that list ;). ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/19 "2009-01-28T16:35:23Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > But no Fine Young Cannibals. That’s a joke right? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279/20 "2009-01-28T17:08:27Z")
**woodstockybird** - Damn, I knew there was some overlap in our musical tastes, but if I sat down and made a top 100, 85-90 of those bands would be on it. Which reminds me, I’d have to redact my Top 10 to bump off Sleater-Kinney to 11 and put XTC on there somewhere. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-top-100-pop-and-rock-bands/483279.md?page=2)