# Rank Your Top Ten Rock Bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793 "2009-10-22T23:18:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BangTheDrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@BangTheDrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BangTheDrum)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/61 "2009-10-23T16:46:33Z")
1. The Rolling Stones 2. Led Zeppelin 3. The Who 4. AC/DC 5. Pink Floyd 6. Boston 7. U2 8. Journey 9. Guns and Roses 10. Tesla ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/62 "2009-10-23T17:23:00Z")
> [@](#): > > - Originally Posted by VarlosZ View Post > > 1. Eligibility question: Steely Dan? Simon & Garfunkel? > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > Both eligible. > > - Simon & Garfunkel are a band? They’re a folk duo, surely? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/63 "2009-10-23T17:40:26Z")
Haven’t they got a backing band? ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/64 "2009-10-23T18:04:04Z")
1 The Rolling Stones 2 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 3 The Jimi Hendrix Experience 4 The Pogues 5 Steely Dan 6 The Clash 7 Nirvana 8 Pink Floyd 9 Queen 10 U2 ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/65 "2009-10-23T18:16:49Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > 1. Cowboy Mouth Cowboy Mouth isn’t super well known but they do put on some of the best concerts ever and they must have a decent following because they tour a lot. I lived in New Orleans when they got their start and have seen them a bunch of times since. They have an unusual setup with a lead singer who is also the head drummer but also other lead singers with very different styles. I think it is hard for them to get lots of radio airplay because of that though. Three thumbs up. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/66 "2009-10-23T18:18:06Z")
1. Queen 2. The Beatles 3. Pink Floyd 4. Counting Crows 5. Jethro Tull 6. Genesis 7. U2 8. Led Zeppelin 9. Supertramp 10. Rush The OP distinction between bands and solo-fronted non-bands is entirely nonsensical. Elton John’s band in the 1970s (Nigel Olsson-drums, Davey Johnstone-guitar, Dee Murray-bass) produced rock. Kate Bush produced rock. Davie Bowie produced rock. So what am I supposed to do with Elvis Costello and Paul Simon, solo artists normally classified as rock who have at times gone in other directions? (Simon is equally problematic because he only makes the list if I combine his solo work with the S&G stuff). Furthermore, Genesis produced enough high quality rock in its first 12 years of existence that I feel no need to apologize for the dreck that followed - I just don’t listen to it. Actually, most of the bands on this list outlasted their greatness. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Falling_Reverend)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/67 "2009-10-23T18:19:52Z")
1-The Clash 2-The Velvet Underground 3-Iggy & The Stooges 4-Violent Femmes 5-Television 6-The Pogues 7-The Who 8-The Beatles 9-The Rolling Stones 10-Van Morrison, only because he gave us “Gloria” ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/68 "2009-10-23T18:26:02Z")
1. Queen 2. The Beatles 3. Pink Floyd 4. Elvis Costello 5. Elton John 6. Counting Crows 7. Jethro Tull 8. Genesis 9. U2 10. Peter Gabriel This version ignores the OP’s nonsensical limitations. If reason prevails, use this version. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/69 "2009-10-23T18:30:53Z")
Strictly bands I like and kind of in order, but not really: 1. The Offspring 2. The Goo Goo Dolls 3. Pearl Jam 4. The Police 5. Alice in Chains 6. STP 7. Nirvana 8. The Outfield 9. Disturbed 10. Metallica That list would have been easier if I could have used bands from other genres. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/70 "2009-10-23T18:48:34Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > The OP distinction between bands and solo-fronted non-bands is entirely nonsensical. Elton John’s band in the 1970s (Nigel Olsson-drums, Davey Johnstone-guitar, Dee Murray-bass) produced rock. Kate Bush produced rock. Davie Bowie produced rock. So what am I supposed to do with Elvis Costello and Paul Simon, solo artists normally classified as rock who have at times gone in other directions? (Simon is equally problematic because he only makes the list if I combine his solo work with the S&G stuff). Elton John, Kate Bush and David Bowie are pop acts, not rock. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/71 "2009-10-23T18:56:55Z")
David Bowie not a \*\*\*rock \*\*\*star? I respectfully disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/72 "2009-10-23T19:07:25Z")
Well, maybe. But Kate Bush and Elton John definitely aren’t. ETA: Oh, fuck it. Vote for whoever you want. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/73 "2009-10-23T19:09:50Z")
1. Metallica 2. Nirvana 3. Guns N Roses 4. Led Zeppelin 5. The Beatles 6. Pink Floyd 7. Smashing Pumpkins 8. Misfits 9. White Stripes 10. Nine Inch Nails ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/74 "2009-10-23T19:11:11Z")
> [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](#): > > 10-Van Morrison, only because he gave us “Gloria” He gave us so much more. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/75 "2009-10-23T19:37:36Z")
Generally arbitrary list of my personal favorite bands of now: 1. Bright Eyes 2. Wilco 3. The Smiths 4. The White Stripes 5. Portugal the Man 6. Joy Division / New Order 7. Okkervil River 8. The Microphones 9. Modest Mouse 10. The Smashing Pumpkins ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/76 "2009-10-23T19:59:52Z")
1. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 2. The Ramones 3. They Might Be Giants 4. Bad Religion 5. Social Distortion 6. Queen 7. The Misfits 8. The Smiths 9. Beastie Boys 10. Duran Duran ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/77 "2009-10-23T20:00:11Z")
> [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](#): > > Generally arbitrary list of my personal favorite bands of now: > > 1. Bright Eyes > 2. Wilco > 3. The Smiths > 4. The White Stripes > 5. Portugal the Man > 6. Joy Division / New Order > 7. Okkervil River > 8. The Microphones > 9. Modest Mouse > 10. The Smashing Pumpkins You’d get along well with my girlfriend! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Falling_Reverend)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/78 "2009-10-23T20:13:32Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > He gave us so much more. He did indeed have a lot of great songs, but Gloria is by far the most rockin’. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/79 "2009-10-23T20:45:38Z")
Can’t believe it took 76 posts before a single mention of Social D! Not one mention of SCOTS. So obviously I’m on a different page than the rest of youse guys. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793/80 "2009-10-23T21:46:44Z")
Going through Post 79 this is what I got for the Top 10, from 1-10. The point values are in the parenthesis.) I included both U2 and Black Sabbath sinc they were tied. (268) The Beatles (137) The Who (130) Led Zeppelin (130) Pink Floyd (102) The Rolling Stones (99) Queen (57) The Clash (53) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (52) Nirvana (37) Black Sabbath (37) U2 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-your-top-ten-rock-bands/514793.md?page=5)