# So who were the first successful AMERICAN rock band? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-were-the-first-successful-american-rock-band/576381 "2011-03-29T14:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [April 1, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-were-the-first-successful-american-rock-band/576381/101 "2011-04-01T17:52:29Z")
:smack: Too late to edit: The link above actually isn’t a different version, just a different mix, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![osme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/df788c/32.png) [@osme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/osme)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-were-the-first-successful-american-rock-band/576381/102 "2011-04-01T18:17:24Z")
Bill Haley and the Comets “Rock Around The Clock” was the first Rock and Roll record to ever chart on the Billboard charts. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-were-the-first-successful-american-rock-band/576381/103 "2011-04-02T21:51:00Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > I’d say that Creedence was a bit late to fit into the imaginary slot the OP hinted at. > > To further muddy the waters I’d like to name [The Wrecking Crew](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_(music))–LA sessions musicians who played on many a hit record. By such artists as the Beach Boys & the Byrds–guys cute enough to make the teenyboppers scream weren’t always such great musicians. Especially at the beginning of their careers. > > Some of the Crew went on to successful careers. But guys like Mack Rebennack & Leon Russell were never pinup boys! Glenn Campbell was also a member–he substituted for Brian Wilson at the Beach Boys show I saw in Houston; Chad & Jeremy & The Lovin’ Spoonful also played, after a few local faves… Just an aside, but I’ve had the distinct pleasure to play (and hang out) with two of the famed crew, Jim Horn and Larry Knechtel (R.I.P). Some of their tales about the music biz and assorted studio cats were amazing but more suited for a different thread…a tease though - that’s Jim playing flute on ‘Canned Heat’s’ “Goin’ Up the Country” and the piano intro to S&G’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is Larry. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-were-the-first-successful-american-rock-band/576381/104 "2011-04-05T16:44:51Z")
I think “rock” means “classic rock.” Stones, Beatles, Zeppelin, etc. I’d have to say Jefferson Airplane or The Doors were the first successful American classic rock band. According to Wikipedia both started in 1965. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-were-the-first-successful-american-rock-band/576381/105 "2011-04-05T17:19:38Z")
But the Stones are blues, the Beatles are pop, Zep is, what, proto-metal and hard rock. Airplane and the Doors are really Psychadelia. Classic Rock means Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry to me. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-were-the-first-successful-american-rock-band/576381/106 "2011-04-06T04:17:54Z")
Bill Haley was definitely the first rock and roller. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-were-the-first-successful-american-rock-band/576381.md?page=5)