# The 6 greatest British bands of all time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019 "2024-09-09T16:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/21 "2024-09-09T18:31:32Z")
I have to add The Moody Blues to these lists. Combining a rock band with orchestral arrangements was ground-breaking, and Days Of Future Passed was a landmark album. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/22 "2024-09-09T18:40:45Z")
The Beatles The Rolling Stones The Who The Kinks The Damned The Toy Dolls Obviously this list is chronological, otherwise the Toy Dolls would be at the top. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/23 "2024-09-09T18:44:42Z")
Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Who, Elton John. I guess I’m not really bringing anything original to the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/24 "2024-09-09T18:47:20Z")
Sometimes I think all the personalities in 60s British rock was severely damaged. Lennon was also a shit. Moon was a loon. Ginger Baker couldn’t get along with anyone. Syd Barrett went insane. Peter Green went insane. Jagger was an insufferable narcissist. Jimmy Page collected underage girls. So did Gary Glitter. Everybody (with one or two exceptions) cheated on their wives, became alcoholics and drug addicts, spent money like water, crashed cars regularly, trashed their apartments, homes, and hotels, and followed the Maharishi to India, just for starters. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/25 "2024-09-09T19:00:15Z")
I’m not challenging conventional opinion with this list. 1. The Beatles 2. The Rolling Stones 3. The Who 4. The Kinks 5. The Yardbirds 6. The Sex Pistols ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/26 "2024-09-09T19:04:35Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > ETA: it was extremely tough to leave out Elvis Costello & The Attractions, one of the best bands in the Universe. I think Elvis Costello belongs on a list of the top British solo artists of all time. Maybe that will be **Lucas\_Jackson** ’s next subject. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/27 "2024-09-09T19:06:45Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > I think Elvis Costello belongs on a list of the top British solo artists of all time. Maybe that will be **Lucas\_Jackson** ’s next subject. Sure, but I’ve always thought that he was best with the Attractions, a really outstanding little band with a big sound. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/28 "2024-09-09T19:31:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Are we only considering bands? I’d think so, but the answers reveal otherwise. > [@NDP](#): > > I think Elvis Costello belongs on a list of the top British solo artists of all time. Maybe that will be **Lucas\_Jackson** ’s next subject. I had intended to make that a condition of my OP but inadvertently left it out. So, for example, Clapton should only count if listed in the particular band that you consider the greatest. But I’m not going to be too nannying about it. Although a ‘Greatest solo Brit’ might be a good topic (side note about Clapton, I don’t consider him greatest. He rehashed a bunch of blues riffs. He’s had some good songs but I feel he’s over-rated). ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/29 "2024-09-09T19:39:53Z")
Yea, I am thoroughly amazed some of them are still around. It’s truly a miracle that all of the original members of Black Sabbath are still alive. Off the top of my head, I can only think of few that _didn’t_ participate in debauchery and excesses during the heyday: John Paul Jones, Charlie Watts, Brian May. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/30 "2024-09-09T19:55:46Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Off the top of my head, I can only think of few that _didn’t_ participate in debauchery and excesses during the heyday: John Paul Jones, Charlie Watts, Brian May. We all know that Sir Paul has always been very fond of weed, but I never heard that he had much interest in anything harder or more problematic. Not a big drinker either and not the excessive type. ETA: how guys like Ozzy, Clapton and Keith can still live is beyond me, though. But they give me hope for my own expectations for a long life… ETA2: about Charlie Watts: he never partook much in the excesses of the 60s and 70s Stones, but I heard that he had a short but seveer fling with heroin and booze as late as the 80s. I think it was a midlife crisis caused by marital troubles, but he got out of it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/31 "2024-09-09T20:17:40Z")
The Smiths My Bloody Valentine Cocteau Twins Siouxsie and the Banshees Public Image Limited my cheat - Joy Division/New Order ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/32 "2024-09-09T20:21:22Z")
If we are going with these pop bands (which are great) I have to wonder why Tears for Fears is not on the list. Certainly up there with The Smiths and Joy Division and New Order I’d think. I might put them above The Smiths and the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/33 "2024-09-09T20:23:09Z")
The Beatles Led Zeppelin Queen The Rolling Stones David Bowie Radiohead ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/34 "2024-09-09T21:16:21Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I find it interesting that no one mentioned Frank Zappa in that thread. Moon just published a tell-all book. I am not going to read it, because I don’t want his personal flaws to taint my enjoyment of his music. Good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/35 "2024-09-09T21:28:51Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > If we are going with these pop bands (which are great) I have to wonder why Tears for Fears is not on the list. Maybe because they had a short peak, three albums and then a break-up. While I gave my six bands that are historically the greatest, I have to say that when I check out concerts on YouTube I often wind up with Roxy Music, who are awesome and timeless. That’s also greatness. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/36 "2024-09-09T21:29:00Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Who, Elton John. > > I guess I’m not really bringing anything original to the thread. I’m interested in all replies - not just different ones. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/37 "2024-09-09T21:31:27Z")
Stones Kinks Roxy Music The Pogues Radiohead London Grammar If you don’t know the last, check them out. Trep jr saw their set at Glastonbury, and by his account wept through it at the sheer beauty. j ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/38 "2024-09-09T21:32:55Z")
Are The Pogues British? (I don’t think so) > [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Roxy Music Does that include Bryan Ferry solo albums? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/39 "2024-09-09T21:34:46Z")
They’re from London…so we’re my Irish in-laws. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019/40 "2024-09-09T21:36:04Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Are The Pogues British? > > (I don’t think so) Though many had an Irish background, most of them, including Shane MacGowan, were born in England. Philip Chevron and Terry Woods were both born in Dublin, but I think that’s it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-6-greatest-british-bands-of-all-time/1007019.md?page=3)