Chicago?
Crosby, Stills, and Nash?
Styx?
Absolutely, and some interesting perspectives from you on what exactly makes an American band “American”. That’s why I mentioned The Band in my OP- even though they’re mostly Canadian, they have a very “Americana” vibe to their songs. Maybe I should have added some sort of “Americana” factor to my measuring scale.
On your feet…of on your KNEEEESSSS !!!
Blue
Oyster
Cult !!!
Cjepson mentioned The Grateful Dead. I was never too much into them either, but their overall fame, longevity and “Americaness” certainly makes them a candidate.
And I’m not all about the '70s dino rock- I think a strong case could be made for Pearl Jam. Nirvana too I guess, but Nirvana to me seems very much of its time. I don’t know, seems like you had to be a misunderstood angsty teen to really ‘get’ Nirvana, and I was a misunderstood angsty adult by then.
Boston has to be in the running as well.
Bolding mine
That’s why I brought up the Grateful Dead. Of course Bob Dylan should be in there too. Simon and Garfunkel as well. And a dozen others. They might not be considered Rock though.
American Rock has a lot of Folk music in it. And of course jazz.
The southern sound of ZZ top is also I think very American. Or I guess I should say USA. Along with 38 special and the rest.
Tom Petty is also very uniquely ‘American’.
Guns N’ Roses.
The name that immediately came to my mind upon reading the title of the OP was Aerosmith…followed milliseconds later by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Not a band, but Hendrix seems to be near the summit of both influence and popularity.
Well kids, it goes like this…
The greatest American rock band of all time is KISS.
More gold records than any other american band, and second in gold records world wide. The only band with more global gold records than KISS? That’s right…The Beatles.
Metallica is way up there, until the last few albums.
First band that came to mind for me was Aerosmith.
And McDonalds is the best restaurant in America.
KISS is the worst. Easily the worst band with the biggest following in the history of the world.
I’d count it, as the Jimi Hendrix Experience. While Hendrix was definitely the showcase, the other musicians, especially Mitch Mitchell, shined in their own right.
They’re the first I thought of. The Beach Boys would be my second. I’d also throw in the Pixies or Sonic Youth in the mix, if it weren’t for their relatively quiet mainstream showing.
This is getting good- after this thread winds down, I’ll take all the bands mentioned x number of times (more than once at least, maybe 3 times depending on how long and unwieldy the list becomes) and make a GABOAT poll!
Boston, GNR and yes, even KISS are all good candidates I’d say. It’s “greatest American band”, not “my favorite American band” and KISS I’d say had more long lasting fame and name recognition than say, Boston, though I personally like Boston MUCH better.
And I think I’m being pretty loose with the definition, but it is greatest American BAND. So Dylan? Dylan and The Band maybe. Jimi Hendrix Experience. Simon and Garfunkel? No. I could accept a duo as a band (White Stripes, Black Keys) and I like their music, but they did not rock.
If I were to disqualify the Jimi Hendrix Experience, it’s because they’re American and British, not because they’re not a band. Now the White Stripes? They certainly rocked. I saw one show of theirs and was completely blown away by how much they rocked and how much two people can fill up a room with noise and charisma. It was the last real “spectacle of rock” experience I’ve had.
A wild Alice Cooper appears…a band for a significant chunk of career, then solo. But if we’re letting in scrubs like Bruce Springsteen, then Alice gets a shot at the crown.
I’m also submitting Prince in the same context thread zeitgeist ponders a moment, then begrudgingly nods in acceptance
Hmmm, good point on the Jimi Hendrix Experience maybe being disqualified because they’re Not 100% American.
On the other hand, I already mentioned The Band a couple times as an example of “America-esqe” though they’re mostly Canadian. I think the JHE could squeak in under the definition. What do you guys think? I’ll base the poll on your # of positive mentions, not my own opinion (except maybe for my own arbitrary and capricious decisions to leave bands out who are borderline mention-wise).
And yeah, the white stripes definitely rock, though they are barely a duo (sorry Meg).
It was the very first thing I thought of after reading the OP, but no, I suppose it’s not a serious nomination.
Ah, on re-read, I see you were referring to Bob Dylan and the Band, not the White Stripes or Black Keys. My bad. Still, as much as they’re my favorite Jack White project, I really can’t put them up as “Greatest American Rock Band.” My nomination from the last generation would be Sleater-Kinney, but they’re certainly not popular enough, I think, to make the cut. Smashing Pumpkins would probably make the 90s list for me.
I think R.E.M. is in the conversation somewheres. Maybe not the greatest, but up there (I’ll take them over Van Halen any day).