# Who are the strongest contenders for the title of "greatest American rock band ever"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547 "2018-05-04T02:32:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/21 "2018-05-04T10:34:25Z")
I’d completely agree with The Beach Boys, Aerosmith and the E-Street Band being in the top tier. I’d also advocate for Metallica, Foo Fighters, and probably Pearl Jam. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/22 "2018-05-04T11:14:47Z")
The Beach Boys is definitely the answer here. CCR doesn’t get the recognition they deserve. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/23 "2018-05-04T11:21:22Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > Jeez, some of you think the OP asked,”what’s your favorite American band?” I think it has to be a band that is liked by the most listeners of American rock. I have to listen to a rotation of American rock stations all day at work. The Ramones, the Dead, Altman Brothers, etc are barely heard; maybe once a day. Springsteen is a good pick, but I’d have to pick Journey. They get played every hour. I’ve grown real tired of Steve Perry’s voice. Pardon? The Ramones are one of the most influential bands ever. And if Journey is held up in that regard then, well, let’s just say I’ll stop believin’. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/24 "2018-05-04T11:36:29Z")
That always gets us back to influential vs recognized. That gets kinda pointless. And it’s not like recognized means bad. I’ve had a great many arguments - going back to high school - where people seemed to think obscure meant good and popular meant bad. It’s a fallacy, of course. It’s possible to be both popular and influential just as it’s possible to be obscure and terrible (that last would be where most bands - including all of mine - fell). But it is interesting how there are a lot of American bands who don’t seem to have the universal dominance that The Beatles and such have. There are partisans on all sides. There are a great many bands in various sub-genres - Blondie, Lynryrd Skynyrd and such - who are great bands but would fail the universal popularity test because of genre partisanship. Ditto other bands who had tremendous peaks but didn’t last long enough to really dominate over time such as CCR or Nirvana. I do agree with Wordman that the answer should be Chuck Berry if we’re going by influence. Every single guitar-based band who used the verse-chorus-verse-guitar solo-verse format should send his estate a nickel for every record they sell. It’s not that Berry invented that format - that would go back to some obscure blues/folk musician during the time of the dinosaurs - but Berry is the one who brought it to the world in a popular, accessible way. Elvis didn’t. Buddy Holly didn’t. Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were piano-based. Chuck created/popularized a format that is still dominated rock and roll music seventy years later. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/25 "2018-05-04T11:36:45Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Pardon? > > The Ramones are one of the most influential bands ever. > > And if Journey is held up in that regard then, well, let’s just say I’ll stop believin’. I can’t name one song by the Ramones. I really can’t. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/26 "2018-05-04T11:44:25Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I can’t name one song by the Ramones. > > I really can’t. Sorry. I’m sorry, too! I do hear you - regardless of how important and influential they have been, folks know their chant “'ey! O! Let’s Go! 'ey! O! Let’s Go!” from Blitzkrieg Bop more than they actually know the song. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/27 "2018-05-04T12:44:03Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Why do you all hate America? > > :flees: The band or the country? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/28 "2018-05-04T12:57:25Z")
I agree with the Allmans, especially with Duane. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/29 "2018-05-04T13:11:06Z")
Said it before, I’ll say it again and wait for the hateful replies, but… If you’re going on the following criteria: > [@](#): > > But it is interesting how there are a lot of American bands who don’t seem to have the universal dominance that The Beatles and such have > [@](#): > > I think it has to be a band that is liked by the most listeners of American rock. then you have to consider KISS as one of the greatest American rock bands. Now, hear me out… Are they the best musicians? No, of course not. The most influential? Nope, not even close. **BUT** … They have _more gold records_ than any other American rock band. More than Aerosmith, The Grateful Dead, The Eagles, Van Halen, etc etc. Not only that, but they are second in gold records only to one band, and that band is The Beatles. You may not like the music, you may not like the gimmicky makeup and costumes, but you can’t argue with a consistent list of record sales. Spew forth, my fellow Dopers, but that’s how I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/30 "2018-05-04T13:24:30Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Said it before, I’ll say it again and wait for the hateful replies, but… Actually, you make a pretty good point. I would certainly choose them over a few of the others that, quite frankly, I’ve barely even heard of. Rather than choose based on pet favorites, I think a choice should be made based on how big a footprint a band has made on American rock culture. Obviously Kiss, the Grateful Dead, and the Beach Boys stand out in that regard. The Ramones? I had to Google them. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/31 "2018-05-04T13:32:20Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Said it before, I’ll say it again and wait for the hateful replies, but… > > If you’re going on the following criteria: > > then you have to consider KISS as one of the greatest American rock bands. Now, hear me out… > > Are they the best musicians? No, of course not. The most influential? Nope, not even close. > > **BUT** … > > They have _more gold records_ than any other American rock band. More than Aerosmith, The Grateful Dead, The Eagles, Van Halen, etc etc. > > Not only that, but they are second in gold records only to one band, and that band is The Beatles. > > You may not like the music, you may not like the gimmicky makeup and costumes, but you can’t argue with a consistent list of record sales. > > Spew forth, my fellow Dopers, but that’s how I see it. So, we have KISS and Journey. Kill me now. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/32 "2018-05-04T13:38:02Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Kill me now. Never heard of 'em ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/33 "2018-05-04T13:42:11Z")
The Beach Boys and The Grateful Dead are rock bands? ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/34 "2018-05-04T13:47:36Z")
If Chuck Berry is in the running, I’m throwing Bo Diddley’s hat into the ring, too. He’s almost as influential. If it’s just bands, NRBQ is a real contender. 50+ year career, fantastic musicians and songwriters, at least a few songs you’ve probably heard even if you didn’t know who played them. With a touch of jazz influence, which is as American as apple pie. And I’ve yet to meet anybody who doesn’t like them after listening, even if they aren’t nearly as popular as they should be. And they put on killer live shows. Also the only band I know of who was managed by a pro wrestling promoter, the loud and bombastic Captain Lou Albano. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/35 "2018-05-04T13:47:44Z")
My vote is for true American work ethic band. The kind of bands that get up in the morning to weld steel girders, eat lunch while jackhammering asphalt, and drive home with axle grease under their nails. 40 years after you hung your poster you’re too tired and busy with your life to see their show? Too bad, they’re still on the tour bus pumping pure rock and angst into every flyover town you never cared to notice on a map. **Cheap Trick** and **Blue Oyster Cult** demand to stand and be counted. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/36 "2018-05-04T13:54:28Z")
Oh, and has anyone mentioned Jimi Hendrix yet? Hugely influential, and still listened to by a lot of people today. Hell, he just put a new album out despite having been dead for half a century. And he had a band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, so he should count for this thread. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/37 "2018-05-04T13:55:20Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Actually, you make a pretty good point. I would certainly choose them over a few of the others that, quite frankly, I’ve barely even heard of. > > Rather than choose based on pet favorites, I think a choice should be made based on how big a footprint a band has made on American rock culture. Obviously Kiss, the Grateful Dead, and the Beach Boys stand out in that regard. The Ramones? I had to Google them. See, by that criterion, I definitely would have the Ramones in the top five. I don’t think they would make my personal top 5, but in terms of rock bands and their influence on rock music culture both nationally and internationally, I don’t see any way the Ramones aren’t top five, if not top three. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/38 "2018-05-04T14:00:23Z")
The first band I thought of was Aerosmith. Longetivity, musicianship, hit records, stuff that has lasted the test of time. “Toys in the Attic” was 43 years ago and it sounds fresh and awesome today. They check all the boxes. > [@SykoScotty](#): > > They have more gold records than any other American rock band. More than Aerosmith, The Grateful Dead, The Eagles, Van Halen, etc etc We’re talking GREATEST. Gold, heck. What about platinum? KISS has 26 gold albums, Aerosmith 25. That’s cool but… Aerosmith has 18 platinum albums, KISS has 10. Aerosmith has a diamond album, KISS doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/39 "2018-05-04T14:01:35Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > The Beach Boys and The Grateful Dead are rock bands? This. My vote goes to Tom Petty. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/40 "2018-05-04T14:04:50Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Said it before, I’ll say it again and wait for the hateful replies, but… > > If you’re going on the following criteria: > > then you have to consider KISS as one of the greatest American rock bands. Now, hear me out… > > Are they the best musicians? No, of course not. The most influential? Nope, not even close. > > **BUT** … > > They have _more gold records_ than any other American rock band. More than Aerosmith, The Grateful Dead, The Eagles, Van Halen, etc etc. > > Not only that, but they are second in gold records only to one band, and that band is The Beatles. > > You may not like the music, you may not like the gimmicky makeup and costumes, but you can’t argue with a consistent list of record sales. > > Spew forth, my fellow Dopers, but that’s how I see it. I looked at Wikipedia, and can’t find any metric of RIAA Gold certificates that would tally Kiss so high in # of gold albums or records. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547.md?page=3)