# 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:** 3
**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, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/41 "2018-05-04T14:23:17Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > This. > > My vote goes to Tom Petty. Of course they’re rock bands! I mean how are the Beach Boys any less rock than Tom Petty? I think the only intersect between my personal top 5 and popularity and influence top 5 would be the Beach Boys. Looks like in the old poll, I did actually vote Ramones due to their great influence. I actually can go with the results of that list: Bruce, Aerosmith, Dead, Beach Boys, Ramones. Maybe I’d swap out the Dead with Van Halen. Or maybe the dead with the Allmans if we’re swapping similar styles, but I think Van Halen needs to be somewhere in the mix there. And, of course, if were including solo acts, Chuck Berry would be the clear #1 for me. My personal list would include the Pixies, the Velvet Underground, Sleater-Kinney, Cheap Trick, and the Beach Boys. But that’s a much more subjective grouping. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/42 "2018-05-04T14:26:33Z")
Allman Brothers. I do not get the love or respect about the Ramones in regards to greatest band. I really don’t. As mentioned above I can’t name one of their songs. Was Lola one? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/43 "2018-05-04T14:28:35Z")
There are a lot of criteria you could consider, including: How popular are they… with the general American public? worldwide? among rock aficionados? How influential are they? How highly regarded are they… by fans? by critics? by other musicians? How good are they at live performance (putting on a great show)? and in the studio (putting out great records and albums)? What’s their level of musicianship? How versatile are they? how many different things can they do well (or at least competently)? how many different listeners do they appeal to? How many iconic songs are they responsible for? Do longevity and quantity of output count? How much do they actually _rock_? How closely do they fit the ideal of what a **rock band** should be? How great are they as a _band_, as opposed to a talented individual backed up by replaceable supporting players? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/44 "2018-05-04T14:30:16Z")
Grand Funk (Railroad) They’re an American band; would they lie to you? ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/45 "2018-05-04T14:52:43Z")
My heart wants to nominate the Allman Bros for all the reasons enumerated already. But my head wants to be different and it nominates Frank Zappa. He was a self starter, entrepreneur and opinionated as all hell.😃 Massive body of work, from his own studio/production company/facility. ---
**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, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/46 "2018-05-04T14:55:10Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I do not get the love or respect about the Ramones in regards to greatest band. I really don’t. As mentioned above I can’t name one of their songs. Was Lola one? **Blitzkrieg Bop** - played at every football game/sporting event: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krokQtkvd9M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krokQtkvd9M) They emerged as the template for punk songs. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/47 "2018-05-04T15:00:12Z")
Here is the only way to settle this. [In 1973 Chuck Berry hired the E-Street Band](https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7736403/chuck-berry-backup-bands-stories) to play with him in a concert at the University of Maryland. Now, who wants to argue that **Chuck Berry and the E-Street Band** isn’t the Greatest American Rock Band of All Time? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/48 "2018-05-04T15:01:22Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Allman Brothers. > > I do not get the love or respect about the Ramones in regards to greatest band. I really don’t. As mentioned above I can’t name one of their songs. Was Lola one? :smack: Lola, a Ramones song? Really? If these are questions you ponder about this topic, you really shouldn’t participate. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/49 "2018-05-04T15:10:30Z")
Pure Rock N Roll? Gritty and sweaty Rock N Roll? That’s easy. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Listen to Live Bullet. You’ll never hear a tighter band performing live. They were amazing. > [@](#): > > Critic Dave Marsh later wrote that “Live Bullet is one of the best live albums ever made … In spots, particularly during the medley of “Travelin’ Man”/“Beautiful Loser” on side one, Seger sounds like a man with one last shot at the top.” ---
**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, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/50 "2018-05-04T15:17:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Of course they’re rock bands! I mean how are the Beach Boys any less rock than Tom Petty? How are the Beach Boys any more rock than The Monkees? Or Hanson for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/51 "2018-05-04T15:25:30Z")
Who would you want to hang out with and jam? Who’s the real blue collar guys playing like their life depends on it? Because they don’t want a soul crushing, lifetime factory job? Rock N Roll is rooted in the blues. Hardship and grit. Poverty. Lead Belly and Robert Johnson. Zappa? LOL yeah right. A bunch of West coast beach dudes doesn’t qualify IMHO. The Allman Brothers are a close second. ---
**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, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/52 "2018-05-04T15:32:31Z")
I’m going with Guns N’ Roses. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/53 "2018-05-04T15:37:19Z")
I’m trying to figure out how Tom Petty is a band. Ditto Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, etc. Sure, Bruce and E Street, Petty and the Heartbreakers, Seger and Silver Bullet, etc. But if we’re gonna go thataway, I nominate **Bob Dylan and The Band**. 🙂 ---
**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, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/54 "2018-05-04T15:45:14Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > 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. [RIAA on vintage vinyl](http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2015/09/kiss-claims-record-for-most-gold.html) [30 gold if you include the four solo records released in 1978](http://loudwire.com/kiss-named-top-american-gold-record-award-earning-band-of-all-time/) [RIAA official website](https://www.riaa.com/kiss-americas-1-gold-record-award-winning-group-of-all-time/) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/55 "2018-05-04T15:50:08Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Who would you want to hang out with and jam? > > Who’s the real blue collar guys playing like their life depends on it? Because they don’t want a soul crushing, lifetime factory job? > > Rock N Roll is rooted in the blues. Hardship and grit. Poverty. Lead Belly and Robert Johnson. > > Zappa? LOL yeah right. > > A bunch of West coast beach dudes doesn’t qualify IMHO. > > The Allman Brothers are a close second. Frank Zappa was born in Baltimore, the son of an immigrant who worked in a chemical plant. The family kept gas masks in the house in case something happened at the plant. Is that soul-crushing and blue-collar enough? ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/56 "2018-05-04T15:51:45Z")
Lynyrd Skynyrd isn’t getting any love? Sure seems like they check all the boxes and are at least worth a mention. Their greatest hits is basically a list of American classics. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/57 "2018-05-04T16:15:25Z")
Nirvana. Green Day. Gotta have _some_ bands named in this thread that don’t date back to the Classic Rock era. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/58 "2018-05-04T16:32:51Z")
Here’s a vote for the [Five Royales](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qzjxnOfwgc). Check out Lowman Pauling’s guitar work. ---
**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, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/59 "2018-05-04T17:09:56Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Nirvana. > > Green Day. > > Gotta have _some_ bands named in this thread that don’t date back to the Classic Rock era. Nirvana just didn’t last long enough, but they deserved an honorable mention by virtue of the huge impact they had. Pearl Jam, too. ---
**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, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547/60 "2018-05-04T17:12:21Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > How are the Beach Boys any more rock than The Monkees? Or Hanson for that matter. I would consider all those rock bands. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-strongest-contenders-for-the-title-of-greatest-american-rock-band-ever/813547.md?page=4)