Oops.
I did remember a little bit of it right…
In addition I forgot to say this: I saw Arthur Lee and a new version of Love in the 90’s, the first comeback, and the opening act was Ray Manzarek playing keyboards behind Michael McClure reading poetry. You should have been there. I know you would have dug it.
How could a band that is 4/5 Canadian be the greatest American rock band of all time? Is it too late to nominate Rush and The Guess Who?
Isn’t Neil Young a Canadian?
For me, the ones who really stand out are
Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Doors
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Ramones
Zappa & Mothers of Invention
I went Beach Boys- greatest sales would suggest something. However it is difficult with (IMHO) The Doors, The Eagles, CCR and as mentioned Simon and Garfunkel.
I certainly don’t want to continue- “These should have been included…” but I would not have been surprised to see Lovin Spoonful and Iron Butterfly included. However, I recognise their achievements don’t really compare to the ones in the poll.
The Bangles should be on the list.
Re the list; we have a different understanding of great.
No kidding.
Per the OP, Canadians are American.
Per the OP, Simon & Garfunkel were not a band.
I threw in a vote for Foo Fighters, cause I have a long-standing affection for them. They are a band I don’t think are the best at any one thing…they haven’t been around the longest, their songs aren’t the most brilliant, they’re not the best musician-ship-wise, but to me they have enough in every quality to add up. They have been around 20 years with the same lineup for probably at least 15 (and still going strong and seemingly still getting more popular year by year), they have solid, fun songs that stand the test of time and don’t sound dated, they have their own sound with not being too afraid to try new things from time to time, they play great live shows and are good to their fans, they have a sense of humor and so peripheral stuff like videos are enjoyable and memorable, plus they don’t take themselves too seriously so they can do something rather grandiose like the Sonic Highways series without seeming grandiose or pompous. So…I think I just convinced myself I threw my vote the right way! 
No, it’s not too late. Check “other” and say who you think it should be.
This was discussed in the OP of this thread and in the previous thread I linked to there, in which the GARBOAT was discussed. I mentioned myself that The Band was 4/5ths Canadian in the OP of the other thread. I decided to open it up to all of North America and include every band that got more than one mention in the other thread. Then let 'em all duke it out in the poll.
Of course there’s a lot of “why didn’t band X get in the poll” and conversely “sure are a lot of shitty bands included in this poll”. I probably could have culled it a bit more, but I didn’t want to impose my judgement if I could avoid it. Oh well, can’t please everybody…:rolleyes:
Thanks for the assist, Peremensoe! A welcome ninja’ing
Great poll. This is a question I have asked friends for many years. I’ve never counted Bruce as I consider him a solo artist.
I always felt that the bands that could make the strongest case were, in no particular order The Beach Boys, The Ramones, The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, Metallica, Guns n Roses and Nirvana. While GnR and Nirvana did not have the longevity, they hit heights that warranted inclusion in my mind. I’d probably listen to The Pixies and REM (IRS edition) before all on my short list, I concede that they don’t make the cut. For instance, I don’t own any Metallica, but their output and international acclaim can’t be denied.
For the record, I voted for The Grateful Dead. I realize that they might be the most polarizing band on the list, with just as many folks that hate them as those that adore them. What makes them tops for me is their Americana music, which, to my ears, is timeless.
Where’s Tenacious D?
Also, where’s Creed? (said nobody ever)
For a serious oversight, where’s Green Day?
The list is for “Greatest,” not ________. 
I just heard the Green Day version of “i fought the law”. It made me like them a lot less. It just sounds too clubfooted. No sense of rhythm or the tunes feel. They didn’t need to do it.
My thoughts exactly. Especially strong on the “Americana” aspect, for all three. “Longevity” (as a great act) was not The Band’s strongest suit, so that gave the edge to the other two. Neither the Beach Boys nor R.E.M. were the strongest bands in the world in terms of direct “influence” – they were both too sui generis for that, and had atypical sounds for their respective eras – but both certainly inspired others to make great music (most obviously, the Beach Boys helped spur the Beatles to greater heights).
I had to give the vote to R.E.M., because they tended to rock more than the Beach Boys, and because they put out a good-to-great album almost every year from 1983 to 1996. (Well, maybe “Fables…,” “Document,” and “Monster” were just okay-to-good, but still).
As an Euro, I can’t in good conscience claim my personal favourites as “greatest”, since most people around me have never even heard of bands like The Pixies.
Of the ones I would consider well known even outside the U.S, I’d say the greatest is Bruce Springsteen and the E street band.
I have a whole bunch of mix CD’s and every track has the best band on it. . .until I hear the next track.
I other words, to each there own.