# Who is the greatest American rock MUSICIAN of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423 "2015-09-09T12:50:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/1 "2015-09-09T12:50:28Z")
A little while ago I made a post asking “Who is the greatest American rock BAND of all time?” after I heard a Van Halen concert commercial make that claim for them: > **[The greatest American rock band of all time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=766976)** > > So the other day I heard an ad on the radio for Van Halen’s local stop on their current tour in which the announcer called them “The greatest American rock band of all time”. The greatest American rock band of all time? I took a minute to parse the... Then I made a poll from the answers to that thread: > **[Who is the greatest American rock band of all time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=767190)** > > OK, here is the poll I’ve created from this thread: I decided to leave it wide open and let the poll sort it out. Every band with at least 2 positive mentions in original thread linked above made the cut. I inluded all of North America- Canada and... In both threads it was pointed out that GARBOAT was a tough call, because the U.K. seems to do great bands well, while the U.S. seems to produce great individual musicians. Maybe something to do with our great spirit of American individualism. Or maybe we just don’t play as nice with other people. So some great American musicians got left out, like Hendrix and Dylan. And it was tough to define an “American” band- what’s CSNY, with a Brit and a Canadian? I decided to open it up to all of North America, and say the band had to have a majority of North American members. But for this thread, none but American, born and raised. Same rules as eligibility to run for President. As for what constitutes a great “rock” musician, I guess we can leave that open for now. Someone like Prince I’d say would be borderline. James Brown I would say no. Great? Sure. Rock? No. I don’t know if I’ll do a poll for this one or not. Let’s see how it goes… ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/2 "2015-09-09T13:08:53Z")
For pure musicianship I would say Prince. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/3 "2015-09-09T13:09:11Z")
Besides Hendrix and Dylan? May I be the first to nominate Chuck Berry. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/4 "2015-09-09T13:48:46Z")
Hendrix. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/5 "2015-09-09T13:50:33Z")
Very hard to look past Hendrix and Prince. Bloody hell, imagine that collaboration in an alternative universe! ---
**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:** [September 9, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/6 "2015-09-09T13:52:25Z")
Duane Allman ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/7 "2015-09-09T14:15:26Z")
Jimi Hendrix: one of the UK’s better exports to the US. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/8 "2015-09-09T14:25:26Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > Besides Hendrix and Dylan? May I be the first to nominate Chuck Berry. These are the first ones that come to mind. Prince clearly (no James Brown? Sly Stone? Aretha?), but since Hendrix paved the way (standing on the shoulders of giants, of course). Lindsey Buckingham? No Michael Jackson? Elvis isn’t a “musician”? ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/9 "2015-09-09T14:33:13Z")
My first thought was Duane Allman, but then I decided Chuck Berry was the greatest as he did more to influence Rock than any other guitarist. I’m sure he influenced all the other contenders. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/10 "2015-09-09T14:39:11Z")
How can you think of anyone besides Elvis? Certainly nobody was more influential. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/11 "2015-09-09T14:56:26Z")
Oh, and Brian Wilson should be in the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/12 "2015-09-09T15:37:47Z")
I’ll add Link Wray and Dick Dale to the running. Jack White. I think he wasn’t good enough to qualify while he was with the White Stripes, but his stuff since then is quite good. Simon Cheffins, member of Crash Worship and founder of the Extra Action Marching Band. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/13 "2015-09-09T15:39:35Z")
It might still be Bruce Springsteen. I’m conflicted on Chuck Berry. His influence on pretty much every rock musician in the last 50 years cannot be overstated…but as a performer he leaves something to be desired (perhaps not back in his heyday, but definitely in the several decades since). ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/14 "2015-09-09T16:01:24Z")
Rock’s roots are in the Blues and you don’t become the greatest player of all time unless you [sell your soul to the devil.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson) ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/15 "2015-09-09T16:25:08Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > Besides Hendrix and Dylan? May I be the first to nominate Chuck Berry. I’m guessing you must be new to this forum because only moderators have the authority to make and break those kinds of rules for threads. Ooops. I think I just broke one of the rules here. It’s called “Junior Moderating” or something like that. I can never remember the name for that rule. Umm … you see … it is a kind of rule that members here are discouraged from telling other members what they can or cannot do. Only moderators may do that. Dang! Oh … what’s it called now? This will bother me for a few days unless someone posts the name of that rule here in this thread. But, maybe you should read the rules for this forum again? Oh no! Dang! Dang! Dang! I dood it again. Sorry. Pay no attention to me. I just woke up and I just can’t think straight when I just wake up. Sorry. Please disregard what I said. I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/16 "2015-09-09T16:27:35Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Jimi Hendrix: one of the UK’s better exports to the US. Oh dear, excuse me if I’m wrong. But didn’t the OP request musicians who were born and raised in the USA? Oh wait. Jimi Hendrix was an export from the UK? Really? I always thought he was a Yankee. No? Oh shoot! I best go back to sleep. I need it. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/17 "2015-09-09T16:28:06Z")
I’m not a musician, so I’m not really qualified to judge the technical skills of most rockers. But I’ll nominate a few guys anyway: Guitarists: Jimi Hendrix (of course) Adrian Belew Steve Vai Steve Morse Duane Allman Drummers: Terry Bozzio Hal Blaine Tony Thompson Michael Shrieve Pat Mastelotto Bassists: Billy Sheehan Tony Levin Jeff Berlin Donald “Duck” Dunn Carol Kaye ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/18 "2015-09-09T16:29:37Z")
Sorry. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/19 "2015-09-09T16:38:10Z")
To me it has to be an inventive composer as well as a player, and ought to be a singer too. Neil Young Joni Mitchell Brian Wilson Marvin Gaye Stevie Wonder Tom Waits Laura Nyro is in the top 10 to me. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423/20 "2015-09-09T16:39:35Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > To me it has to be an inventive composer as well as a player, and ought to be a singer too. > > Neil Young > Joni Mitchell > Brian Wilson > > Laura Nyro is in the top 5 to me. Neil and Joni are both Canadian. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-american-rock-musician-of-all-time/730423.md?page=2)