# Your Favorite Iconic American Rock(ish) Band **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 22, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143 "2021-09-22T22:51:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/21 "2021-09-23T09:42:17Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Then you don’t understand the poll. I didn’t realize it was an objective conclusion we were reaching. Should we ask the mods to move it to GQ? mmm ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/22 "2021-09-23T09:55:06Z")
If we use the broader (continental) meaning of “American,” then Rush nd BTO could also be candidates. First song that came to mind. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M4pErX-HPyM/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgUChIMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBdb7Q6fL9GZpcTbYzRPJUcGD2oQQ "Grand Funk Railroad - We're an American Band (1973 Studio Footage)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4pErX-HPyM) [The real life “Sweet, Sweet Connie.”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Hamzy) ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/23 "2021-09-23T11:57:05Z")
The Ramones are on there. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/24 "2021-09-23T13:33:56Z")
Oops, overlooked that. ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/25 "2021-09-23T14:08:21Z")
How about CSN/CSNY? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/26 "2021-09-23T14:14:33Z")
My pick for “iconic” American rock band is Creedence. One time the rock columnist in our local Alternative newspaper listed 3 top bands in the category - Creedence, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and the Ramones, which seems about right. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/27 "2021-09-23T14:21:31Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > The word “iconic” disqualifies all but… Yeah, when I saw “iconic American”, I pictured someone from another country (or planet…?) saying “So what is this American music I am hear of? You pick one al-boom to play me. And we go to one concert, yes?” So now I’m imagining a yak-herder exchange student with headphones on, yelling “Many pardons, but I do not like this Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, friend jaycat.” “…But I was how you say ‘blowing away’ by the Dead & Company concert, and now goodbye, I will be following them around the USofA in a van…” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/28 "2021-09-23T14:22:35Z")
Why wouldn’t The Beach Boys be included in that group? Being from California, I might be biased at how iconically American that group is. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/29 "2021-09-23T14:26:57Z")
I’m sure a lot of this has to do with time frame. Don’t forget, the Beach Boys started SIXTY years ago, in 1961. Now, if the poll was “Iconic California band from the early 60s…” Come to think of it, what if this wasn’t a poll? I think there’d be a whole lot less frustration (and the OP would get less grief) if the thread was “What’s your favorite iconic American Rock(ish) Band?” Then people could pick whatever they want, and even explain why. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/30 "2021-09-23T14:36:14Z")
That kind of makes them the _first_ American Rock band. Every top ten act before that were solo artists or “so and so and the…” And the mind boggling fact that they are still performing (albeit, as two separate bands) surely puts them in the iconic category. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/31 "2021-09-23T14:45:04Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Talking Heads? Velvet Underground? White Stripes? Come on… Iconic? No. Do you really think there is a single person that thinks any of those are the best American band ever? I didn’t say it was a poll of good bands… I think The White Stripes are my favorite American band ever, and I’d argue they were definitely iconic, so I didn’t vote in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/32 "2021-09-23T15:25:02Z")
They’ll be on, right after Jay and the Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/33 "2021-09-23T15:56:02Z")
I voted The Ramones. Would much rather listen to them than any of the others listed. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/34 "2021-09-23T18:22:25Z")
I was thinking "Which of these bands would I see live, and in the middle of the crowd turn to a friend and yell “THIS is American music, dude!” But I can’t! It’s killing me that I can’t run out and see most of the bands in the poll. Only a couple of those bands are still together, and almost none are touring in anything like their original lineup (the Eagles only have Henley left, but their tour this summer also has Joe Walsh and Timmy B. Schmit. And… Vince Gill? Cool…) (And the Dead are “good enough” as well). ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/35 "2021-09-23T18:34:43Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I was thinking "Which of these bands would I see live, and in the middle of the crowd turn to a friend and yell “THIS is American music, dude!” The Blasters, then? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/36 "2021-09-23T23:10:57Z")
> [@digs](#): > > the Eagles only have Henley left, but their tour this summer also has Joe Walsh and Timmy B. Schmit. And… Vince Gill? I don’t understand. Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh have been permanent members of Eagles since the 1970’s. Glenn Frey and Don Felder are the only ‘classic’ Eagles’ members of the band missing, and Felder was basically fired from the band for some reason. Vince Gill is apparently very good with them, and I think Felder’s son Deadon, who sounds very much like him, is standing in. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/37 "2021-09-24T00:28:53Z")
Or The Fabulous Thunderbirds. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/38 "2021-09-24T00:39:32Z")
Last on my every list is Gunsnrzzes ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/39 "2021-09-24T00:56:46Z")
I voted for the Doors, but only because Blue Öyster Cult wasn’t on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143/40 "2021-09-24T02:04:07Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > That kind of makes them the _first_ American Rock band. The Ventures started earlier than the Beach Boys and for a time were the embodiment of American rock. Their version of “Walk, Don’t Run,” was a number two hit in 1960. They did only instrumentals, of course, so nobody thinks about them in the same context anymore. From the list, I’d have to say that I liked more songs by the Beach Boys than any of the others, but I liked more full albums by the Doors. Don’t know how to rank that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-iconic-american-rock-ish-band/951143.md?page=3)