I didn’t realize it was an objective conclusion we were reaching.
Should we ask the mods to move it to GQ?
mmm
If we use the broader (continental) meaning of “American,” then Rush nd BTO could also be candidates.
First song that came to mind.
The Ramones are on there.
Oops, overlooked that.
How about CSN/CSNY?
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.
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…”
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.
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.
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.
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.
They’ll be on, right after Jay and the Americans.
I voted The Ramones. Would much rather listen to them than any of the others listed.
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).
The Blasters, then?
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.
Or The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Last on my every list is Gunsnrzzes
I voted for the Doors, but only because Blue Öyster Cult wasn’t on the list.
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.