Best classic rock band of all time?

[ulukinatme]

I would put them just below those other bands. They are great (Dream On is one of my favorite songs, probably top 10 ever) but I feel like their music often sounds the same, especially everything from the 80s. Don't think they are as creative as the other bands I listed. I wasn't arguing that those were the "best" bands of all time anyway. I just said they were my personal favorites. You definitely could not put Bad Company ahead of Aerosmith on a "best" scale.

Fair enough. When they got off the drugs some of the 80s stuff was kind of meh. They had a few decent songs, but it wasn't as good as the 70s stuff. The came back strong in the early 90s though and were considered "the single most successful comeback in the history of heavy metal, if not all of popular music." I think they've been pretty creative though. The interplay between Joe Perry and Brad Whitford had a big influence on Slash from GNR and other bands. The integration of rap and rock with DMC on Walk this Way was big. Aerosmith was pretty revolutionary in getting their music to other mediums too. Their big budget music videos in the 90s had a big part in their resurgence, and they were one of the first bands to get into video games with stuff like Quest for Fame and Revolution X (not that either game was awesome). They were also the first band to get their own band centric Rock Band/Guitar Hero game and it was more successful than The Beatles, the ACDC, Green Day, or any other band centric game that was released.

 

[ND NYC]

Some notable artists that are eligible but not yet in the HOF include (bold deserve to be in IMO):

Bad Company : Can't believe not already in.
Dire Straits: Also can't believe they aren't in.
Jethro Tull
The Smiths
MC5
Roxy Music
Judas Priest
The Moody Blues
The Cure
Iron Maiden
Joy Division
Depeche Mode
Motörhead
Nine Inch Nails
The Cars
The Monkees
The Doobie Brothers
Soundgarden
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Procol Harum
Def Leppard
Duran Duran
Ozzy Osbourne
The B-52’s
Supertramp
Pat Benetar
A Tribe Called Quest
Steppenwolf
Mötley Crüe
The Guess Who
Thin Lizzy
The Commodores
The Zombies
Scorpions
Eurythmics
Phish
Styx
Joe Cocker
Foreigner
REO Speedwagon
Meat Loaf
The Human League
Joe Walsh
Violent Femmes

I'm really on the fence about these three:
Bon Jovi: pop rock but his music is still popular today.
Boston: on the fence about this one. Only one album worth a damn but it is one of the best albums
Blue Oyster Cult: not sure they have the breadth of songs

TUPAC getting in before ANY of the above is a joke

 

[eNDzone]

Some notable artists that are eligible but not yet in the HOF include (bold deserve to be in IMO):

Bad Company : Can't believe not already in.
Dire Straits: Also can't believe they aren't in.
Jethro Tull
The Smiths
MC5
Roxy Music
Judas Priest
The Moody Blues
The Cure
Iron Maiden
Joy Division
Depeche Mode
Motörhead
Nine Inch Nails
The Cars
The Monkees
The Doobie Brothers
Soundgarden
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Procol Harum
Def Leppard
Duran Duran
Ozzy Osbourne
The B-52’s
Supertramp
Pat Benetar
A Tribe Called Quest
Steppenwolf
Mötley Crüe
The Guess Who
Thin Lizzy
The Commodores
The Zombies
Scorpions
Eurythmics
Phish
Styx
Joe Cocker
Foreigner
REO Speedwagon
Meat Loaf
The Human League
Joe Walsh
Violent Femmes

I'm really on the fence about these three:
Bon Jovi: pop rock but his music is still popular today.
Boston: on the fence about this one. Only one album worth a damn but it is one of the best albums
Blue Oyster Cult: not sure they have the breadth of songs

There is no way that The Moody Blues should not be in the HOF. Days of the Future Past should have been enough by itself. It is also ridiculous that they have waited until now to induct Yes. Another one of my favorites that aren't there or on your list is Three Dog Night. There versions of Mama Told Me Not To Come and Liar are killers.

 

[ulukinatme]

Another one of my favorites that aren't there or on your list is Three Dog Night. There versions of Mama Told Me Not To Come and Liar are killers.

Definitely bogus. I saw Three Dog Night around 2002 or 2003 down in Cincinnati for an Oldies Fest concert. Love their music, and they were the headliners of the show...but the funny thing is someone else stole the show. Tony Orlando was the 3rd act of the day and he absolutely had the crowd. He didn't just play his hits though, he played a lot of 60s and 70s stuff that everyone loved. He had immense charisma, and really played to the crowd well. This was a year or two after 9/11 of course, and I remember two people in the middle of the crowd were holding up a huge American flag. Tony brought them up on stage and had them stand behind him, everyone loved it.

Joy to the World, One, Never Been to Spain, Black and White, and Old Fashioned Love Song are some of my favs from Three Dog Night.

 

[eNDzone]

Steppenwolf should be in for being the quintessential Biker Band. Born To be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride will played on the radio when my grandchildren are gone.

 

[ND NYC]

5 Best Studio Bands (made great songs in the studio but didn't do too much touring, or weren't that great as some others in concert

1) Beatles
2) Steely Dan
3) The Doors
4) Clash
5) Rush

5 Best Touring Bands/Live Bands:
1) Grateful Dead (everyone else a distant second)
2) Allman Brothers
3) U2
4) Pearl Jam** (although their early 90's "protests" vs scalping/brokers really cost them a lot of great concerts in their prime)
5) Springsteen



5 Best overall bands (great studio albums and great tours)
1) Led Zeppelin
2) Pearl Jam** see above
3) Rollling Stones
4) U2
5) The Who

 

[Rocket89]

For me, I think great song to overall song ratio and the same ratio for albums is really important when sifting through the best of the best. Obviously, the Beatles are alone on a mountaintop in this regard.

I personally love the Stones but using this method they suffer. Arguably, not a truly great album until Aftermath (although their work looks better when you factor in singles) and if we're honest a whole lot of pretty mediocre songs cover their entire work.

One band I haven't seen mentioned lately in this thread is Lynyrd Skynyrd. They only made 5 albums and their hits to overall song ratio is off the charts.

 

[kmoose]

Since we are talking about musical GOATs here, I will just leave this for your enjoyment:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Giy32rHqX8M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This is excellence, personified...

 

[eNDzone]

For me, I think great song to overall song ratio and the same ratio for albums is really important when sifting through the best of the best. Obviously, the Beatles are alone on a mountaintop in this regard.

I personally love the Stones but using this method they suffer. Arguably, not a truly great album until Aftermath (although their work looks better when you factor in singles) and if we're honest a whole lot of pretty mediocre songs cover their entire work.

One band I haven't seen mentioned lately in this thread is Lynyrd Skynyrd. They only made 5 albums and their hits to overall song ratio is off the charts.

CCR was great at great song to overall song ratio. Cosmos Factory had 7 major hits.

 

[eNDzone]

When it comes to my favourite American bands my list is.

Grand Funk
CCR
Three Dog Night
Steppenwolf
ZZTop

 

[EddytoNow]

Surely you mean only for rock, yes?

Yes, the title of the thread is "Best Classic Rock Band of All Time".

 

[phgreek]

1. Rolling Stones - This is what rock and roll is all about.
2. Fleetwood Mac - Solid Rhythm with Fleetwood and McVie. Outstanding lead guitar with Lindsey Buckingham. Best female singer this side of Janis Joplin and Bonnie Bramlett in Stevie Nicks.
3. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The "Boss", Clarence Clemons, and solid rock.
4. Cream - One of Clapton's early bands. Clapton, nothing more needs to be said.
5. Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band - I got to stand up for the home state rock legend.

Honorable Mention - Under-rated but deserving of far more recognition I'd recommend Delaney & Bonnie and Friends.

I like Seger for sure, just hadn't thought of him. And yea I loved me some Stevie Nicks...Like her solo stuff after Fleetwood Mac too.

...ya know Eddie, outside politics we might have some similarities...

 

[zelezo vlk]

Yes, the title of the thread is "Best Classic Rock Band of All Time".

It was left very open ended. Just wanted to make sure.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[Rocket89]

CCR was great at great song to overall song ratio. Cosmos Factory had 7 major hits.

Oh, yeah. Their ratio was awesome.

 

[gkIrish]

I also think you have to look at their "Greatest Hits" albums to evaluate who is the best. Even if a band like the Stones doesn't have a fantastic ratio their Greatest Hits album is top 5.

 

[woolybug25]

CCR was great at great song to overall song ratio. Cosmos Factory had 7 major hits.

I was gonna mention this earlier. CCR was only a recording band for 5 years total. They put out five completely badass albums filled with hits. So many hits, that they have multiple greatest hits volumes. Each of which, could be considered the top greatest hit album of all time. An incredible band that makes you wonder if there wouldn't even be a question of "greatest band" if they recorded even half as long as the Beatles, Stones, etc.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Rolling Stones, hands down for me.

 

[BobbyMac]

Loverboy, Corey Hart, Michael Buble, Celine Dion & The Biebs are hands down the Top 5 for me.

We should have shut the border as soon as Neil Young got across.

 

[EddytoNow]

I like Seger for sure, just hadn't thought of him. And yea I loved me some Stevie Nicks...Like her solo stuff after Fleetwood Mac too.

...ya know Eddie, outside politics we might have some similarities...

Politics ain't all its cut out to be. I could probably count on one hand the politicians whom I admire. If I had to come up with a top-five politicians list, I probably couldn't list five. Now classic rock bands, that's something else. Lots of candidates for a top five list there.

 

[EddytoNow]

Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce were no slouches. Baker is still considered as good a drummer as Clapton is a guitarist. I've heard a lot of guys try to duplicate sunshine of your Love on the drums and always come up short. Don't know what it is. It sounds like a fairly easy drum piece, but that ever so slightly hesitation always gets them.

I didn't mean to slight Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in any way. But thought Cream deserved a mention, and at least one of Clapton's bands should be on any list of the best.

 

[Irish Man3]

Haven't read through the recent conversation but my personal top 5:

Bob Seger
Eagles
Tom Petty
Fleetwood Mac
Journey

 

[johnnycando]

Zeppelin
The Who
The Stones
The Beatles

Agreed. Well done.

 

[texbender]

Stones
Eagles
Tom Petty
Pink Floyd
Crosby Stills Nash Young

 

[Cackalacky]

First if all I have a very hard time putting the bands I grew up listening to into Classic Rock. I tend to consider anything prior to 1988 as classic. That being said:


Steely Dan. For me they are the Musician's musicians.
Pink Floyd
The Police
Allman Bros
SRV
Genesis


And i will add that i think many of the big bands like the Stones and Aerosmith are way overated. I know that s not popular but i feel it needs to be said

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Pink Floyd impacted my youth like nothing else.

 

[Redbar]

I didn't mean to slight Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in any way. But thought Cream deserved a mention, and at least one of Clapton's bands should be on any list of the best.

I can't believe nobody mentioned Blind Faith. Not a very big catalog, but just an incredible band, with a couple of great songs. Clapton, Baker, Winwood, c'mon man!

 

[ND NYC]

Pink Floyd impacted my youth like nothing else.

agree!

how the hell did I forget to mention them in my post above? they should replace the clash in studio band section.

too much fun and Floyd...missing a few cells I guess

 

[Rhode Irish]

Zeppelin
Beatles
Stones
Allman Brothers
Credence*

*If I was trying to be cooler, I'd have had The Doors or Floyd at 5, but if I'm being honest I like Credence just a little bit more. I have to be in a certain mood for Floyd and Doors, but I'll listen to just about anything by everyone I listed at just about any time. Doors and Floyd just outside the top-5.

 

[Irishnuke]

1) Zeppelin
2) Black Sabbath
3) everybody else
Queen
AC/DC
Aerosmith
The Doors
Pink Floyd
The Who
Jimi Hendrix
Rolling Stones
The Beatles
Eagles
Deep Purple
Clapton (all forms)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
CCR
Ted Nugent
Bob Seger
Iron Maiden

I'm sure I'm forgetting others. No I'm not forgetting KISS

 

[ACamp1900]

How none of you gaytards mentioned Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark is beyond me........