50 Greatest Rock Bands of All-Time

by Kieran on June 17, 2009

While listening to my iTunes collection (6,000+ songs and counting) I started thinking about how I would rank the greatest rock bands of all-time. Ranking such a thing is obviously all about personal taste…but I am going to try and put personal preferences aside and create a impartial of a list as possible.

One note – this is the top 50* greatest rock BANDS of all-time, therefore individual artists are left out (e.g.  Bob Dylan, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, etc). Also, my definition of a “Rock Band” is fairly liberal…

50* Greatest Rock Bands of All-Time

  1. Led Zeppelin
  2. The Beatles
  3. The Rolling Stones
  4. The Grateful Dead
  5. The Who
  6. Pink Floyd
  7. Nirvana
  8. Van Halen (With David)
  9. The Doors
  10. The Eagles
  11. U2
  12. The Clash
  13. Lynyrd Skynyrd
  14. Queen
  15. Creedence Clearwater Rival
  16. Black Sabbath
  17. The Police
  18. Metallica
  19. Red Hot Chili Peppers
  20. AC/DC
  21. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
  22. The Ramones
  23. The Allman Brothers
  24. Sex Pistols
  25. Rush
  26. The Kinks
  27. The Band
  28. KISS
  29. Pearl Jam
  30. Aerosmith
  31. R.E.M.
  32. Deep Purple
  33. Cream
  34. Rage Against the Machine
  35. Sly and the Family Stone
  36. The Velvet Underground
  37. The Byrds
  38. Journey
  39. Stone Temple Pilots
  40. Guns n’ Roses
  41. ZZ Top
  42. Foreigner
  43. The Animals
  44. YES
  45. Tool
  46. Nine Inch Nails
  47. The Cure
  48. Boston
  49. Iron Maiden
  50. Motorhead
  51. Judas Priest
  52. Alice in Chains
  53. Living Colour
  54. Audioslave
  55. Motley Crue
  56. The Misfits
  57. Jethro Tull*

*Actual list is 56 but top 50 sounds so much better

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{ 69 comments… read them below or add one }

aaron June 25, 2011 at 2:38 am

foo fighers, come on

case July 2, 2011 at 8:07 pm

Why are Beatles #2? If The Beatles aren’t #1, something’s wrong.

Max July 5, 2011 at 8:34 pm

This is the best list I have seen!! The top 10 are pretty much perfect! Only I think that Chicago should be on there instead of the sex pistols or rage against the machine but thats just my opinion.

Shady July 23, 2011 at 3:03 pm

Where is akon ?

marc July 26, 2011 at 6:40 pm

Personally this is always a personal taste thing, but Queen in my opinion is in the top 3 atleast for me, pink floyd rolling stones u2 the police are for me the greatest. Beatles were revolutionary yes but when i think talent and performance. The 90′s bands pearl jam nirvana ect were good but in my opinion not in the league of queen and pink floyd, ect. Foofighters should be in there somewhere, i seen a live show of theirs on a dvd, and they are awsome, really. But queen has had massive concerts, of 250 000 people, they can fill 3-4 cds with greatest hits.

Jon Karp July 28, 2011 at 6:47 pm

This is a list I can live with (unlike many I’ve seen on the web). My essentials are there: The Doors, The Kinks, Allman Bros. I agree that Beach Boys, Steely Dan should be somewhere here (but obviously my bias is 60s and 70s groups. There are really no 50s groups here (e.g., the Coasters, The Drifters, though they are problematic because of the different versions of the band) but maybe groups that are vocal only (not playing instruments) should be excluded. I’m sure I would get a lot of flack for adding The Four Seasons (who did play their instruments) but I think they definitely rate. Good list — thanks.

Andrew August 3, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Where’s Hendrix?

gunned August 27, 2011 at 6:45 pm

Are u serious? Guns n roses not in top 10 WTF?

Rethan September 19, 2011 at 4:31 pm

,jhlgvby July 15, 2009 at 6:55 pm

“the beatles are number 1″

I hate it when people say things like this. Yes the beetles were excellent but please motivate your answer. Enya is also very good. She owns the title for the most selling female artist in the history of music. But every bodies taste in music differs.

Jerry October 9, 2011 at 2:18 pm

Captain Beyond? Jimmy Hendrix? Steely Dan?

Robert October 26, 2011 at 10:22 pm

Bottom line is that in order to enjoy the Dead or P/F, you’ve got to be high. Also, the Beatles belong in the no. 1 slot. Believe me, I was there from the beginning and for those of you who “wish I was there”….well, you’re correct.

Enzo November 14, 2011 at 12:45 am

The list is pretty good, but you have mistakenly put Journey on there instead of the Worst Bands In History List where they belong. The Beatles should be 4 or 5 at best. They are always number one for the 60 year old crowd, but to us 40 year olds most of their songs sound like teeny bopper songs.

Micheal November 26, 2011 at 9:14 am

I would have to say AC/DC is the best haha end of story

sHOBHIT BHATNAGAR November 27, 2011 at 10:24 am

top 10 bands in my opinion are 10. The Doors 9. Pink Floyed 8. The Who 7. Bob Marley and the Wailers 6. Velvet underground 5. Jimi Henderix Experience 4. Led Zeppeline 3. U2 2. The Rolling stones 1. The Beatles

shrish December 4, 2011 at 7:25 pm

led zep deserves that position…anyone who ever listened them will never doubt…the second should be the ‘the who’..
my top 10
led zep
the who
the beatles
ramones
doors
clash
bob marley n the wailers
cream
sex pistols
aerosmith

lfriley5 December 13, 2011 at 9:01 pm

wheres linkin park and disturbed???

sheenaqueenofthejungle December 26, 2011 at 8:54 pm

There isn’t a single girl band on here. WTF?

Kevin W December 31, 2011 at 11:01 pm

Sorry, can’t see The Grateful Dead meriting top ten. Based on influence and number of arguably great songs, I’d pick the following:

1. The Beatles
2. The Rolling Stones
3. Led Zeppelin
4. The Who
5. Pink Floyd
6. The Police
7. The Clash
8. The Eagles
9. U2
10. The Clash

Asianvoice January 5, 2012 at 8:52 pm

WHERE IS MY MR.BIG!!!!
Pat torpey,paul gilbert,billy sheehan,and eric martin is the best!

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