Who do you think is the greatest rock band and why?

[Rawberry101]

So many to choose from. My favorite is definitely Led Zeppelin. I love many in the genre, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors. But if we say 'greatest' as in best, most creative/influential/successful it's always The Beatles. I mean, people are entitled to their opinions but....it's The Beatles and most likely will always be The Beatles.

 

[repeating integers]

It's not real rock for me.

Never really understood this viewpoint. Prog bands were doing their utmost to innovate and push the rock genre forward, and often, it worked - producing some really interesting music. Then Punk came along and reset it all back to the way it had been, stomping out about 7 years of progress ("revolution", my right tree socket - it was a purely conservative, "traditional values" movement). How is this considered a good thing?

 

[Dallas-35]

Rush, they are ranked 3rd behind the Beatles and the Rolling Stones for most consecutive Gold and Platinum albums. All members are masters of their instruments and have influenced countless other musicians.

Geddy Lee is known to be one of the greatest bassists in the world, 2nd behind Flea in most polls

Neil Peart, the professor, some say he is the greatest drummer in the world, I agree with that.

Alex Lifeson surpassed Jimmy Page's ability's by the time he was 19.

And if you still don't believe me:

 

[Shaved Apple]

Can't really say. A lot of people think The Beatles are. Or AC/DC, Rolling Stones etc. And a lot of people think Metallica is the greatest metal band.

 

[DugMachine]

So many old school bands here. I'm going with Arctic Monkeys cause that's pretty much all my rock for the past few years, I absolutely love them.

But if I had to pick an old school band... well I can't stand pink floyd, I think led zeppelin are highly overated and rush is meh. Suppose Black Sabbath or Jimi Hendrix.

OH AND QUEEN, I fucking love queen. But still my favorite rock band is Arctic Monkeys

 

[Hoplon]

Led Zeppelin.

Mostly because they broke up before they turned shite.

*cough*Metallica*cough*

Even with the sillyness of Plants lyrics they are the best rock band by a wide margin.

 

[KingCrInuYasha]

Pink Floyd have always sounded incredibly pretentious to me, and often it feels to me like they're doing things just for the sake of doing them instead of for the sake of the music.

This isn't limited to prog, you know. Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed being a prime example.

I don't listen to prog at all. It's not real rock for me.

Pink Floyd is not real rock? Heh heh...


I did, however, smile at you mentioning Thin Lizzy. Very underrated band.

Back on topic, my choice is the Beatles.

 

[Breaker deGodot]

I can't believe that I'm about to say this, but I have to go with Radiohead. Why? Because each time they experiment with a new sound they ALWAYS mold it into their own unique style. I'll give you an example:

Spoiler

That was one song from each of their 8 studio albums (In order of their release dates). I deliberately picked the ones that (in my opinion) best portrayed each individual albums sound.
Now tell me... if I hadn't told you that each of those songs were written by the same band would you be able to tell? For instance, would you ever guess that "Street Spirit - Fade Out" was written by the same guy that wrote "Pyramid Song"? If you were to listen to them in order then maybe, but otherwise no non-fan would be able to tell (other than Thom Yorke's distinctive voice).

Granted variety alone doesn't make a band great, but I have to admit that I absolutely love all eight of the above songs, and most of them aren't even my favorites from their own respective albums! My point is that Radiohead are full of variety. If you love heavy rock music then you'll like "Pablo Honey " and "OK Computer". Electronic music? "Kid A" and "Amnesiac" are for you. Dubstep? "The King of Limbs". Jazz? "Hail to the Thief".
I could go on.

 

[SomeBrianDude]

My favourite band? Pearl Jam. Without a doubt. The great grunge survivors. To be together for over 20 years and still have the kind of passion that Vedder, Gossard, McCready, Ament, and Cameron have is no small feat.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Pink Floyd have always sounded incredibly pretentious to me, and often it feels to me like they're doing things just for the sake of doing them instead of for the sake of the music.

This isn't limited to prog, you know. Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed being a prime example.

I don't listen to prog at all. It's not real rock for me.

Pink Floyd is not real rock? Heh heh...


I did, however, smile at you mentioning Thin Lizzy. Very underrated band.

Back on topic, my choice is the Beatles.

And then this happens.

Every single time I say I don't like Pink Floyd someone tries to prove me wrong.

'Hmm, he hasn't liked Pink Floyd since he was eleven, but I'm sure that this will be the track that changes his mind and gets rid of ten years of dislike.

It's not just the prog rock thing, it's everything. I don't like his voice, I don't like the guitar, I don't like the composition, I don't like the effects I don't like the technicality of everything.

I don't like Pink Floyd.

 

[solemnwar]

See, now, I don't really like "rock" :/ I'm more of a metal sort of fan.

But generally I dislike the "classic" rock people. I just don't like the music. I'm far more likely to like the "new" stuff than the "old" stuff.

I'm just going to say Kamelot because sometimes they get classified as rock instead of metal.


/flee

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Captain Beefheart sound like a real rock band to me because they are so bluesy, they rock and they are never boring.

But if I had to pick an old school band... well I can't stand pink floyd, I think led zeppelin are highly overated and rush is meh. Suppose Black Sabbath or Jimi Hendrix.

More awesome in an intro to a Sabbath or Hendrix track than a whole Zeppelin album.