My boy J—- did a Facebook thing the other day about how he was sitting around at a dinner party talking about music. Okay, this really pisses me off right off the bat, because J—- lives in Sweden, and the idea of him and his Swedish buddies chatting over fondue and dark beer makes me kind of nauseous with envy. But then he went on to say that, okay, obviously the Beatles were the greatest British band ever (which opinion, you will remember, I do not necessarily agree with)–but who is the Greatest American Rock Band of All Time? I happen to know the answer, but I’d like to get your opinions first, so I’m opening up the floor to nominations.
They set down rules: has to have been important, either in terms of sales or influence or both; has to have been an actual band, not a solo artist with henchmen; has to have been at least partially based on electric guitars. Hey, his rules, not mine.
It’s always funny to see what kind of stuff people actually respond to on Facebook–this one had a ton of opinions within just a few minutes, and they were all over the board. R.E.M.! said one person; another claimed Nirvana; a third said those were fine choices but he’d have to go with the Velvet Underground; someone voted for the Ramones but then changed his vote to Foo Fighters. I mean, seriously, Foo Fighters?
I was drawn to this discussion like a moth to a flame. I hope you are not this kind of person, because it’s not that pretty or romantic from the inside; we make lists and counter-lists, we argue online with obsessive Norwegians, our families say things like “you already told us that story” and “please, for the love of God, SHUT UP ABOUT LOS FABULOSOS CADILLACS.” Critics will occupy an alarmingly unfashionable section of one of Hell’s biggest rings, and when we get there we’ll bitch about our location and the lack of kitchen space.
So before I get into MY personal choice (which will be revealed in a future column) (and is guaranteed 100% correct for all time), let’s set up some ground rules for the discussion.
Rule #1: Your favorite band IS THE SAME THING AS the greatest band. None of this mincing around the topic. ”Whale is my favorite Swedish band but probably The Soundtrack of Our Lives is the best” is a bullshit tautology; if it’s your favorite then it’s the best because why wouldn’t you like the best group? And if you like it the best then why wouldn’t it be the best?
Rule #2: No solo artists or foreign acts. Sorry, Beatles superfans.
Rule #3: Yes I know this is ridiculous and/or silly and/or a waste of time. If you don’t like ridiculous wastes of time then get off the Internet, my friend.
Rule #4: You are allowed, in the comments, to question other people’s picks–remember, though, that if you are an asshole about it then you are limiting yourself.
Rule #5: Get specific in your comments. Make a case. If you REALLY think that Foo Fighters are the Greatest American Rock Band of All Time, then go for it, but don’t just say “Dave Grohl is awesome” and leave it there.
Rule #6: Don’t get too hung up on influence. As Tom Ewing (proprietor of Freaky Trigger and the world-famous Popular) has proven, influence is not actually a thing, and doesn’t really exist. So if you say Big Star, for example, don’t hang your case on the fact that they laid groundwork for the dB’s and R.E.M. and the Replacements and blah blah blah–just make it about Big Star themselves.
Rule #7: In order to truly be the Greatest American Rock Band of All Time, some kind of milestone and/or innovation should probably be involved.
Rule #8: Best nomination (in terms of being well-argued and interesting, and I am the sole judge) will be celebrated here with a special column and probably a mix CD or something.
Okay. NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN. Have at it, friends.
I am going to have to go with Queen. Yes they are my favorite rock band (I am actually a hip hop person almost exclusive), and I think the impact they still have today is telling. Check it, we see a song they did on Glee and then whenever you go to any sports stadium you may here a song from them as well. We will rock you? Never going to die, it is a song that EVERYONE knows. Just play the beat, people know what song you dealing with.
Damon you are busted — Queen is a very proudly BRITISHer band. I love the hell out of them though.
See that is what happens when you let someone that is into rap talk rock.
The only rock band or album I acknowledge is Guns & Roses and Appetite for Destruction.
Whoa — Jay, are you my younger brother? And is it 1987? (I kid, I kid. Kinda.)
I’m going with Van Halen. Innovation is obvious: Eddie Van Halen’s two-handed tapping technique and use of harmonics as well as his “brown sound”, basically making modifications to his rig that only an electrical engineer could get excited about.
The band as a whole is exceptionally talented, regardless of whether you’re a fan of David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar (no, Gary Cherone doesn’t count) and when put together is one of the most recognizable sounds in rock.
Per the rules, I won’t put too much emphasis on influence, but every rock guitar player born around or after 1978 has been influenced by Van Halen. Period.
Longevity and evolution are points that can’t be overlooked either. Their first 5 albums were really solid rock albums, but it wasn’t until 1984 that they achieved mega-popularity with songs that featured synths. After Sammy joined the band, they continued to evolve until now, unfortunately, they’re a shell of the former band.
I considered G’n R, but one great album makes not the greatest American band. Aerosmith also gets honorable mention, but any “rock” band that plays a Diane Warren song is automatically DQ’ed.
No, I am your younger brother. And it’s the Melvins. They are the story of America itself: Humble beginnings, anti-establishment establishment, great hair, scandalous interlude (time with Jello), redemption, and a fun-filled anniversary celebration. All the while, they have produced nothing but rock. Bam! That just happened.
Haha I was talking about Jeff you dork.
American band? Truly American? Me showing up to this argument is like me showing up to D-Day with a blow-gun! Ok, I will go with Aerosmith…based on staying power, coming back from the dead multiple times, rehab(s), Run-DMC, and Steven Tyler’s anorexia. Not to mention some truly calssic ‘Stadium Rock’ anthems and few early videos that moved the needle.Now if you asked my favorite….REM of course. Later
And a cobra snake for a necktie
Who do you love?
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
My vote: Lynyrd Skynrd
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – a walking, talking, touring encyclopedia of American music.
well foo fighters probably arent the GREATEST but theyre definetly up there as top 10
My Vote: The Foo Fighters
They are an incredibly underrated rock band that deserves much more credit then what they have. They have almost 30 singles and every album they put out blows me away.
Pearl Jam, though Foo Fighters are a close second. They’re pretty much the only two bands making straight up in your face rock and roll these days.
People, remember: we are not talking about best CURRENT band. The rules are: 1) American, 2) rock, 3) all-time.
Still 1: Lynyrd Skynyrd
2: The Doors
Both bands – plenty of guitars, interesting lyrics, great tunes.
Skynyrd – much better party music
Doors – much better for a long listen
without a doubt….SOUNDGARDEN….the greatest, most original, creative, and just plain amazing music that america has ever had.
i would say the MC5 without them we wouldnt even have half the bands that are out today or came out after them..i see them as very underrated to for what they did
Frank Zappa and like every band he played with.
He released the first double album and one of rock’s first concept albums (Freak Out!), played and composed in every genre imaginable (rock n roll, doo wop, jazz, pop, classical, disco, blues, etc.), spent his entire career fighting censorship and the popular music establishment. He could probably also be credited with inventing indie music, since his frustration with record execs attempting to censor his work led him to create his own studios and he led a very successful self-distribution system that’s still in use today.
In his almost 40-year career, he released upwards of 60 albums and composed more than 1200 songs, many of which haven’t even been released yet. A new album comes out every year or so and in this respect, he was like Tupac before Tupac was Tupac.
Without his influence, a little album called Sgt. Pepper’s would never have been recorded; the Beatles called it their “Freak Out!”. However, Frank thought it was nothing but commercialized psychedelia and retorted with “We’re Only In It for the Money”, one of the most influential and acclaimed rock albums ever. He also gave Alice Cooper their start- their albums with Bob Ezrin were more successful, but it was Frank’s advice regarding the infamous “chicken incident” that helped them cultivate their image as counter-culture icons.
As an added bonus, his conflicts with the PMRC- Tipper Gore in particular- resulted in his receiving the first and only Parental Advisory sticker for an all-instrumental album (Jazz From Hell).
There’s a whole lot more reasons why he’s awesome, but I’ve probably already typed too much.
Pearl Jam is the greatest American rock band of al time. 18 years, best blend of punk, metal and classic rock styles, 5 songwriters (at least for the last 11 yrs). Popularity – sold a ridiculous amount of the first three records and now the ratio of concert sales to record sales in the last decade is incredible. Brilliant lyrics and one of the top ten world class front men.
Here goes, and keep in mind I consider Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band to be truly a solo outfit as the boss writes the songs and doesnt give the band credit as a band on albums, only as individual musicians on individual songs, while mike campbell is nearly as much a part of tp & the hb’s as tp w/ his songwriting, musicianship, production, etc. ok here… 1. tom petty & the heartbreakers, 2. grateful dead, 3. pearl jam, 4. talking heads, 5. velvet underground, 6. ccr, 7. the doors, 8. metallica, 9. lynyrd skynyrd. 10. kiss, 11. beach boys, 12. allman bros.
and please consider this an objective analysis as i really dont like tom petty, am indifferent on the dead, dont care for pearl jam, dislike metallica, hate kiss, etc.
My vote is for the Foo. Everlong is one of the greatest songs of all time. Their albums are ALWAYS much more than the few singles that the inevitably always produce. They can hit deep tracks, slow tracks, loud tracks, and just good old American rock and roll better than anyone else. FF4E haha
All I can say is Big Star, Big Star, Big Star. Don´t even feel like explaining why. They just are.
Here´s my list of the top off my head
1. Big Star
2. The Beach Boys
3. The Velvet Underground