Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Best Rock Bands of All Time List

I've always enjoyed ranking bands. Distinguishing the great bands from the rest has always been a subjective and even frivolous way to pass some time, but at least it's fun to attempt to sort through the veritable cornucopia of bands that I've listened to over the years.

One thing that critics and fans have always failed to do is differentiate between their favorites and the best artists.


It's something I've always been guilty of myself.

Recently I've come to suggest that there are three distinct categories with which to judge artists: "favorite" (the bands an individual prefers without regard to talent/ influence/ success), "important" (influence and contributions to their genre both during their heyday and after their time), and the obvious "best" (the superlatives, the giants, taking into account everything previously mentioned in an attempt to rank based on merit).

Obviously, using these categories as guidelines, anyone can justify putting Enrique Iglesias as their favorite artist because they think "Escape" is bar none the best song to dance it out to, but not as the best without making a serious audiophile laugh.

I also enjoy breaking down bands by decade or period (for example I consider '65-'75 and '87-'97 or thereabouts the two best ten year periods of rock n' roll), but I'll probably wait to compile such a comprehensive list.


For now, I'll reveal my best of all time (a rather grandiose title considering rock is only 50 years old) lists pertaining to both bands and individual artists. For sake of argument, people like Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen are considered individually, despite working with well-known backing bands such as the Heartbreakers and the E Street Band. Bob Marley had the Wailers, and even Bob Dylan had the Band backing him for a time. These also go to 11...


Best Rock Bands of All Time

1. the Who
2. the Rolling Stones
3. Led Zeppelin

4. the Beatles

5. U2

6. R.E.M.
7. Pearl Jam

8. Radiohead
9. the Velvet Underground
10. the Clash

11. Green Day

Honorable Mention: the Kinks, the Band

Best Rock Solo Artists/ Singer-Songwriters of All Time

1. Bob Dylan

2. Jimi Hendrix

3. Chuck Berry
4. Tom Petty
5. Neil Young
6. David Bowie
7. Bruce Springsteen

8. Johnny Cash
9. Bob Marley
10. Eric Clapton
11. Van Morrison