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Greatest American Rock and Role Bands of ALL Time

I have run into several advertisements saying that Aerosmith was the greatest American R&R band. I have thought about this claim and asked around and realize it is not an easy choice. So many of the great rock bands are not American..i.e. Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Rush, etc.

But before going further, who should/should not be considered?

 I think “band” means not Elvis, Elton John, etc or other single acts, that is another thread. However I would count Ted Nugent since he really is a band but with his name as a title…same with Hendrix, since he usually played with a band.
 They need to write at least most of there own music (another thing that would preclude Elvis).
 “Rock” any thing from the 50s up to alternative (which I consider a derivative of rock). This would include pop rock, so the Monkey’s might be considered (if they were American).
 Heavy metal would be ok.
 they should sustain their appeal over a period of time even if they weren’t able to produce a lot of music…i.e. Buddy Hollie, Hendrix

Anyway, there is no perfect guide so if you have other ideas, no problem. But here are a few of the undisputed best…..(that is bait)

 Amerosmith
 Kiss
 Alice Cooper
 Ted Nugent
Journey
….hey, I don’t know, I really would have a hard time putting any of these in a top 10 list of all time worldwide so I need some help,

Who are the greatest American Rock Bands of All Time???????????? Who is THE Greatest of all time
bbtuna
dem
79 posts
 

Allman Brothers
Marshall Tucker Band
CSN
Byrds
The Steve Miller Band
lynyrd skynyrd
CCR
Eagles
rwwear
2,847 posts
 
Hey Zaikesman,

You left out Grand Funk and Neil Young is a fav but he is Canadian and the Jackson Five are from another planet.
chuck
201 posts
 
1. Grateful Dead
2. The Eagles
3. The Rolling Stones
4. Lynryd Skynyrd
5. Allman Brothers
6. Fleetwood Mac
7. Cream
8. Steely Dan
9. Dire Straits
10. Credence Clearwater Revival
11. The Beatles
12. Pink Floyd
13. The Who
14. AC/DC
15. Frankie Goes to Hollywood
ben_campbell
1,169 posts
 
LOL-now Cream and Bad Company listed both British.
Creeper I was only trying to be ironic and ott on that last post as I knew constantly posting corrections who make me seem like a smart ass-that's why I posted that like I was your dad,I was only 5 years older than you in 1978......Rosttaman-I'm very aware of the Talking Heads story-I do consider them American and a very excellent band,,,I'm only having fun as always ironry doesn't travel too well............
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
You're all wrong, Pt. Deaux!
Chuck, I guess you must think George W. has already conquered the rest of the world. Trich 727, I thought of the Watch Band later on, so let's keep going (as above, the order can and should be ignored):

51. The Chocolate Watch Band
52. Public Enemy
53. The New York Dolls
54. The Beau Brummels
55. Davie Allan & The Arrows
56. Simon & Garfunkel (see comment at Everly Bros. above)
57. The Rascals
58. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention (first ablum -this is the bone I'll toss to the summer of love crowd - don't choke on it!)
59. Big Star
60. The Nazz
61. The B-52's
62. The Lovin' Spoonful
63. The Shaggs (all hail)
64. The Turtles
65. The Flamin' Groovies
66. Guided By Voices
67. The Dwight Twilley Band
68. Dick Dale & The Del-Tones
69. Redd Kross
70. Prince (proof that, actually, two or more people are not a prerequisite to become a band)
71. The Go-Go's
72. The Coasters
73. The Treniers
74. The Drifters
75. Blood, Sweat & Tears (absolutely first ablum only!)
76. Bill Haley & The Comets (give credit where it is due)
77. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
78. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
79. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
80. The Dead Boys
81. The Raspberries
82. Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns
83. Sly & The Family Stone
84. The Runaways
85. Trouble Funk (I'm from DC - wanna argue?)
86. The Left Banke
87. Cheap Trick
88. Mission of Burma

All right, I'm going to bed now...Honorable mention to The Pretenders, excluded on same technicality as The J.H.E....Steely Dan and Buffalo Springfield fans are still waiting...Journey and Chicago fans better be prepared to wait forever (there's a name for that place)...America rocks!
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