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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
hockey
32 posts
 
I really don't mean to nitpick but isn't the keyword here "American". Sorry Ben I'll try not to double post this time - must be that my ears are ringing and my equilibrium is off from attending those rock concerts by boys who were born on "my side of the pond". Happy listening.
trich727
67 posts
 
Right from the heartland of Blackpool and Liverpool Ohio
wstritt
170 posts
 
Second key word was Greatest otherwise let's add Sonny & Cher, Partridge Family, the Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, Aztec Two-Step, Blue Oyster Cult. Also where are Tonio K, New Riders of the Purple Sage, J Geils? Were Tommy James and the Shondells American too?
paulwp
585 posts
 
The questions were: Who are the greatest American Rock Bands of All Time???????????? Who is THE Greatest of all time?

Many of the names above were not rock and/or not American. There have been dozens, maybe hundreds, of really good, even wonderful American rock bands, but "greatness" implies either long life or long influence.

To my mind, there are only two that fit the criteria: Buddy Holly and the Crickets, so much influence almost 50 years later from such a brief career; and Los Lobos, still going after 30 years of excellence in writing and performing.

Paul
ben_campbell
1,169 posts
 
Paul depending on how you define it I would need to say The Doors although Buddy Holly is a good call..............
It's interesting because I actually think in most era's(in overall terms I mean, obviously it's hard to argue against the Beatles as being no.1 in popular,cultural and musical influence terms )American music tends to shade it against the British but usually the main influence is down to individuals i.e. Dylan,Hendrix,Brian Wilson,Elvis,nearly all the Blues artists-even back as far as Sinatra-of course these individuals did benefit from amazing back up however for some reason Britain did seem to produce more influential bands,in the collective sense.........don't really know why that is........................
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