Since "rock" is really vague, and apparently includes everything from the Beatles and Dylan to Metallica...

And since "star" implies to me something that goes beyond the music, perhaps to the level of a brand...

Jimmy Buffett?

Neil Young would fit for rock; but that guy ain't a star.

I think one person getting over looked is Cher

not sure where she would fall but she should be in the conversation

Not top 10, but close IMO would be Sting.

The whole thread is mildly depressing, and reminds me that I don't really like "rock" as much as I like "hard rock" or "metal" (up to a point). I get the same feeling every time I see the annual RRHOF induction list.

Stick around and be an insufferable pop star long enough and you eventually get listed as an icon of rock.

Just throwing out a random name... Carlos Santana.

LeonardSkinner said:

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Just throwing out a random name... Carlos Santana.

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Agreed. One of the best performances of all time below.

G Martin 87 said:

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gggmann said:

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No women? The only mention thus far is Grace Slick. A few other possibilities:

Tina Turner
Stevie Nicks
Joni Mitchell
Chrissie Hynde
Joan Jett

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No drummers either.

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Who would you suggest?

Mick Fleetwood?
Neil Peart?
Phil Collins?

Rock is historically for men. There are some great crossovers, but it's historically been a man's game. Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Janis Joplin, and Grace slick are great, but not top ten. Women, Cher and Madonna included, get Pop Music. Mostly the same, but more keyboards and on radio stations further to the left on the dial.

As for drummers, of the living ones, Ringo Star as a Beatle could find a spot in the top ten.

I agree that of the living drummers mentioned, Ringo is the biggest.

People have a hard time separating 'best' from 'legendary'.

Chipotlemonger said:

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I agree that of the living drummers mentioned, Ringo is the biggest.

People have a hard time separating 'best' from 'legendary'.

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People have a hard time separating 'rock' from 'pop'.

Metallica sells more albums than any other artist in an era oversaturated with competition and 6000 genres....not legendary.

Beatles give an alternative to gospel and country and they are "legends".

To me the difference with Metallica versus some of the aforementioned people is that Metallica is and was a true group. Sure they're all big names and well known, but they're all legendary as just Metallica and not as James, Lars, Kirk, etc. on their own as some of the other artists are. Doesn't mean that anyone is disrespecting them.

My point wasnt specifically about Metallica but the circumstances why Ringo and McCartney are legends and Grohl isnt top20-worthy. Grohl is keeping rock alive in an era the Beatles wouldnt make it out of the pub open mic night.

95% of their music isn't "rock", its pop with instruments. It's the gimme some money phase of spinal tap, you toe tap and 30 years later it makes it to background noise to a womens hygiene commercials.

Legendary has a connotation to it imo... Here's my list. In no order.

Plant
Jagger
Daltry
Townsend
Bono
David Lee Roth
Angus Young
Eddie Van Halen
Eric Clapton
McCartney

Edit: thinking on it, I would replace McCartney with Page.

Just to make the argument then, what makes McCartney and Starr legendary rock stars?

You, correctly, say they were a part of a group that was instrumental in inspiring rock music. Ergo, they weren't rock n roll themselves, as the genre didn't yet exist.

And when we look at their individual, post Beatle, work, I'd have a hard time considering them anything but pop music icons.

Junkhead said:

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Couldn't disagree more with the statement that the Beatles weren't rock & roll.

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Yea, that was a terrible take.

Junkhead said:

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Couldn't disagree more with the statement that the Beatles weren't rock & roll.

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It was less a statement, than it was part of a question. Thanks for your input, nonetheless.

Everyone universally agrees Queen started trash/metal with Cold Stone Crazy...but no one in a million years would claim Queen is metal, nor a legend of metal.


Just because the beatles heavily influenced the industry it doesnt mean they were actually rock. Yall are out here arguing the creator of Hey Jude is rock...

I think the key word here is living.

The result is the list being dominated by 70 old Brits simply because they've been doing it the longest.

Stones
The Who
Pink Floyd
Zeppelin
Clapton
Ozzy

That fills out your list right there. Not taking anything away from those that come later, but its hard to bump anyone off the list thats been doing it that long.

I agree with the opinion that the Beatles were their own thing. I got a hard time bumping any of the above for a Beatle. Not discounting their contribution or cultural significance, but in my mind, its hard to put the Beatles in the same klan as listed above.

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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I think the key word here is living.

The result is the list being dominated by 70 old Brits simply because they've been doing it the longest.

Stones
The Who
Pink Floyd
Zeppelin
Clapton
Ozzy

That fills out your list right there. Not taking anything away from those that come later, but its hard to bump anyone off the list thats been doing it that long.

I agree with the opinion that the Beatles were their own thing. I got a hard time bumping any of the above for a Beatle. Not discounting their contribution or cultural significance, but in my mind, its hard to put the Beatles in the same klan as listed above.

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Great list. No question about any of these bands Being among the top living legends. But the Mount Rushmore of Rock would consist of Elvis, Buddy, Jerry Lee, and the Beatles. Those bands above would all be different or non-existing if not for the influence of or peer pressure from the Beatles. I still put McCartney at #1 in front of all of those guys. And personally, I'm a "Stones guy" when the Beatles/Stones conversation happens every few years. But McCartney edges out Jagger for the top spot by a hair.

Philo B 93 said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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I think the key word here is living.

The result is the list being dominated by 70 old Brits simply because they've been doing it the longest.

Stones
The Who
Pink Floyd
Zeppelin
Clapton
Ozzy

That fills out your list right there. Not taking anything away from those that come later, but its hard to bump anyone off the list thats been doing it that long.

I agree with the opinion that the Beatles were their own thing. I got a hard time bumping any of the above for a Beatle. Not discounting their contribution or cultural significance, but in my mind, its hard to put the Beatles in the same klan as listed above.

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Great list. No question about any of these bands Being among the top living legends. But the Mount Rushmore of Rock would consist of Elvis, Buddy, Jerry Lee, and the Beatles. Those bands above would all be different or non-existing if not for the influence of or peer pressure from the Beatles. I still put McCartney at #1 in front of all of those guys. And personally, I'm a "Stones guy" when the Beatles/Stones conversation happens every few years. But McCartney edges out Jagger for the top spot by a hair.

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Chuck Berry should be the FIRST person on the Mt. Rushmore of Rock. FULL STOP.

He liked girls to poop in his mouth. That automatically disqualifies him.

Junkhead said:

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He liked girls to poop in his mouth. That automatically disqualifies him.

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That's an urban legend.

Chuck was far from a saint, I'll fully grant you that. However there are lots of names being tossed around on this thread who are just as unsavory.

That stated, sticking to the topic at hand, Chuck Berry IS rock and roll.

"If you had to give Rock 'n' Roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry"

John Lennon"

A friend of a friend saw the video. It's true. And I was just joking about that disqualifying him.

Junkhead said:

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A friend of a friend saw the video. It's true. And I was just joking about that disqualifying him.

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OH WELL YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU HAD CREDIBLE PROOF!!!!

Yelnick McWawa said:

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Junkhead said:

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A friend of a friend saw the video. It's true. And I was just joking about that disqualifying him.

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OH WELL YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU HAD CREDIBLE PROOF!!!!

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I KNOW PEOPLE, BRAH.