You have some wildly ranging opinions on all sorts of things and sometimes I agree and sometimes I very much don't, but they're always entertaining, so I think you're a good poster.

But this....?

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

stairway to heaven (which is a terrible beating of a song)

---

All-time favorite opinion of yours. That song is an asswhip.

superunknown said:

---

You have some wildly ranging opinions on all sorts of things and sometimes I agree and sometimes I very much don't, but they're always entertaining, so I think you're a good poster.

But this....?

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

stairway to heaven (which is a terrible beating of a song)

---

All-time favorite opinion of yours. That song is an asswhip.

---

Don't get me wrong, zeppelin isnt my favorite group but I enjoy most of their catalog and fully appreciate how they impacted artists for decades to come.

But stairways sucks. It's like Hotel California, an absolutely terrible song enjoyed by drunk cougars looking to relive the glory days. Give me Take It Easy, Lyin Eyes, or Seven Bridges over that bloated disaster.

Cheap Trick?

This is a great question that comes up every few years, and it's great because it's difficult to settle. My two cents:

If we were to take out the American caveat, it's hard to argue against a Zep or Beatles at the overall top of the heap. So if we think in terms of those guys, 'classic rock', I think the closest American band that is in the same vein with massive staying power and true rock chops is Aerosmith.

If we're going just personal preference for best all around band that was uniquely American and had a lasting legacy, I'll take Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers all day. For those that only know a handful of their (many) hits, if you really love great music I suggest a deeper dive into their 30+ year catalog. Also a killer live band.

Speaking of live bands, Allman Bros are certainly in the running for pure musicianship as best American band.

The Eagles had some great songs, and I do like the Eagles, but for me it's hard to give the title of greatest American rock band to 70s easy listening outfit.

As for the 'new' guys, Foo Fighters have a ton of hits and are really great, maybe just not all that groundbreaking.

Pearl Jam is a decent contender. Some of their very best music was well after their heyday.

RHCP, imo, are the exact opposite. Some great early albums, but just became a parody of themselves after a while. Your songs don't have to be great if they're funky, but I feel like a lot of the funk was gone by the early oughts, and we were left with not a lot of substance. Maybe I'm hung up on the fact that I never understood the fascination with John Frusciante. I just don't get it.

I guess overall though I'd have to go with Hinder.

I think we can claim Led Zeppelin anyway. They are mostly influenced by Delta blues.

Frusciante is awesome. Heavy Hendrix influence.

Thanks for sharing that, I love when guys dive into all the specifics of their parts. Seems like a good dude.

Lizzy Borden

\m/

Brittmoore Car Club said:

---

Metallica
Pantera (If we're counting Metallica as "rock" and not "metal")
Alice In Chains
Skynyrd

In no order. Those are my favorites, so they are the greatest

---

Know Your Enemy said:

---

Brian Earl Spilner said:

---

Know Your Enemy said:

---

There's a lot of good new rock music being put out IMO.

---

What's some good current bands? I could use some new work music.

---

Rival Sons is amazing, especially their new album Darkfighter
Dirty Honey
Mammoth WVH (Wolfgang Van Halen)
Crobot
Airbourne
Clutch
Royal Blood

And obviously they're not a new band by any stretch but the new Foos album is really ****ing good and that hasn't been the case with them in many years.

---

Let me add Marcus King Band and a band I love that's been around for a long time but most people still don't seem to know is Gov't Mule. I prefer their earlier albums but like pretty much everything they've ever released. But to get the true Mule experience you have to see them live. That's where they shine the most.

superunknown said:

---

see that's where ya lost me, my feelings towards the Eagles are much like the Dude's.

---

Bruce Almighty said:

---

When talking about "the greatest American rock band of all time", the only answer is Aerosmith. I know it's hard to do with art, but when talking about the greatest, facts should be more important than opinions. They're the second best selling American rock band of all time behind the Eagles (unless you're counting Bruce Springsteen as a rock band). The problem with the Eagles is that they were only relevant for one decade. Unless I'm forgetting another band, Aerosmith is the only band to have top 10 hits in 4 different decades. They've been hugely influential to the history of rock music, and have more music video awards than any other rock band. They also have the classic American comeback story. They had a couple of huge albums in the 70s, drugs killed their career, they broke up and were left for dead, completely forgotten for 10 years and then came back and were monsters for 15 years.

---

I could agree with this. Not a huge fan, but it's hard to argue against their incredible career that spanned different styles and tastes. They adapted as needed to survive and thrive. Hard rock, ballads, soundtracks, etc.

Even had a roller coaster themed after them.

Quote:

---

Ten is not even the best Pearl Jam album

---

You shut your mouth!

Pearl Jam was a great rock band for 3 albums. Now they are a folk band. They were much better when Dave A was on drums and before Vedder had so much sway over everything.

Don't know if these have been mentioned:

Green Day
REM
KISS
Heart
ZZ Top
Motley Crue
Journey
Bon Jovi

Cheap Trick

Some/most of them have. I'm in agreeance with other posters though, and don't think any of them hold a candle to Aerosmith in this conversation.

60's : The Doors, if I have to vote for one
70's: Van Halen
80's: Metallica, closely followed by Guns N' Roses
90's: none worth mentioning
New Millenium: Foo Fighters

Lynyrd Skynyrd was only around for about 5 years (not the band that was around post-crash). Their total number of studio album songs was 41, and at least 3 were covers. That's a very small, yet incredible catalog.

CCR was incredible... for 3 years. Shooting stars.

Nobody mentioned the Pilots. They were better than some that have been mentioned, such as Alice and Pearl Jam imo.

Had Van Zant lived , Skynyrd would have been my pick. I think the guy had a bunch more songs in him.

I still go with the Peppers. Longevity and song writing mofos. Every song on Californication was great. Stadium Arcadium was pretty darn good too.

Some blatant disrespect going on around here.

And extra funny considering he regards Foo Fighters so highly.

Dave Grohl was in another pretty good band in the 90s.

Wrong emoji.

This is tough. But have to put the Eagles there.

Surprised Heart hasn't been mentioned.

My personal list would include Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Hall and Oates, and the Pretenders.

Know Your Enemy said:

---

Airbourne

---

They're Australian Mate!

HollywoodBQ said:

---

Know Your Enemy said:

---

Airbourne

---

They're Australian Mate!

---

Uh, yeah. I know. They sound like Bon Scott era AC/DC.

Ol_Ag_02 said:

---

Brian Earl Spilner said:

---

And extra funny considering he regards Foo Fighters so highly.

Dave Grohl was in another pretty good band in the 90s.

Wrong emoji.

---

Everyone seems to forget that he played drums in studio for Tenacious D.

---

Great album.

What's the hang up on Heart? They don't belong in this convo for #1. If you asked the average person on the street about which of these they've heard of as bands, Heart would undoubtedly have the lowest response.

• Aerosmith
• Eagles
• Van Halen
• Heart

MSFC Aggie said:

---

This is tough. But have to put the Eagles there.

Surprised Heart hasn't been mentioned.

My personal list would include Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Hall and Oates, and the Pretenders.

---

Love all of your list, but I'd only put early Doobs in the pure rock band list. Steely Dan, later McDonald Doobs and Hall & Oates lean more toward soul, funk, soft rock.

Pretenders are a Brit band, though Hynde was born in the states. Love them too.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

---

For the record, I tend to agree they the timespan is kind of irrelevant. Nobody in their right mind has The Beatles or Led Zeppelin outside of the top 5 greatest bands of all time, and both were only around for a single decade.

Nirvana made a massive impact on music and pop culture, and is still relevant 30 years later. The fact that they were around so few years shouldn't be a hindrance, it should make them even more impressive.

---

I don't think it's irrelevant. The Beatles and Zeppelin were around long enough to be in the discussion for the greatest of all time, but I don't think a band like Nirvana, that only made three albums can be considered the greatest. Top 10, sure, but they just didn't do enough to be placed over a band like Aerosmith. It's the same problem with Guns n Roses (who I originally put down as the greatest). They had one great album and a couple of good albums, but that's it. That's just not enough to be called "the greatest of all time". I think an interesting discussion would be greatest British band and how much does longevity matter for the Stones. Personally, I think the Beatles are a slam dunk #1, but there's a legit argument for #2 between Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.

Quote:

---

Pretenders are a Brit band, though Hynde was born in the states. Love them too.

---

oof....my bad

MSFC Aggie said:

---

Quote:

---

Pretenders are a Brit band, though Hynde was born in the states. Love them too.

---

oof....my bad

---

They could probably pass for either, as she's American and actually sings about going "back to Ohio".