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Greatest American rock band

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Chipotlemonger
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11:27p, 7/28/23
AG
EclipseAg said:
Eagles
Van Halen
Aerosmith

Are in a class by themselves, in terms of hits, longevity, public recognition, popularity across pop/rock fans, etc.


This was posted on page 1. I completely agree with it and think they are hands down the top 3. People are free to argue and choose their order between the 3.

As objectively as I could, if I had to round out the top 10, I would throw in these next 7, not in order:

Pearl Jam
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Bruce Springsteen
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Foo Fighters
Metallica


I know people are not including Springsteen, but for ease of doing a top 10 I would include him. Otherwise I was landing on a coin flip for the last spot between GnR/The Doors. Especially if you're going to add in Tom Petty as a "band". Also, I would include Metallica because of their somewhat crossover appeal at times. Everyone and their dog knows Enter Sandman.

And subjectively, I'm putting Aerosmith above Eagles and Van Halen here for the top of the top 3.
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brew82
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11:33p, 7/28/23
Metallica would be my number one if they were considered rock. They are still going strong. Remember my college roommate introducing me to them in the mid 80s.

Van Halen is next. David Lee Roth as frontman was insanely good.

I remember seeing Aerosmith in the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band movie with the BeeGees back in the late 70's. I like them more now than I did when I was younger. Steven Tyler is also a great frontman. They would be next on my list.

I understand the love for the Eagles, just never cared much for their music.

Journey should get more attention like one poster said, imo. They have a great catalog. Still very popular even with Steve Perry being out of the band for decades. They would be third on my list.
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Brian Earl Spilner
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12:14a, 7/29/23
AG
I'll accept a lot but I'm putting my foot down on Springsteen in the top 10.

Get that **** outta here.
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Chipotlemonger
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In reply to Brian Earl Spilner • 12:31a, 7/29/23
AG
I did my list objectively as possible. I'm not even a Springsteen fan and prefer others that have been mentioned on here over him personally (The Doors and Nirvana, which I took out of the top 10 for Bruce). I just think when you're looking at the lexicon of America and Rock, his music fits the bill.
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Bruce Almighty
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In reply to Brian Earl Spilner • 12:31a, 7/29/23
AG
Brian Earl Spilner said:
I'll accept a lot but I'm putting my foot down on Springsteen in the top 10.

Get that **** outta here.


If you're being objective, he absolutely is top 10 (and I hate Springsteen).
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Chipotlemonger
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 12:36a, 7/29/23
AG
Bruce Almighty said:
Brian Earl Spilner said:
I'll accept a lot but I'm putting my foot down on Springsteen in the top 10.

Get that **** outta here.


If you're being objective, he absolutely is top 10 (and I hate Springsteen).


Thank you.
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TecRecAg
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1:13a, 7/29/23
AG
Slipknot

Considered hardcore metal for 20 years but stays atop the charts. They are uncopied and original
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Know Your Enemy
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In reply to dave94 • 1:41a, 7/29/23
AG
dave94 said:
Chipotlemonger said:
I think Talking Heads and REM are on the same tier. And that tier is nowhere near the Aerosmith/Van Halen/Eagles tier.

Really, it's gotta be one of those 3. I don't see a strong enough argument from any other American band to be on the same tier as all 3 of these.


I certainly wasn't trying to claim that REM is at the top of the list. I'm honestly not sure which of the top 5-ish acts i would say to be the definitive number one.

But, when you talk about American bands in the last half century, REM has to be in the conversation imo.

REM would be the clear #1 if the topic was Bands With The Whiniest Singers Of All Time.
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dave94
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In reply to Know Your Enemy • 1:56a, 7/29/23
AG
Haha, WOW

Just say you don't like them, or I guess Michael Stipe.
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Brian Earl Spilner
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2:12a, 7/29/23
AG
Admittedly I am letting my hate for Springsteen show. But here's a list of bands I'd put in before him:

Pixies
Smashing Pumpkins
Weezer
The Offspring
The Killers
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62strat
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In reply to TecRecAg • 10:47a, 7/29/23
AG
TecRecAg said:
Slipknot

They are uncopied and original
Original.. how?
Kiss, Gwar, Mushroomhead, Alice Cooper.
Plenty of costume stuff before them.

I guess if you consider 'original' as having 3-4 dudes standing on stage doing nothing that amounts to anything, then yeh they did that.
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Bruce Almighty
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10:52a, 7/29/23
AG
I don't care how big of a Slipknot fan you are, nobody should be calling them the greatest American rock band of all time.
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62strat
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10:55a, 7/29/23
AG
They've got longevity/prolific, which is key in my opinion (so knocking out a band like nirvana)
But they don't have mass appeal like TP+HB or Aerosmith

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Brian Earl Spilner
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11:19a, 7/29/23
AG
Slipknot over Nirvana?

GTFO
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Tanya 93
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11:19a, 7/29/23
No love for KISS
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Brian Earl Spilner
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11:24a, 7/29/23
AG
Backstreet Boys should be in before KISS.
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90 bull
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In reply to Brian Earl Spilner • 11:37a, 7/29/23
AG
The Pixies is hard for me to judge. I listened to 2.5 albums of theirs non stop for years, and still listen to it in the background a lot. But have I listened to anything of theirs more than twice since Kim Deal left the band, and that's been 30 years.
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Jack Ruby
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In reply to Tanya 93 • 11:38a, 7/29/23
Tanya 93 said:
No love for KISS


Every KISS song is like if I were to promp ChatGPT: "Write the most generic sounding rock song with entirely predictable lyrics please."

Matter of fact, I did that and this is what it spat out:

(Verse 1)
I woke up this morning feeling lost in the haze
Got my guitar in hand, gonna set the stage ablaze
Got my leather jacket on, ready for the wild ride
Gonna play some generic rock, gonna let it all collide

(Chorus)
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Rocking out tonight, gonna take flight
Blazing guitars, breaking down these bars
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Living on the edge, ain't no turning back
We're gonna rock this town, gonna give it a crack

(Verse 2)
Driving down the highway, with the wind in my hair
Can't stop the feeling, it's like a fiery affair
The audience screaming, hands up in the air
We're here to rock, let's show 'em we don't care

(Bridge)
Power chords and solos, the sound of a rebel's cry
We're gonna light up the stage, reaching for the sky
With every beat, we'll keep the energy high
Together we'll rise, no limits, we'll defy

(Chorus)
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Rocking out tonight, gonna take flight
Blazing guitars, breaking down these bars
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Living on the edge, ain't no turning back
We're gonna rock this town, gonna give it a crack

(Outro)
As the night comes to an end, and the crowd cheers for more
We've rocked their world, left them craving for encore
Till the next time we meet, another rock and roll display
We'll keep on rocking, in the most generic way
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Tanya 93
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In reply to Jack Ruby • 12:01p, 7/29/23
Jack Ruby said:
Tanya 93 said:
No love for KISS


Every KISS song is like if I were to promp ChatGPT: "Write the most generic sounding rock song with entirely predictable lyrics please."

Matter of fact, I did that and this is what it spat out:

(Verse 1)
I woke up this morning feeling lost in the haze
Got my guitar in hand, gonna set the stage ablaze
Got my leather jacket on, ready for the wild ride
Gonna play some generic rock, gonna let it all collide

(Chorus)
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Rocking out tonight, gonna take flight
Blazing guitars, breaking down these bars
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Living on the edge, ain't no turning back
We're gonna rock this town, gonna give it a crack

(Verse 2)
Driving down the highway, with the wind in my hair
Can't stop the feeling, it's like a fiery affair
The audience screaming, hands up in the air
We're here to rock, let's show 'em we don't care

(Bridge)
Power chords and solos, the sound of a rebel's cry
We're gonna light up the stage, reaching for the sky
With every beat, we'll keep the energy high
Together we'll rise, no limits, we'll defy

(Chorus)
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Rocking out tonight, gonna take flight
Blazing guitars, breaking down these bars
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Living on the edge, ain't no turning back
We're gonna rock this town, gonna give it a crack

(Outro)
As the night comes to an end, and the crowd cheers for more
We've rocked their world, left them craving for encore
Till the next time we meet, another rock and roll display
We'll keep on rocking, in the most generic way



Bravo
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The Kraken
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12:10p, 7/29/23
AG
I don't think the Cars have been mentioned.
Fleetwood Mac reached their peak success after adding 2 Americans, can we claim them?
Agree that Aerosmith is up there, but boy did they suck with their ballads.
Weird how the Britain, Canada and Australia all have at least one rock band that is better than any American band.
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Know Your Enemy
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In reply to The Kraken • 12:25p, 7/29/23
AG
Canada and Australia do not have a band better than any American band. I love Rush and AC/DC but there are better.
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Bruce Almighty
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12:30p, 7/29/23
AG
When Bryan Adams and Nickleback is in your country's top 10, your country isn't producing great music.
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maroon barchetta
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In reply to Know Your Enemy • 12:57p, 7/29/23
Know Your Enemy said:
Canada and Australia do not have a band better than any American band. I love Rush and AC/DC but there are better.


Rush and AC/DC are better than all of the grunge you hold as your personal lord and savior.
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JoltinJoe
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1:02p, 7/29/23
AG
Wow, no mention of the Doobie Brothers?

They were prolific. Their style evolved over the years. Also, listen to any classic rock station, and guaranteed one out of every 10 tunes is a Doobies number.

Don't think I saw Jefferson Airplane or Foreigner listed either.

I guess no one is mentioning Jimi Hendrix because The Experience also included Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding?

A personal favorite although they did fly under the radar: Spirit!

And Chicago should be mentioned because of Terry Kath.

Mountain should be mentioned because of Leslie West.

And Iron Butterfly should be mentioned for having the first rock album to go platinum.
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The Kraken
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In reply to Know Your Enemy • 1:20p, 7/29/23
AG
Know Your Enemy said:
Canada and Australia do not have a band better than any American band. I love Rush and AC/DC but there are better.


Rush and AC/DC? I was referring to Barenaked Ladies and Air Supply.
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KidDoc
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1:56p, 7/29/23
AG
I'm a few days late to this spirited discussion but it is relevant to me as I sit here in my Iron Maiden T shirt browsing Texags.

For the topic I would submit the following in no particular order.
Tom Petty
Aerosmith
Van Halen
KISS
Metallica
ZZ Top
Eagles

All of these had success that passed through decades. That is impressive in music period.

Out of USA bands Rush and Iron Maiden are my two biggies. 40+ years of relative consistency and still putting out decent stuff. Maiden has become too proggy for me in the last 10 years but their 2000-2010 stuff was great. I think Clockwork Angels may be one of Rush's best it is outstanding.

For new rock there is a TON of great stuff out there you just have to look for it. Oddly enough most of it is coming out of Sweden. Search for some of the following bands to get started : Eclipse, Dorothy, Pretty Maids, The Pretty Reckless, H.E.A.T, W.E.T., Crazy Lixx, Chez Kane.
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Capybara
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 2:06p, 7/29/23
Canada has outpaced every other nation when it comes to pop in the past decade or so. Not on topic for this thread obviously, but it has to be said regardless.
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Know Your Enemy
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In reply to maroon barchetta • 2:39p, 7/29/23
AG
maroon barchetta said:
Know Your Enemy said:
Canada and Australia do not have a band better than any American band. I love Rush and AC/DC but there are better.


Rush and AC/DC are better than all of the grunge you hold as your personal lord and savior.

While I do love a lot of that stuff none of those bands are even in my top 4-5 and maybe one cracks the top 10. But you're really good about being wrong about me all the time. Feels good to know I have a fan though.
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Bruce Almighty
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3:24p, 7/29/23
AG
I don't like Rush. I do like AC/DC, but there are quite a few American bands I like more.
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Ragoo
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4:29p, 7/29/23
AG
Obviously it is Kings of Leon
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Agasaurus Tex
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In reply to Ragoo • 4:40p, 7/29/23
AG
....or Creed
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Ragoo
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In reply to Agasaurus Tex • 4:50p, 7/29/23
AG
Hey, let's not be too ridiculous.
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Cliff.Booth
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In reply to The Kraken • 4:55p, 7/29/23
Geddy Lee soul patch said:

Weird how the Britain, Canada and Australia all have at least one rock band that is better than any American band.


Credibility = Surrendered
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snowdog90
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6:07p, 7/29/23
I think Van Halen is the answer.

Others I would put in the running would be...

Metallica
Soungarden
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Pearl Jam
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maroon barchetta
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In reply to snowdog90 • 6:23p, 7/29/23
snowdog90 said:
I think Van Halen is the answer.

Others I would put in the running would be...

Metallica
Soungarden
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Pearl Jam


Agreed.

Some of you under-50 folks might not realize how huge they were in the pre-Hagar days, and then sustained and in some ways surpassed the popularity of the early days with the hits that charted in the Hagar era.

They were The Mighty Van Halen for a reason. They headlined the hard rock day of the US Festival in front of 300,000(?) people for a reason.

Plus they had Eddie. Just the songs alone would have been enough but add in his influence over everyone to follow, and it's pretty easy to make them the choice for top American rock band ever.
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