Who gets your vote for the greatest rock band of all time?

I'd vote my lawn mower before Linkin Park.

This isn't a very good list as "other" is getting the most votes. Whatever happened to Van Halen, The Doors, Aerosmith, Grateful Dead, Motley Crue, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, or CCR?

Um Spudman....a question. WHy is Susan Boyle in your list?

Just thought I'd chime in and express my shock and dismay at the comments on Gn'R. This is a band that I absolutely loved as a kid growing up in the 80s. But the greatest of all time!? People, people people... Aside from Appetite for Destruction, and a few decent tracks on the Use Your Illusion albums, what on earth have they done to catapult past all the other greats out there (including the ones asked about in this poll)? To quote Mr. Rose, "You're **** Crazy!"

I voted for the Beatles. Whether they are a rock band or rock 'n' roll band, I don't know. Anyway, I think Lennon and McCartney were two of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, and the group certainly had a huge social influence. Some of their albums (Sgt Pepper's) were ground-breaking.

What I find interesting is that all the bands above and other top ones as well, such as The Who, came out of the 1960s and early 1970s, in an era before there were music videos. I think the 1960s will go down in history as being one of the richest periods musically.

Where are the hard-hitting rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s?

Without question and not even close, The Who. NetNinja - Linkin Park?? The category said "Rock", not emo wuss boys.

Spinal Tap of course.

Bring back the Dead. We need Jerry Garcia back in our lives.

Weekend at Jerry's

I want to see this band:

John Lennon writing the songs.

Paige and Gilmour on guitar.

Mercury on vocals.

Entwhistle on bass.

Prince and the Revolution LOL Take that.

Black Sabbath hasn't been mentioned, so I'll include their name. Also, The Kinks.

One writer mentioned the ability to "hum a few bars" as one criterion of a great rock act. One individual and group that qualifies is Jeff Lynne and Electric Light Orchestra.

But there is another rock-oriented group that had tremendous international appeal, and a unique massive appeal among many age and social groups. I recall a trip to the Florida Everglades in the early 70s and a visit to a Seminole village. As isolated as that place was, this group's songs were all the rage -- as they were in downtown Manhattan and on the West Coast.

The group: CCR. (Don't kid yourself; John Fogerty is a great guitarist.)

Bring back the Dead. We need Jerry Garcia back in our lives.

The Strolling Bones.

I admit I am pretty pathetic in following this poll all day, but how can it be possible that Queen gets more votes than Page & the boys?!? Yeah, Queen was cool and all, but. they never released anything CLOSE to Led Zeppelin IV...

The Cream with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. Also, the Moody Blues, Heart, Boston, Santana, Jetro Tull, Grand Funk Railroad, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Neil Young, the Cars.

Linkin Park changed the way we listen to music.

Is this your stand-up routine?

Linkin Park changed the way we listen to music

It changed the way emos listened to music- for about 5 mins. Seriously NetNinja, if they were so special, why cant the average person hum a few bars? I don't care for some of the bands listed above, but at least I can say I'm familiar with their work and could belt out a tune at karaoke, but Linkin Park? They take generic rap, and package it in a more white-friendly way (computer generated hooks etc.). Add generic lyrics about being frustrated and misunderstood, VOILA! the 16-24 male demographic eats it up.

Question for NetNinja: If Linkin Park was the greatest of all time, who is the runner up? Nickelback?

A concert is the true test of a musicians ability. I've been to good concerts and I've been to down right pitiful concerts (Whitney Houston - Saitama)

When you confess to listening to Linkin Park and Whitney Houston, your right to vote for the Greatest Rock Band Of All Time is immediately rescinded.

I voted Beatles but if we are being fussy about the definition of rock, I have to go with led zeppelin.

I must admit I have a soft spot for dire straits too. Whatever you do don't judge them by their brothers in arms album. Check out the live versions of Sultans of swing on YouTube to see what they are really about.

While not my favourite, I had to vote the Beatles. I think they were, especially at the beginning, far too campy

Not like Queen, eh?

The Cure.

What!!! No AC/DC?

Voted RS, but can't omit Lynyrd Skynyrd, or Z Z Top.

Oy vey..

LOL!

The Ramones!

NetNinja - you went to a Whitney Houston concert.

NetNinja - My head is swimming. How could someone attend Mettalica AND Whitney Houston concerts in the same lifetime?

bass4funkNov. 29, 2011 - 01:10PM JST. Well, that's not true. Yes, music is subjective, But as a musical engineer, if you like at the guitar wizardry of Brian May, the doubling effects, chorus and harmonizing and not even using synths till the 80's just blows the mind, not to mention the song arrangements, carefully woven and masterfully executed by May and Mercury, that is not to say, I don't give the Stones props or the other mentioned legends, but I think we hear different things, especially if you are just a listener of music or if you are an audio engineer or teacher, you will hear music in a totally different way a deeper depth to analyze the music NOT as music,

Like you say, music is subjective. I like Mark Knopfler better than Brian May's style. Dire Straits were a British rock band in the mid 70's through 90's, composed of great Mark Knopfler, lead vocals and lead guitar, his brother David Knopfler, rhythm guitar and backing vocals, John Illsley, bass guitar and backing vocals, and Pick Withers, drums and percussion. Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest to beat music within the context of rock and roll. They were a great band that was not recognized to the fullest.

More favs:

Bob Segar & The Silver Bullet Band. Kansas. Foghat. The Band. The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The Allman Bros. Deep Purple. Alice Cooper. Rod Stewart and the Small Faces. Rory Gallagher Band. Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band. Santana. Little Feat. Joan Jett and the Black Hearts. The Doors. The Psychedelic Furs. X. The U.K. Subs. Blondie. The New York Dolls. Siouxsie and the Banshees. Iron Maiden. ELP. Golden Earring. Scorpions. The Cramps.

ACDC

They get my vote for being a great group and for being a great economic indicator.

Stones

Other: AC/DC.

Wow pretty limited amount of bands to choose from. I agree with Spudman, hardly call the Beatles a rock band. Where are the likes of U2, AC/DC, Guns N Roses, Metallica etc.

Hmm, all British bands. A bit biased, perhaps? Rock and roll originated in the USA.

Silly poll. The correct way to do this is to simply have a single blank field to fill in the name of your favorite.

But if you have to have a list, there is no way it should list fewer than a hundred bands and then it still needs a blank at the end for bands that are not listed. To just list five bands with no space for write-in ... is moronic.

Oh, and while The Grateful Dead is my favorite band I would have to say that The Rolling Stones have to be considered The Greatest Rock Band. No one has done rock & roll better and/or longer than they have.

Hmm, all British bands. A bit biased, perhaps? Rock and roll originated in the USA.

Which is why it must really irk you that we Brits do it so much better than you do, eh?

bass4funkNov. 29, 2011 - 08:17AM JST. No other band to this day can reach that kind of clout..IMO.

Rolling Stones has. Alot more than a Queen.

Hmm...not a very comprehensive list, so I chose "Other" thanks.

Shame on everyone above me, I cant believe I am the first to mention

JIMI HENDRIX a big DOH to all of you LOL!!

@hoserfella

What can I say, oh, you just made me! Love to wear the shoe!

I have some Neil Young that count jeremiah, although might be kinda cool to spark up the safety dance LOL

Wow, a difficult question! Beatles were pop for me, fantastic as they were. I love Zep, The Stones, Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, The Who, Queen, Hendrix, Aerosmith, early GnR, Motorhead, Judas Priest, Green Day, - to name but a few. Choosing the "best" or even my favourite is impossible for me though!

Velvet Underground

As for "Linkin Park" I've never heard anything by them.

My vote was for Metallica.

Is rock still around? I thought it was as dead as disco.

Just read this in the AV Club:

While rock has never been rigidly defined as a genre, and has a magpie sensibility with new sounds and trends, it is no longer the center of pop culture, with the prerogative of granting honorary membership to artists practicing in other genres. Even if rock has never been specific or easily definable entity, the term no longer suits the wide-ranging and amorphous body of music currently being made and heard.

It might only be a matter of time before music historians remember Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith for contributing drum parts to so many classic rap songs; The Beatles for inspiring parts of the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique; and King Crimson for supplying an awesome hook to “Power” from West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

And the last post is from a poster who a few months ago put Sex Pistols in the same category of manufactured band as AKB48.

Lots of bands missing, these are best selling artists. Beatles are not considered rock.

Greatest rock band to date

Well then Queen's out, considering what happened to poor Freddie.

SMAP.

What is the definition of great being used here? If its my personal opinion as to what to is great to me, from the list I would choose Led Zeppelin.

I cannot say I care for the amibiguity of the word "rock band" either. I would put the Beatles in the category of pop rock myself, and Led Zeppelin in the category of rock n roll.

But even more than Zeppelin I personally appreciate Yes. I would put Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles before the Beatles on any list. And the only reason I don't mention Bob Seger is because he is not a band.

Not the best video quality but http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCTgVITubkE&feature=related

Susan Boyle is not a band.

I think the pollster must be a flower-child from the 60's. My vote is Guns n' Roses (of the early 90's, not now).

G&R, great band but not in the running. Ditto for Doors, Dead, Crue Nirvana, CCR.

Van Halen maybe. They certainly have the virtuousity for it, but maybe short of hits.

Aeorsmith has a fighting chance, given their long body of work and iconic writing, singing and guitar work.

Best live band: The Clash Best band over a period of time: Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band Best contemporary band: dunno; ask the kids; Radiohead?

As much as I love Floyd, I've gotta go with Zeppelin.

Seriously, it's a no brainer, "The Beatles and Queen"-Period if you want to talk about pure originality the rest on the list are great bands in terms of raw power, singing and performing, but overall and really listen and scrutinize these bands carefully and you will see that they cannot even come close to Beatles or Queen? Between the two, almost every album was huge success, not to mention, how many singles from each album became hits, classic hits and timeless hits, both have members that write, play everything and are multi-talented. No other band to this day can reach that kind of clout..IMO.

.....the responses were as predictable as the lineup....

The Beatles certainly are a rock band. Rock/pop is essentially the same thing anyway. What do you mean by greatest? Record sales? Grammys? Tours? time in the Top 100? Personal opinion?

The Stones proclaimed themselves as the world's greatest rock band (and that stuck for quite some time)

The Beatles are largely (and correctly) considered the most influential; they would have my vote. But (as a music teacher) I am aware that many of my present students have little connection to them now.

How about specifying which group you would nominate?

Kiss, Metallica, Ozzy with Randy Rhodes, Judas Priest, AC/DC

and Rush! Neil Peart is the king!

bass4funk, as a musical engineer, listen!

but I think we hear different things, especially if you are just a listener of music or if you are an audio engineer or teacher, you will hear music in a totally different way a deeper depth to analyze the music NOT as music, but more as layered parts

could you hear the pretentiousness? It was layered in there right between "presumptuous" and "self-important"

bass4funk - what can I say, I'm "just" a listener..

Men Without Hats is in the CD collection of every Canadian I know. Sounds like there's Canada people here but none wants to fess up to owning any of their stuff or even Brian Adams.

Staying on topic here, there's one group I wish I had seen in concert. That was Journey

Yes!!! Those Steve Perry days were awesome. Shame on me for forgetting that one!!

CCR. (Don't kid yourself; John Fogerty is a great guitarist.)

Wasn't his brother the one playig lead? I loves me some CCR, but greatest rock band of all time? Nah.

VERSAILLES!!! <>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7gzrEHi44c

Quite frankly, this list should be whittled down to The Beatles, Stones and Who, with Zep getting honorable mention or "E" for effort.

NinjaDave - A quick review of my always awesome posts cleared up your confusion. I put X JAPAN in the same category as AKB48, Not the Sex Pistols. Perhaps all the X's threw you off.

Susan Boyle? Why did you leave ABBA off your list?

Beatles are not rock bank as others have said, I agree they are a pop band and the greatest band ever. But for best rock band, its Zep. G&R, recycled Zep. White Stripes, recycled Zep. Linkin Park, who cares. No band comes close to Page and company. 300 million albums sold. If they reunited and toured they would gross a billion dollars worldwide. Not likely to happen unfortunately as Page is on to other things.

Zurcronium you seem more like a Skynyrd fan, from way back.Or a Hall and Oates guy.

I chose Zeppelin because I absolutely love'em.

...but define "Greatest rock band" please?

Bob Segar & The Silver Bullet Band

I grew up in Detroit, where there was quite a great local rock scene during the mid-60s to early 70s. Before the Silver Bullet Band, Seger's group was called The Bob Seger System. (Check out the songs 2+2 and Ramblin' Gamblin' Man on Youtube.)

Also, there were The Stooges (featuring a young Iggy Pop -- or Iggy Stooge, as he called himself at the time); Amboy Dukes (w/Ted Nugent); The Frost; MC5; SRC; Frigid Pink; Mitch Ryder; and Grand Funk Railroad. I guess it was an early love of songs like I wanna be your dog (Stooges) and Kick Out the Jams (MC5), that caused me to completely fail to appreciate a group like Queen.

I recall hearing Bohemian Rhapsody for the first time and thinking, "Well, that was different." After the fourth or fifth hearing, I really didn't care if I heard it or any other Queen song again.

As for live shows, some of the best I've seen were by Blind Faith; Emerson, Lake and Palmer; and Supertramp.

No RAMONES?

Lived thru that era when Zeppelin was tops, (but was basically waiting for 'punk'/new wave to be born). Hard to think of a band since that so completely dominated the genre but then those were different times, as Lou Reed said.If rock is all you know or listen to I would say LZ is the 'greatest.' But the Rolling Stones get my official vote here.

But I don't think anyone embodies the true spirit of rock and roll any better than Lou Reed and Neil Young.

Reed has had more and better imitators

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrYaOINGkJ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFkG6vD2nxk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgRYncR1Nog&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXf9SQn82DrgjULFinym5i2w

To spoil your day, or perhaps make it, if you are a GnR fan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGzh7hmzTNo

Before the Silver Bullet Band, Seger's group was called The Bob Seger System. (Check out the songs 2+2 and Ramblin' Gamblin' Man on Youtube.)

Thanx!

Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels! Iggy and the Stooges, ELP... So much good music!

What? Creedence Clearwater isn't on the list??

as canadian bands go......how about....bachman turner overdrive. nice to see king crimson mentioned but i think them and pink floyd are more progressive than actual rock'n'roll. concerts i've seen-pink floyd(3times),led zepplin(remember the beginning of stairway to heaven and nothing else of the concert),david bowie,boston,kansas,journey,z z top,beach boys(1975),eddie money,grand funk,e.l.o.,frank zappa, humble pie,c.s.n.y.,alice cooper,bad co.,b.b.king(2times)rod stewart with faces(and rory gallagher),black oak arkansas, steely dan,focus,leon russel,us fesitval(both years),toby keith and3dog night (off topic cheech'n'chong-2times). i have ticket stubs for every one of these concerts. i vote for LED ZEPPLIN

The list is incomplete, other just isn't enough to describe some of the truely great bands.

That said,

Queen has always occupied a special place in my heart. To date, Freddie Mercury is the only celebrity death I ever shed a tear for...well...him and Milton Berle but thats another story.

Linkin Parki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Linkin_Park

The numbers speak for themselves. Sorry, but there are too many awards to list.

When it comes to rocking these days you have to look no further than Japan Today's favourite ladies AKB48.

Now before you throw your toys out of your pram take a listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNV8x2UH6Sg

For me hearing Randy Rhodes playing Crazy Train is still special,but that era is gone,sadly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Se9cVOlft4&feature=related

Michael Jackson is the biggest selling solo artist in history, even bigger than Beatles. Why isn't Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley considered in the poll? Also, Eagles, Genesis, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Journey. There are many to mention.

The best were:

David Bowie e.g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IJsAuUgSgc

Steely Dan e.g. Can't buy a thrill album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Fs5GrUBwI

U2

Tremeloes e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bswxaeyQDFI

Manfred Mann's Earth Band e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMR6qPn1nPI

Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Titch e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEBFH9R3cg4

Eagles

The Beach Boys

A-Ha

Talking Heads e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8nubk27RX4

DOF e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXYBh_ut-fo (starts at 20) or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U03-9BOSo7w

Chicago

And so many more I could write the whole page through. Have fun.

p.s. That's why my vote gone for the "others"

The Truth Matters Dec. 04, 2011 - 08:52AM JST

Of course, I know that. There are many more great and interesting bands, I just wanted to give a few samples under the "others" option, But as I wrote I could write many more, it's just impossible to squeeze them in one post, but it's good you mentioned others.

So this is Japantoday.com so my vote goes to Tokyo Jihen. Or The pillows. Or The Pees.

Funny how no one has mentioned THE E STREET BAND & BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. Yeah, I put that backwards deliberately. The E Street Band were as much a part of Springsteen's sound as The Boss himself was - Clarence Clemons, Roy Bittan, Steve Van Zandt. Thunder Road, Badlands, Blinded By The Light, Born To Run.... 3-hour gigs. These guys deserve a mention. And The Big Man Clarence passed away this year.

And who could forget The Fugs and Holy Modal Rounders? I mean, really.

Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders.

Funny how no one has mentioned THE E STREET BAND & BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Scroll back. The Boss and The Big Man were not forgotten.

Boy, that's a short list- who came up with it? Had to vote for Led Zeppelin but as many have said, under what criteria? Sales, longevity (of music and individuals!), live shows, influence?

Glad to see I'm not the only E Street Band voter - no one does Live like those guys- now we have to get them across the Pacific on the so called WORLD tour next year, so they can prove me right! And thank you Bluebris for mentioning Thin Lizzy, a personal favourite - along with Lynyrd Skynyrd who rocked Kosei Nenkin Kaikan some time in the early 90s. My great regret in life (well one of them!) is not going to Live Aid, since I was in London at the time - I could watch the Queen show over and over.

OK, I'm feeling old now, think I'll go have a cup of cocoa.

GRATEFUL DEAD RULE!

Midori

Try this from the "others" option.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG9qDl0EEtI

Try this from the "others" option.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG9qDl0EEtI

hoserfella

If "showing your age" means appreciating music played on real instruments and not computers, call me old.

Gday old fella!!!

Id rate Linkin Park up there with Susan Doyle as far as style go. Neither one has any balls and both are over the top radio-emo for soccer moms.

Funny one.

Seriously though if this was a vote on "classic rock" you know oldies stuff. Then yeah l would agree but the topic is greatest rock band of all time. I would say that some of the newer generation stuff Pearl Jam, Green Day, Linkin Park is just as good. But l guess it depends on the age of the voter. The older crowd will go with the old time rock, the younger crowd will go with the more recent stuff IMO. Each to their own, no need to put other bands down though.

Queen for me.

Fella making friends again? LOL. Can't follow the simplest of rules for a survey and only want to froth? Don't get involved! Pink Floyd today. Led Zeppelin tomorrow, The Beatles on Monday and so on... each fits a part to be played on my B&W Speakers. The neighbors love them too, they listen to them ALL the time :-)

I believe people can change. I had to believe that somehow we can come back from the abyss that drug abuse is. So yeah,I ADMIT I went to.....a....Whitney Houston....concert.

I'm a concert goer. I'm there. I don't like missing things. Except I wish I had missed this one.

I've seen many performances. Although I love LP I have never seen a performance more powerful than Metallica.

Metallica is the one concert in my life I will never forget. That was Summer Sonic a few years back. I haven't seen anything more powerful yet. Some friends who left the concert a bit early told me that they hear Metallica all the way to Makuhari station. Now that's loud!!

Green Day would have to be the most fun. Everybody knows their music. Their last album Bullet in a Bible was fantastic.

@sfjp

Rolling Stones has. Alot more than a Queen

Well, that's not true. Yes, music is subjective, But as a musical engineer, if you like at the guitar wizardry of Brian May, the doubling effects, chorus and harmonizing and not even using synths till the 80's just blows the mind, not to mention the song arrangements, carefully woven and masterfully executed by May and Mercury, that is not to say, I don't give the Stones props or the other mentioned legends, but I think we hear different things, especially if you are just a listener of music or if you are an audio engineer or teacher, you will hear music in a totally different way a deeper depth to analyze the music NOT as music, but more as layered parts. You are more critical that is all that I am saying. Not trying to diminish some of the other bands, but again, Queen and Beatles just can't be beat....again, sorry.

@nec123a

I totally agree with you. When you say this to most of the younger generation, they just don't get it and of course, they will think our tastes are a bit outdated, be that as it may, but oh, well...I do this for a living so....

As I said before music is totally subjective and I know not everyone is here on the same page, there are a lot of great bands here, but I'm old school, I will always go with the quality rock bands of the 60's and 70's. I am specifically talking about the innovators. As for the 80's that's a totally different genre and one more point, I wasn't sad to see Heavy Metal die out! Again, sorry (lots of sorrying today), but the late 80's was grueling with it. Ugh! Hate the game, don't hate the player.

Nessie- John fogerty was lead guitar, vocals and wrote the music. In other words, he WAS ccr.

Combinibento- ouch!

this is unlikely to get as heated as a political discussion. I read with great interest what BassFunk wrote and some of the replies were much in line with what many of my junior music students would say.

I don't think think BassFunk was being pretentious at all. I would like to have read an even deeper analysis from him personally.

It's funny. I teach Maths and Music (not in Japan) often to the same students. They have little problem accepting that my knowledge of maths is greater than theirs and as such that I am source to help their learning. But not with music. No. With music I am always wrong and they are always right (especially in matters of taste).

I totally respect that people have differing tastes in music - it is great to teach a subject that people already invest so much passion into. And, when taking a poll on personal taste - whatever goes is fine. I guess. But if it is a deeper understanding of the music and the reasons for it's greatness - I tend to limit my discussions to other musicians.

But if it is a deeper understanding of the music and the reasons for it's greatness - I tend to limit my discussions to other musicians.

nec123a - Thats not pretentious at all!

I have a question for you;

if you are a musician I've never heard of and quite possibly, well, suck,.. why should I put any more stock into your preferences or opinions? You site Mercury and May as two artists you really admire, and while I liked a few of their more ballsy rock songs and ability to put on a great live performance (mostly Murcury), I see a lot of Queen's music as typical of the general malaise in 1970's era rock. A lot of flowery, over-produced bells and whistles while a lot of artists were so far up their own behinds and nose deep in coke that they didn't know what "Rock" was anymore. And as someone who clearly hasn't graduated from that excess, I'll bet you still don't get, or apprieciate The Ramones, who saw the problem and gave these people a much-needed kick in the a**.

I might give a hard time to people like NetNinja for his tastes, but I'd never be so pretentious as to say I have some deeper understanding of music he wasn't given at birth by the gods. I don't have that right and neither do failed musicians.

As a rock (and roll, and pop) musician who covered tunes from all the bands in the poll, and several others mentioned in your posts, as well as 40 of his own band's originals, the whole exercise is a waste of time. And did anyone mention The Doors. Does any one of you remember Jim Morrison's famous comment when told the band would never do the Ed Sullivan Show again, after they played (does anyone know?) the song they were told NOT to play? As a Doors fan, his comment was immortal: "We just DID the Ed Sullivan Show."

Hard to call The Beatles rock.

Hard to call U2 good - let alone great.

Actually NetNinja, you had lots of room to list their "awards". 0- 3 in Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards!! Maybe next year, Tiger!

Spidapig- I'm young enough to know that nickelodeon kids choice awards are a great barometer for a "rock" band...what do I young'ns say.. NOT!

My problem with making Led Zeppelin numero uno is that certain kind of stoner meathead Zep fan that was the scourge of many a party thru the 70s and far too late into the 80s. Which is why I was glad to see these guys come along -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CO7FPU7a2g&feature=related

I never thought of YES as a rock band... Their concerts were awesome, Rick Wakeman, Jon Anderson ... Couldn't hear for days afterward...

Forgot to mention: THE SEX PISTOLS! Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, J.Geils Band, Jefferson Airplane, THE TUBES, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure, Mountain, and, The Who!

The hypnotized don't lie...

I'm disappointed no mention of Husker Du, Zen Arcade? AC/DC, of course Villy Manilly was a huge influence on J-pop too Such a list G.B.H, Flipper, Crass all influenced other bands Stones just for surviving let alone their output.

Nirvana Easy beats

Too many, Husker Du deserves a mention

Netninja! You are 100% right on the mark! Full of hate?? Some people well they are full of hate, what can we do about it?? As that John Lennon song says, LETS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!

Buddy Holly and the Crickets

No Prince? Seriously? Hit after hit after hit after hit. Pink Floyd is quite far from a "Rock Band" as well.

Hoser, sounds like you are talking about Nine Inch Nails. He alone lays down all his tracks. (Computer Generated Hooks)

A concert is the true test of a musicians ability. I've been to good concerts and I've been to down right pitiful concerts (Whitney Houston - Saitama) YES, I'M still P/Offed so I put her out there.

Back to my point. I've been to Linkin Park's concert TWICE. Summer Sonic and later at Saitama Super Arena. They are the real deal. I don't expect you to go and check them out for yourself. I would say that you don't know what you are missing. I've got no age limitation for music. If the new generation is more creative than the old, so be it.

As a young man, you don't know how much I wanted to go to a Metallica concert. My parents feared for my safety cause it appeared it was geared for only Stoners. Friends around me didn't even know that I was listening to Master of Puppets in my free time.

It took more than a decade for me to feel accepted at those concerts. Linkin Park for me bridged the gap. Not Aerosmith and Run DMC. It was Linkin Park. The best of both worlds. Imitators have been popping up ever since Limp Bizkit is just one example.

Look at the diversity of talent within Linkin Park. Seriously Hoser, no colors lines. Korean, Japanese, American, then they brought Jay-Z in.

I respect the past. There were many good artists. They didn't bring the people together though. I'm all about one world Hoser.

P.S: To the guy who said Van Halen with David Lee Roth, RESPECT. I was so affected by that video. "Jump". I love David Lee Roth. Times were different back then. I felt I couldn't come out and say it without being a bunch a racial jokes being made about me. Where I grew up I couldn't ride my bike through my hood with a Van Halen or Judas Priest shirt on. I would have been beaten up. Music was so segregated.

So Hoser, I respect what you like. I'm sorry we don't see eye to eye AGAIN. I'm trying though, I want you to know that. I listen to you fairly. Cut me some slack. I love my Linkin Park. "You're gonna listen to me, LIKE IT NOT"

Very unimaginative bunch. People are still moving to Culture Club. Or how about Wham!?

It's okay Spidapig24. After watching Whitney Houston's concert Hoserfella has a right to laugh. It really was the worst concert I've ever been to in my whole life.

I really don't mind. My friends teased me as well.

Staying on topic here, there's one group I wish I had seen in concert. That was Journey. I bet that would have been a hell of a concert. Hoser, can you hang with me on Journey? I could just see all the lighters in the darkness, hands waving. I didn't get to see that one. Anybody here think they were GOAT?

@sfjp

Yes, how can I forget Dire Straits? A very underrated band to say the least. Knopfler guitar riffs and the fact that he doesn't use a pick which gives him a very unique playing style that very few people to this day can master.

I love it, people that say, Beatles are NOT a rock band do not know anything about rock or the history of rock in general. And look at all the other names floating around which some people think are the greatest. Linkin Park, Abba (totally different category, love them though) Hall and Oates, Kiss, AC/DC...I mean, why not throw in Spinal Tap and from my own hometown; Motley Crew while we are at it! OMG!!

No mention of the Pink Ladies?

Jerimayahoo W.

Skynard, of course. Top three southern rock band. Allman Brothers of course number one.

Seems you are more of the Village People fan club. Was your favorite the police man? Or the construction guy?

hoserfella

Actually NetNinja, you had lots of room to list their "awards". 0- 3 in Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards!! Maybe next year, Tiger!

Good one hoser, guess you missed the 30 awards and 59 nominations when you where doing your in depth study there. But l guess its hard for old timers to be up to date with modern music, each to their own though.

sfjpp330 - I'm going to pretend you DIDN'T write Michael Jackson and "Rock" in the same sentence.

Genesis - crappy product of the lost decade that was the 80's.

Crosby Stills Nash and Young - Nice group but only Young rocked.

Eagles - A good rock group should not induce comas if listened to for 30 consecutive minutes

Journey - wussified 80's power ballads are as stomach churning and passe as acid-washed jeans.

The Munya Times,

You can't have the Talking Heads on a greatest band list without listing the Velvet Underground. It's just not right.

Where are the hard-hitting rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s?

U2, Guns N Roses, Metallica, Nirvana, Stone Roses, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chillis, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Green Day, REM, Blur Weezer Oasis, 9 inch nails, Susan Boyle. The list is very long.

METALLICA!!!!

The Beatles was not a rock band, they were a pop band. So to answer the question with ROCK in mind, Led Zeppelin is the greatest of all time.

Who wrote this? Someone old....

Everyone knows the greats rock band of all time is:

Guns n Roses!

NinjaDave - if you're referring to me, you'll have to refresh my memory as I don't remember discussing either group. The Pistols were not great musicians, but Ill give them their due for supplying some much needed attitude back in rock

Beatles not considered "rock"? Obviously you are not familiar with anything they did before Revolver and after the first side of Abby Road.

I have to throw my vote with the Grateful Dead. To me, Rock and Roll means live music and no one does it live better than the Grateful Dead did.

If you consider him rock and roll (I think of him more as folk), Bob Dylan has to be mentioned as one of the all time greats.

But I don't think anyone embodies the true spirit of rock and roll any better than Lou Reed and Neil Young. Those two are true rock and rollers.

Taka

Not trying to get off the subject, but if I were to rate one of "the greatest LIVE performance" by a band, I would say, Fishbone and Primus get a heavy thumbs up, performance-wise, they are probably unmatched. Over the past 30 years, I've seen some of the biggest and best bands perform in L.A., but IMO Fishbone and Primus are definitely one of the best when you see them play live.

Can't name the greatest rock band, way too many good ones out there and of course I would name ones I like.

As for best life-performance, got to go with 'Queen - Live Aid', the atmosphere was electric and didn't come across on the broadcasts.

Obviously there is going to be a lot of varying opinion on this subject, in part because different people have different definitions of what constitutes 'rock', as well as great. While not my favourite, I had to vote the Beatles. I think they were, especially at the beginning, far too campy, but out of all those bands I'd have to say they have had the biggest influence world-wide, and may well be credited with actually STARTING Rock N' Roll. There are DEFINITELY a lot of 'others' who have had a large impact (and the other bands mentioned, for that matter), but all around I still have to say the Beatles.

Hoserfella - Dude, why do you have to hate all the time? You're like Bill O-Reilly. I don't mind doing the tango with you and your big feet on more serious topics but this???

Linkin Park, they are musicians. Transparent ones at that. Try watching their DVD and see how they make music. No ghost writers. It's all real and sincere.

Besides, I like a group that doesn't have color lines or borders. Linkin Park changed the way we listen to music. Hybrid Theory was one of the most unique discographies of our time.

Furthermore, nothing has ever been done like Linkin Park X Jay-Z

A great band is flexible. Their music transcends. It is eclectic in tone. I'm not going to post here dissing The Who but they are certainly not the best. Pink Floyd ranks higher though. Even The Police are higher. The Who, they had their moments. I hardly think they were the best though.

Anyway, the question isn't fair. G.O.A.T questions are never fair. Times have changed. Music has changed. Can't believe the holiday season hasn't toned down your pugnacious nature.

No KISS?? What where they thinking!!

If "greatest LIVE performance" is your criteria, Youtube The Who's performance of "Young Man Blues" from the Isle of Wight concert, or "Sparks" from Tanglewood. All other live performances from any other band wouldn't come close. No one could match the Who on stage before or since.

Noticed for some time posters like to "thumb down" others views and opinions that they don't agree with. Get a life and use the good/bad voting feature as designed.

david lee roth era Van Halen

Netninja,

Absolutely spot on, Linkin Park are one of the great modern bands, as are Green Day. Personally l wouldnt call bands like these emo wuss boys. I guess some are just showing their age.

KISS?? If they didn't wear make up and spit blood, you'd have never heard of them.

If "showing your age" means appreciating music played on real instruments and not computers, call me old. Id rate Linkin Park up there with Susan Doyle as far as style go. Neither one has any balls and both are over the top radio-emo for soccer moms.

What no U2? This poll is bogus and blatantly anti Irish. Hard to call The Beatles rock.

Linkin Park