The Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time Bands/Musicians
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The Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time

original ranker Clark Benson  Ranker
Staff 207,911 views 1,227 items 327 followers
The best rock bands ever, ranked by music fans worldwide. Anyone can vote on this best rock bands list, which makes these rankings a trustworthy way to find out which great rock artists are truly the best. You can also add your own rankings to this list of the best rock bands, and see how your taste in music stacks up against everyone else's. Because listening to great rock music is fun, but showing off your superior rock and roll taste is even better.

For more rock music, check out this list of the Best Beatles Songs of All Time, or vote on these lists of the Best Rock Vocalists and the Best Female Rock Vocalists of all time.
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Rank     Name
  1. 1
    Up 2746
    Down 1033

    The Beatles

    Rock music, Pop rock, Pop music More
    BUY
  2. 2
    Up 2603
    Down 831

    Led Zeppelin

    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  3. 3
    Up 1898
    Down 938

    The Rolling Stones

    Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock More
    BUY
  4. 4
    Up 2168
    Down 755

    Pink Floyd

    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Experimental rock More
    BUY
  5. 5
    Up 2085
    Down 710

    Queen

    Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock More
    BUY
  6. 6
    Up 1420
    Down 715

    The Who

    Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock More
    BUY
  7. 7
    Up 1626
    Down 607

    Jimi Hendrix

    Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock More
    BUY
  8. 8
    Up 1388
    Down 783

    The Doors

    Rock music, Hard rock, Jazz fusion More
    BUY
  9. 9
    Up 1481
    Down 987

    AC/DC

    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  10. 10
    Up 1315
    Down 1078

    Nirvana

    Alternative rock, Rock music, Punk rock More
    BUY
  11. 11
    Up 1169
    Down 707

    Elvis Presley

    Rock music, Pop rock, Rhythm and blues More
    BUY
  12. 12
    Up 1052
    Down 899

    Bob Dylan

    Folk music, Rock music, Folk rock More
    BUY
  13. 13
    Up 1093
    Down 611

    Creedence Clearwater Revival

    Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock More
    BUY
  14. 14
    Up 1201
    Down 802

    Black Sabbath

    Heavy metal
    BUY
  15. 15
    Up 1085
    Down 631

    Eric Clapton

    Rock music, Hard rock, Pop rock More
    BUY
  16. 16
    Up 1059
    Down 836

    Aerosmith

    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  17. 17
    Up 940
    Down 737

    David Bowie

    Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock More
    BUY
  18. 18
    Up 1131
    Down 901

    Metallica

    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  19. 19
    Up 777
    Down 603

    The Beach Boys

    Rock music, Pop rock, Pop music More
    BUY
  20. 20
    Up 1000
    Down 982

    U2

    Alternative rock, Rock music, Post-punk More
    BUY
  21. 21
    Up 921
    Down 695

    Van Halen

    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  22. 22
    Up 1001
    Down 719

    Guns N' Roses

    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  23. 23
    Up 920
    Down 650

    Eagles

    Rock music, Hard rock, Soft rock More
    BUY
  24. 24
    Up 936
    Down 515

    Johnny Cash

    Folk music, Alternative rock, Rock music More
    BUY
  25. 25
    Up 895
    Down 688

    Lynyrd Skynyrd

    Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock More
    BUY
  26. 26
    Up 654
    Down 556

    Elton John

    Rock music, Pop rock, Soft rock More
    BUY
  27. 27
    Up 721
    Down 497

    The Police

    Rock music, Pop rock, New Wave More
    BUY
  28. 28
    Up 961
    Down 682

    Rush

    Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock More
    BUY
  29. 29
    Up 842
    Down 490

    Cream

    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  30. 30
    Up 830
    Down 465

    John Lennon

    Rock music, Pop rock, Soft rock More
    BUY
  31. 31
    Up 681
    Down 488

    Fleetwood Mac

    Rock music, Hard rock, Pop rock More
    BUY
  32. 32
    Up 731
    Down 501

    Red Hot Chili Peppers

    Alternative rock, Hard rock, Jazz fusion More
    BUY
  33. 33
    Up 646
    Down 420

    Chuck Berry

    Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Rock and roll More
    BUY
  34. 34
    Up 592
    Down 404

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Alternative rock, Rock music, Blues-rock More
    BUY
  35. 35
    Up 629
    Down 567

    Bruce Springsteen

    Folk music, Rock music, Hard rock More
    BUY
  36. 36
    Up 751
    Down 671

    The Clash

    Rock music, Punk rock, Pop punk More
    BUY
  37. 37
    Up 709
    Down 475

    Bob Marley

    Reggae
    BUY
  38. 38
    Up 668
    Down 667

    Radiohead

    Alternative rock, Progressive rock, Electronic music More
    BUY
  39. 39
    Up 645
    Down 514

    Pearl Jam

    Alternative rock, Rock music, Hard rock More
    BUY
  40. 40
    Up 645
    Down 433

    ZZ Top

    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  41. 41
    Up 925
    Down 539

    Deep Purple

    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Heavy metal More
    BUY
  42. 42
    Up 519
    Down 348

    The Kinks

    Rock music, Hard rock, Pop rock More
    BUY
  43. 43
    Up 707
    Down 631

    Ramones

    Rock music, Punk rock, Pop punk More
    BUY
  44. 44
    Up 661
    Down 491

    Neil Young

    Rock music, Hard rock, Folk rock More
    BUY
  45. 45
    Up 544
    Down 669

    Michael Jackson

    Rock music, Pop rock, Electronic music More
    BUY
  46. 46
    Up 522
    Down 412

    Simon and Garfunkel

    Folk music, Rock music, Soft rock More
    BUY
  47. 47
    Up 552
    Down 396

    Ozzy Osbourne

    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Blues-rock More
    BUY
  48. 48
    Up 381
    Down 243

    Ray Charles

    Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Soul music More
    BUY
  49. 49
    Up 357
    Down 298

    Billy Joel

    Classical music, Rock music, Hard rock More
    BUY
  50. 50
    Up 649
    Down 471

    Iron Maiden

    Hard rock, Heavy metal, New Wave of British Heavy Metal
    BUY

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  • LOADING HISTORY

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    comments powered by Disqus
    1. GreenDayRules1985
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 2/21/2013 11:30 PM
      Couldn't find more than this about greatest rock bands .
    2. The Clap
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 1/10/2013 10:30 PM
      You wrote this thing about top rock bands ?
    3. FUPA
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 12/21/2012 1:30 PM
      Admirable Best Rock Bands Ever here.
    4. frankie a
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 5/23/2012 8:06 PM
      Every body chill. It's All Subjective and we all have views. It's Alright nobody's wrong. Every List is Unique.
    5. Jerry
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 3/11/2012 5:25 PM
      You need to get all the bands and singers out of this list that CLEARLY are not ROCK bands, then and only then will this be a credible list.
    6. Jack Zimmer
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 1/25/2012 12:23 PM
      Why is there no Sammy Hagar or Iron Maiden and besides that theres way to many good bands in the 200's like Tesla
    7. joel44
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 1/21/2012 8:10 PM
      New Order... Joy Division.... Cure...??
    8. paul
      Tool at 12/07/2011 12:45 AM
      Tool Should be in the top 40 who would give them a thumb down? They are comparable to Floyd and zeppelin. Also Rage Against the Machine top 50. this list is perfect aside from that.
    9. tammyluvsweezes
      Beck at 10/23/2011 6:37 AM
      My man!
    10. tammyluvsweezes
      Tool at 10/23/2011 6:35 AM
      Genius.
    11. FAILCOPTER
      The Beatles at 9/13/2011 10:18 AM
      They're more pop than rock.
    12. ravi2
      Black Sabbath at 8/26/2011 5:33 PM
      #10 all time? That's a bit of a surprise. I'd love to hear comments from people who voted them up.
    13. bootyknocker
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 8/09/2011 11:16 AM
      i hate the beatles. i've always wanted to say that. i think they are way over-rated and so is marilyn monroe. led zep should be #1 followed by pink floyd a close #2!
    14. GoGo
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 7/12/2011 4:18 AM
      Punk's not dead
    15. chaosad22
      Jimi Hendrix at 7/11/2011 12:36 PM
      The Jimi Hendrix Experience wasn't a band? Jimi and his lawyers sure thought it was a band. Someone needs to inform Mitch Mitchell and the estate of Noel Redding that they were never in a band.
    16. JorisErikPaulvanAalst
      Jimi Hendrix at 6/29/2011 7:09 AM
      Should be higher...!
    17. JorisErikPaulvanAalst
      Elvis Presley at 6/29/2011 7:09 AM
      Should be higher!
    18. JorisErikPaulvanAalst
      The Beatles at 6/29/2011 7:08 AM
      Defenitifly not overrated.... Completly right that they're #1!
    19. JorisErikPaulvanAalst
      Bob Dylan at 6/29/2011 7:07 AM
      Should be higher... and you 2, it's called "Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time" and not "Best Rock Bands Of All Time"
    20. JorisErikPaulvanAalst
      Bob Dylan at 6/29/2011 7:06 AM
      [User deleted their comment]
    21. russel1976
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 6/28/2011 2:03 AM
      where is Creed, best rock band of last ten years, yeah baby!!!
    22. JosuéPage
      Led Zeppelin at 5/02/2011 5:48 PM
      Must be the first one, Beatles is too pop.
    23. tinasmith988
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 4/29/2011 12:14 AM
      I was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it.\n\n
      Send Gifts To india
    24. potchmoker
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 4/26/2011 6:01 PM
      did i win?
    25. par396
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 4/25/2011 3:07 PM
      Punk is junk; Rap is c**p!!!
    26. gerry
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 3/25/2011 6:01 PM
      d**********************! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    27. machvi
      Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 2/16/2011 7:07 AM
      nice toppic
    28. whiskeyman
      The Who at 2/03/2011 12:13 PM
      the best
    29. Mara
      Metallica at 2/03/2011 8:10 AM
      My number 1 band.
    30. curanc had
      The Best Rock Bands Of All Time at 1/15/2011 9:29 AM
      you gotta be kidding me?......someone has the 'clash' above the 'eagles'..........surely you jest
      1. your face
        Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 2/03/2011 3:18 PM
        f**k the eagles oh wait theyre busy sucking my balls
    31. Neil
      The Who at 1/08/2011 12:22 PM
      The best Live band i have ever seen.
    32. Neil
      The Beatles at 1/08/2011 12:20 PM
      Massively overrated, hugely dull.
    33. whutexan
      The Best Rock Bands Of All Time at 1/08/2011 7:49 AM
      There are many great bands and solo artists on this list but they do not belong on a GREAT ROCK BAND list.
    34. Bobbyh69
      The Best Rock Bands Of All Time at 12/28/2010 8:17 AM
      no Nickelback or Saving Abel or Theory of a Deadman or Shinedown
      1. LeSouder3333
        Best Rock Bands/Artists Of All Time at 1/22/2011 10:54 AM
        good since nickelback suck ass
    35. PolkadotKing
      The Best Rock Bands Of All Time at 12/24/2010 10:32 AM
      This is a great list, it's been fun watching it change as more people are adding votes.
    36. adamkadman
      Jimi Hendrix at 12/09/2010 10:05 AM
      not a band
    37. adamkadman
      Elvis Presley at 12/09/2010 10:05 AM
      not a band
    38. adamkadman
      Bob Dylan at 12/09/2010 10:02 AM
      #1 on my list of rock performers BUT NOT A BAND!!
    39. buddgodkin@yahoo.com
      The Rolling Stones at 11/15/2010 9:50 AM
      the best ever
    40. BronxHatten
      Bob Dylan at 11/14/2010 11:42 AM
      Bob Dylan is not a band -- if your list was "The Best Rock Acts of All-Time" then he most certainly should be there ('Act' meaning a solo performer, or a band)
    41. sleepnow
      The Best Rock Bands Of All Time at 11/13/2010 10:56 PM
      nirvana ahead of queen wtf were these retards smoking?
      1. Ariel Kana
        The Best Rock Bands Of All Time at 12/03/2010 8:02 PM
        They wur smoking teen spirit, duh!
    42. armstrongjamest
      The Who at 10/22/2010 3:05 PM
      Is Bob Dylan a rockband? I don't know but he is my Number 1. His last 3 albums are AMAZING and yet another genre switch. The lyrics are indisp**able, but he melodies put him at number one, at least for me.
    43. Bert C. Javelo
      The Best Rock Bands Of All Time at 8/18/2010 1:25 PM
      So, still my idols are the # 1! The Beatles, who else?

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