Name
1
Neil Young
2
Led Zeppelin
3
Bob Dylan
6
The Rolling Stones
7
10
Pearl Jam
11
Rush
12
Bob Marley
13
Aerosmith
14
The Clash
15
The Beatles
16
Van Halen
17
Jimi Hendrix
18
Phish
22
Phil Lesh and Friends
27
Wilco
31
Jane's Addiction
32
Scorpions
34
AC/DC
39
Misfits
40
Genesis
42
Nirvana
46
Rainbow
49
Paul McCartney & Wings
55
59
Television
60
Eric Clapton
64
The Smashing Pumpkins
70
Drive-By Truckers
75
92
Rory Gallagher
101
The Geraldine Fibbers
104
Massive Attack
117
Flying Saucer Attack
123
Belle & Sebastian
134
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.
143
Bee Gees
150
Iron & Wine
158
Ween
161
Motley Crue
164
Yusuf Islam
172
The Secret Machines
177
Pete Townshend
189
Tori Amos
192
198
Ted Nugent
202
Boston
214
Sting
215
Jeff Beck
237
Alice in Chains
247
Primus
257
Elton John
279
Band of Horses
285
The Alarm
290
Budgie
302
Down
315
Animal Collective
322
Coldplay
341
Fatboy Slim
345
Chicago
354
Didjits
376
Bill Laswell
382
Living Colour
388
Muse
396
Frank Zappa
407
Flogging Molly
409
Derek Trucks
410
Trey Anastasio
417
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
424
Frank Black
438
Counting Crows
475
The New Barbarians
483
Stormtroopers of Death
485
Seal
489
CHIC
About This List
x
http://img3.ranker.com/list_img/11/605/100/list.jpg?version=1278878675000
Top 500 Rock Bands isn't 100% accurate as this includes solo artists, and though it does not include jazz or blues it does include soul, R&B, Americana, reggae, and classic country (yes, that is somewhat arbitrary, but for whatever reason i listen to blues and jazz differently than the rest, and would be too hard to compare Miles or Ornette or Hooker to, say, Aerosmith). Criteria for my greatest bands of all time list is a combination of recorded albums, live shows I've seen, live recordings I've heard, radio songs, and even overall image/album covers/general coolness or uniqueness. I guess that was a way of trying to explain that the ranking is just a gut feeling. But it's probably about 50% based on "live chops", hence the lower ranking of the Beatles, who quit playing live before the most creative parts of their career. I am very into live shows and live recordings. Obviously, this list will change over time. I'm adding commentary to items whenever i get a spare minute or something interesting comes to mind about a band, probably 10-20 entries a month.
1 to 6 of 500