The best rock bands of all time, as voted on by music fans on Ranker. Click 'contribute' to add your input to this list of the greatest rock and roll groups ever. The list updates automatically every time new votes are added, making this a statistically-accurate representation of the community's collective rankings of the top rock bands in history. Add your picks to the list, vote for your favorite bands and rock on.
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.
did i really just put the Scorps above Purple, AC/DC, and even f-ing MAIDEN?
i did. when you add up the peak streamlined hard rock machine era of the early 80s along with the totally different, and at times (ie the whole live Tokyo Tapes double album) perhaps even more timeless than Blackout or Magnetism, it's the Scorps by a hair.
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.
The best bands. Ever. A mix of my opinion, that of critic's lists, and that of many other people on this site as well as my friends and family's favorite bands too. Bands are rated on how influential and skilled they are, and how good their songs are.
-715 Items- EMI artists - a complete roster, past and present, of this recording label. EMI bands and groups are all listed here with photos and data, and you can link their full discography. You can use Ranker to make your own list of your favorite EMI musicians, or you can make your own dream record company to compete against the EMI roster. The list you're viewing is made up of items like All Saints and 2 in a Room.
-333 Items- Warner Music Group artists - a complete roster, past and present, of this recording label. Warner Music Group bands and groups are all listed here with photos and data, and you can link their full discography. You can use Ranker to make your own list of your favorite Warner Music Group musicians, or you can make your own dream record company to compete against the Warner Music Group roster. List is made up of a variety of items, including All Saints and 183 Club.
-578 Items- Atlantic Records artists - a complete roster, past and present, of this recording label. Atlantic Records bands and groups are all listed here with photos and data, and you can link their full discography. You can use Ranker to make your own list of your favorite Atlantic Records musicians, or you can make your own dream record company to compete against the Atlantic Records roster. The list you're viewing has a variety of items, like Brandy and T.I., in it.
(332 Items) Mercury Records artists - a complete roster, past and present, of this recording label. Mercury Records bands and groups are all listed here with photos and data, and you can link their full discography. You can use Ranker to make your own list of your favorite Mercury Records musicians, or you can make your own dream record company to compete against the Mercury Records roster. Use every item on this list for yours, from 10cc to Ainslie Henderson.