Who is the greatest American rock band? [Archive]

stoopified

8/31/2006, 03:37 PM

And no it is not The Who,they are English. IMHO opinion it has to be The Eagles.That is also a good indicator of my age as well.I was watching MTV and feeling out of touch with todays music when this subject occured to me.I guess I am about to find out just how disconnected I am.Btw I do like Greenday and All-American Rejects.

royalfan5

8/31/2006, 03:38 PM

Queens of the Stone Age jumps to mind for me.

ousoonerfan

8/31/2006, 03:40 PM

The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Beef

8/31/2006, 03:41 PM

I beleive KISS claimed to be the best band in the world, so I would assume they are the best in America. And I'm not one to argue with fire-breathing dudes in make-up and heels.

Oldnslo

8/31/2006, 03:45 PM

Grand Funk Railroad

slickdawg

8/31/2006, 03:46 PM

Guns N' Roses was awesome.

SicEmBaylor

8/31/2006, 03:47 PM

Bread

GDC

8/31/2006, 03:49 PM

This is easy, Cheap Trick.

IronSooner

8/31/2006, 03:49 PM

Van Halen and Aerosmith come to mind

PhilTLL

8/31/2006, 03:53 PM

"Greatest" is a heavy word, and the only way I'd apply it to the Eagles is "greatest commercial pseudo-rock band." :)

In all seriousness, Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band probably have the most potent combination of musicianship, output, cultural importance/influence, and commercial success.

Oh, 2/3rds of the Hendrix Experience are English, and they started in London. ;)

GDC

8/31/2006, 03:56 PM

THe Beach Boys and Buddy Holly and The Crickets have to be considered also.

proud gonzo

8/31/2006, 04:00 PM

The Oneders.

:D

Paperclip

8/31/2006, 04:02 PM

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Boarder

8/31/2006, 04:04 PM

Led Zeppelin

Boarder

8/31/2006, 04:04 PM

I was kidding.

My vote goes to Van Halen. Even though Eddie and Alex are from Amsterdam.

Ok...Lynyrd Skynyrd..

King Crimson

8/31/2006, 04:05 PM

if you said Band of Gypsies i might go with Hendrix. i think Noel Redding and/or Mitch Mitchell were brits. no?

Velvet Underground, or maybe the stooges-for my tastes.

but: i say, overall:

CCR.

King Crimson

8/31/2006, 04:09 PM

no way it's VH or Aerosmith. the crap they've both put out after about 1986 disqualifies them.

crawfish

8/31/2006, 04:11 PM

Talking Heads

PhilTLL

8/31/2006, 04:16 PM

Other names to ponder: Allman Brothers Band, Talking Heads, of course the good old Grateful Dead, Los Lobos, The Doors...since about 1980, most successful bands won't be remembered well by music history, and most of the ones that will aren't really successful. :)

The

8/31/2006, 04:16 PM

Tool.

BlondeSoonerGirl

8/31/2006, 04:21 PM

The Oneders.

:D

'..looks like The O-needers.

No, no, The Wonders - with a one...

Yeah - got it. Looks like The O-needers...'

PhilTLL

8/31/2006, 04:32 PM

'..looks like The O-needers.

No, no, The Wonders - with a one...

Yeah - got it. Looks like The O-needers...'

Uh guys, just for right now, we are NOT the Wonders, we are Captain Geech and his Shrimp Shack Shooters.

Beef

8/31/2006, 04:33 PM

Allman Brothers Band

IronSooner

8/31/2006, 04:41 PM

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

crawfish

8/31/2006, 04:41 PM

How could I forget:

REM
Red Hot Chili Peppers

HarrisTubbsFan

8/31/2006, 04:42 PM

Allman Brothers Band

olevetonahill

8/31/2006, 04:48 PM

Simon and Garfunkle . Mamas and Papas , as has been said the Greatfull dead .
All classic rock bands where great imho

tbl

8/31/2006, 04:52 PM

So far, I'd say the top contenders are Allman Brothers, the Byrds, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, and the Doors.

My overall vote goes to the Pixies. It's hard to find an American band that's had as much influence on music than they did.

I think individual artists should probably be included, which would bring up Buddy Holly, Jimi, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Matter of fact, all those old time rockers need to be considered (Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Huddie Ledbetter, Sting).

Paperclip

8/31/2006, 04:54 PM

Matter of fact, all those old time rockers need to be considered (Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Huddie Ledbetter, Sting).

One of these things is not like the other. One of these things just isn't the same.

soonerscuba

8/31/2006, 05:04 PM

Any answer other than The Eagles or The Doors is wrong. And I don't even like The Eagles.

IronSooner

8/31/2006, 05:09 PM

If given that choice I'd take the Doors every time. And #2 would be the Doors.

Soonerchaz

8/31/2006, 05:19 PM

Impossible to pick just one...

MC5
Stooges
Big Star
Allman Brothers
The Band (although an American/Canadian hybrid)
The Byrds
CCR
Velvet Underground
(early) Aerosmith
The Replacements

IronSooner

8/31/2006, 05:24 PM

Nice. Surprised it took this long to see CCR

Harry Beanbag

8/31/2006, 06:08 PM

B-52s

SoonerStormchaser

8/31/2006, 06:17 PM

Journey

GottaHavePride

8/31/2006, 06:30 PM

Matter of fact, all those old time rockers need to be considered (Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Huddie Ledbetter, Sting).

Um, Sting is English.

GDC

8/31/2006, 06:56 PM

Metallica, Slayer, Pantera

OUstud

8/31/2006, 07:01 PM

Nirvana.

OUDoc

8/31/2006, 07:19 PM

Journey
Steeeeve Perry;)

The Doors and Simon and Garfunkle would be my tops.

RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!

8/31/2006, 07:32 PM

it's between Buddy Holly and the Crickets or The Doors.

OUAndy1807

8/31/2006, 08:10 PM

It's CCR folks.

Now, how many British Bands are on the list of top rock bands before you get to an American Band?

Jerk

8/31/2006, 08:28 PM

http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67461&highlight=eagles

Rogue

8/31/2006, 08:53 PM

Aerosmith, Eagles, DMB, I can even see The Pixies because of their influence.

Best foreign bands: Brits-Led Zeppelin and the Stones; Aussies-AC/DC

tbl

8/31/2006, 09:31 PM

Um, Sting is English.
Yeah, and he also wasn't even born at the time these guys were playing. Get it???

tbl

8/31/2006, 09:32 PM

Nirvana.
Definitely up there...

royalfan5

8/31/2006, 09:35 PM

Definitely up there...
Yet, probably below the Pixies.

StoopTroup

8/31/2006, 09:40 PM

Doobie Brothers.

Steppenwolf.

Guess Who.

Uriah Heep.

Grateful Dead.

Rush.

Chicago.

Nugent.

royalfan5

8/31/2006, 09:43 PM

Doobie Brothers.

Steppenwolf.

Guess Who.

Uriah Heep.

Grateful Dead.

Rush.
At least two of those bands are from America Jr. aka Canada

StoopTroup

8/31/2006, 09:45 PM

At least two of those bands are from America Jr. aka Canada
I'm medicated right now...

Plus...

I just sold my tickets for Saturday so leave me alone....;)

Tulsa_Fireman

8/31/2006, 09:47 PM

Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys!

In all seriousness, how can CCR not be at the tip top of this list?

StoopTroup

8/31/2006, 09:51 PM

Stevie Ray Vaughn

King Crimson

8/31/2006, 10:55 PM

Nice. Surprised it took this long to see CCR

see post #16.

soonerspiff

8/31/2006, 11:01 PM

The Beach Boys, CCR, The Replacements, The Velvet Underground and does Bob Dylan count as a band? (not including his gospel stage...)

swardboy

9/1/2006, 06:42 AM

It's Black Oak Arkansas you juveniles!

joex2

9/1/2006, 07:27 AM

"Who is the greatest American rock band?"

No ROCK band on the planet would come up with a song called "Take it easy"-- it just doesn't embody the genre.

tbl

9/1/2006, 07:34 AM

I haven't mentioned my thoughts on the Eagles yet.... but they're probably a little more severe than that. ;) They have a couple of decent songs, but all in all, no way.

joex2

9/1/2006, 07:39 AM

Seems I remember being angry as a teenager. At least the music I listened to certainly reflected it ;)

GDC

9/1/2006, 07:47 AM

REO Speedwagon:)

tbl

9/1/2006, 07:48 AM

Air Supply.

Thread - Over.

OUAndy1807

9/1/2006, 07:52 AM

I wonder how the Byrds or Burrito Brothers liked their music when they heard it in elevator music form as performed the Eagles.

royalfan5

9/1/2006, 07:59 AM

Air Supply.

Thread - Over.
They are Aussies.

Thead not over.

stoopified

9/1/2006, 10:25 AM

Well I guess this tthread proved my hypothesis.I am not in the music mainstream.Final proof that I am now officially OLD.Eagles RULE,when you puppies get older you may get better taste.:D

GDC

9/1/2006, 02:58 PM

Cannibal Corpse

tbl

9/1/2006, 03:16 PM

They are Aussies.

Thead not over.
Well, I'm still all out of love...

and why did you know that Air Supply were Aussies???? ;)

royalfan5

9/1/2006, 03:22 PM

Well, I'm still all out of love...

and why did you know that Air Supply were Aussies???? ;)
I'm a veritable repositiory of music trivia

yermom

9/1/2006, 03:25 PM

no Pearl Jam? ;) (where is Octavian's thread on this?)

i need to hear more CCR, i only know some of the greatest hits stuff, but wow that stuff is good

i know more of The Eagles stuff, but for the most part my opinion is the same, i think they were a bit more prolilfic

skycat

9/1/2006, 03:25 PM

I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK
I sleep all night and I work all day
(He's a lumberjack and he's OK
He sleeps all night and he works all day)
I cut down trees, I eat my lunch
I go to the lavat'ry
On Wednesdays I go shopping
And have buttered scones for tea
(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a lumberjack...)
I cut down trees, I skip and jump
I love to press wild flow'rs
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars
(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a lumberjack...)
I cut down trees, I wear high heels
Suspenders and a bra
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like my dear mama
(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a lumberjack...)

More British influence.

King Crimson

9/1/2006, 03:31 PM

the early Eagles stuff is milquetoast Gram Parsons/Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo "country" rip off.

the Eagles are not the best American band. no way, no how.

the ultra cheese that is Glen Frey disqualifies them on that count alone.

yermom

9/1/2006, 03:32 PM

mmm...milquetoast

GDC

9/1/2006, 03:34 PM

the ultra cheese that is Glen Frey disqualifies them on that count alone.

yep

yermom

9/1/2006, 03:40 PM

why do you hate Smuggler's Blues?

sooneron

9/1/2006, 03:40 PM

Doors, Sonic Youth, REM (80's), Replacements, X, Husker Du, Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, Pearl Jam

9/1/2006, 03:43 PM

http://rockshot80.com.ne.kr/images1/ratt.jpg

Them or Fastway.

yermom

9/1/2006, 03:46 PM

no Poison or Motley Crue?

9/1/2006, 03:47 PM

Posers.

Posers.

sooner KB

9/1/2006, 08:37 PM

Doors, Sonic Youth, REM (80's), Replacements, X, Husker Du, Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, Pearl Jam

Great list.

80's Sonic Youth wins for me, hands down. Husker Du, Pixies, Pearl Jam, The Byrds, Tool, and Nirvana are also great picks from this thread.

Some others to add to the list: The Cars, Deftones, Metallica, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, (80's) Dinosaur Jr, Soundgarden, Faith No More, Mercury Rev, Kyuss...

Pride Baritone

9/1/2006, 08:42 PM

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Seconded.

OUAndy1807

9/1/2006, 09:53 PM

Great list.

80's Sonic Youth wins for me, hands down. Husker Du, Pixies, Pearl Jam, The Byrds, Tool, and Nirvana are also great picks from this thread.

Some others to add to the list: The Cars, Deftones, Metallica, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, (80's) Dinosaur Jr, Soundgarden, Faith No More, Mercury Rev, Kyuss...
Neil Young is from Canada, but I can definitely get behind Dinosaur Jr. When you listen now it becomes really evident how Young influences Dinosaur Jr. and then Dinosaur Jr. pretty much influences all of grunge. DJ was putting out albums in the early to mid eighties (Bug, Living All Over Me, etc...) that sound like they could have come out in the early nineties.

OUAndy1807

9/1/2006, 09:53 PM

Also, if Neil Young was American, he would be hands down my pick.

OUAndy1807

9/1/2006, 09:56 PM

Also, for most underrated American band I would submit Neutral Milk Hotel. Solid stuff.

King Crimson

9/1/2006, 10:04 PM

Also, for most underrated American band I would submit Neutral Milk Hotel. Solid stuff.

I'm a big fan of NMH, but i'd put Big Star as most underrated.

props to soonerchaz for tossing out the Star earlier, BTW.

OUAndy1807

9/1/2006, 10:30 PM

I like BigStar, but they have one big strike against them:

Hangin' out
Down the street
The same old thing
We did last week.....

King Crimson

9/1/2006, 10:34 PM

I like BigStar, but they have one big strike against them:

Hangin' out
Down the street
The same old thing
We did last week.....

that's not a strike against Big Star, it's a massive indictment of Cheap Trick.

the Star version on #1 record is great....can't beat the "wish weeee had a joint so baaaad" bridge.

Cheap Trick ****ed that one up in criminal ways.

King Crimson

9/1/2006, 10:35 PM

and Bangles cover of September Gurls is equally horrid.

King Crimson

9/1/2006, 10:42 PM

objectively speaking i'd say CCR (as a hillbilly) and the Doors.

subjectively speaking:

no order: VU, the stooges, Big Star, SY (they've been making good records for almost 30 years), and the Minutemen (D.boon=the man). and the pixies.

tbl

9/1/2006, 11:56 PM

I haven't heard the newest SY album yet, but Sonic Nurse is one of the best albums that's been released in recent years...

Octavian

9/2/2006, 12:18 AM

no Pearl Jam? ;) (where is Octavian's thread on this?)

which one? ;)

Who is the greatest American rock band?

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/584/i030701dcvj1.gif (http://imageshack.us)

How 'bout a li'l freedom uh speech? :D

yermom

9/2/2006, 12:36 AM

oops, that wasn't your thread i was thinking of

http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12550

soonerspiff

9/2/2006, 12:43 AM

Sonic Youth's new album is quite good. And am I the only Dylan fan on this board?

OCUDad

9/2/2006, 12:47 AM

objectively speaking i'd say CCR (as a hillbilly)Which is kind of like saying John Fogerty was the greatest American rock band ever. Actually, there's some merit to that argument.

Octavian

9/2/2006, 12:55 AM

http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12550

That's a good read but that's not it...there was another thread this summer (and someone posted a link to the one you found) that I didn't start either but I think I went off in that one w/ a bunch of pics :O

yermom

9/2/2006, 01:03 AM

i just meant the title :D

MiccoMacey

9/2/2006, 01:57 AM

OZZY!!!!!!!

Mixer!

9/2/2006, 02:15 AM

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000EQ47GS.01._SS400_SCLZZZZZZZ_V62585046_.jpg

PhilTLL

9/2/2006, 02:17 AM

OZZY!!!!!!!

Is English. Certainly. In a great way.

MiccoMacey

9/2/2006, 02:17 AM

Saw Boston in '88, I believe.

Sacramento. They rocked!!

joex2

9/2/2006, 06:42 AM

wow, 5 pages and nobody's mentioned the Ramones.

guess I'll do it. The Ramones!

After all, they did initiate the punk rock era. Lots of good bands have followed in their wake.

jk the sooner fan

9/2/2006, 06:57 AM

The Captain and Tenille

seriously, The Foo Fighters....Stone Temple Pilots

tbl

9/2/2006, 10:43 AM

I like STP and the Foo, but niether belong on this list.

Dio

9/2/2006, 11:52 AM

Foghat.

You're welcome.

Frozen Sooner

9/2/2006, 12:05 PM

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Mixer!

9/4/2006, 07:48 AM

Foghat.

You're welcome.
no dice, British.

GDC

9/4/2006, 06:30 PM

Stone Temple Pilots

Maybe not the best, but definitely underappreciated.

Eddie Money

9/5/2006, 12:31 AM

If by "Greatest", you mean "Favorite", I am definitely going to go with Pearl Jam. The next kick *** American rock band nipping on their heels in my book is The Drive By Truckers.

Guns n' Roses was so good it's not even funny - it's a shame they went tits up so quickly.

MiccoMacey

9/5/2006, 12:33 AM

Journey :D

yermom

9/5/2006, 02:04 AM

RiddlerOK

9/5/2006, 10:31 AM

I'm a veritable repositiory of music trivia

I resemble that remark!

OK, for American bands, I go with:

Boston

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Styx

Cheap Trick

Allman Brothers Band

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Doobie Brothers

Truth of the matter is that every band out there can be shoe-horned into a different musical genre or style. These are about as close to mainstream rock popularity as I could think of and I left a ton off the list with one or more disqualifying factors, such as having group members from other countries or the band being extremely proficient and popular in at least two other genres of music. I hope this represents well.

RiddlerOK

9/5/2006, 10:35 AM

I'm a big fan of NMH, but i'd put Big Star as most underrated.

props to soonerchaz for tossing out the Star earlier, BTW.

King, I'm with ya on this one. Any self-respecting knowledgeable music fan will hold this truth as self-evident: Big Star was the pioneer underrated band of the rock era. They had two great albums at the turn of the 70's and Alex takes a hike. Bummer, man!!

Condescending Sooner

9/5/2006, 02:42 PM

All the people saying the Doors makes me want to hurl. All their songs SUCKED. (I guess if you were on LSD maybe they didn't suck.) But if you want bad musicianship and mediocre singing, I guess they would be your band.

Condescending Sooner

9/5/2006, 02:46 PM

BoogercountySooner

9/5/2006, 02:49 PM

ZZ Top you Morans Geeze!

Scott D

9/5/2006, 04:02 PM

Rogue

9/21/2006, 08:41 PM

Bump

OUAndy1807

9/21/2006, 08:44 PM

Howzit

9/21/2006, 08:50 PM

I agree with Kng Crimson on The Eagles and Glen Frey.

And I speked everybody that said Allman Brothers for getting the correct answer.

mikeelikee

9/21/2006, 09:48 PM

I'm going with Boston. If they hadn't got screwed business-wise, they would have been legendary. Instruments were tight, and the vocals soared.

The Allman Brothers were great also. I saw them live in Little Rock in 1973, but it was after Duane Allman and Berry Oakley had already died in separate motorcyle accidents two blocks apart in Macon, Ga.

handcrafted

9/21/2006, 11:02 PM

Dream Theater

(YWIA)

http://www.dreamtheater.net

But The Doors get an honorable mention.

Ash

9/21/2006, 11:52 PM

Cannibal Corpse

LOL. I saw them live with Obituary and Agnostic Front in Albuquerque years back. Great show.

Whatabout?
Ramones
Circle Jerks
Vandals

joex2

9/22/2006, 10:47 AM

Ash-- spek you if I could -- I thought I was the only one who would mention the Ramones.:cool:

edit: I need to learn to type.