i dont think you can tag a single greatest, with all the different types of music, zeppelin and pink floyd would be up there for rock, but then there is punk, the ramones and sex pistols or rap, grunge, metal.

I base my opinion on good bands becoming great on how many albums they produce and, of those albums, how many one can listen straight through without skipping over any of the tracks.

With that said, I have to agree with "mrlayance." Led Zeppelin's first four albums are completely solid and listenable with "Houses of the Holy" and "Physical Graffitti" being almost up to par.

I would also thow Metallica in the mix. "Kill 'Em All", "Ride the Lightning", "Master of Puppets", and "And Justice for All" are all solid albums. Granted, most that don't dig metal won't agree, but I think Metallica should be given some props for their early work and that fact they're one of the best all-time.

Well, I can't deny bands like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. I'm of a younger generation, and, from my perspective, the best band to come out in my time is Soundgarden. I'm sure that I could be argued with, but, at the least, I think Soundgarden is greatly under-appreciated. Their last 3 albums were certainly the strongest, but if you want to talk about influence - Cobain was very influenced by them going back to Screaming Life.

I don't think you can label one band as the single greatest band of all time, it's impossible. There are so many good bands out there to just label only one as the best ever.

Metallica. I don't even have to think about it. :)

-Lasereth

The Monkees

Duh.

A Flock of Seagulls.



Ok...Gotta be the Beatles.

NIRVANA!!!

What else should I be
All apologies
What else should I say
Everyone is gay
What else could I write
I don't have the right
What else should I be
All apologies


COME ON?!?!?!?!?!?

Black Sabbath

True, Black Sabbath is awesome, but mostly because they once played a concert with Blue Öyster Cult, as memorialized in the Black & Blue DVD.

well if its band id have to say the jimi hendrix experience, just because hendrix is probably the best guitarist ever.

John, Paul, George, and Ringo were the greatest foursome rock has ever seen by virtually any measure based on anything other than emotion. #1's, albums, range of musical style, original scores and composition.

Bonham, Plant, Page and Jones were definitely a great original metal band and their innovation and style certainly became a mold that many other bands followed including IMHO the aforementioned Iron Maiden where in many of their guitar echoes you can hear the zeppelin influence. LZ 4 is still a favorite ;)

LZ is definitely right up there on the popularity scale but in terms of influence on the evolution of rock music and by any real objective measure the Beatles are by far and away the greatest band.

easy... Nirvana

Well, I think it's funny when I see people say, "No brainer, it's So and So," or "So and so, period." Silly silly people... If it was that simple I doubt there would be need of this thread. As far as the greatest band of all time, that's a no brainer. Pink Floyd, period.

Metallica

Very few bands have achieved the levels of sucess that they have. Their live shows are the best. Fans range from pre-teen to over 50.

black sabbath before ozzy left

The Cure

And Mitch Mitchell is one of my favourite drummers ever. But I don't know if I can call any one band "Single Greatest of All Time."

I actually did a subject at University as part of my Political Science minor called "Sex Drugs and Rock n Roll" (no kidding!)

It studied the impact on modern western society of some of the most influential phenomena in pop culture since the 1950s - the two most notable phenomena (because that's what they were - phenomena - not "bands"):

1. The Beatles
2. The Rolling Stones.

The Stones went further than the Beatles in pushing the boundaries of what was morally acceptable in western society, and paved the way for bands like LZ, Metallica, Nirvana, etc.

The Beatles were the greatest because they appealled to the masses - the Stones changed what was acceptable to be played to the masses.

Also, I'm surprised more people have not mentioned Queen, AC/DC, U2 or INXS - these bands have had some of the greatest live shows ever seen (whoops I forgot...they aren't American!)

there are still some great bands around... you jsut have to get past the radio bands liek linkin park

kraftwerks



"the fon fon fon of the autobahn"... god damn thats a cool song

Rush. No one outplays Alex, Neil, and Geddy.

The Beatles have to be number one. Nobody gets that many number 1 singles.

Personally, I like Zep, Floyd all time.

Check out Air - Moon Safari.

BBBOOOO to led Zepplen!..

Maybe I am too young..

But I'm not to young to know for a fact....
that The greatest band of all time is Radiohead.
But before them...
The beatles changed music all together,The Doors and Pink floyd took it to the fucking limit in their day... and look what the Beastie boys brought about.....James Brown rocked too hard before his time,Maybe it started long before that... Didn't the Archangel play a harp? He could have been good.. We don't know.

System of a Down

No maybe about it. Without Zep, none of the noise that passes for rock on the radio these days even exists.

However, as integral to fusing the blues with what was beginning to become rock as Zeppelin was, (I do overstate a little. If it hadn't been Zeppelin, it would have been someone else. Indeed there were others. Cream, f'instance, and the Stones), no band is now or ever has been as good as

Blue Öyster Cult

BEATLES

Buddy Holly and the Crickets.

Parliament Funkadelic, no one can touch them

without a doubt the beatles. they revolutionized the music industry.

Thats a tough question. Just without really thinking about it.

old-school/ led zep
new/ creed

Hmm, good point. it's hard to argue with...
<img src="http://www.groove-on.cz/img/photo/bootsy.jpg"><img src="http://www.musicimagery.com/photos/Funk/George.jpg">

... However, I am going to have to give P-Funk the best Pop Band ever (sorry, Beatles, you'll have to settle for having popes named after you), and maintain that B&Ouml;C is the best ever Rock Band.

to me.....Opeth or Lacuna Coil...everything they do is gold

The best, imo is Rush. great musicians, intelligent lyrics, no bullshit temper tantrums from superegos like many other bands, and 21 consecutive gold albums over a thirty year career. Rush is the thinking man's rock band. and if a band can only crank out a few albums before imploding, it is not a greatest band. A few good tunes does not make a great band.

Air Supply

Rush has all the talent in the world, and results to back it up. If their lyrics didn't get so damn pedantic they'd really give B&Ouml;C a run for their money. Rush was my favorite band in high school.

Barkeep! Cut that man off.

Nine Inch Nails.

Indeed.