The Single Greatest Band Of All Time
 

I am going to have to say led zeppelin. Everytime I listen to Zep I think of how great it would be to see them live.

Pretty hard to choose just one band as the greatest of all time. I would however have to agree. To date I'd have to go with Zeppelin as the tops. All the live performances I've seen and heard of them are incredible.

As a side note I'd recommend checking out mrlayance's website www.hipbase.com to any fan of The Tragically Hip or anyone else just looking for info about another great band. Tune into the hipbase radio for some great tunes.

very hard question but I have to agree with Zeppelin although I like The Doors more I realize they were not the greatest.

Beach Boys

The Beatles.

there's FAVORITE and there's BEST....

and as far as best, I'll have to say (awaits flames for this)...

Radiohead

they're certainly the best modern band and honestly i think they've done as much or more for music than led zep, beatles, etc did.

my runner-up would be Pink Floyd.

Right. And in my opinion the Beatles are the best. And Pink Floyd are my favorite (and in the top 5 BEST bands list).:crazy:

Current day best: Radiohead
Overall: Led Zeppelin
(for rock/alt/ect only, there should be others for other types of music)

Blue Öyster Cult. It's a personal bias, but one I am pleased with.

Greatest of All Time has to be the Beatles, but my favorite is Guns n Roses. Just wish the original band had stayed together. I loved the new band at the VMA's, but then they seem to have disappeared.

Greatest of all time = Zeppelin or Pink Floyd

Favorite = Nirvana

U2.

I'll agree with Led Zep.

It's gotta be The Beatles.

The Beatles - they changed the DNA of culture so that every band mentioned here (not to mention thousands of others) would actually get mentioned as a response to this question.

Before the Beatles, it was Pat Boone and Doris Day.

Then we got the Walrus and Strawberry Fields. After that, the rest was easy.

Iron Maiden

The Osmonds *grin*

Dude that was my #3 choice!

Best ever...............Led Zeppelin obviously
Best live.................Radiohead



New Saviour of Rock.............The White Stripes

Dude! Maiden Rules!

Jimi Hendrix Experience

or

Rage Against the Machine

The Beatles.....without a doubt.

Greatest of all time would have to be Pink Floyd with Roger Waters the wall is simply amazing and the Final Cut is good as well I also like the Obscured by Clouds album as well.

Of all time?

Would have to be the Orchestra of Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Weimar, with J.S. Bach conducting. Especially the 1713 Toccata and Fugue in D Minor European tour.

Man, they rocked.

For overall best ROCK band it would easily be The Who. They represent more of what a rock band should be all about.

I second the Beatles as best, and Pink Floyd as favorite

Totally agree.

My personal top 3 would be:

The Beatles

The Who

....and FUGAZI

Yeah! I just love Godzilla, Astronomy, RU ready to rock, etc.
But I don't know about the best!

I would like to say R.E.M. because they are my favorite, but I've got to go along with the Beatles.

it's true, if we're talking as far as influence goes Fugazi and Sunny Day Real Estate were the origins of one of the biggest genres today, that being emo.

They are not my favorite, but I have to agree that the Beattles changed music forever across the entire world.

OHH ouch! the "E" word! :p

Well, really what I was actually implying was that FUGAZI basically were the first big 'anti-rockstars.' They kept their powerful music accessible: Shows were all 5 bucks, records were/are still 10bucks, they started their own label, they only played all-ages venues....

and their music was a major bridge of maturity from the hardcore scene of the 80's. The took the energy of punk and wrapped it in social and political veils.

All true. If we're going for the anti-rockstar thing also, i think Pennywise has to be mentioned. Same general deal as Fugazi there. Dead Kennedys as well (listen to the song Pull my Strings).

Of course this is all a matter of opinion...I would say Frank Zappa's bands from 1972 To 1975. Some of the best musicians on earth were in those bands.

Absolutely has to be The Beatles.

I often wonder which direction popular music would have taken without these guys. The trend that was set by them is still going strong.

I like the way you're thinking here, Tophat. I've been a Cult fan since their first album. They took me on a lot of great trips :lol:

The Beatles are the best and my all-time favorite, but a close second is The Allman Brothers Band. Never get tired of hearing either.

Ko&#1071n or Metallica. They have influenced so many bands, some of them suck but some are good.

I would have to agree with Derwood here.

greatest band ever, thats a tough one. But hands down the Velvet Underground is the most influential band of all time. Without them there would be no punk, art-rock, alternative, etc...

whoa ~ excellent addition! I totally overlooked the VU.

I guess I vote for the Beatles.

I don't like Led Zeppelin very much. Mostly because of the vocals.

beatles
u2
craftworks (sp?)
ac/dc
led zep

Beatles without a doubt

Zeppelin is an easy second.

I'm surprised no has mentioned Queen. They get honorable mention in my book.

{Smacks Forehead} Of course! How could I be so dull? I have a doublet from that tour.

No other band speaks to me quite that way (although, of course, Maiden Rulez!) So far as I know, they have had no influence on any other band. Given what gets on the radio these days, I'd call that reason enough to call them the best band ever.

That's a good point, though King Crimson would give Zappa's bands a run for their money in pure musicianship, but does great musical ability necessarily make a great band? I mean, Zappa is a favorite of mine, but some of his stuff sounds like cats being boiled, and a sizeable chunk flirts with the border between consonance and dissonance which, though clever in the extreme doesn't necessarily make for greatness. What Zappa's bands really had that gave them a shot at greatness was Frank Zappa, and, specifically, his delightfully skewed perception of life and uncompromising presentation of that perception. I would argue that BÖC has a perceputal skew that is like to Zappa's in intensity, though not in kind. King Crimson once had it as well, but it started to go away after Discipline and Three of a Perfect Pair, and now they're just a group of aging but exquisitely talented musicians making music that's not really all that accessible. BÖC, on the other hand, are workmanlike. Buck Dharma can indeed play the fuck out of the guitar, but he's no Hendrix, no Zappa, no Van Halen ferkristsake. No, what makes BÖC greatest is, not only are they skewed, they can find those who are skewed in a similar way to them and get those people to write the songs for them. It's not merely a band that is larger than life in a metaphorical sense, but in a quite literal one. While other bands that have been named here have left a forward reaching legacy that has spawned such luminaries as Justin Timberlake, Las Ketchup, The Strokes, and who could forget the Greg Kihn Band, BÖC has a lateral influence twisting the past and present, and leaving the future to the folks who wear their clothes too large.

Folks, thanks for reading my little rant. Please don't take it too seriously. Look at my premise and ask youself how seriously I could take it, and all will be well.

Oh, and Maiden Rules!

TOOL

In my opinion, Metallica is the best band of all time. If you have to pick one. It took me a LONG time to appreciate them, but now I am obsessed. You have to enjoy their genres, though.

I feel the exact same way with Rage Against The Machine.

Velvet underground or the pixies or Nirvana or sonic youth. Without them....not a lot of the shit today would be around.

mr b

The Beatles are obviously the best. Changed music forever.

However I like their later music the most (such as Harrison's Brainwashed and Flaming Pie by McCartney)

Wow! I figured that by now somebody would have mentioned the Rolling Stones or The E Street Band. Thank you for being more astute than that, everyone!

Any answer has credibility, and a case could be made for a lot of groups, but for cultural penetration, cross genre influence and just plain popularity, my choice has got to be The Beatles, both collectively and individually.

My personal choices for greatest rock act are The Who, with Aerosmith second (although Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishman show was my single favorite concert).

The Beatles - They started it all.

led zeppein
or
the doors
or
red hot chili peppers
or
radiohead
or
jane's addiction

YES! I'm not crazy!

good choice on Jane's Addiction. Who knows what music would be like today without something as cataclysmic as Lollapalooza...

the clash...period

it'd be fucked i tell u that much

Ummm. It isn't?

<fart age="old" mood="grumpy">Damn Kids today and the NOISE they listen to!</fart>

Im in total agreement with this, I believe it is also in the newest edition of the King James Bible. Nirvana would be my all time greatest band, you dont hear lyrics like Kurts anymore. They also had an attitude that was very different at the time and that is also non existant today.

its between the beatles Zeppelin and the who in my book.

The Beatles
Led Zep
Collective Soul
B.O.C.

There are a few others I would have to add, but I don't know excatly what the question is. Greatest band ever is quite vague.
I love these four bands because they have full alubms I can listen to every song over and over.

The Beatles.

Even if another band is your favorite, can you seriously argue that any other band has even come close to doing what they did in terms of affecting the course of music and culture? It's a total no-brainer, people!

Metallica
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Alabama
ZZ Top

Tenacious D :D

THE WHO
OASIS
GUITAR WOLF
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS

I'm surprised more people haven't said NIRVANA!!!!

Radiohead is good...but nowhere near title of "greatest band"

Tool is good, but not very well rounded

...and the best band that nobody on this board has heard of: Third Day

My favorite is R.E.M. Been a fan since 82'.
To name the best would be difficult.

One is hard, but I'd have to go with Led Zep--they are in a class by themselves although I'd put Metallica right behind them...

It's interesting that you mention King Crimson giving Zappa a run for his money. Did you know that Adrien Belew was a member of both?

The band that played with Sting on the "Soul Cages" record.
They could do it all....

i think it's impossible to name a "BEST"... they are are unique in their own way...
the Beatles certainly changed things on a level that paved the way for many...

anyway... i digress... THANK YOU SHO NUFF for mentioning Hendrix...
Guitar GOD. :)

Actually, I did! Kinda neat, I'n't it? Of Course, Peter Wolf also played with one of Zappa's bands, and I don't see J. Geils listed here. :)

U2
then
The Beatles

call me crazy, and the Beatles were original, but U2 was/is better.

And I'd rather listen to the Rolling stones, Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, or Zepplin.

the best?
 

not one mention of the dead?!

has the world gone mad?

Pink Floyd is probably the greatest BAND of all time. All of them were top notch musicians that made each other better. Waters and Gilmour had a Lennon/McCartney thing going, in that they had an in band rivalry of sorts and pushed each other to perfection. Lyrically speaking, you think Cobain was sound??? Get serious, there might be only one person that wrote better lyrics then Waters and that would be Dylan. Waters' brain children were DSoTM, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall. Cobain nor anyone else since Waters can touch him. Who better to make Waters' lyrics and vision come to life then David Gilmour who might have one of the best singing voices ever (at least as far as R & R is concerned). He had an unconventional rock and roll voice because he actually sang. Gilmour's guitar was amazing, and the only reason he doesn't get hype is because his style wasn't explosive, he has the most melodic(sp) and rythmically sound style of play ever. Amazing songs to his credit is Dogs, Shine on You Crazy Diamond, and Comfortably Numb. Also Rick Wright was an amazing musician, if it weren't for drama between him and Waters he could've contributed more to the band after WYWH.

I'd go with Led Zepplin, Radiohead, the Beatles or possibly the Pixies

Rush

Neil Peart
Geddy Lee
Alex Lifeson

Need I say more?

Greatest Song in the World=Greatest Band?

no way around the beatles
but led zep and pink flyod are up there

For me it is Alabama. I have liked they're music as far back as I can remember and still like them.

no question there


they have all the classics


they invented mordern rock


and there music is still good



we wont even talk about there sell records

MY top 3 greatest

The KINKS Ray and Dave Davies are untouchable thier only problem was they were too self destructive. Had they been more focused and had a management that could control them more they would have been mentioned in the same breath as the Beatles and Stones.

Van Halen with DLR could be argued as the greatest BAND Eddie the guitar God, Alex was a great drummer (I'd say top 5 noone can touch Moon on the drums tho) the greatest frontman and lead singer EVER, and a bassist that could keep up. The lineup even with Sammy is untouchable in their heydays.

Alice Cooper very underrated but the greatest live show I ever have seen and music that truly only a genius could write

My top 3 overrated

Beatles = overrated and overhyped with great salesman and management with Lennon he was true to the music but too wrapped up in Yoko and McCartney was is and always will be Mr. Commercial

Nirvana and grunge bands = they sucked, who wants to hear in music how bad life is they were depressing, offered no solutions (except drugs and suicide), and made no statement whatsoever just dark and pathetic..... REM, Smiths, Smithereens, Violent Femmes and punk may have been dark but they talked and sang about how to better the world

Zeppelin = probably the greatest snake oil salesman of a manager in music, a great rythm section but Page is the sloppiest guitarist ever (not to mention he lied about his session work taking credit for things he didn't do) with the biggest ego and Plant a memorable voice but just not my cuppa tea

Yet another vote for the proverbial Beatles here.
In fact I was born in Liverpool, so it's kind of a no-brainer. :crazy:

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."