Springtsteen/E Street, Petty/Heartbreakers (which I could as bands), The Dead and Pearl Jam. Bob Dylan is the greatest American Artist, not a challenger in my book but that's just my opinion.
Looks like there's pretty solid consensus around Springsteen, Petty, and the Dead. I can't argue with that (even though I'm still not a Bruce fan).
I'm not getting the CCR/ Aerosmith mentions. Look at it as the flip side of "GTFO with that 21 PIlots/ Imagine Dragons nonsense." Does anyone under 30 know who CCR is? I bet they know who Springsteen is, and they know who Petty is; they might know who Steven Tyler is, but not for the right reasons. I really only know about CCR because my parents had one of their albums, Creedence Gold, and I as a small child was fascinated by the album cover. I'm nearly fifty. I'm absolutely certain that neither of my adult children knows who CCR is -- and one of my kids is a musician.
Kind of surprising that nobody has mentioned KISS --
Overall, what does anyone under 30 (generalization) know about Best American Rock Band Ever? Aerosmith and CCR crush most of the bands getting 2-3 citations. Crush Look at record sales. Look at number of hits. Look at how long their music has been played. I'm sorry but I totally agree that Imagine Dragons and 21 Pilots have no space in the top 30. (Probably in the top 130, though.)
I went and listened to a couple of songs by 21 Pilots (their top one has nearly 1 BILLION plays on Spotify, and they have 14+ Million listeners/month. That's a lot!). Meh. They might be okay - it's just not my style of music.... But that's not even a rock band as far as I can tell. They fall pretty solidly into the pop category IMO.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
3 pages and not one person mentions Boston in the discussion?
you’re funny.
If I had known then what I know now...
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St. Paul 14, Denver 14
I'd like to entertain arguments for other American bands that surpass PJ. I don't think anything comes close but I'm biased. What are the best American bands of all time? As far as pj is concerned: Front man, distinctive voice, check. Sales, check. Mind melting solos, check. Lyrics, check. Live, performances, check. Longevity, check. Activism/charity, check.
Crowes
front man: check
sales: check
solos: check; rich and (take your pick) marc or luther or jackie
lyrics: kinda check
live performances: double check
longevity: check (til chris fucked it up)
activism: not so much
If I had known then what I know now...
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VIC 07
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Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
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Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Philly I & II, 16
Denver 22
0
F Me In The Brain
this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,610
I'm one who does not neccessanec think PJ is the best, but they are better than black crowes by a wide margin
I don't think The Velvet Underground has been listed yet - nor have The Smashing Pumpkins (watching a live stream of them in Seattle as I type/edit this post).
I'm one who does not neccessanec think PJ is the best, but they are better than black crowes by a wide margin
not that wide, at all.
If I had known then what I know now...
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Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
The thread is 'best band'. This requires a bit of objectivity. The Black Crowes and some of these other bands being mentioned are not solid contenders at all.
First, this is my favorite thread in a long while. Thanks to the OP.
since people threw a couple more recent bands out there, i’d like to give My Morning Jacket a nod. Certainly not the best of all time, but they are a great band, have several great albums, and put on a hell of a live show.
"...what a different life had i not found this love with you..."
Objectively speaking, hard not going with Springsteen, but my heart wants to say R.E.M. claims the top spot. As much as any band, they created the blueprint that so many bands have tried to follow. I also think they are one of those bands (like the Beatles) that influenced nearly everything that came after. I think PJ should be pretty high on the list, but I'm not sure I could put them at the top.
The thread is 'best band'. This requires a bit of objectivity. The Black Crowes and some of these other bands being mentioned are not solid contenders at all.
I love someone mentioned that longevity may not be part of the criteria I'm the OP and I think I may agree. If you can write a true masterpiece that's legendary in and of itself. Like, say, Ten and Nevermind. Maybe sometimes it only takes one, just saying. Oh, I tried my best to catch up on the candidates and read the thread but I do not believe I saw DMB. Terrible oversight by all of us unless I just missed it One more thing thing, PJ was pop in the 90s so don't discount today's pop newcomers. You might just be old to discount 21 pilots, imagine dragons and muse, just to name a few.
HugePJFan
"...You try it, I give you the room, you try..."
I have to say, my taste is def not the majority according to the thread. I can't go Bruce, I love Petty but I think PJ is just so much better, Aerosmith I hate. The dead I like but don't crave. Interesting diversity here, really liking it Def going to try out some of the bands mentioned I've never listened to and maybe give bands like REM another chance.
HugePJFan
"...You try it, I give you the room, you try..."
The thread is 'best band'. This requires a bit of objectivity. The Black Crowes and some of these other bands being mentioned are not solid contenders at all.
If Shannon Hoon hadn't died after only two incredible albums, I'd probably be saying Blind Melon.
Agreed
please.
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
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EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Philly I & II, 16
Denver 22
0
goldrush
everybody knows this is nowhere Posts: 7,652
I love someone mentioned that longevity may not be part of the criteria I'm the OP and I think I may agree. If you can write a true masterpiece that's legendary in and of itself. Like, say, Ten and Nevermind. Maybe sometimes it only takes one, just saying. Oh, I tried my best to catch up on the candidates and read the thread but I do not believe I saw DMB. Terrible oversight by all of us unless I just missed it One more thing thing, PJ was pop in the 90s so don't discount today's pop newcomers. You might just be old to discount 21 pilots, imagine dragons and muse, just to name a few.
I think the key word in your thread title is ‘Ever’. This implies some kind of longevity, and would rule out bands like 21 Pilots, Imagine Dragons etc because they’re relative newcomers. And Muse are English so don’t count (plus... they suck! ha ha!)
My vote would go to REM - I think they cover most of the criteria from the original post (maybe not mind melting solos!) - but I appreciate why Bruce, Tom or even The Eagles would be up there too.
Great thread!
Post edited by goldrush on
“Do not postpone happiness”
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
Comments
Aerosmith and CCR crush most of the bands getting 2-3 citations. Crush
Look at record sales. Look at number of hits. Look at how long their music has been played.
I'm sorry but I totally agree that Imagine Dragons and 21 Pilots have no space in the top 30. (Probably in the top 130, though.)
Bruce and E Street
The Dead
The Band
Allman Bros.
Wilco
Foo Fighters
you’re funny.
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VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
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Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
IMO....ID are fucking terrible.
Thunder, thu thu thunder, lightning and the thunder. Thunder, thu thu thunder, lightning and the thunder.
Then there is the car commercial song....believer. "a wubba-day wubba-day, hibbida dibbida, hummina hummina, boppity bippity."
End rant.
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fission
not that wide, at all.
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Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
The thread is 'best band'. This requires a bit of objectivity. The Black Crowes and some of these other bands being mentioned are not solid contenders at all.
When you're talking 'best' bands... you're talking 'best' bands (not 'personal favourite' bands).
That being said:
Pearl Jam
Bruce Springsteen
The Doors
Metallica
RHCP
The Eagles... all spring to mind. Extensive catalogues. Talent.
Van Halen
GnR
Aerosmith
Jimi Hendrix
CCR... bands like these in the next tier.
Nirvana never had a chance to see what they could become. They may have fizzled. Who knows?
since people threw a couple more recent bands out there, i’d like to give My Morning Jacket a nod. Certainly not the best of all time, but they are a great band, have several great albums, and put on a hell of a live show.
"...You try it, I give you the room, you try..."
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"...You try it, I give you the room, you try..."
I didn't list others that deserve credit as well. In particular, DMB and Tom Petty for the second tier grouping.
Hate is a strong term. I don't care for them. They are not unlistenable though.
"...You try it, I give you the room, you try..."
please.
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St. Paul 14, Denver 14
> petty
> bruce
even tho I love both those guys.
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
My vote would go to REM - I think they cover most of the criteria from the original post (maybe not mind melting solos!) - but I appreciate why Bruce, Tom or even The Eagles would be up there too.
Great thread!
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
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