Best American Rock Band Ever

it's the Grateful Dead without question IMO. 

B-Girl said:

No Coder said:

MayDay10 said:

I wouldn't consider the Grateful Dead the greatest american rock band ever.

I agree with the amazing accomplishments with this band, as well as their innovation.  

The problem is, they lack recognizable hits that will sustain the band with the mainstream domestically and abroad.  You could go to a juke box anywhere and let songs fly from Tom Petty, GnR, Aerosmith, Doors, etc... and probably will be able to let them fly for many decades.  

"Hits" isnt the be-all-end-all, neither is straight-up album sales.... nor is live performance, influence, or international popularity.... But IMO the 'best American band' should possess all those things to some degree.  I do think a void of recognizable/mainstream hits is a gigantic strike though.

Agree with this completely. Massive respect for the Dead, but they do not have the record sales or hits ti be in the conversation for the GREATEST.

They can certainly be in the most respected/influential conversation, but to be the GREATEST, surely the average Joe on the street should be able to name a song of theirs?

I think the crux of the argument would be what defines the greatest in terms of music, and it seems we may be all analyzing it from our own personal point of view irrespective of the criteria outlined by the OP.  Personally, I would never take the opinion of the Average Joe...I believe that oftentimes we exalt mediocrity.  There are precious few artists that not only show brilliance, ingenuity, and influence that also seep into the mainstream consciousness that consequently brings success in album sales/hits/longevity.  We have spoke of a few of them here, but we've also spoke of some, frankly, mediocre bands that happen to have recieved alot of mainstream attention that are not at all inspiring, brilliant or ingenious.  And as a footnote, I believe metal is a subcategory of rock (a pretty loose umbrella term), so Metallica would at least crack the top ten on my book.

I agree with what you are saying and this is the impossible debate, as everyone's opinion on greatness is different. Unless there is a clear formula agreed upon to calculate the answer, it will always just be opinions. 

I also wasn't looking to the average Joe for their opinion, as you rightly point out that popular doesn't necessarily result in greatness, just that that a decent percentage of the general population should be able to recognise a song from the greatest band. I'm sure if you walked a street and played a Led Zepplin/Beatles/Elvis song to 100 people, a fair amount would be able to name the artist at least. I'm not sure you would get a large percentage that could recognise a GD song. My only point is that if a band is deemed truly great, surely their music/sound would have relevance to the general population, this doesn't have to equate to album sales, just recognition. Maybe I'm giving too much credit to the general population

F Me In The Brain said:

Black Crowes = Not in the equation

are pavement in the fucking equation?

Wobbie said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Black Crowes = Not in the equation

are pavement in the fucking equation?

F Me In The Brain said:

Wobbie said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Black Crowes = Not in the equation

are pavement in the fucking equation?

Of course not...unless the conversation is Indie US Bands.  You know I love me some Pavement.

I understand the love people have for favorite bands, but this is about the Best 'Murican Rock Band, evah!

Pavement- best Indie band of all time. hands down!

Also, concert attendance is more measurable to me than record sales. Who makes you want to buy a ticket, travel to s show, and even see multiple concerts in a row?
Grateful Dead and Pearl Jam. 
Who held the record for most consecutive sellouts at Madison Square Garden? Grateful Dead (until Billy Joel recently broke the record).
Most sellouts at Red Rocks? Grateful Dead. 
Who had over 200 songs in regular rotation on tour? 
And, who loaned equipment to Pearl Jam at Chicago Soldier Field in ‘95? The Dead.
who did Eddie comment about at MSG in ‘03 as the other band who made the stage shake at MSG because if the crowd being so wild? The Dead and Bruce Springsteen.
i could go on and on....

lolobugg said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Wobbie said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Black Crowes = Not in the equation

are pavement in the fucking equation?

Of course not...unless the conversation is Indie US Bands.  You know I love me some Pavement.

I understand the love people have for favorite bands, but this is about the Best 'Murican Rock Band, evah!

Pavement- best Indie band of all time. hands down!

Let’s not get nuts now 

lolobugg said:

JP218404 said:

lolobugg said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Wobbie said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Black Crowes = Not in the equation

are pavement in the fucking equation?

Of course not...unless the conversation is Indie US Bands.  You know I love me some Pavement.

I understand the love people have for favorite bands, but this is about the Best 'Murican Rock Band, evah!

Pavement- best Indie band of all time. hands down!

Let’s not get nuts now 

Name one better.... I might agree with you.

“Indie band” is a very loose term. Are we going strictly as only put their records out on an indie label? 

Cause fugazi or superchunk would be my calls

lolobugg said:

Fugazi is probably equal to Pavement. good call there.

Superchunk- NO WAY, JOSE'  and I am from North Carolina.

Ha! They should kick you out of the state!!!!

JP218404 said:

lolobugg said:

Fugazi is probably equal to Pavement. good call there.

Superchunk- NO WAY, JOSE'  and I am from North Carolina.

And Guided By Voices would be another one I would put up there 

Like em. but not as much as SM and Spiral Stairs and Mr. Westy and Mr. Ibold and Mr. Nastonavich.

I would like to see a drinking contest between Robert Pollard and Bob Nastonavich.