Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine Greatest American Rock and Roll Band

Most of the bands that make the greatest of all time list (Beatles, Stones, Zep) are English or mostly English (props to the other side of the pond). I and my musicphile friends have been wrestling with this question for over a year: What is the greatest AMERICAN band? Any ideas? Suggestions so far include Aerosmith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and (my personal vote) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Oooh! That's a toughie...

Off the top of my head I'd nominate one of three, and I do have to say these are personal choices:

The Beach Boys - how much of the BB's success is due to the band or Brian Wilson is debatable but they had and amazing string of hits which starting from early rock 'n' roll riffs went on to redefine what songwriting and recording meant. They (or Brian Wilson) re-wrote music history.

Velvet Underground - I just love 'em to bits (although Cale was welsh not American so this may disqualify them). may not have sold lots in their lifetime but the bands they influenced are legion.

Grateful Dead - may be an odd choice but being a British and in love with American music they embody something quintessentially (sp?) American. i.e. the road-trip - and what a crazy road trip it was!!

Just my thoughts for what they're worth.

Those are all excellent options, but while I love two out of three (never really like the Dead, but understand why many do), those bands have a certain limited appeal.

It's probably harder to find the "quintesential" American band just because America is so much larger than Britain. A lot of bands seems to have regional appeal: The Beach Boys are perhaps the ultimate California rock band, Lynard Skynard the ultimate Southern rock band, etc. I don't know if you're going to find something that appeals to the whole country.

Spinal Tap!


Ah...never mind

Aren't they British?

That's why I said...never mind.

And isn't Aerosmith originally from Canada? I could be way wrong about that though.

Personal taste aside, in terms of popularity, longevity and influence, I'd say E Street Band or Aerosmith (I don't think they're from Canada).

I'll throw my hat into the ring of CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL.

John Fogerty can write the hell out of a song. Look at their greatest hits...

PROUD MARY, BAD MOON RISING, LODI, DOWN ON THE CORNER, WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN, RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE, LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN, HEY TONIGHT.... all absolutely fantastic.

CCR has a broad appeal... appealing to rockers as well as country fans. Also, many of their songs are very soulful... I wish I could sing just like John Fogerty.

Yep. I vote CCR.

Gotta agree with Lash on this!!!!! CCR

Aerosmith was formed in Boston. All of the members are from the U.S. (Steven Tyler was born in New Hampshire, I believe.)

Some other candidates:

THE EAGLES -- Even their name is "American." They came to personify the California-style disillusionment of the '70s, but they also fused rock and country into an extremely popular style that lives on.

KISS -- Don't laugh. Kiss began with two guys from New York with a dream and a whole lot of chutzpah. They wanted to give fans more for their buck, so they invented a whole stage show, characters and gimmicks to go along with their uncomplicated sound. What could be more American than capitalism in high heels and makeup?

FLEETWOOD MAC -- Okay, the band at its height was three-fifths British, but who says you have to be born in America to be American or to represent what America is all about? "Don't Stop" was a Presidential campaign theme, for crying out loud. And with Americans Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham (along with Brit Christine McVie) having written most of the band's hits, they left an idelible mark on American music.

Hmmm. THE EAGLES are very good candidates indeed. They also appeal to a wide range of tastes (country, easy-listening, rock, singer/songwriter).

KISS? I dunno. The appeal is more limited there.

FLEETWOOD MAC didn't *really* make their mark until Nicks and Buckingham... so they -might- qualify, I dunno...

I still go with CCR and THE EAGLES in a close second place.

There are the bands from the grunge scene, though I admit they don't seem to have longevity. I really liked Pearl Jam and Nirvana.

I must submit for consideration: REM!

Also, I'm a big B52's fan!

CCR
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
The MC5
The Ramones
The Beach Boys
The Byrds


Some of my picks, anyway.

I personally love THE RAMONES... they wrote some of the catchiest, funniest songs ever. I have to pull their Greatest Hits out every so often for kicks. But I think they fall into the KISS camp of limited mass appeal...


This might make a wonderful POLL if someone wants to set one up... we already have some great nominees...

I think longevity should factor so, I do think Aerosmith gets my vote.

Gotta add NO DOUBT as another choice, though I know they have a kinda chick-band thing going against them.... I still think they're cool.

Never mind...

Here's my nominees

Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Johnny Burnette Rock and Roll Trio
The Beach Boys
The Rascals
CCR
The Doors
X
The Replacements

CCR, even if the band broke up after only a few years and was really the "John Fogerty" show most of the time. I rank Fogerty's BLUE MOON SWAMP as his BEST album ever!

BLUE OYSTER CULT, who've been "on tour 4ever" and continue to play bars & biker events. Their last 2 new studio albums were among the best they ever did. These guys were the first (possibly only) band where (apart from one "off" album) I came to like EVERY song on EVERY album.

I would also like to nominate HEART Ann and Nancy Wilson ROCK!!!!!!

indeed!

darumm darumm darumm darumm weeeeheeee

Barracuda!

I think the Eagles have a pretty good claim, though personally I find most of their stuff incredibly tedious.

REM are an interesting choice, though I think it remains to be seen if their appeal is more generational.

I hate them with a passion. Can't help it.

I have to agree with many of you:

Creedence
Beach Boys
Airplane/Starship (ok, nobody mentioned that one)
Springsteen
Eagles

They all capture a part of America. No one group could probably do it all.

But you're forgetting another whole major group of American bands - the Motown and Philadelphia sound groups. I think, growing up near Detroit, they had a more profound influence on my music taste than any of the others, save Creedence and the Beach Boys.

So this thread has been on my mind! Here's what I've been thinking!

REM and B-52S: I like the idea that they would be nominated because they have that "alt group that reached mass appeal then went back to being alt" feel to 'em... SO I like 'em being nominated although both bands know they probably wouldn't "win".

THE DOORS: Probably not to "win" but I bet they would make the Top 5. Top 10 for certain!

NO DOUBT: Tragic Kingdom and Return of Saturn had great moments and so-so moments. Rock Steady is beyond a doubt the best CD I've bought in the past year and a half. A couple more CDs like Rock Steady and we are talking a serious contender here.

I throw another band into consideration. They made their mark in disco, in calypso, in rap, in punk, in rock, in pop and were certain insprations for bands such as No Doubt: BLONDIE.