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Greatest American Rock and Role Bands of ALL Time

I have run into several advertisements saying that Aerosmith was the greatest American R&R band. I have thought about this claim and asked around and realize it is not an easy choice. So many of the great rock bands are not American..i.e. Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Rush, etc.

But before going further, who should/should not be considered?

 I think “band” means not Elvis, Elton John, etc or other single acts, that is another thread. However I would count Ted Nugent since he really is a band but with his name as a title…same with Hendrix, since he usually played with a band.
 They need to write at least most of there own music (another thing that would preclude Elvis).
 “Rock” any thing from the 50s up to alternative (which I consider a derivative of rock). This would include pop rock, so the Monkey’s might be considered (if they were American).
 Heavy metal would be ok.
 they should sustain their appeal over a period of time even if they weren’t able to produce a lot of music…i.e. Buddy Hollie, Hendrix

Anyway, there is no perfect guide so if you have other ideas, no problem. But here are a few of the undisputed best…..(that is bait)

 Amerosmith
 Kiss
 Alice Cooper
 Ted Nugent
Journey
….hey, I don’t know, I really would have a hard time putting any of these in a top 10 list of all time worldwide so I need some help,

Who are the greatest American Rock Bands of All Time???????????? Who is THE Greatest of all time
bbtuna
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Yes, The Monkees are *still* American, and no, The Troggs, Supertramp, and Bad Company are not, and will *never* be!

P.S. - Bbtuna, apparently you're the only one here with an even worse case of Too Much Time On His Hands than me!
trich727
67 posts
 
We're not done!! You list efectively how many times (almost)a US band was mentioned, but as an absolute end, it is not. Beyond the mentions of UK bands in a US list, and cartoon characters competing, you are trying to end this now? Hell, I should have posted about Johnny Winter a few more times and he would have won. I have been thinking about my list of absolute influences on American rock music, and I think I have to add Alice Cooper. I included Little Richard, so as to include the flamboyant, but I realize now that Alice took it a step further. As for Aerosmith, yeah they are a great R'n'R band, as the Black Crows were too. I kinda listen to both when I'm trying to decide what I really want to hear. Tom trich727
bbtuna OP
96 posts
 
Trich727,

No, no, don't end it here, that wasn't the point. I am just trying to keep up. No, adding up votes is NOT the gauge of truth but it is truely AMERICAN, so it seems fitting that we pick the best by majority vote. I have tried to not count the same person talking about the same band more than once.

Aerosmith wouldn't make my top 10, I was just curious based on things I have heard from others. My list I started the thread with was just to stir up conversation.

keep em coming and lets see if you guys with all the knowlege can come to a consensous on the top 5 or 10...you don't even need to put them in a particular order. he he he

tuna
ben_campbell
1,169 posts
 
Trich727 (are you an android?what a name!:-))
Of course the question wasn't who was the most influential group but the greatest-I'm not totally 100% convinced it is the Doors but they would be near the top of my list,The Doors were unique,a one off,and way ahead of their time I think they broke a lot of boundries and like Dylan had an influence that a few generations on that is not totally realised.
For some reason they've gotten forgotten in a way the VU haven't,partly due to the fact that the VU are and always have been pretty much held in universal respect(always big with the music critics)--I do get a bit pissed in recent times that there is a revisionist theory that the Doors weren't very good,they were excellent.
I do NOT think they were more influential than Dylan,Hendrix,Holly,Elvis,Johnson et al but as a bone fide group close to the best America ever produced.......
trich727
67 posts
 
I have a video tape of Neal Schon and Journey jamming with greats Albert King and I want to say Lonnie Brooks, but it does not matter. Anyway, it was on a show called "Soundstage". Albert was doing his thing when it was his turn to solo, and not over embelishing. Neal was last. I must say that I have never seen someone try their hardest to out do a great, out of key. I don't mean he was in the right key but out of tune, but he was in tune, out of key AND DID NOT KNOW IT! Neal tried to out shine two greats out of key. I have never laughed harder at any musicial act in my life. What's worse yet is Journey let them air it!!!! Which tells me they are all tone deaf!!! Let's give Journey to the Brits. Tom trich727
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