The Greatest Band of All Time

[Candlewhisper]

In the entire history of music to date, who do you think have been the greatest band (pop, rock, or whatever genre you prefer) of all time?

I'm going to go with Queen. A combination of talented musicians, sheer charisma, staying power, near universal appeal and progressive agenda make them, for me, the most important, most enjoyable and most damn ROCK of all bands, ever.

Do come and disagree with me.

[Witchcraft and Sorcery]

The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan. Take your pick.

The Beatles are the top-selling artists of all time and brought us modern popular music as we know it today before branching out and experimenting with types of music never before seen. They were visionaries and activists, always humble and inspiring. Even outside of music, the Beatles, especially John Lennon and George Harrison but really all of them, are some of the most influential figures of the 20th century, period. Were Lennon alive today this world could be very different.

Berry is responsible for the first real rock and roll music. If you've never listened to him I don't know what you're doing or if you can say you really know rock music, but it's amazing stuff. Chuck Berry is the foundation of Elvis, the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Queen, all the great bands of pop and rock's golden age. They all owe him some kind of credit.

Dylan inspired movements maybe more so than any other musician. His music sounds like he's making it up as he goes sometimes, and to some extent he is, but it's always awesome and really rocks in a special way that no one can replicate. He taught us that folk musicians can use an electric guitar, that songs don't have to fit a prescribed genre to have widespread appeal, and perhaps most importantly, he asked the one question many of us are too afraid to ask: "How does it feel?"

Those are my picks. I don't disagree that Queen was really important, but I grew up with Chuck Berry, the Beatles, Dylan, and the Grateful Dead.

[Witchcraft and Sorcery]

Also David Bowie. Some mention of him probably belongs beside Queen. I never really listened to him but I'm well aware of his influence and, like many others, I was really sad to see him pass away this last weekend. He's going to be missed.

[Candlewhisper]

I'll freely admit that news coverage made me think of Bowie, then Bowie made me think of Under Pressure, and that was what triggered this thread.

RIP, Starman.

[fidelita]

Talking about bands, I really don't know. Dire Straits, QOTSA, NIN, Faith no More, Hall & Oates, and others bands that I appreciate, but one aren't above the other.
But Bowie, oh, that man was a fricking genius. I remember listening religiously to Station to Station in my college days. Best album in history.

[Candlewhisper]

You a NIN fan? Cool, me too. Liked em a lot back in the day, and stuck with them right up to Year Zero. Couldn't get into Hesitation Marks though.

At one time in the past I might have named NIN as my favourite band, but I've not listened to them for a while, and they suited me better as an angry young man than as a content middle aged one.

[Percussionland]

Definitely Led Zeppelin. 

[Candlewhisper]

Jun 10, 2016 15:04:22 GMT -5 Percussionland said:

Definitely Led Zeppelin. 

Weirdly, have never listened to this band. Have heard Stairway to Heaven sung badly by copiers, and I know Jimmy Page is in court at the moment being sued by Randy Wolfe. However, I've no idea where to start in getting into Zepp. Always meant to, but never got round to it.

Which album should I start with?

[Hahiha / USSR]

Nirvana was an aspiring band for the grunge genre.

[Candlewhisper]

Funny story. Just over ten years ago I briefly dated a girl ten years younger than me. It was fun enough, because she was young and hot, but there was always a nagging feeling of disconnect because of different chronological contexts.

The thing that brought everything into sharp perspective was when I was talking up the hilarious MTV Destiny's Child - Nirvana mash up of Smells like Teen Spirit and Bootylicious, and she told me "never heard of Nirvana". Wasn't interested in hearing them either - said it was old man guitar music.

Obviously, that relationship didn't last long.

[Hahiha / USSR]

The only thing that could make sense is if you were 60 and she was 50.

[Keam]

Pink Floyd is the Greatest Band of All Time my evidence to support this argument is the Album Dark Side of the Moon *drops the mic*

[NeoYundar]

The beach boys, or Journey are the best. I love them both. I was going to respond to some of the previous comments but I see they CTE'd.... I am a big fan of Nirvana though Hahiha / USSR,

[Jabberwocky]

I'm gonna go with the Beatles simply due to their vast catalogue of great songs. I've been a musician for more than forty years; I likely know more songs by the Beatles than anyone else. When compiling setlists, the challenge is in limiting the number of their songs to play. Second place: Elvis Costello