Top 10 Best Classic Rock Bands

From the iconic guitar riffs to the unforgettable lyrics, classic rock bands have a way of transporting us back in time, evoking memories and emotions that are forever intertwined with their music.

The Top Ten

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English hard rock band formed in London in 1968 as the New Yardbirds. The group consisted of Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass, keyboard), and John Bonham (drums). The band was largely the brainchild of Jimmy Page, who even financed their first tour... read more

There are bands that don't have another band that even comes close to them. Led Zeppelin showcased some of the greatest guitar solos the world has ever seen. Jimmy Page redefined the way people play the guitar. Robert Plant is the greatest screamer ever - he actually sounds good. John Paul Jones was the fastest bassist, trying to keep up with Jimmy when he performed a guitar solo. Not many people could do that.
And then, there's John Bonham, the greatest drummer to ever sit behind a drum kit. His solo in Rock and Roll is one of the greatest I've ever heard. And that brings me to my final point: LED ZEPPELIN RULES!

Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page. Robert Plant. John Paul Jones. John Bonham. No other bands have ever produced hit after hit like they did. Page brought guitar solos that were earth-shattering, and together, Plant and Page wrote genius songs like "Stairway to Heaven," "Heartbreaker," "Whole Lotta Love," "Dazed and Confused," "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Ramble On," and many more.
No other band in history had such a talented group of people who brought that much energy to the stage. It's safe to say that Led Zeppelin will never be touched for the title of the greatest classic rock band of all time. Long live Zeppelin!
The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more

Near universally considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, bands of all time.
From classic and catchy pop rock to uniquely psychedelic concept albums, there's a lot to love here.

People say that The Beatles are overrated. That is not true because they have done so much for music. There wouldn't be Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, or anything without Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Beatles reinvented music.
So, they are not overrated at all. Zeppelin is easily the most overrated band in history, whereas Pink Floyd, Queen, and The Beatles are all 1000 times better. After all, Zeppelin has only one kick-ass album.
Queen

Queen is an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar). Before Queen, May and Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury, a fan... read more

Over the years, my taste in music has been redefined many times. It all came to rest at Queen. The pure musicianship of every single member of this amazing band shows that they are the greatest band ever. Each member is credited with writing at least one number one hit, even the bassist and drummer.
John Deacon has some of the most iconic bass lines ever. Roger Taylor, with his intricate drum fills and an incredible voice, could have (and did) front a band of his own. Brian May, while also having an incredible voice, is one of the greatest guitarists ever. Not to mention, he has a PhD in Astrophysics.
Then we come to Freddie Mercury, a legend among legends. Freddie's voice was so powerful and had a range that most singers only dream of acquiring. He is listed as one of the greatest frontmen in history, which is no surprise to anyone who has seen him in person or on video. His death will be mourned for many more years. Because of the caliber of every single member in Queen, they deserve the spot of number one band ever. A true treasure that will be listened to well into the future.
Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd are an English progressive rock band formed in 1965 in London, England. They gained international acclaim with their innovative, conceptual music blending progressive rock and psychedelia. The classic lineup included Syd Barrett (vocals and guitar), David Gilmour (vocals and guitar), Nick... read more

Pink Floyd is like that one band where, if you show someone the logo for "Dark Side," they'll say, "Oh yeah, that band, Pink Floyd, right?" Everybody knows it. Take "The Wall," for example. Listen to "Another Brick in the Wall, Part One, Two, and Three." All three in a row. They blend seamlessly.
Listen to the whole album nonstop. Each song blends perfectly into the next. Pink Floyd brought us the famous line, "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding." I'm sorry, but who hasn't heard that at least once in their life?
For most, it's avoided, with an exception for "Dark Side." I hate to say this, but Pink Floyd should take the number one spot, as should "The Wall" compared to "Dark Side." "Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb? Mother, do you think they'll like this song?" - Pink Floyd, "Mother," "The Wall."
The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first settled line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass), and Charlie Watts (drums).... read more

Voting on this list is a considerably harder task than that on the hard rock bands list, for the obvious reason that it includes many iconic and influential bands from the '60s and '70s that aren't hard rock (e.g., The Rolling Stones, The Who, T. Rex, Queen, Pink Floyd, etc.). However, I voted for The Rolling Stones because they are the very band that defined the non-hard-rock side of classic rock, influencing genres like glam rock, boogie rock, and soft rock, thus enabling a broader musical diversity in classic rock.
Also, I think they deserve a little more credit than The Beatles.

I like The Rolling Stones better than The Beatles. Judas Priest isn't classic rock. It's metal. Queen and Led Zeppelin have enough attention. Pink Floyd puts me to sleep, so their long songs (all of them) aren't in my best interest.
AC/DC is good, but it doesn't deserve the title of greatest classic rock band of all time, and the same goes for Aerosmith. The Rolling Stones are really the only ones who come close enough to earn that right.
The Who

The Who is an English rock band formed in London, England, in 1964. The most recognizable lineup consisted of Roger Daltrey (lead vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass guitar), and Keith Moon (drums). They are best known for their live performances and hit songs "Baba O'Riley," "My Generation... read more

These guys were basically the first to introduce synthesizers, something that most everyone else has relied on in their music. This band has tested rock time and again and has revolutionized it, creating some of the best and most favorite classic rock songs of all time.
It is even said that Led Zeppelin and many other British-origin groups and singers, including U2, were influenced by these guys. The band includes one of the greatest guitarists, greatest drummers, and greatest bassists of all time. There is a reason they have been around for nearly fifty years and continue to perform.

Why is the Grateful Dead so high on this list? Their music is, I think, kind of boring and overrated and nothing special whatsoever. The only truly great member of the Grateful Dead is Jerry Garcia. The rest are good, but not great.
I listen to a Grateful Dead song about four times, and that's it. I don't listen to it anymore. But The Who? Now this is one of my favorite bands of all time. I could listen to their music over and over again and never get tired of it.
AC/DC

AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band founded in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Bon Scott was the lead singer until his death in 1980 from alcohol poisoning. He was succeeded by Brian Johnson.
The band is known for its blues-influenced rock sound and enduring hits such as Highway... read more

What makes them great? Their shows and their longevity. While other older bands understandably slow down over the years, this group keeps pumping out anthemic music. Catchy rock music that could have been hits in the rock 'n' roll heyday of the '80s and '90s.
With that said, in the 21st century alone, they've won a Grammy, and the Black Ice Tour was the fourth largest tour in history. Black Ice sold more albums worldwide than all but Coldplay. In 2007, AC/DC sold 3 million albums, yet they hadn't produced new songs in 8 years at that point. If you don't think these aging rockers are still relevant, then please check out Live at River Plate. Their stage presence is as good as ever.
Johnson is in terrific shape, and they play to the frenzied crowd like never before. And this is the AC/DC that could be retired, and people would understand. Now, they have Rock or Bust. Tickets sold so fast for the European tour that it broke Guinness world records for the most sales in the least time: 1.75 million tickets in less than 24 hours.
For those who think they just sound the same in all their music, that's okay. The band doesn't make music for you. They make it for their fans. Believe me, there are plenty of them.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The Jimi Hendrix Experience was an English-American rock band formed in Westminster, London, in September 1966. The group featured Jimi Hendrix on vocals and guitar, Noel Redding on bass and backing vocals, and Mitch Mitchell on drums.... read more

Jimi Hendrix is my biggest inspiration! I started playing a little over a year ago and still play every day. If I'm ever feeling down, I just listen to a little Hendrix. I really like watching him live on YouTube because that's really the closest I can come to actually being at one of his legendary concerts.
I truly feel soul pouring out of Hendrix and his guitar. I wish I could have met him. His music is the best in the universe, just my opinion though. Rock on Hendrix, forever your sound will adventure!
P.S. I still have an unopened copy of 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience,' hoping someday it will inspire my children.

Jimi Hendrix had the potential to rule the rock scene for decades, but his unfortunate early death ended his career.
Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath were a heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968 by guitarist and songwriter Tony Iommi, singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Their self-titled debut album received mixed reviews, but they quickly gained a strong following... read more

Should be number 1. Not only Ozzy but also the Heaven and Hell days with Dio, and even the Martin era wasn't bad. Nobody has this longevity and is still making great music. What other band here put out an album as recently as The Devil You Know that is near that quality?

Black Sabbath is one of the bands that started metal. In fact, they're basically the godfather of metal. They should be at least in the top 5 or higher! Some people have no taste these days. Black Sabbath forever!

Awesome band with a diverse musical category, going from acoustic instrumentals such as Fluff to heavy balls-to-the-wall headbangers such as Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Iron Man, Snowblind, Symptom of the Universe, Hole in the Sky, etc., to ballads such as Changes.
The Doors

The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and occasionally controversial rock acts of the 1960s, largely due to Morrison's poetic... read more

This band changed the world. Their influence is everywhere: in the music you hear on the radio, in the way poets and writers think, in the stars who don't watch their language on live TV, and in the attitudes of the people you meet, literally everywhere.
When their debut album was released in 1967, it was the first time they completely reinvented rock culture, but it surely wasn't the last.
If you love rock music and appreciate intelligent poetry, you can't deny that they are the best band ever. Everything about them was magic! Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc., are all great, but when considering the best and not just the greatest, hands down, The Doors are number one.
R.I.P. Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek.

The Newcomers

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Pixies

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. The group disbanded in 1993 but reunited in 2004. The current lineup includes founding members Black Francis, Joey Santiago, and David Lovering, with Paz Lenchantin joining as bassist in 2014.

This band should be considered classic rock since they released music in the '80s, such as "Where Is My Mind?" and "Here Comes Your Man." They're my third favorite classic alternative band, alongside The Cure and The Smiths.
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Can

Can was a German experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany, in 1968. The core members were Holger Czukay on bass, Irmin Schmidt on keyboards, Michael Karoli on guitar, and Jaki Liebezeit on drums. The group worked with several vocalists over time, including Malcolm Mooney from 1968 to 1970... read more

The Contenders

Aerosmith

Aerosmith is an American rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums), and Brad Whitford (guitar).
Their style, rooted in blues-based hard rock, also incorporates elements of pop rock, heavy metal... read more

Aerosmith is great. They are my favorite rock band. I love their songs: Walk This Way, Toys in the Attic, Make It, and Sweet Emotion. Gosh, please put them in Led Zeppelin's place because they are so much better. Seriously.

The top 5 are good, but I'd put Aerosmith above AC/DC. AC/DC can rock, but their songs are pretty simplistic. Aerosmith has more variety. This list is better than most I've seen on the web.

Aerosmith is the greatest-selling American rock band ever! Eleventh place is a joke! All of their songs are great! And they are one of the greatest bands to see live!
Rush

Rush is a Canadian progressive rock band that was formed in 1968. The band's most iconic lineup consisted of guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee, and drummer Neil Peart, who joined in 1974. Following Peart's death from brain cancer on January 7, 2020, Lee and Lifeson announced in October... read more

They were highly regarded by very positioned and prestigious musicians 40 years ago, and now they are revered as some of the greatest musicians of all time, not only by their fans but also by the most credible critics. Real iconic musicians that do not have even one small complaint. Who would dare cast doubt on the greatest musicians of all time, hands down?
Rush humbly continues to be even better after 47 years. No other act on the entire list can lay claim to that longevity of commercial success. No one. Not even close, no matter how long you try to explain. Rush is still there, turning out new and full studio albums, then backing them up with sold-out shows at the highest dollar around the world.
The Beatles never did that. The Stones never did that. U2 never did that. AC/DC never did that. Aerosmith never did that. Metallica never did that. Maiden never did that. Hendrix never did that. Cream never did that. The Who never did that. The only one I would consider close would be Neil Young.
Journey

Journey is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973. The founding members included former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch.

Every instrumentalist is top-notch. The writing and lyrics are fantastic, and no other vocalist could ever beat Steve Perry in his prime. Their songs usually carried a good message, which I appreciated. Arnel is good too, but Perry hit it out of the park every time.

Journey is one of the most underrated bands. Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, and Steve Perry wrote some of rock's best-known hits. Perry has been called "The Voice." Neal Schon is as good a guitar player as any, and Cain is a master on the keyboards. Journey is Rock and Roll!
Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival, commonly abbreviated as CCR or simply Creedence, was an American rock band formed in El Cerrito, California. The band consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty. His brother, rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty. Bassist Stu Cook. And drummer... read more

I love CCR. Their greatest hit, in my opinion, is Heard it Through the Grapevine, and the rest are good songs too. This should be in the top ten. CCR forever!

My mum would listen to this band forever (in-between Fats and Hank Williams).

CCR is one of the greatest bands of all time! Number 21? They deserve to be in the top 10.
Deep Purple

Deep Purple is an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are regarded as pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has changed over the years. They originally played progressive rock, but shifted to a heavier sound around 1970.... read more

One guy said that they were a terrible band, but don't listen to him. He doesn't know what good rock music is!

Listen to Deep Purple in Rock. It set the standard for all hard rock and has arguably never been surpassed. Period.

Deep Purple is the best rock band, and fools don't like it.
The Eagles

The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner.
The band achieved major success in the 1970s with hits like Hotel California, Take It Easy, and Desperado. They broke up in 1980 but reunited in 1994 for the Hell Freezes... read more

No way I see the Eagles at 13! How is that possible? The Eagles are one of the most well-recognized and superbly talented groups of all time! Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and for a bit, Don Felder - all rock and roll legends!
So many hits and they shaped modern rock during their time and everyone was down to listen to some Eagles. Man, this is a disgrace. They are number 4, maybe even number 3, behind Queen and The Beatles!

Producing great music from the first minute, these guys took it to the limit! They made many legendary songs like Hotel California, Take It Easy, One of These Nights, and so on. One of the best bands ever in rock, true legends!
Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band best known for popularizing the Southern rock genre during the 1970s. They are famous for songs like "Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama," and "Tuesday's Gone."
The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964 and originally went by the name My Backyard... read more

Introducing the world to hardcore southern rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd was at the top of the mountain until a plane crash in 1977 profoundly influenced the band to break up. Ten years later, the band reformed with Ronnie Van Zant's brother taking over the vocal duties.

The greatest band to ever play. Ronnie Van Zant's songwriting ability and lead vocals, along with Steve Gaines, Allen Collins, and Gary Rossington, produced some of the greatest guitar solos of all time. There is no such thing as a bad Skynyrd song.
The only band that even comes close to Skynyrd is Zeppelin. Free Bird is the greatest song of all time.
Van Halen

Van Halen was an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. From 1974 until 1985, the band's lineup consisted of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony.... read more

Van Halen has some of the most infamous songs in rock history out there. We do have to remember, this is one of those rare bands that have more than one hit. In fact, they have a good handful of songs that you can call your favorite, definitely not a one-hit wonder!

Many forget about this band. Eddie Van Halen is one of the greatest guitarists ever. When they had David Lee Roth, they were unbeatable.
Many #1 hits, inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame... Greatest band ever.

Eddie is the best guitarist, David is the best vocalist, Mike is the best bassist, and Alex isn't the best, but he's got some skills. Van Halen is an unbeatable band.
Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album... read more

With several of the greatest albums of all time under their belt, such as Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and Kill 'Em All, Metallica is one of the greatest bands of all time.
Maybe not classic rock in the same way that '70s Zeppelin is, but still incredible music.

35? You're joking, right? This band is one of, and will always be, one of the greatest rock bands out there. I literally cringed when I saw this at 35. This band is better than most that are higher up on this chart.
With songs like For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Unforgiven, Enter Sandman, Whiskey in the Jar, and covers such as Am I Evil? and Tuesday's Gone, this band seems to be far more underrated than it should be. With outstanding vocals, bass, guitar, and drums, I see no reason why this band isn't a great one. Metallica!
Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac is a British-American rock band formed in July 1967 in London. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music acts of all time. Their 1977 album Rumours is one of the best-selling albums ever, with over 40 million copies sold globally... read more

Why do people who have no good taste in music always underrate this band? This band is nothing less than The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd! Vote for it, fools!

They offer very diverse music through the years, plus having Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham as lead singers in different songs. No album has the same feel or sound. You can't say that about most classic rock groups. I know South Park made fun of Nicks for sounding like a lamb, but let's face it - South Park makes fun of everything.

The music is more diverse than most bands and as timeless as The Beatles or Led Zeppelin. They are a source of inspiration to young musicians and have withstood the test of time, no doubt. They should be in the top 10.
Guns 'n' Roses

Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1985. The classic lineup, signed to Geffen Records in 1986, consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. In addition to hard rock, they are also... read more

They were a very talented band. However, they had the potential to be SO much more. Seriously, they only had six studio albums, and one of them was a cover album. Instead of producing albums once or twice a year, they just partied their minds out and ended up having only a few great songs.

Guns N' Roses is the absolute best!
Their songs Sweet Child O' Mine, Paradise City, Welcome to the Jungle, and November Rain are beyond awesome! Slash's guitar work on these songs is the best! The bass, drums, guitar, and vocals are all so great! Guns N' Roses is just amazing!
Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi is a hard rock and pop rock band formed in 1983. The original lineup consisted of lead vocalist Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora (who left in 2013), bassist Alec John Such (who left in 1994), keyboardist David Bryan, and drummer Tico Torres.... read more

Bon Jovi has and still is putting out the best rock music in the world. His most famous song, Livin' on a Prayer, is expected to be heard by everyone. Not listening to this and a couple of other songs is like not watching The Matrix or not hearing Don't Stop Believin'.
The lyrics of Bon Jovi speak truth and encourage many people. Unlike some other bands, Bon Jovi are still living and playing. Not only does Bon Jovi make a ton of great hit songs, but they are also activists and help the community. Bon Jovi sold many records when recording and was said to put on some of the best concerts of that time.

Bon Jovi is my favorite band of all time. I have not found a single Bon Jovi song that I don't like. Loads of their songs have got me hooked, and it's mainly the reason I got into rock.
They are the reason rock is my favorite genre, and I'm into a lot of 80s and 90s hard rock. They have had me hooked for over a year, and I can't get enough. Jon Bon Jovi is one of the nicest guys you could meet. They are a talented group of gentlemen who have given us the greatest music for 30 years, and I hope to see them around for many more years to come.
Heart

Heart is an American rock band that first found success in Canada before breaking through in the United States and internationally. Formed in the 1970s, the band is fronted by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. Heart is known for hits like Barracuda, Magic Man, and Alone.

One of the most brilliant bands, and also the most underappreciated. Ann's crazy voice combined with Nancy's amazing guitar skills! What more could you want? Heart should definitely make the top ten. They gave us Barracuda. Need I say more?

I have loved Heart forever. I went to their concert when I was seven and have been in love with the band ever since.

Heart rocks! Ann's voice and Nancy's guitar were a killer combination!
Genesis

Genesis was an English rock band formed at Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey, in 1967. The band's most commercially successful and longest-running lineup consisted of keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford, and drummer/singer Phil Collins. In the 1970s, the group also included... read more

I know I stand in the minority here, but I love the Phil Collins era a lot more than the Peter Gabriel era.

Deserves top 10. Helped expand progressive and classic rock.
Scorpions

Scorpions are a German rock band formed in 1965 in Hanover by guitarist Rudolf Schenker. Early members included vocalist Klaus Meine and guitarist Michael Schenker, later replaced by Matthias Jabs. The band first gained international attention in the late 1970s, and has since explored styles ranging... read more

Absolutely, ScorpsSistah! They are the BEST band to see LIVE, for sure! For those of you who haven't purchased or even heard their new release yet, I highly recommend that you go get it now.
Scorpions' Humanity: Hour I is amazingly brilliant!

Plain and simple, they still rock us like a hurricane! Just see them LIVE, and you will walk away transformed!

Listen to Rock You Like a Hurricane. It will get stuck in your head, and the song is just perfect!