Top Ten Most Original Rock Bands

The Top Ten
1 Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English progressive rock band formed in 1965 in London, England. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. The band consisted of 5 members - David Gilmour (Vocals and Guitar), Syd Barrett (Vocals and Guitar), Nick Mason (Drums), Roger Waters (Vocals and Bass), and Richard Wright (Vocals and Keyboard). Barrett was replaced by Gilmour in 1968. ...read more.

They are the best I love pink Floyd I think they have influenced my life style through out my life and even today I am who I am because of their inspirational music Pink Floyd is one if the best bands for sure due to their amazing talents and everything they do to make the music they do.

This and tool have the most unique sounds that I've heard where you just have to lay down and absorb it (at least for me)

They are as original as it gets... I mean, nobody's sound is more melodic and soothing than theirs.

Just brilliant. I love pink floyd and their music is pretty much one of a kind!

2 Queen Queen are 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, vocals). Before forming into Queen, Brian May and Roger Taylor had played together in a band ...read more.

Best band ever,just behind the Beatles. They are never boring. Random listen The March of the black queen, then Good company then Father to son, then Jesus then Man oh the prowl then The millionaire waltz then Liar then Hitman etc. I can endless name the songs that are never the same. They could do anything. Not to mention the obe and only Freddie. And the other three musical geniuses. Period.

I love music and I love all forms of music to some degree but when it comes to pure talent, song writing skill and evolutionary diversification over decades No one beats Queen. They come up with melodies that shouldn't even exist yet you can't shake them after years and Brian May has mastered the most distinctive sound that I've ever heard on lead guitar

Just check Stone Cold Crazy (composed by Mercury in 1968! ). Then Bohemians Rapsody (74). Then Under Pressure (80). Then Innuendo (90). 22 years of music. That's all.

#19? Seriously? This is the best rock band in history we're talking about! They're also the most original.

This is the order it should be in.

1: Queen
2: Guns N Roses
3: The Beatles
4: Black Sabbath (one of the first metal bands)
5: Led Zeppelin

3 System of a Down System of a Down, formed in 1994, is an Armenian-American alternative metal group from Glendale, California. The band name is sometimes shortened to System or SOAD. They've always been a very political band since their inception. Often being against genocide and war most notably in songs like: Pluck, ...read more.

Unfairly lumped in with nu-metal bands of the early 2000's, System of a down are a very unique hard rock band with a funny and slightly avant-garde approach to songwriting. Their lead singer (Serj Tankian) has taken part in quite a few avant-garde projects over the years. Any of their albums are recommend since their sound and quality is very consistent throughout their discography.

System of a Down is without a doubt the most unique band I have ever heard. I have never found a single song with them that I did not love and I have never heard a band sound even remotely alike to them, and I have looked and been sent songs from other bands. Nothing is like these guys. Original, fun and heavy.
Pink Floyd is a close second though. Two of my favourite bands right there.

I barely would like a metal band, most of them sound crazy but System of a Down is insane and FUN. Its the only rock band that you can laugh and dance with it! They have a funny style and have 14 million fans in facebook and I'm one of them. But it took 3 months for me to love them. At first I hated them. That can happen to you to

All their songs are good, they don't release anything they thing is maybe good... NO! They know what their doing. All awesome musician. They don't sound like any other metal bands because they weren't listening to this kind of music before starting the band. Cheer.

4 Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments), Colin Greenwoood (bass guitar), Phil Selway (drums), and Ed O'Brien (guitar).

These guys and Pink Floyd are both great, but man oh man. Radiohead reinvents their sound with every new album. Each one offers something different. It's hard to believe Kid A and The Bends are from the same group. Thom's lyrics are so brilliantly ambiguous and it is evident that they are not afraid to test new sounds.

Radiohead the only thing that made sense on this list. Although I feel like Gorillaz should be here somewhere since they are a mix of pretty much everything there is.

They are the most original band ever along with Pink Floyd, clash, faith no more, Black Sabbath and alice in chains and Jimi Hendrix

They change their style so much with each album that these days I honestly have no idea what they're going to come up with next

5 Nine Inch Nails Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock band, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio.

Really awesome industrial rock band. Industrial rock is a really underrated music genre and I think it deserves more attention. It's a great genre.

Trent is a musical genius! His songs are just so atmospheric. Let's keep supporting him. You're awesome Trent. And happy birthday!

Trent is extremely talented.
Very recognisable sound and made a career out of producing fantastic music.

Not so much of a band than a man. Trent Reznor. The genius

6 Muse Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The members are Matt Bellamy (lead vocal, lead guitar, piano, keyboard), Dom Howard (drums, percussion) and Chris Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocals). They've won several awards including 5 MTV Awards, 8 NME Awards, 2 ...read more.

Muse are genius and their live shows are to die for!

People rank them higher. They deserve more!

Great songs. Awesome songs actually.

Please muse must be 1st on chart!

7 The Beatles The Beatles were an English pop rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The members consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They were soon known as the foremost and most influential act of rock era. Rooted in skiffle, beat, and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later ...read more.

They did start off doing covers like everyone else, but Lennon & McCartney grew into unparalleled original songwriters - close to 30 #1hit songs just for starters, not to mention dozens of innovations that have been copied by bands for decades, leading to both a musical and cultural revolution around the world.. When you add in Harrison's gems (Here Comes The Sun, Something, Taxman, While My Guitar Gently Weeps), it just gets better. How can they not be #1 on this list? Perhaps because they are also the most original Pop band of all time and get branded as such, or they were "tainted" by insane commercial success. The proof is in the songs though and ongoing influence though. No one can boast more than the lads from Liverpool.

They are one of the oldest groups here and clearly inspired the other bands in front of them! They created genres, made Rock music more relevant to the world, put Liverpool on the worldwide map, INSPIRED PEOPLE TO START WRITING THEIR OWN MUSIC, were one of the first bands to write all their songs, made british music even more famous, one of the first of many British bands to make it big in America and introduced british music to the country, so many bands have cited them as inspirations and have covered their songs. The fact they started the song-writing trend makes them the most original

Why on earth aren't the Beatles first? They started several new genres of music, as well as adding a twist to rock that had came before them. They are the main reason why '70s music was so good- because they were pioneers, and all these other great rock bands followed in their footsteps. Whether you personally like them or not, they CHANGED MUSIC, people! Look at music before and after the Beatles and how drastically different it is. By far the most original band in history.

The Beatles being so low on the list is just a testament to how people just vote for their favorite band that is high on the list. The Beatles are far from my favorite band but out of all rock bands, they are the absolute most original.

8 Tool Tool is an American alternative metal/progressive metal band, that was formed in 1990. ...read more.

Maynard is one of the few brilliant lyricists to ever admit that writing their music always starts with the sound. Then the lyrics are found. Considering the topics they choose to write about and the language that is chosen, the fact that they are inspired sonically first is a true testament to their talent.That is the best way I can describe Tool... Perhaps the most underrated band of our time.

I have listened to tool like forever since I was at least 2 so I would still say they are brilliant and amazing and it sometimes takes brainpower to even under stand their music but that's good

There is no other band in the world like tool. That being said, there is also no other band in the world as good as tool.

Unique in sound and brilliant in creation. Along with Pink Floyd, the true masters of album construction.

9 Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical approach changed over the years. Originally formed as a progressive rock band, the band shifted to a heavier sound in 1970. Deep Purple, together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-seventies". They were listed in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records as "the globe's loudest band" for a 1972 concert at London's Rainbow Theatre, and have sold over 100 million albums worldwide. ...read more.

They are definitely the most original band - you can't pioneer 2 music genres (hard rock and heavy metal) if you are not original. Yes, not one but 2 genres, and if you ask me - the best genres in the world!

10 Deftones Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California. The band, which was founded in 1988, consists of Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Frank Delgado, Abe Cunningham and Sergio Vega. They have released a total of 9 studio albums. Some of their most popular songs are Change (in the House of the Flies), Passenger, Bored, Minerva, Rocket Skates, Back to School (Mini Maggit), Beauty School, Diamond Eyes, Hole in the Earth, Mein, Digital Bath, and etc.
The Contenders
11 Blind Guardian Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Heavily influenced by Queen, they use the technique of overdubbing. They also incorporate large ...read more.

The most original metal band - they developed such an original style that they differ from the bands within the same metal subgenres.

Whatever they do, they do it their own way - their speed metal is different from the typical speed metal (their version is darker and heavier);
same for their power metal, which doesn't sound like any other power metal - absolutely unique dense sound, bizzare melodies and lyrics, it's also prog influenced;
their symphonic metal is different, too - they use orchestra in a different way.

12 Rush Rush was a Canadian progressive rock band that was formed in 1968. The band has had an iconic lineup since 1975, which included Neil Peart (Drums, Percussion), Geddy Lee (Vocals, Bass, Keyboards), and the guitarist, Alex Lifeson. Peart passed away after a 3 year battle with brain cancer in January of 2020. Because of this, Lee says there are no plans to keep the band going, so Rush is most likely defunct. The band has become one of the most well-known progressive rock bands in the world, with such albums as "2112", "Hemispheres" and "Moving Pictures". More than half of their albums have gone gold or platinum, as certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America).

Nobody ever sounded like rush. They have a unique sound that will never be copied. They didn't sound like their music was inspired by some other band, because it wasn't. They should already have been on this list and at the top

To me you can't even classify them under a genre they are very different in their sound, and even so they are one of the best bands in the world

How do you categorize Rush? Is it rock? Is it techno? This is a list about most original bands not the best rock bands. Rush should be number 1.

13 Metallica Metallica is an American Heavy/Thrash Metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup was James Hetfield (Vocalist and Rhythm guitarist), Dave Mustaine (Lead Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums), Ron McGovney (Bassist). The group came into mainstream from their Self-Titled album and the hit single "Enter Sandman".

With their first two albums, Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning reaching underground success, their third effort, Master of Puppets has since become one of the most important heavy metal albums ever, as it became the first thrash metal album to be certified platinum. The title track has since become the band's most played song live. ...read more.

Best of the best

14 Guns N Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1985. The classic lineup, as 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. Apart from hard rock they are also ...read more.

I like Guns N Roses, but honestly, they're not at all original. Most of music is extremely similar to that of Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and other hard rock groups.

Awesome band. Unique and they did change they way we rock! BUT, similar to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith? Can't buy that one for a penny.

these guys changed the landscape of rock and roll and music

I absolutely LOVE this guys! They r awesome and have REAL talent!

15 Nirvana Nirvana was an American grunge band that was formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. Nirvana disbanded after Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994. The drummer of the band, David Grohl, went on to start the Foo-Fighters, an alternative rock band. ...read more.

Greatest band ever! They made grunge what it is. Their original music that no one out of Seattle had ever heard before put the Rap industry on hold for a few years while everyone was listening to grunge!

They rock they are the one who invented grunge rock. Without their 'smells like teen sprit' world would not be have been same

Speechless is all I can say. They are so great that it's confusing to describe it.

How are they original? They ripped off the Pixies!

16 Rainbow Rainbow are a British rock band led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1993 to 1997. They were originally established with Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer and lyricist. Rainbow were ranked No. 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band has sold over 28 million albums ...read more.
17 Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), and Rob Bourdon (drums). Linkin Park is associated with a mixture of alternative rock, hip hop, and techno. Some of their influences include Nine Inch Nails, Deftones,... read more

Best band I've known it litterally mixes rap with the lyrics so well and chesters scream cannot be beaten no matter what. their lyrics are meaningful they are good at each and every genre especially rock why are they not number 1

Calling them unique is like calling Nickelback innovative. They are just an overly polished ripoff of Rage Against the Machine if anything.

How is this not at the VERY Top #1! Love every track in the first 3 albums, listen to them none stop!

18 Gorillaz Gorillaz are an English virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The band consists of four animated members: 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs.

Radiohead and gorillaz should be number one most UNIQUE bands. Guys this list isn't about your personal favorite, its about originalality. So why is Linkin Park at 11!

Great band that is very original and should at least be top 20

Like a mix of everything

19 Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English Heavy Metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The most critically acclaimed period for the band was from 1983-1989. With vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, lead guitarist Dave Murray, rhythm guitarist Adrian ...read more.
20 The Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988. Formed by frontman Billy Corgan and James Iha, the band included D'arcy Wretzky and Jimmy Chamberlin in its original incarnation. They are also considered to be one of the most influential alternative bands of the 1990s.

They are very unique, and I love the fact that there is a girl in the band who is treated as an equal. As an aspiring female guitarist, the music industry doesn't have many bands with girls in them, that are still taken seriously. This band reminds me that yes, I can do this. Also, I loved the uniqueness of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. It was nothing I had ever seen or heard before. They changed lives, and they influenced other bands to be unique and have unique themes. Panic! At the Disco for example were highly influenced by the theme of Tonight, Tonight from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Their whole album theme was influenced by the one video. The Smashing Pumpkins be whoever they want to be, and are accepted for it, and not judged. I just love them, and I will live and die as a fan.

21 Soundgarden Soundgarden was an American grunge/alternative metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Chris Cornell died on May 17th, 2017.

Such unique sound mixing 70s rock with their own metal-ish style. Chris Cornel's voice is stellar and powerful! Not to mention complex and genius lyrics.
This band deserves way more recognition.

More original than Nirvana.

22 Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American funk-rock and alternative rock band, that was founded in 1983. ...read more.

These guys are AWESOME! Especially their stuff at the time of Blood Sugar Sex Magic. I love John's guitar playing, Anthony's vocals, Chad Smith's highly underrated drumming, and Flea's slap bass.

They combine just about every genre of music and are all unbelievably talented ( though since john left I will admit they arnt as good)

A completely new new sound that brought two good genres together

Best rock band ever, gave a new name to funk

23 Rammstein Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte and Industrial Metal band consisting of Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (guitar), Oliver Riedel (electric bass), Christoph Schneider (drums) and Christian Lorenz (keyboard), that formed in 1994 in Berlin .

Rammstein is one of Germany's most successful music artists, and one of the few that gained notable chart success and fame internationally. Since their debut album "Herzeleid", Rammstein's music has often been used in well known movies, including "Lost Highway", "The Matrix" and "Nymphomaniac", the first of which is often credited as the movie that brought the group to international recognition. ...read more.

I absolutely think that this band should be higher up. The music is so unique and powerful! They bring new meaning to the word "original". There aren't enough words to describe how awesome this band is.

Love me some German rock!

24 Alice In Chains Alice in Chains is an American grunge/alternative metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley.

One of the best grunge band one of the best heavy metal band the creators of alternative metal

25 AC/DC AC/DC are a Australian hard rock band, formed in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who continued as members until Malcolm's illness and departure in 2014 . They were fronted by Bon Scott until his untimely death due to alcohol poisoning in 1979, after which they hired Brian Johnson ...read more.
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