Top 10 Best Australian Bands
AC/DC's 1980 album "Back In Black" currently stands as the #2 all-time highest-selling album. Ever. Given that the #1 spot is occupied by an American, this is a compelling reason to argue that AC/DC is Australia's #1 band. They are also in the record books as Australia's #1 export, having never fallen into the "where are they now" category. They've never had an album that didn't produce at least two or three chart-topping hits. Furthermore, their albums have never gone out of print or become impossible to find.
Not to mention, few bands can compete with creating so many memorable and classic rock anthems and riffs. Even Deep Purple, who are renowned in their own right, only have two of those. And most people don't even recognize "Black Knight" without hearing it.
There's no comparison on this. One of the best bands of all time. And definitely the best band to come from Australia. It's not just a band. They are a phenomenon. And anyone who has a doubt should hear Back in Black or Highway to Hell or Thunderstruck or TNT.
An absolute Aussie force to be reckoned with.
And like no other, they had a "unique sound all to themselves."
Rock, pop, disco, ballads - once their music "entertained your senses," it wasn't hard to thrive on Michael's highly polished vocals and the band's immense guitar riffs, drums, bass, piano/synthesizer, and saxophone.
Back in the early '80s, when the band really took off in Australia, Adelaide people were well known as the "hardest critics in Australia."
When Adelaide INXS ticket sales went online, they were sold out in 25 minutes flat. Their booking promoter had to quickly organize another concert! So what I'm trying to convey here is like "many countries, nationalities, around the world" reckoned, ("they just really rocked").
I discovered INXS with the video of the song Need You Tonight and never, ever stopped listening to them. Michael Hutchence was the best rock singer to walk planet Earth. Great voice, sensuous - he had it all and left it all too soon. Every member of the band performs well. Their song Never Tear Us Apart is one of the BEST rock ballads by a rock band. The band died with the death of Michael Hutchence. There will never be another like them!
I have spent countless hours reviewing Australian bands and their music to determine the greatest band of all time. Based on the number of anthem songs, charismatic lead singer, political/social influence, longevity of career, and overall number of great songs, Midnight Oil was so far ahead that I stopped looking for reasons to elevate other bands. No disrespect to all the other great bands listed here, but they're not quite as influential as Midnight Oil.
Not only the best band from Australia but also the best band of all time. Their music is the most compelling I've ever heard, even years after they officially packed it in. It never seems to age or be less than totally relevant and powerful. I couldn't pick a best album - at least six could fill that spot, and the best song? Forget it, too many to count. Greatness is not based on popularity, it's based on greatness, and Midnight Oil is the greatest.
All-time best Australian band ever! They made Australia visible and popular to us "Yanks" from the U.S. I absolutely loved this band and saw them twice when they came to the States. Later, I got to actually meet Colin Hay up close and in person, shake his hand, and get a photo with him! He is hilariously funny!
Totally agree that this band should be at the top of this post!
I agree with AC/DC at number 1. But Men at Work... Are you kidding me? Definitely better than Midnight Oil. Men at Work was a great band. Overkill is one of the greatest songs of all time, and everything from Business as Usual was very strong. Greg Ham's sax work is just awesome!
Great band from childhood. I recorded a live show on a tape deck from the TV while living in Alaska. I listened to that album over and over, and this was in the era of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Twisted Sister, AC/DC, if you will.
This is literally my favourite band OF ALL TIME! I remember hearing Don't Dream It's Over on the radio when I was about 3 or 4 - after Paul Hester died - and Crowded House has always been with me from that point. I cannot think of anyone as consistently brilliant as Neil Finn, and I just think that both he and Tim are seriously underrated in places like the UK and the US. On a song-for-song basis, there is no band that has had so many brilliant songs. When a Crowded House best-of is released, it would probably be fairer to just rerelease every album. Also, taking personal opinion aside, where's Cold Chisel? Not top 3? WHAT?!
If you take personal bias aside and judge a band on a song-by-song basis, then no one comes even close to Crowded House. Sure, AC/DC is an amazing rock band, and Chisel has produced some power ballads, but Crowded House are the masters when it comes to writing a perfect song. Track for track of every album (pre-reunion and latter efforts) is amazing. The combination of both Finn brothers on "Woodface" was huge, and I do not think there is a single singer/songwriter to come out of Australia/New Zealand with the talent of Neil Finn. He and the band are amazing. They are without a doubt number 1.
Yeah, I have to agree, the band literally just isn't the same without the original members, as the group just sounds so inferior nowadays. I think some other good songs/hits from the band include "Red-Headed Wild Flower," with its hard-driven melody (I think all of "Sleeper Catcher" had some dark tones, which is what made the album so successful in 1978), "It's A Long Way There," with the harmonies on "Hey everybody, yeah yeah!" being the highlight for me, and the absolute banger that is "Playing To Win" (even though it was just an attempt to sound hardcore). Additionally, the sassy deliveries of "Long-Jumping Jeweller" and the country rocker "Down on The Border" are notable. Even my local oldies station in Kinderhook, NY, plays those songs so often, and it shows how much of an impact they had worldwide, music-wise.
Little River Band is really underrated. I feel like they don't get the credit they deserve, especially considering their name was completely snatched from them. Songs like "Lonesome Loser," "Cool Change," and "The Night Owls" really showcase what a unique band they were. "Lonesome Loser" especially has some of the best harmonies I have ever heard on a song in my life. Besides, it's just a masterfully written song from an instrumental standpoint. Definitely should be higher on this list.
You have Cold Chisel WAY down the list from their rightful place in the top 5 when they are Australian Rock Royalty. It's like listing Led Zeppelin below Oasis on a British list. I mean, what? This is a band that crosses generations with hit after hit. Even if you don't like them, you gotta be impressed with the songwriting and amazing vocals of young Jimmy Barnes. This list loses all credibility with Cold Chisel down this low. Just go see a whole crowd of young kids raise their glass in the air and sing an entire Chisel song regardless of whether they own a single album.
If they aren't the best band Australia has produced, they're a close second to AC/DC... which is only because of worldwide popularity. Easily better than INXS and Crowded House, they are the definitive Aussie rock band with most of their music being very cultural and nationally relevant. International fame is the one thing they lack, and should this list be judged on that?
Silverchair is honestly my favorite band of all time. They have so much passion and talent and sound amazing. They seamlessly transitioned from grunge to hard rock, alternative rock, pop, and indie. They are one of the greatest bands of all time. They were 16 when they were playing on SNL and Letterman and hold the record for the most ARIA awards. They went on to perform at big shows like Rock in Rio, Big Day Out, Rock AM Ring, MTV Music Awards, and many more. But to be put on the spot and handle it so well, they're just amazing.
Silverchair is an amazing band. I could listen to all their albums all day. They have so many good songs which spread over indie, grunge, punk, rock, alternative, and pop. One of the best bands to ever come out of this country without a doubt!
Silverchair is beast! They enjoyed 5 consecutive #1 albums (the highest number ever recorded) and countless other awards. More importantly, their music is awesome! As time went on, their music matured along with their audience.
Beatles producer George Martin said the brothers Gibb have the best three-part harmony of all time! I agree with him. A career spanning five decades and being one of the top five best-selling artists of all time speaks for itself. They deserve to be right at the very top. They are simply the best!
Great music makers! Good before disco, but it was the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack that brought out my favorite Bee Gees music. Definitely one of the greatest disco groups, if not the greatest! That's when everyone dressed with style and had great dance moves.
The Bee Gees should be right at the top with AC/DC. Their longevity and collection of great songs prove that. LRB was considered by most people a joke. Silverchair was somewhat big 15-20 years ago. INXS was pretty good but was mostly a chick band.
JET's latest album (Shaka Rock) is just brilliant. One of the best Australian albums of all time. Gotta love that classic type of rock! JET are the modern-day Beatles!
Jet honestly got me back into music. Every other artist just has the same tune and melody. Jet is something you can totally rock out to. Way too underrated!
A great rock band with the unfortunate timing of being around when most people want pop or rap.
The best band in the world. Always consistent and unique, never conformist, the band has stuck to their ethics throughout a lengthy career. Brilliant musicians, and Nick remains one of the most entertaining frontmen in the history of live music. We are blessed to have such enigmatic performers.
I'm sorry, but Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds need to be in the top 10. The sophistication of their music places them above most of these bands. Into My Arms, Where the Wild Roses Grow, Are You The One That I've Been Waiting For?, Do You Love Me?, The Ship Song, The Mercy Seat, Red Right Hand - are some of the best Australian songs ever.
I'm from Hellas, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds started to come here from back in the '80s. I'm around 50 now, and as you understand, I grew up with them. With my little music education, I believe they belong in the top 5 of the best Australian bands. Thanks.
Oh God, this band... This group's music gets played everywhere in the small town where I live during Valentine's Day. Even at local bars, you would hear the group's entire discography being played, especially in movies and TV shows. "All Out Of Love" can be heard in the opening of Deadpool 2. It's a 70s/80s group that a lot of people cry along to, including me.
They were kind of like an Aussie version of The Carpenters, as both specialized in sweet, tender adult contemporary, except for "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" (my favorite song from the two), which was produced by the legendary Jim Steinman. The group's harmonies were something else, too. Overall, if you like showtune-style balladry, then this is the group for you.
Well, it wasn't purely Aussie, but no one can deny they were one of the first to put the Aussie name on the map outside Australia in terms of music. I'm Brazilian, and they were the first Aussie band I heard. Later, I fell in love with Silverchair. Even younger people know "Lonely is the Night", "Lost in Love", "Every Woman in the World", "Goodbye", "Making Love Out of Nothing at All". They are unforgettable.
This is one of my favourite bands of all time! Every single one of their songs is brilliant and original! They are by no means your mainstream average band. They definitely retired too early because they could have easily gone on and made it big.
Love their songs even more than AC/DC, sorry to any AC/DC fans out there...
Greatest band ever, so much better than all the modern-day music and so many great songs. I went to the Sunsets Farewell Tour, where Powderfinger and Jet both played, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Bernard Fanning is amazing.
It's obvious this band is underrated. Powderfinger delivers so much lyrically and musically. Although I think they retired too early, I'm sure it's not the end yet. How does Living End rate so high? Wrong. Little River Band... Give me a break. I think AC/DC at the top is right.
How is this band not number 1? Chris Cheney is one of the best guitar players there is, and there's nobody really like them.
From great simple songs to insane ones like "Carry Me Home", The Living End has done it all! Bloody brilliant!
Chris Cheney is the most underrated guitar player I can think of.
These guys represented the '80s. Iva Davies' great voice and songwriting ability was incredible, not to mention his guitar playing. In my opinion, they are the most underrated Australian band, and their ranking at no. 38 proves it. They deserve to be at least in the top 10 and should absolutely be ahead of some of these bands which I personally haven't even heard of. People just don't respect old music!
This is a band that didn't receive the credit they deserved and still don't today. Although being very much centered around Iva Davies, his talent and songwriting ability is one of the best that Australia has to offer. Many of the higher-ranked bands on this list are only there due to having one major hit. Little River Band, at no. 3! People these days don't know true music. Go the Flowers!
Should be top ten. They gave the Aussies one of their greatest songs from the modern era, almost like a national anthem, "Great Southern Land", and one great musician, singer, and composer who led this band, Iva Davies.
Yank here. Elephant playing on the radio constantly exposed me to them, and listening to both albums pleasantly surprised me. Tracks like Half Full Glass of Wine, Lucidity, Apocalypse Dreams, and Mind Mischief have a gritty '70s sound that I long for. Frankly, Impala has me eager to explore Aussie rock in more detail. Looking forward to more from them in the future.
Both of their albums are absolutely incredible. They're definitely going to keep getting better and better! Already one of the top 5 Aussie bands, in my opinion.
Tame Impala is simply awesome. Great songs, great melody, reminiscent of old Floyd-Beatles stuff but totally refreshing and new. They should be top 5.
Because they are one of the best Aussie bands that still have more to come. I love their songs because they are of great quality, and it doesn't matter if you are rocking out at the supermarket because you are listening to one of the greatest rock artists ever.
I think Wolfmother's debut album was better than anything AC/DC has ever made. They deserve to be much higher than 7. However, I don't think any new members will ever match the magic that the original lineup produced. I also think Airbourne should make the top ten.
Wolfmother aren't as good as AC/DC, but I haven't even heard of half of these others. Their songs always have something new to them. Some are a bit like screamo, but most aren't. I respect all their songs, even though Joker and the Thief is the only one that most have heard of. I think at least they should be 3rd, if not 4th.
I think if this was a most influential aussie metal bands I could see parkway reaching top 5 no diff. It's because of them that any aussie metal band can have international success. Before Parkway there were only a few aussie metal bands that were able to reach out of Australia and now record labels are willing to take a risk on young aussie bands because of Parkway. Without them we wouldn't have bands like In Hearts Wake or Northlane. Not to mention how many bands can you name that have never released a bad album?
Parkway Drive are the most technically accomplished and musically enlightened metalcore band of the 21st century. They play fast ultra heavy style metal, but it is still music. Most modern metal/deathcore bands I have heard only want to be the loudest/fastest/most dissonant band and forget that they are meant to be making music.
Just a personal note, Metalcore isn't really metal/punk at all. It is it's own genre.
At least Parkway make some real metal.
Where do I even start? The Seekers were amazing. They were the first Australian group to achieve major success in the UK and US, even before the Beatles. They were also the very first artist to ever hit #1 in the UK with their debut single. At one point, they were the most popular singing group in the world. When they returned to Australia in 1967 for a "homecoming" concert, over 200,000 people attended, creating a record that still stands today. When they did their farewell concert in 1968, almost 11 million people watched on TV, breaking a BBC viewership record. Impressive, to say the least.
"I'll Never Find Another You" is one of the greatest songs ever written, in my opinion. The lyrics are masterfully written, and Judith Durham's voice is just absolute gold on this song. You will never find another group like The Seekers. They definitely need to be in the top ten, not just for their contributions to Australian music, but also for their amazing discography.
Yes, these guys are top 10. Angry is the only original member left.
I have been to plenty of their gigs, and Angry still sings with flat-out passion. I saw them support Guns N' Roses. Angry sang with Axl "Nice Boys". Mate, Axl sounded like a cat in heat compared to Angry. I think they turned down Angry's mic because his voice was so strong and showed up Axl.
Rock n Roll is King.
I swear I started thinking that my browser search was not working when I did not find Rose Tattoo in the list. They are one of the most influential bands in Aussie rock history!
Rose Tattoo's Never Too Loud is easily the best Australian hard rock album in my opinion, with every song being gold.
This band should be in place 2-3, NOT 13! They may be a pretty old band, but they have great songs, such as Truly Madly Deeply and To the Moon and Back. They were very popular in 1997.
Totally agree - whoever put this band below those few at the top went wrong somewhere. This band's sound in all songs is incredible - true art in the making!
One of the best bands in Australia, with their hits To The Moon And Back, I Knew I Loved You, and Truly Madly Deeply.
"It's a very nice band"?! Dude, these guys are awesome! Every time one of their songs comes on the radio, I stop what I'm doing and listen to the song. Love their music! 21?! Really? These guys should be FAR higher!
Stoneage Romeos was the album that woke me up to what music was available out there. Before that, it was strictly top 40 for me, growing up in the Midwestern USA. Was lucky to see them a couple of times live. Love the Hoodoos!
I'm hurt! 39? Ouch. These rock geniuses should easily be top 10, if not top 20. Jesus Christ, not only did they make it here in Oz, they made it internationally. They are still rocking and have a huge fan base.
I don't really like this band's hits. I prefer songs that aren't hits, like... Rejects is cooler than She Looks So Perfect. This band isn't so bad. They are cool and funny. I'm 37 years old and listen to them. My son (he isn't gay) showed them to me. I think they are good, and are they bringing rock back yet? Girls should not listen just to pop songs.
They are in the pop era, bringing pop punk back. I already saw like 1,000 girls listening to All Time Low and Blink-182 because they say it is cool. They now listen to the bands who are on their t-shirts, and it's cool to see these girls listening to rock music in the pop era.
Someone, please tell me why they are #243? I haven't heard of half the people before them on this list, and I believe they definitely deserve to be up there. Their lyrics and music are absolutely beautiful, not to mention the boys themselves, haha.
You don't know what you've got till it's gone. The Divinyls had a magical full sound, great guitar, and Chrissie's great vocals. Not to mention an awesome presence and performance on stage. What can separate the bands for me is the number of good to great songs. I can count about 15 to 20 with Divinyls but only 12 or so for AC/DC (most from Back in Black).
Chrissy Amphlett was the first real Aussie Rock Chick. She had attitude, swagger, and a voice like no other that could yodel, growl, scream, or serenade. Mark McEntee is the most eccentric Aussie rocker, and together they produced such great classic songs that have stood the test of time and will never date.
I love Divinyls. They are my favorite band. I've seen them seven or eight times live in Perth. Chrissy Amphlett is the most mesmerizing performer I have ever seen. Her beautiful voice and Mark McEntee's hypnotic guitar create the best rock sound I have ever heard. Got all their albums.
You've got to love The Angels. They rock! I just don't understand why they are down here at number 35. This would be my top 10 list, and I am sorry I couldn't include bands such as Little River Band, Midnight Oil, and Silverchair.
1. AC/DC
2. INXS
3. The Angels
4. Skyhooks
5. The Living End
6. Bee Gees
7. Crowded House
8. Jet
9. Cold Chisel
10. Wolfmother
Come on, guys, AC/DC are no more Australian than the Bee Gees. The Angels all live here, record here, and play here constantly. There is only one Aussie in AC/DC. They don't live here, record here, and only visit once a decade or so.
The most energetic of all bands with excellent lyrics and the best frontman of all time! Face to Face, No Exit, Darkroom, Night Attack, Skin and Bone, Howling, Red Back Fever, and heaps more great Oz rock albums.