Best Hard Rock Bands of the 70s

Some of the most beautiful, blissful music of all time by four of the greatest artists of a generation that has gone through slow disintegration by society, change and frustrating misfortune.

Rebellion! Queen sucks when compared to Led Zeppelin. The 70s were ruled by jimmy Page and Robert Plant. Freddie Mercury was great but Queen just wasn't hard rock. They were too soft. Led Zeppelin is one of the top bands in rock history ever...

Queen were not at all soft. Do you know that the first thrash song was written by Freddie in 1968 and recorded a bit later? (Stone Cold Crazy). Metallica did a cover. - Metal_Treasure

They're one of the hottest rock band and the look to match... Really breath taking!

Trampled Under Foot & Boogie With Stu...PARTY TIME!

QUEEN - THE GREATEST BAND ON EARTH! Absolutely the most perfect band! They could do hard rock, as hard as any of them, minus the cacophonous screaming. Freddie's voice was so magnificent, and Not screeching, that that's probably why some don't consider them 'hard' rock. But they could do it all, from amazing thrash, like Stone Cold Crazy and Dead On Time, to the loveliness of Love Of My Life and Barcelona and Save Me. They were the most eclectic band ever, perfecting over 40 genres of music!
Maybe some of Brian's hard edge got tempered by Freddie's phenomenal vocals, but all 4 were such genius musicians, brilliant in everything they did. Freddie got the job done w/out resorting to the 'shriek' technique; his voice was too gorgeous to sound anything but gorgeous, but never to shy away from anything, he certainly didn't shy away from being hard rock all the way w/ Bri, Roger, and John right behind him, passionately displaying all their genius & talent!
QUEEN - BOLD - BRAZEN - ...more

Queen was truly the best one of a kind rock/hard rock band... Long live freddie...

This is not rock, it's unadulterated pop - easy listening for the simple minded.

Don't even consider smoke on the water... The entire in rock album, machine head and fireball and burn absolutely amazing

Really hard rocking band always smoke on the water

The most talented, creative, innovative, technical and advanced = THE BEST.
R. Blackmore alone is a whole music universe. The best guitar player on this list - the fastest and most technical. Jimmy Page himself admitted Ritchie had always been a step ahead.
The best band live (Made In Japan; other live performances - their improvisations can't be touched).
DP were ahead of their time, esp. their experiments with a new, non-bluesy heavy sound, now known as metal.
DP were "the globe's loudest band" of the 70s, officially listed in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records. Their loudest show was in Copenhagen, Denmark, and there's an interesting fact - Lars Ulrich of Metallica was in the crowd. He was blown away and this show made him wanna play something that loud and fast one day. He was also mesmerized by Ian Paice double bass on Fireball (saw this for the first time). - Metal_Treasure

'Merica! Steven Tyler and Joe Perry rock! Dream on, mama kin, walk this way, sweet emotion, back in the saddle.

As progressive Rock goes, this band epitomized the art of Mastering your craft. 3 Men sounding like a 5-Piece (even live) were incredible musicians and have kept it going for 40 years intact

Rush took music to a new level! They created a unique combination of prog rock, hard rock, and other influences with is completely unlike any other band.

Uriah Heep, before Queen pioneered the thick harmonies coupled with a heavy guitar attack. Still musically valid and highly under-rated, they are still touring avidly to this day, unlike many of their contemporaries.

They were underrated, because they were mostly way way ahead of their time, hence the average, "mainstream" listener, too. Incredibly musical & experimental plus great lyrics... One could still go on...

One of the best bands ever and still going strong. Mick Box is a incredible guitarist

Most underrated band out there. So beautiful songs and music

These guys were good in the 70's, but it's in the 80's when they exploded

It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll

Best rock and roll band of all time for me

Whole lotta Rosie, high way to hell, long way to the top,
ACDC should be right up there number 1 me and my brother the age of 8 and 10 are obsessed with ACDC we've got to dogs called Rosie and Bon ACDC Rock on

Pink Floyd isn't hard rock and do not belong on this list...

This is, of course, not hard rock and, since the early 70's, what can be best described as musical wallpaper.

Pink Floyd outshine the rest of this top ten by miles as for led zeppelin they were over rated anyway

Get pink floyd off this list. they are not hard rock.

Queen please who is doing this list kiss is and always will be the best hard rock band of all time period queen what morons

KISS was the best visually and musically. Every fan had a favorite member an each member was distinct in many ways.

You wanted the best and you've got the best! The hottest band in the land... KISS!

Kiss was the best hard rock band of the 1970's...

Dio + Ritchie Blackmore = the most amazing, powerful and creative tandem ever. - Metal_Treasure

Once Van Halens debut album came out
Van Halen was one of the greatest debuts of the 70's they should at least be in the Top 3

Not a serious rock group and one that sanitised/popified/generally dumbed down the medium.

One of the best live acts of the seventies,Phil was one of the best song writiers of his day, the band was musically talented, and stayed true to just rocking out. Trulley defined what rock was all about...