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.

70s queen, especially the first 2 albums, are metal. the next 5 albums are hard rock with some pop and ballads (they often usually rock out 1/2 way though)...I also love the songs innuendo and headlong from the 90s.

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

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.

I only discoverer Rush some years ago. I wish I could have done it before as they are really great! Favorite albuns: "Rush", "2112" and "Moving Pictures".

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

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

Still going strong

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...

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

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

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

Shocked to this band at 11. they're very underrated - zxm

"Now you're messin' with a son-of-a-bitch! "

Extremely under-rated Scottish band ( Dunfermline ) of which I am particularly proud of, since my heritage is from this ancient capital

overlooked for far too long, influence on this scottish music scene is vast,
yet almost none existent by the current media fraternity, to their eternal shame

My favorite Rock and Roll band. I prefer it Rainbow over deep purple, especially Dio era. The riffs and the vocals of the first 3 albums are just too good.

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

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...

Sir Lord Baltimore?

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

Seriously why is this band, Van Halen, and Kansas always underrated, I mean they are all awesome, they give us a good feeling and let us forget about all the bad things and just feel happy when we are listening to their music, should be higher

Now you are taking the piss totally.

In terms of the 'pretentious moi' scale, not quite as atrocious as the Clash - a close run thing though.

If it wasn't for the WHO these bands wouldn't matter

The definition of complete guff = Cheap Trick.

Unadulterated crap of the first order.

Great band--did some "hard rock" on first lp but is really more power pop-rock. Not sure the belong on this list, but neither does Queen (also not "hard rock")

Should be No.2 after the Sabs.

Amazing band.

Not Bad as hard rock goes but short lived.

Punk rock, not hard rock! - Metal_Treasure

About the best thing to come out of the highly limited medium of punk rock.

Punk rock, not hard rock! - Metal_Treasure

Pretentiousness personified. Not hard rock - not really even punk.