Top 10 Best Rock Bands of the 20th Century

You've heard their riffs in stadiums, on scratched-up vinyl, in basements blasting through thrift-store speakers. You've seen their logos scribbled on notebooks, tattooed on arms, and burned into history. These are the bands that didn't just play rock. They defined it.

Some fused blues with bombast. Some turned rebellion into poetry. Others rewrote the rules so often you'd swear they never read them in the first place. But each band in this lineup helped shape an era where the guitar solo was king, the frontman was larger than life, and the music felt like a revolution set to four-four time.

This list gives you the chance to shout out the legends you think should top the charts. Vote for the ones that still make your speakers shake and your soul grin. It's not just about fame. It's about influence, guts, and the kind of sound that changed what music could be.

The Top Ten

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

Whoop! No wonder they are number one. They have been in the charts more times than The Beatles. They are the only band to have a Christmas number one on two occasions. Not to mention the blend of rock, mock opera, hard rock, and ballad in one song!
Oh, and all four of them have penned number ones: Freddie Mercury and Bohemian Rhapsody. Brian May and We Will Rock You. Roger Taylor and Radio Ga Ga. And John Deacon with Another One Bites the Dust. Love you, Queen. RIP Freddie!

Just like I said, Queen is the most talented and perhaps the greatest ever. They are the finest in live performances among any other group. They never split up until Freddie died in 1991.
Please bear in mind that music is a form of art and not a display of good-looking guys like The Beatles. The Beatles only sold and influenced many because of their looks, but their singing talent is amateur. Once again, Queen is the best ever!
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

Lots of great bands, but seriously? No one even comes close, even though I actually liked Led Zeppelin better. But the influence The Beatles had on music, culture, and the pure insanity of their followers was really something to behold. If you weren't alive at this time and didn't "live it," then your vote should not count because you don't have the perspective and you truly can't understand.

They started a new form of music. Built off of what Elvis and previous rock/blues groups did, The Beatles took that and transformed it into a new sound. With that, they revolutionized music forever. Without their achievements, groups like Queen would never have existed. The Beatles are the most influential music group of the twentieth century without a doubt. They are also arguably the most popular.
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

They are one of the most successful, innovative, and influential bands in rock history. They are pioneers of heavy metal and brought a new wave of magic and mysticism to their lyrics and stage presence, making them mysterious and unique. With songs like "Black Dog," "Immigrant Song," "Whole Lotta Love," and the famous and controversial "Stairway to Heaven," they have sold over 200 million albums worldwide according to some sources, while other sources state sales of more than 300 million records, including 111.5 million certified units in the United States.
This makes them one of the world's best-selling music artists of all time and the second-best-selling band of all time in the US. All of their original studio albums reached the top 10 of the Billboard album chart in the US, with six reaching the number one spot. Rolling Stone magazine has described Led Zeppelin as "the heaviest band of all time," "the biggest band of the '70s," and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history." Similarly, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame described the band in the 1970s as being "as influential in that decade as The Beatles were in the prior one."
A few of the awards the band has received include a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and the Polar Music Prize in 2006. Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. The band is ranked number 1 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and Classic Rock's "50 Best Live Acts of All Time." Led Zeppelin remains one of the most bootlegged artists in the history of rock music.
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

One of the most charismatic and influential groups in the history of rock, since their first album released in 1964, we know that they are here to stay. With songs like "Paint It Black," "Sympathy for the Devil," "Ruby Tuesday," "Honky Tonk Women," and "Brown Sugar," they are one of the most recognizable rock bands in the world.
They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. They are the second most successful group on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and they are without a doubt the 2nd greatest rock band of the 20th century.

The Stones blazed the trail that Zeppelin later paved.
The very prototypes of rock stars.
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

Well, well, well, what are AC/DC doing here? You all know that the band is great according to their songs and albums. AC/DC's Highway to Hell is enough to prove it. And it's really, really good!
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

Of the century? More like best band ever. My other favorite band is Green Day, but I chose to vote for this because it's higher up. By the way, popularity does not mean it's the best.

Metallica at number two is still underrated. It surely should be number one. They ruled music for four decades. Listening to Metallica feels like riding the lightning.

The best of all time, hands down. Nobody gets the blood going better.
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

Best American band ever, with more records sold across the world - 159 million copies sold.

The Eagles were inspired by Led Zeppelin's folk music side and The Beatles too.

The best mix of the most talented musicians, singers, and songwriters.
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

Hey people, Pink Floyd was more capable of doing anything than Led Zeppelin simply because they had better sounds and could make any sound. Rolling Stone magazine said that Pink Floyd did whatever they wanted to do, regardless of the rules.
Led Zeppelin's lyrics get cheesy after a while. In my opinion, the two greatest guitarists of all time are Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour. Nobody else can dig into your soul more than these two guitarists. Pink Floyd has better vocals than Robert Plant. Jimmy Page is a great guitarist too, but he sounds extremely messy. I don't really like that. So that's why I go with Hendrix and Gilmour for guitar.
Oh, by the way, Echoes is a far better song than Stairway to Heaven. There's no comparison. I'm not dissing Led Zep, but I think that Pink Floyd is a better artist. They should be ahead of Led Zep and Queen on this list. Pink Floyd would destroy Queen.
Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine is an American rap metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1991. The lineup consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk.
Their politically charged music, which blended rock, hip-hop, and funk, debuted... read more

They managed to combine their political views with rap and heavy metal. Their band contained one of the most gifted guitarists, Tom Morello. One of the most talented bassists, Tim Copperfield. An excellent drummer in Brad Wilk. And Zack De La Rocha, who managed to rap about his views over hard music. They haven't made one bad song, and they all have true meaning. They're definitely one of the most influential and all-around talented bands ever!
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

Best live sound and musicianship of them all. Ambitious music.

The Newcomers

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Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree are an English progressive rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson in 1987. The band began as a solo project for Wilson, who created all of the band's music in its early years. They later evolved into a full band, gaining critical acclaim for albums like In Absentia and Fear of a Blank... read more

In my opinion, a creative genius incapable of making an uninteresting song. The saddest part is that they disbanded.
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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

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
KISS

Kiss, often stylized as KISS, was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. The original members were Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, vocals). Known for their face paint and elaborate stage... read more
Nirvana

Nirvana was an American grunge band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. The band consisted of Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar), Krist Novoselic (bass), and Dave Grohl (drums), who joined in 1990. Nirvana disbanded following Cobain's death by suicide in 1994.... read more

Kurt Cobain conveys so much emotion through his lyrics and the music.

Legendary riffs in simple yet complex music that is totally underrated.
Def Leppard

Def Leppard are an English hard rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement.
The band rose to international fame with albums like Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987), the latter of which sold over 20 million copies worldwide. They were inducted... read more
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
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
U2

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk and gradually evolved to incorporate elements of alternative rock, electronic, and pop music. Known for their anthemic sound and use... read more
Green Day

Green Day are an American pop punk and punk rock band formed in East Bay, California, in 1987. The core members are Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass), and Tré Cool (drums), with Jason White often performing live on guitar. They blend punk rock, pop punk, and alternative rock, drawing... read more

Green Day is a very underestimated band. Its songs from 1994 onwards are just spectacular. They carried punk forward into the 21st century. Even before the release of Dookie, the songs were of pretty good quality, with some of their best solos. The recent album trilogy displays their various capabilities. They are a true punk rock band.
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
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

This band was amazing. Widely recognized as hugely influential on the development of hard rock and heavy metal in the late 1960s and beyond, The Experience was best known for the skill, style, and charisma of frontman Hendrix, who has been voted one of the greatest guitarists by various music publications and writers.
All three of the band's studio albums, Are You Experienced (1967), Axis: Bold as Love (1967), and Electric Ladyland (1968), were featured in the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, at positions 15, 82, and 54 respectively. In 1992, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
His most famous songs are "Foxy Lady," "Hey Joe," "Purple Haze," "All Along the Watchtower," and "Voodoo Child." For me, this ranks as the 6th greatest rock band of all time.
Personal note: I wish The Experience were ranked a little higher, but due to the lack of more success and impact (due to Hendrix's death and the band later disbanding) and the short duration, they don't make the top 5. It's really sad because this band had amazing potential, but it's okay because they achieved great success in the short time they lasted.
The Ramones

The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, New York City, in 1974. They are widely regarded as the first band to define the punk rock sound. The original lineup included Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, and Tommy Ramone.
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

Southern rock and bluesy style is the best. Awesome live!
Oasis

Oasis is an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. The original lineup consisted of Liam Gallagher (lead vocals), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar), and Tony McCarroll (drums). A few months later, Liam invited his older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar, vocals) to join the... read more
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

This band dominated the early to mid-'80s like no other band. They could rock all night long with songs like "You Really Got Me," "Dreams," "Hot for Teacher," "Panama," and "Jump."
As of 2007, Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Van Halen is the 19th best-selling band/artist of all time, with sales of over 56 million albums in the United States alone. They are one of five rock bands that have had two albums sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S. In 1999, the RIAA certified their debut album diamond for ten million in U.S. sales.
They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007. For their success and accolades, they are the 8th greatest rock band of the 20th century.
The Clash

The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Known for their politically charged lyrics and eclectic musical style, they are considered one of the most influential bands in the history of punk rock.

The Clash is an amazing rock band that released the songs "Rock the Casbah," "Should I Stay or Should I Go," and "London Calling." They are the definition of a hit band of British punk.