Top 10 Best Bands of the 1970s

Lots of great bands in the '70s, but the best (and one of the all-time best) was Led Zeppelin. They marked the start of arena rock and rock artists earning a lot of money from touring. Led Zep I and II were released in the late '60s. However, III, the untitled fourth album, Houses of the Holy, and Physical Graffiti were all from the '70s. These were amazing records. Presence and In Through the Out Door were very good as well, with songs like Achilles Last Stand that really shine.
They are still played on regular (non-classic) rock stations today. That's how good and influential they were.
Just from a '70s perspective, I would then rank it: Stones, Pink Floyd, Eagles, and Queen.
But Zep were the biggest and best.

Seriously? Heart and ABBA above Queen? Led Zeppelin I can understand, but seriously? Before you vote for any other band, go look up "Bohemian Rhapsody" on iTunes or YouTube or something. Freddie wrote that in a single night. Also, hear that amazing guitar solo? That was Brian May on his first try, and he built his own guitar from bits and bobs he found around England.
Now go listen to "Another One Bites the Dust." Hear that amazing bass and drumming? The drummer did that while he was drunk. I kid you not, go look it up. Roger Taylor always had two shots of "the strongest stuff I could get sent to me in 45 minutes" before each studio recording and live performance. As for John Deacon, the bass player, his awesome playing speaks for itself. Their Live Aid concert was the best in music history. I think enough has been said.

Pink Floyd released their best work during the 1970s. With "Dark Side of the Moon," they created an album that not only sold millions but also provided listeners with a story and a sense of realism about the modern world. Other bands at the time were writing pop songs that were radio-friendly but lacked lasting meaning, nearly 40 years later. In comparison, Led Zeppelin doesn't even come close to Pink Floyd. I'm a fan of all music, but Floyd sets the standard. Every song they produced has something for everyone and a meaningful message.

Rush totally shreds. They sent Mercury Records an ultimatum after their first album, saying, "It's our music, and we play it our way." They are very prolific and instrumental in their influence on modern progressive music.
I was 11 years old, and the album was the very first record I bought at Shoppers Drug Mart at the plaza. I rushed home to listen to it on headphones, and the rest is history.
Why is ABBA above Rush? This is how little the general public knows about Rush. Oh well, more for us!

ABBA is without a doubt the best music group ever, with a sound that is completely unique. I have heard every song they have played or sung in English, as well as a few in Swedish and Spanish. I have not yet come across a song by them that is not in its own way enjoyable. Their music has a strange quality, due to their Swedish accents and interesting style of choice.
Their melodies are pleasant, extremely catchy and, at first listen, seem simple. However, trying to sing almost any one of their songs will bring to light how complicated they really are. The ranges that the singers have with their voices are incredible, and yet they make it sound so easy. They also manage very well three different voices, usually at the same time, which gives the music a depth and complexity without the use of a lot of instruments.
I was born in 1996, so I never did get to follow their career or see them in concert, which is my dream. I learned about them only when the movie Mamma Mia! came out. It is amazing how much better ABBA is than modern popular music.

Black Sabbath is one of the bands that started metal. I love them! They have such a unique style and are definitely one of the greatest bands that ever lived.
They are awesome. Ozzy still is really awesome. Go Ozzy! All of his songs, especially Blizzard of Oz.
One great band to see at the age of 12! Third row, Kansas City, KS, 1971. They were amazing.

Number 1 by far. No band has rocked the '70s and made a comeback with classics such as Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get a Grip quite like Aerosmith. They've had the most successful comeback of any band in history, even outselling their '70s classics. They remain the best performing band of all time and are even better live now than in the '70s. This is easy when you have Steven Tyler, the greatest frontman of all time, along with Joe Perry's snarling guitar and Brad Whitford's rhythm guitar. Not to mention the most underrated bassist and a head-banging drummer. It's been a treat to enjoy their music since my first concert in 1974.

The Who should be #1. The '70s was their best decade. Releasing songs like Baba O'Riley, Bargain, Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, The Real Me, The Punk and The Godfather, 5:15, Sea and Sand, Love Reign O'er Me, The Seeker, Long Like Rock, Slip Kid, Dreaming from the Waist, Squeeze Box, Who Are You, Bell Boy, Doctor Jimmy, and the albums Who's Next, and Quadrophenia, makes them the greatest band ever.
My band started playing their songs when they had two albums out in the US. Once I saw them live, it was all over. Each of them was so awesome in their own unique, individual ways. When they rocked so hard together, there was nothing left to ask for.

The original Heart lineup produced three and a half albums of mind-blowing quality: "Dreamboat Annie," "Little Queen," and "Dog & Butterfly" are all very impressive works. "Magazine" would have been too, if it had been completed, hence the "half." Ann Wilson is a phenomenal singer who outshines everyone else. Heart has had an impressively long career, and some of their recent albums stand up to the quality of their early work: "Jupiter's Darling," "Red Velvet Car," and "Fanatic" are all excellent works.
You are definitely not the only Heart fan left. I just saw them in concert, sold out, standing room only, and they rocked the house. I love Heart, and there are a lot more people who agree. Heart is one of the greatest groups to ever set foot on a stage. Heart rules.

The '70s AC/DC was AC/DC at its finest. There's nothing wrong with the Brian Johnson era of AC/DC. It's just that it was never as good as it was with Bon Scott fronting the band. The vocals ranged from silly and playful to the most hard-rocking, powerful vocals imaginable, and every riff written by Angus and Malcolm Young was an instant classic. "Riff Raff," "Sin City," "Let There Be Rock," "TNT," "The Jack," and everything off of "Highway to Hell" have classic guitar riffs. Not to mention "Whole Lotta Rosie," which has the most recognizable guitar riff of all time. Even if people don't know the name of the song straight away, they have heard these riffs and start rocking out.
The Newcomers


The Rolling Stones had an awesome decade in the '70s, delivering some of their strongest work. Following the release of the fantastic albums "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main Street," they produced three underrated albums: "Goats Head Soup," "It's Only Rock and Roll," and "Black and Blue," before releasing the equally impressive "Some Girls." It is unclear why they are ranked so low on this list. Typically, lists like these may not align with personal preferences, such as placing the Jackson 5 in the top 5, while other fantastic bands like the Stones rank lower. Bands like The Who, Deep Purple, and Fleetwood Mac should also rank differently.

I saw the Allman Brothers, Pure Prairie League, the Outlaws (I think) among others at Legend Valley in Ohio back in 1978. It was the first concert at this outdoor venue. Oh man! It was like Woodstock. We even had the rain. I was with two other people. We had a large cooler full of beer and some food, two blankets, sunscreen, a couple of chairs, and some other stuff. We got in really early because we camped out the night before just across the street. It had rained in the night, and everyone had their cars all stuck in the mud along with their tents too! We did have some smarts about us. We got to the campgrounds early the day before, so we had our pick of spots. We pitched our tent on a hill.
The next morning, when most people were having lots of trouble trying to get themselves unstuck, my boyfriend had a brand new 4x4, which pulled others out in a jiffy. Then, we were within the first 40-50 people in line for breakfast at the restaurant conveniently located about 20 yards from the entrance to Legend Valley. So we ate and quickly got in line for the concert. Now, it was about 7:00 am. The gate opened around 8:00, I think? But we were within the first 100 people through the gate. And there ended up being (wild guessing it) about 30,000 or more. Since we were so early and pretty much had our pick of spots, we befriended these two guys who had a cooler full of "Harry Buffalo" and some food, and they had a large sheet of heavy plastic. They stopped us and said, "Hey, you guys wanna join us?" We were happy to meet them. They were really cool! I had never been to anything quite like this.
So, I think the concert didn't start until noon or so. When it began to rain, we were happy we had joined these guys with the large sheets of plastic. We also covered ourselves with plastic, so we stayed pretty dry while it rained. But that didn't last long. After the rain stopped, my girlfriend and I were headed up the hill to the port-a-jons, we kept slipping and... more

From 1970 to 1974, nobody could touch Deep Purple's incredible speed, power, and mastery of instruments. Blackmore's whammy bar cranking-ripping Stratocaster and Lord's distorted Hammond Organ exchanges were legendary. Ian Gillan or David Coverdale's vocals were stellar. Ian Paice's drumming was incredible. For those four years as a teenager, they were my #1 go-to band.
Deep Purple was one of the greatest rock bands in the 1970s. Although they didn't last as long together as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, their music was and always will be memorable. Everyone knows Smoke on the Water's guitar riff, and, my god, Highway Star is one of the best car songs of all time!

The Eagles, along with Fleetwood Mac, are underrated on this list. They both had a very original sound and were incredibly gifted musicians who not only wrote musically gifted songs but also had one top ten hit after another in the '70s. Moreover, their music is timeless and cherished by many. A quick look on YouTube will show you their continuing popularity today. Both bands should be within the top ten.
The Eagles' music just has a way of staying relevant in a way the vast majority of bands can't. The fact that the Eagles made it big in multiple genres is a testament to their incredible talent in both writing and performing. They are a very underappreciated band.

Disagree. KISS is number one. Some people prefer bands that only release a few albums and then call it quits. KISS upset a lot of people because they were louder, more successful, and have outlasted everyone they upset. Every band in the business has had lineup changes, but somehow people act like KISS committed a major offense because they replaced a drunk and a junkie with skilled musicians who appreciate what they have.
KISS is the absolute best at showmanship. They were the first band to:
A. Make the color black an official rock and roll color to wear.
B. Perform with fake blood and extreme pyrotechnics.
C. Pioneer glam metal.
D. Bring performance in makeup and costumes to the extreme level.
E. Merchandise everything to the extreme.
F. Retain merchandising rights to themselves when they first signed onto a record label.

The Jacksons were the greatest band to ever grace the stage with the perfection of dance, vocal, style, and fashion. Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and Michael became icons before they became adults. They were the first group to have all four of their releases hit number 1 in their debut year and became a global success.
They should be in the top ten, at least!

Eddie was one of the best guitar players in the world when he was only 23 years old.

There is not now, nor will there ever be, another band with the Moody Blues' unique qualities of progressive songwriting and playing. Not to say the other bands listed weren't great, but the Moody Blues and their sound occupy a genre almost all their own. They create music that provides energy, solace, inspiration, or whatever is needed for almost any life experience.
Not to mention their overall extraordinary musicianship and the fact that, 45 years on, they are still playing and playing well. Justin Hayward still has that magnificent, irreplaceable, instantly recognizable voice that has been like a faraway friend accompanying so many of us on our journeys in life.

Blue Oyster Cult is such a great band. They deserve top 15. Godzilla and Don't Fear the Reaper are phenomenal. The Spectres album is so awesome.
Very underrated. They did Burnin' for You and Don't Fear the Reaper.

They barely existed in the 1970s, but they did give us the brilliant - and underrated - Let It Be album, so they deserve to be on this list. One sub-standard album by them is still better than most other bands could even dream of.
They only existed in the '70s for a few months before breaking up, and of course, most of their work was in the '60s, but they are without a doubt the Greatest Of All Time.
Without this band, it's probable that hardly any of the other bands on this list would have achieved what they achieved.

They are my favorite group of all time!

One thing that's notable about the band is its lineup changes, both before and after their peak years. The Peter Green/Danny Kirwan/Bob Welch eras are a few examples, symbolizing the band's shift from blues rock to pop rock. I think a few of my favorite albums from those eras are probably "Then Play On", "Future Games", "Bare Trees", and "Mystery To Me" (even though the last one was recorded during a turbulent time in the band's history, before the "Fake Mac" scandal and lawsuit). These albums perfectly encapsulated these changing times.
The albums' eerie-sounding folk rock/soft rock tunes are just a joy to listen to. They are almost akin to what bands like Poco and Firefall had to offer, I might say.

Alice Cooper was by far a better live and record band than most on this list. ABBA? Foreigner? Wings? Cutting edge WAS Alice Cooper. Babes, you are way out of touch. Just ask musicians. They'll put Cooper toward the top of this weak list. Are you judging 'Pop' or creative, loud, and live performance? Forget popularity. Judge by greatness. At least top 15. ABBA? Wow.
Alice Cooper should be at least in the top ten, maybe top five. He's an amazing singer and showman, truly a legend. He's also a very influential figure in the music industry. He needs to be way higher up.

Journey is one of the most underrated bands in the history of rock and roll. People ought to stop listening to bad radios and look for what the real '70s were.
They were by far the best group, with a great guitar player, bass player, and of course, the raspy vocals of Steve Perry.
The absolute best! Steve Perry is a powerful vocalist and underrated!

The pioneering heavy metal band, simply no one could match their style back then. One of the greatest things to ever come out of Great Britain. Period.