Top 10 Best 3 Man Rock Bands

One of the most amazing things about Rush was their continual progression of skill and cohesion. Watching them play so incredibly well and so unified into their sixties is something that no other band (including the timeless Rolling Stones) could ever match. They will go down in history as so much more respected than they ever were in their prime. RIP to the god of skins Mr. Peart.

Great band, Great memorable riffs. 2112 concept album. Morphed from classic hard rock to progressive metal. Neil Peart one of the all time drummers, Alex Lifeson a very under rated guitarists and Geddy Lee holding it down on bass while singing, and can also play keyboards. On this list saw Rush in 82 and Police on their last 10 concerts before they quit the first time. No comparison, Rush rules!

Alex, full of life and what a writer, arranger, manager. Geddy Lee, so much talent, such energy and personality... A front man adored by all. Neil, unmatched with the sticks and his words are the missing element other bands long for... Please come down from the razor's edge and know that they are waiting for you where the streets have no name.

It was obvious that Rush would be on this list. Geddy Lee's ability to play bass, keyboards, AND sing is widely recognized. Neil Peart's drumming is widely recognized amongst the greatest styles of drumming, and Alex Lifeson takes his hard style of guitar playing and contributes to the prog rock sound of this Canadian trio.

The Nevermind album is widely considered to be a gem by many music fans and critics. They followed it up with In Utero, which challenged poser Nirvana fans with true supporters. It's a shame Cobain had to kill himself, or who knows what kind of music Nirvana would be releasing nowadays.

A band that defined a generation and changed the direction of music overnight. No one had more of an impact on a generation since the Beatles. Nirvana influenced musicians across all genres and connected with a disconnected youth looking for a voice. NIRVANA..

COME ON PEOPLE! I guarantee you that most have not heard of any of the above aside from rush and Jimi Hendrix. Like rush and Hendrix they created a whole new genre and yet they are still underneath triumph! VOTE NOW!

Nirvana is one! None of these bands are really my generation but Green Day isn't that good so top 3 obviously nirvana rush and Jimi Hendrix experience. I feel compelled to look up these other bands ahead of nirvana but chevelle should be on this list as well above police and Green Day because there music sounds so similar to each other meaning all police songs sound the same and all Green Day songs sound the same.

All Police songs do not sound the same and if you dig deeper and take the time to listen to their stuff that is not heard on radio then you would have to give them more credit than you do. My definition of a classic album is one that you play the entire side then flip it over and listen to the other side also, very rare indeed, but I think all the police albums qualify.

One of New Wave's most iconic groups, Sting is an example of singers who also play the bass. Stewart Copeland doesn't get enough credit as a drummer. All 5 of their albums produced hit singles (Roxanne, Message in a Bottle, Don't Stand So Close to Me, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Every Breath You Take), and they recently did a reunion tour a few years ago.

Love the Nirvana's guy comment on how all Police songs sound the same. Clearly he's only heard the hits of 83, never bothering to dig into the Synchronicity album itself, nor any other album, save perhaps a Greatest Hits collection.

Now if he can explain how Nirvana songs sound more varied, I'd buy that person a drink!

Personal favorite trio band is rush, but I had to vote the police up just because they are way too low.

One of the earliest three man bands, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was well known for their technical skill, as well as the way that Jimi would set his guitar on fire or play it with his teeth. It's a shame that Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell don't get any credit for their contributions to music.

The essential power trio, but in fact Hendrix should count as 3 persons himself! Drumming out of this world, bass is sometimes the only solid a stable part, somebody had to keep it together :-) But if Jack Bruce would have been in a band with Hendrix and Mitchell...

Hendrix is everything. Mitchell is one of the great drummers! Redding didn't seem too interested in the project at all, he was the dragalong. Hendrix makes up for him, even playing bass for him a lot on Electric Ladyland

I sadly admit I did not know this was a trio. Great band.

The best rock trio in history! Jack Bruce was an extraordinary vocalist and the master of the bass guitar. Ginger Baker is a phenomenal innovative drummer. Eric Clapton is a guitar legend now and when he began his music career back in the 1960s. It is a shame that kids these days are not aware of the super group power house that was Cream.

If it weren't for ego and a lack of team work. I think Cream would still be around today. But Bruce and Baker had a serious rivalry which in the end destroyed the band. Sad but true. I could listen to them for hours and be hypnotized by Clapton's voice and the floaty sound of the music.

One of the earliest supergroups in rock history, Cream's album Disraeli Gears is widely regarded as their best album. Launching Eric Clapton into the mainstream world of rock helps your cause. Hearing them at their best live is possible on the double album Wheels of Fire.

Although Rush is one of my favorites, I had to vote for Cream; they, along with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, helped pioneer psychedelic rock.

Blues rock and hard rock never sounded finer. Recognizable for their long beards, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill's guitar tones are some of the smoothest, yet roughest in rock. Their drummer, Frank Beard (who ironically has no beard), is technically strong and able to produce beats that people want to get up and dance to.

Before Eliminator, these guys maintained a sex and alcohol induced blues rock empire, they have so many riffs used in heavy metal today, and their groove is unlike anything anyone's ever heard. Dusty and Billy have some of the best voices

Definitely one of the best bands! My children are 17, 20, 26, 28 and they are still listening, dancing and enjoying ZZ Top! Makes me proud.

Not MY favorite band...but they are very good and should be on this list.

Well the early stuff was just flat out fun, and didn't care to impress anyone. I think that after nimrod they declined a bit but warning had two good singles and then they took a chance with American idiot and I think proved how complex a three man group can be, there's some amazing writing on that album. Although not as popular 21st Century Breakdown was the most complex thing they did yet, and some of the songs that werent popular were actually some of their best

While Rush by far is the best trio, Green Day created some very good songs. Most of the big hits in the 2000's and 90's were green day thanks to Dookie and American Idiot. All do respect to Cream but come on that band originally lasted what? 3 years? Green Day has been around for 30 years and relevant since 1994.

Green Day is the best, Although nirvana is awesome, Green Day forever will be the greatest!

Green Day are amazing, most bands try to make their songs complex and build too much on the structure, but Green Day don't and their music is some of the worlds best

Motörhead might not be complex, but their consistency & badass live shows make them Nr. 1 for me. They released over 20 studio albums, and every single one of them is good. Plus, they were active for 40 years.

Jack Daniels and Cigarettes personified by Lemmy, fast and loud.

Can't believe there aren't ANY comments on this band!
They seriously stand out, above and beyond any of the other bands listed. Except of course the mellower groups, ie: Cream, G.T.R., ZZ Top (they can roll harsh, but can be more pop or bluesy), Rush, (they play fairly harshly also), and a few other bands from my era.

They're down here?! Get them to top five!

Compared to the other bands on this list, they had more great songs per album than any other besides Cream and Nirvana. I think Muse should be in the top three simply because they have put out more good music in 18 years than Rush did in 40.

They are AMAZING never before have I become so hooked on a particular band or group absolutely love their music wish there were more like them. And their live performances exceed anything I have EVER seen before

... The way they preform and the way their music can be soft and cool they can get very heavy with this good variety of songs they should be at the top

Every instrument has their moment to shine, their music is art expression through music at its finest.

If Queen and Black Sabbath never formed Genesis would be my #1 favorite band. I don't care what anyone says, Phil Collins Genesis beats Peter Gabriel Genesis by a long shot. Land Of Confusion, Misunderstanding, That's All, Invisible Touch, & Follow You, Follow Me are a few of my favorites out of their playlist of great songs.

I know Genesis originally had 5 members, but when Phil Collins fronted Genesis, he helped make Genesis a household name. While that may be a bad thing in some people's eyes, he still managed to make some great progressive rock style songs with Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks.

Rush, Nirvana, ZZ Top and Genesis... they changed music and inspired others, including the police.

I voted for this one because I absolutely love genesis. That's all

It's a shame that not a lot of people know about this band. VERY similar to Rush, except their lead singer is the drummer! Notable songs include Magic Power, Hold On, and Lay It On the Line. Heard of this band from a concert my dad showed me that U2 and Judas Priest played it, I forget what it was called.

Rush= Neil Peart Drummer Geddy Lee Bass lead vocals
Triumph Rick Emmett lead guitarist and lead vocals Gil Moore Drummer
Both are Hard Rock we did not call band in the 80's "Hair Bands" or "Glammer Bands" they were Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal. Rush and Triumph both Canadian Bands and both awesome. I miss the 80's we had real music.

Greatest 3 man band ever and even better than rush. The lead guitarist and drummer took turns doing lead vocals. Either one was genuine singer. Drumming very good and rik Emmett awesome on guitar. Check out riks guitar solo in never surrender. Hard to believe the rock video is 32 years old!

Saw them 3 times. They were awesome every. It's a badass concert, especially with Golden Earring.

One of the best bands of three members ever. Really, they are one of a kind

Because they're the greatest band ever? Duh

Number one on this list

Why the hell do I found these guys at 17? COME ON, they took the pop-punk genre to heights that have only been challenged by Green Day, even so many more people still Love Blink-182

Blink of couse who else? By the way green day is technically a 4 man band.

SRV is a guitarist who helped to revive blues in the 1980's with the Texas Flood album. After a string of solid albums, he died in a plane crash, thus ending the trend that Stevie Ray and Double Trouble helped develop. They have slowly developed a stronger fan following among younger classic rock fans.

Technically, they were four if you count Reese Wynans, the keyboardist.

Best guitarist ever. Period.

Great vocals. Live they're incredible.

Love king's X, only 2nd to Rush.

Much better than Nirvana

This list makes me laugh. Claypool, Larry LaLonde, and Tim Alexander are all in the top 50 of their instruments. Les's vocals and songwriting is one of kind, not to mention his incredible bass skills. Tim Alexander rivals people like Danny Carey & Gavin Harrison as the greatest drummer of all time. Larry LaLonde is essentially Eddie Van Halen and John Frusciante put together.

It's a shame you don't hear them more on the radio. If you've ever been to a Primus concert you'd leave with a respect for their sound. "To defy the laws of tradition" is one of my favorite songs I've ever heard in concert.

Their songs a weird but they are awesome they should definitely be in the top ten, if not top 5. They are amazing Les Claypool is an alien, his bass skills are amazing, there is no other bass player like him.

Primus is not just a 3 man band. Is a 3 man band whose singer/bassist is the best bassist in the world (or one of those) and can sing while playing pretty difficult lines.

When I was thinking top 3, the first three bands that came to my mind to start with were Grand Funk (Mark, Don & Mel), ZZ Top, and Rush. Seeing how low GFR is listed, I had to vote for them. I figure, most of it has to do with generational voting. People who know Green Day, probably don't know Grand Funk Railroad.

I don't think they're the best 3 man band ever, but I had to vote for them because they're way to low on this list. They should be top ten easily.

They should definitely be in the top 10. Very underrated.

Caught in the Act. Second or Third best live album ever.

The greatest band... Ever...

Pete sings in a way that he doesn't need the words to rhyme to be catchy, he has to do it in other ways. you can notice it in the way his vocals often use alliteration and dynamic contrast. Their riffs are often catchy though simple. Sam is a pretty good drummer and the songs tend to start off simple with him but slowly he adds in more complicated fills and other drumming mechanics. Dean's bass part always compliments the guitar part and in cases of I Get It, it works perfectly with the drum part to create a unique experience. They keep getting better with every album

Pete's vocals, melodic riffs and insanely well written lyrics are unmatched by any band out there. It's a shame they're not as popular as sissy bands like nickelback.

Chevelle is just a bad ass three man band, that makes bad ass heavy American music!

There is no way that Chevelle should be out of the top 10.

A very obscure band but they are called "the Rush of thrash metal" because they play progressive/technical thrash metal.