Best Rock Bands of the 2000s

Green Day is my inspiration for music, and I absolutely love what they create. They've been producing thoughtful and meaningful music for over twenty years. They don't just write love songs like many other bands or singers nowadays. Their music encompasses so much more. I think their music has really made a statement about individuality in our country, and I hope they continue to create for a long time. I can't imagine my life without their music. Thank you, Green Day!

I just personally feel that Green Day deserves a more respectable fan base. At one point in my life, I made fun of them. They're often reduced to the status of a boy band because of a few fangirls, which isn't fair. This is a band that brought punk rock to mainstream appeal and performed in the same Milton Keynes stadium that hosted David Bowie and Metallica. To rank them below Linkin Park or 30 Seconds to Mars (a band I've never had much interest in) kind of bothers me.

I've been involved with Foo Fighters ever since they started. I picked up their first album and was incredibly amazed by it. I was very familiar with the band Nirvana, so I knew that if Dave Grohl was starting a band, I had to at least stand by and be involved. I began to truly love them when they released The Colour and the Shape. Once they released One by One, I was amazed by their sudden progress, and it quickly became a favorite of mine. My favorite album as of now is definitely Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace, with Wasting Light close behind. I've followed them closely throughout my teenage years and have always considered them a great band.

My first exposure to the Foo Fighters came in 2011 with Rope and the Wasting Light album. I was instantly drawn to their music, and for no real reason, it just connected with me. I learned the entire album by heart. A while later, I got into their earlier songs and was stunned by how good they were. Then I learned about Grohl's connections with Nirvana, and I fell in love. They became a gateway for me to explore more music.

About four months ago, I went to my first concert - a Foo Fighters concert - that just blew my mind. I knew Grohl was funny from the videos, but he showed it when he performed. He put on a great show, even though his leg was broken. Something about it was great. I'm college-aged, and at the show, I saw people ranging from their 40s to kids about 12. Every one of them sang and felt the music. The Foo Fighters connect generations, and it's amazing. In my opinion, no other band can do that.

I voted for Muse for several reasons:

1. They have sick guitar hooks, and Matthew Bellamy's vocals can be spectacular when he feels like it.
2. Decent variety without being too progressive or alternative. They fit really nicely into the vague "Rock" genre.
3. MOST IMPORTANTLY, they have the best chance of knocking Linkin Park out of the top spot so I won't have to kill myself.

Muse, Foo Fighters, and My Chemical Romance are the best true rock bands of the decade. I love bands like Disturbed and System of a Down, but they fall better into a "Metal" type of category. I also love bands like Coldplay, Radiohead, and The Shins, but they fall into an alternative "Soft Rock" type of genre. The White Stripes, The Strokes, and Franz Ferdinand are badass, but they don't really fit the rock mold either.

Bottom line: This list is too vague, and Linkin Park should retire before the Earth throws itself into the sun just so it doesn't have to hear them anymore. Oh, and Nickelback sucks too.

A two-piece band that is completely unique, The White Stripes were the revival of alternative rock in the 2000s. Bands like The Black Keys, The Strokes, etc., wouldn't even be here if it weren't for The White Stripes. Songs like "Seven Nation Army," "Blue Orchid," "We're Going to Be Friends," "Icky Thump," and "Fell in Love with a Girl" are among the best rock songs of the past decade, period. Jack White is #17 on the list of "100 Best Guitarists of All Time" by Rolling Stone. With the minimalist drumming by Meg White and the red, white, black color scheme, they are the most unique thing around!

Jack White is a rare breed of musician who shows absolutely no sign of selling out any time soon. Every part of him just bleeds talent, and every band he's been in has been amazing. This is a guy who truly knows what music is all about. So many artists nowadays become absorbed into themselves and create a "music" career that's viability is determined by their personal lives and kept alive by scandal. Jack White is one of the few remaining artists who are exempt from that stereotype. Anyone who believes music is dead should pick up a White Stripes album, or a Dead Weather or Raconteurs album, and lose themselves in the sound of music that is made to be just that - music.

Linkin Park is probably the only band from the nu-metal era that is still just as famous as they were when they debuted Hybrid Theory in 2000. They're the only ones still extremely successful, anyway. The band members have special hearts. Between their beautiful music and heroic humanitarian efforts, I believe in everything they stand for. Awards like Grammys or VMAs don't matter. What does matter is the Global Leadership Award they recently received from the United Nations Foundation for their efforts to help PowerTheWorld. Linkin Park has one major goal: to change the world for the better, one step at a time.

The first album I ever bought was Hybrid Theory, and to this day, it is still recognized as one of the best albums ever made. The real reason Linkin Park is my favorite, though, is because they are not afraid to experiment. Yes, their music has changed significantly since Hybrid Theory, but their talent is stronger than ever! Chester's vocals are extraordinary, and they always find ways to get other members of the band involved. Their music and lyrics are always inspiring. Linkin Park started this century off with amazing music, and hopefully, they will continue to do so for a while.

Every band above Avenged on this list is the same old crap, every single album. Linkin Park is far from #1. Sure, their music was great early in their career, but they have fallen far from decent rock music. Green Day had a few hit songs, but the rest of their music is okay.

Avenged proved with Waking the Fallen that they could play metal music. Then, with City of Evil, they proved they could mix it up and become more mainstream. The self-titled album showed a lot of the same abilities from City of Evil and somehow managed to duplicate City of Evil's greatness.

The fact that they moved from there and created lyrics that were more meaningful than any band on this list could even dream of touching with Nightmare shows how amazing these guys are as musicians. Notice this band hasn't failed with an album after Waking the Fallen, and that their fans never come out and say that they've gotten worse. It's only positive feedback for these guys from their fans.

Man, this band is just amazing. I can't believe they are ranked this low. Adam's voice is really deep, and the guitars are great. You literally feel the music in your heart, something many bands today can't achieve. They're always experimenting with new sounds, and with every album, they prove their versatility. They can handle alternative rock, a little bit of alternative metal, and maybe even punk. I just adore these guys. The album Three Days Grace is perfection.

Adam will be missed. The new guy doesn't give me the same feeling Adam did. Yet, they're one of my favorite bands of this decade, alongside Muse, A7X, Green Day, My Chem, and Linkin Park. I feel truly blessed to see all of them on this list. Yay!

To my mind, a perfect song can be described as follows: the lyrics have meaning, not just a set of words. The melody is unique and easily recognizable from the first few seconds. The vocalist is able to express all the emotions. And finally, each instrument complements the other to create a coherent sound. You don't even think that it would be better if there was one more rhythm guitar or anything else. And guess what? Almost every song by TDG is perfect for me. I'm not even joking. Even after Adam left, I'm not disappointed. Matt is indeed much better than I had expected. I love these guys so much! As far as I remember, everyone I've asked about TDG has said that they have at least one song they've listened to and liked. I don't know, it just makes so much sense to me. Come on, people, this band is really worth being considered the best! (P.S. Sorry for my English and my emotions.)

My Chemical Romance is a joke and is only famous because of blogs. Green Day does not deserve a spot because every album after American Idiot sucks. The Chili Peppers have arguably one of the best bass players ever, and they fused '90s rock with modern pop.

Haha, what a bloody joke this is! People are mad to vote bands like Linkin Park & Foo Fighters above RHCP. It's so shameful for a band that has been in existence for nearly three and a half decades, playing beautiful music. From what I see in this top 10 list, it has become very clear to me that evil always wins over good, and the day of judgment is not far. Miserable Linkin Park fans.

RHCP is the best band on this list, although I understand why they are not number one because this list is for the 2000s. Their quality in the 2000s is nothing like their music in the '90s. However, they are by far the best band on this list.

I've never heard of anything quite like Radiohead. I understand that their music may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there is no denying the genius that Thom Yorke and company have continuously displayed throughout the years. Each one of their albums is different, creative, and progressive. It's absolutely intoxicating.

Of course, music is relative, but I can't think of any other band in the last 20 years whose body of work even comes close to theirs. They represent everything music should be. All the bands on this list have had their share of great albums and songs that will be remembered for years to come. However, none of them will transcend music and time quite like Radiohead will. They give me all the feels, man, and if you don't think so, then I'm truly sorry for your loss.

Here we go:

My Chemical Romance only knows how to make good songs that are fast and loud. That's great for some people, but the lack of diversity leads them to appeal only to a certain group.

Three Days Grace has a similar problem.

I have a hard time making any argument against the White Stripes. However, I did come up with this: Radiohead is simply more creative than the White Stripes.

To quote an Avenged Sevenfold comment:

Avenged Sevenfold is an amazing band. Their guitarists are AMAZING. The riffs and solos are great. The drumming is very well done and put together, and the bass is strong when it needs to be. The singing is just downright awesome. They sound perfect together.

I couldn't agree more. But they suffer from the same problem My Chemical Romance and TDG have.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are awesome, but they lack some diversity. All of their music is either hard rock or funk rock, with little deviation.

Muse is awesome, but their problem comes from bad songwriting. Very few of their songs actually strike a nice chord. I think the reason people vote for them is because the songs that do strike the right chord REALLY strike the right chord. They're definitely not as good as Radiohead, though.

Linkin Park also lacks originality and creativity, like some other bands listed above. However, Linkin Park's lyrics are definitely on par with Radiohead's.

Foo Fighters are really hard for me to argue with. I'm going to have to go with the fact that they just don't have as many hits as Radiohead.

Now, I know a lot of people LOVE Green Day, but I think they're a bit overrated. There was a considerable stretch of their career where they released nothing really incredible. American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown are great, but Uno, Dos, and Tre get progressively worse as they go on.

Radiohead has awesome albums and even better live shows. They have creative and unique songs, especially... more

My Chemical Romance existed for twelve good years and represented a different breed of inspiration. They made music about real problems that could only come from personal experience. Through that experience, they touched many lives and reached a large number of people. After facing their own battles with addiction, death, and heartache, the band was able to rise from their own ashes and share that journey with their fans. Messages like Never hurt yourself, Live, and Beauty is not what a magazine tells you are all part of My Chemical Romance's ethos and ring just as true today as the day they were spoken. My Chemical Romance is an idea and can never die.

I'm an avid fan of various genres of rock songs, whether old or new, fast or slow. However, My Chemical Romance has something that other songs don't have. Since the day I listened to My Chemical Romance, songs that used to amaze me began to sound just normal. What I mean is, those songs are still good, but My Chemical Romance's music is on a different level.

What drew me to My Chemical Romance is their uniqueness. Compile all the lyrics of their songs, and you'll have a book of first-class poetry. Moreover, they didn't follow conventional ways to make music, or so I think.

What I'm about to say applies to all the bands on this list, although perhaps not as well as it does to My Chemical Romance: "They rock!"

Breaking Benjamin not only produces an amazing sound, but their music also resonates with a lot of people. There are some songs that bring me to tears when they play. If you haven't listened to them, you should. I'm not taking anything away from the bands ranked above them, but you just can't beat these guys.

When I say you haven't listened to them, I mean you need to hear songs other than Diary of Jane. It's an amazing song, but they have a multitude of other amazing tracks: Breath, Until the End, I Will Not Bow, Give Me a Sign, Dance with the Devil, Evil Angel, Dear Agony, etc. The list goes on and on! We miss you, Breaking Benjamin. Please come back!

By far, this is the best band on the list. The Foo Fighters at #2? Are you kidding me? The Red Hot Chili Peppers suck! My top 10 would include Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed, Seether, Volbeat, Avenged Sevenfold, Green Day, Simple Plan, Slipknot, Blink 182, and Three Days Grace. A lot of these other bands are suspect and not that great. Only a few are legitimately heavy hitters.

I personally think Green Day is the best. However, I would put U2 in the top 5 and voted for them simply because I cannot understand how they are this low. Really? One of the most successful bands of all time at 21? Please.

Best album of the '80s (The Joshua Tree) and of the '90s (Achtung Baby), along with a massive number of stunning songs and Grammys in the 2000s. What about the tours? Most emotional band in the world. By far.

A slap in the face from you to U2 - how dare you insult the greatest band in the history of the world. This is indeed a sad day in America.

System of a Down is one of the most lyrically eclectic bands of this generation. They have a style all of their own and are not afraid to play as their souls desire. They are true to themselves to the end, even when confronted with the promise of great fortunes from big-name music channels and companies.

I believe they should be in the number one spot, not only for these reasons but also for the fact that they paint the truth in the form of power chords and dark melodies. Thank you, and make the right decision. Vote System of a Down to the top.

- N.A.P.

System of a Down is easily the most authentic rock 'n' roll band of the 2000s, the decade in which rock collapsed in its own mediocrity. This band is the last rock band to actually kick ass and stick it to the government. The Foos, Linkin Park, Killers, Disturbed? These bands are a testament to why rock is dead, at least mainstream rock that is.

Sure, they can play, but what do they bring to the table other than clichés and predictable power chords? To me, Toxicity was the last time a rock album woke me up. I didn't see it coming, and that was 13 years ago. By the way, Avenged Sevenfold and Slipknot are pretentious boneheads without any roots in real music. Henceforth, they suck... badly.

Songs for the Deaf is the best rock album of that decade for me, and they pretty much changed my musical life and identity by the mid-2000s. I think Homme is the best musician of his generation, but it's debatable and just my opinion. Radiohead should be number one, though. OK Computer and Kid A are just too good.

Honorable mention should go to the Arctic Monkeys. Their debut album was extraordinary. Muse also killed it during the decade, and their shows are a must-live experience.

I just voted for them because 26 is way too low. Rated R and Songs for the Deaf are classics. A lot of silly comments here from kids who know diddly-squat about rock history. News flash, kids: AX7 is a badass group, but they aren't doing anything different! Ever heard of Judas Priest? Do some research. Their kind of metal (the good albums, not when they tried to be metalcore) is a rehash from the early '80s, mixed with a little bit of thrash metal (Metallica, Megadeth).

There are bands more creative than Coldplay, and there are bands that are more talented than Coldplay. Put simply, plenty of bands out there are better than Coldplay. Perhaps that's what makes them so awesome. I can't listen to Tool's "Lateralus" or Muse's "The 2nd Law" and say, "Yup, I suck sometimes too." But Coldplay sucks sometimes.

And I can listen to "X & Y" and say, "Yeah, I screw up a lot too, Coldplay." Having just proved that they are good because they are bad, I will now argue that they are good because they are good. Sure, Mr. Martin sometimes (very often) sounds like a whiny crybaby, and yes, there are bands that go beyond Coldplay's plodding soft-rock (limestone-rock, kinda-pop, whatever you want to call it) style. But Coldplay is, in all of its imperfection, an awesome band.

I never cry listening to "OK Computer," but you bet I do during "Mylo Xyloto." Their music has a sort of Journey-esque way of weaseling into your subconscious and never letting go. Whenever someone says the word "Paradise," you can be sure that a certain soaring melody is rushing through my mind, making me happy. And even if you don't like them, they deserve to be respected. Any band with a not-so-uncommon sound like them that becomes as ridiculously successful without incessant references to sex or drugs has an unnamed quality that makes them a force to be reckoned with.

Rise Against placed 12th! The everlasting impact they have made on the world of rock is infinitely greater than My Chemical Romance or Arctic Monkeys. Apart from being one of the most consistently brilliant bands with epic songs, the meaning in each of their songs about life, society, and the way the world works makes them undoubtedly one of the best rock bands of the 21st century, and definitely not 12th. Placing them in 12th is an insult to their immense contribution and the genre they have pioneered. Bring them higher, or else the rock gods won't be pleased.

Number 17? Whoever made this list needs a lesson in rock! Let's provide a list of some of Rise Against's rock-defining awesomeness:

Saviour
Prayer of the Refugee
Hero of War
Re-Education
Satellite
Everchanging
Give It All
The Good Left Undone
Make It Stop
Behind Closed Doors
Like the Angel
Under the Knife
Tragedy + Time
Swing Life Away
And a heap more!

Your homework is to put Rise Against in the top 3 and stop making bad lists!

Alex Turner has been considered a musical genius by many musicians throughout his career. From their fast-paced, immediately recognizable first album, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not," to their bold and memorable rhythms in their latest release, "AM," the Arctic Monkeys not only know how to constantly evolve their sound, they do it while sustaining fantastic instrumentation and catchy lyrics that got them on the scene in the first place. The bass playing is imaginative, the guitars are hooky, the drums are perfectly played and fit well into each and every track, and Alex Turner is one of the best vocalists out there. He excels not just in terms of sound, but also with his lyrical brilliance and songwriting skills.

The Arctic Monkeys will be one of the few bands remembered for their talent in this bland, pop-laden music scene right now. They deserve to be one of the top bands on this list, for sure.

Yes, yes, yes! I love Slipknot! I was at their first concert, where they debuted their hit song "Wait and Bleed." When they first walked out on stage in their unique attire, the entire crowd was like, "What are they wearing? Oh great, another KISS." But when Corey Taylor started singing, everyone, including me, realized, "Oh yeah! This will be the new genre and the new hit band to rock the upcoming decade and millennium!" I love them and will always love them. Now, other metal bands try to copy them, but nothing can beat Slipknot. "Inside my shell, I wait and bleed!" Keep making more albums, Corey! You guys rock the concerts!

Not even in the top 10?! Slipknot has changed the way we look at metal, both musically and visually! Their concerts are literally to die for, as they are one of the best live bands of all time. Corey Taylor can hit more octaves than most other lead vocalists, and his screams are brutal. Not to mention, Joey Jordison (formerly), Chris Fehn, and Shawn "Clown" Crahan lead the band's percussion section. This is an awesome band that definitely deserves to be ranked higher than many of the bands listed above them. (My Chemical Romance... really?)

Blink-182 is by far the best band of the 2000s. They put out multiple albums, went on a hiatus, and got back together all within a few years. Take Off Your Pants and Jacket was a pop-punk anthem for the early 2000s. Songs were featured in major motion pictures for years. Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge make the perfect vocal pair for overall skating music and can create catchy music overnight. Not to mention Travis Barker's amazing drumming thrown into the mix. They changed the pop-punk sound for good. Personally, I wish they would start creating music like Take Off Your Pants and Jacket again. It's my favorite album ever!

Tom DeLonge's unique voice and lyrical ability, along with Mark Hoppus' colorful lyrics and his ability to show his fun personality through his songs, just make this band stand above all the rest. Not to mention Travis Barker's incredible drumming skills to top off all their songs. They have to be one of the top bands of the past 20 years, hands down.

Some top songs: First Date, What's My Age Again?, All the Small Things, Anthem Pt. 2, Feeling This, I Miss You, Rock Show, Josie, Dammit, After Midnight, Wishing Well, Not Now, Violence, Adam's Song, Pretty Little Girl, Down, Always, I'm Lost Without You, Stay Together for the Kids, Man Overboard, Don't Tell Me It's Over.

Come on, this low, and Radiohead not even in the top 5? I'm done. Arcade Fire is one of the most acclaimed bands of the past 10 years, critically, but sadly, not commercially. I hope this changes.

One of the best bands out there nowadays, along with Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Jack White, Queens of the Stone Age, The Strokes, and Tame Impala. They are beautiful!

I can't believe they are so low in this ranking. They are, by far, the most talented band of the new century, and Funeral is one of the greatest albums ever made.

I am an absolute die-hard fan of Disturbed! "Prayer" is my favorite song by them. I remember when it first came out on the radio back in 2002. I was jamming out in the car with my best friends. We were banging our heads so much that I was afraid we were going to have a car accident. His vocals are by far the best and have been for many years now. His songs from the 2015 album really showcase his voice. I remember when another one of my favorite songs, "Down with the Sickness," came out. Ironically, my girlfriend got sick when she first heard that song. I kept telling her, "Are you coming down with the sickness?" She would just laugh and say yes. His songs and voice will surely grow and become even better for many more years to come.

Disturbed generates so much hype with some of the best guitar riffs since Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Their vocals are powerful and sometimes even eerie, giving you chills. If I have to name a drawback, it's that some songs within the same album can sound similar. However, they offer enough diversity between albums while maintaining their signature sound to make up for that.

Greatest rock band period, at least from the '90s. Even today, no one can make music like Tool. The way Maynard James Keenan creates and comes up with the words to put to the pre-recorded song, and make the music meaningful, is an understatement to say it's genius. He also highlights solos for the band because he doesn't get selfish. He is a brilliant songwriter/artist, as is the whole band, and I just keep hoping and praying for a new album. In my truck, there was only one band you were listening to, so luckily all my friends were Tool fans.

One of the most talented rock bands of the '90s and 2000s. Each musician can tackle technically challenging rhythms, time signatures, and rudiments and bring them together within a masterpiece. I wish more listeners knew how to dissect this band's music and understand the level of difficulty and creativity in writing all of their songs, not just the radio hits.

Get off the list. This is a 2000s list. "Some Kind of Monster" and "St. Anger" are their only applicable "hits," and they didn't do much more than fizzle alongside their documentary.

Great band. Everyone loves them. They were not noted for any good albums in the 2000s, other than St. Anger, which most of their fans hated.

Seriously! You have got to be kidding! So-called bands (if you want to call them that) like Stinkin Park and Green Day are at #1 and #2, while Metallica sits at #32. Laugh out loud, yeah! If it weren't for bands like Metallica, Linkin Park wouldn't exist! This must be teeny boppers creating this pathetic list. Get real!

Oh come on, this should be in the top 10. Imagine, in just a few albums, they almost rocked the whole world. Our rock band in school won four consecutive wins by just singing Paramore songs.

"Pressure" and "Misery Business" shook the punk rock world for me. With an outstanding female vocalist, hard rock riffs, and catchy lyrics, they are one of my favorite bands.

Linkin Park and Green Day are my favorite bands, but Paramore is my heart's favorite. This awesome band should also be in the top 10. These guys are good at everything. Damn, it sucks.