Top 10 Most Revolutionary Rock Bands

1. 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

   Not the first rock band ever, but they created the style of rock that almost all bands from the '60s onward use. They led the British Invasion and influenced bands such as The Who, The Rolling Stones, etc.

   You say you want a revolution? Well, you know, we all want to change the world. But not many rock bands can do it.

   They influenced numerous musicians and still do today. They did a lot of pioneering, creative work.

2. 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

   Ritchie Blackmore did something revolutionary: he first created rock songs based on scales typically used in classical music. All other rock bands used mostly blues scales to create rock/hard rock or, in the case of Black Sabbath in the '70s, to create heavy blues rock.

   This was the biggest invention in 20th-century music because it set the pattern for metal music as we know it now. Heavy metal is a non-bluesy genre.

   Deep Purple first used double bass drumming on an early metal song. They were also the loudest band of the '70s. And last but not least, they were the most talented band - a band of masters.

   Conclusion: Deep Purple is the most revolutionary rock/metal band.

3. 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

4. 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

   Deep Purple introduced some aspects of heavy metal such as fast tempos, classical-influenced guitar solos, and operatic vocals, but it was Black Sabbath that truly invented the genre. Their first three albums had the heaviest music at the time. They brought darkness and occult themes into metal.

   Like Deep Purple, Sabbath was a pioneer of extreme metal with songs like Paranoid, Children of the Grave, and Symptom of the Universe. It all comes back to Black Sabbath.

   The inventors of heavy metal. Should be #2 behind The Beatles.

5. 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

6. 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

   After The Beatles, they were the most revolutionary band. They brought alternative rock to the spotlight and popularized heavier sounds. They brought meaning, depth, and sadness into music. They changed the whole definition of rock and music.

   Smells Like Teen Spirit, but not just that song. All the sounds they made in their songs changed musical interests across the globe.

   They basically made grunge awesome.

7. 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

8. The Kinks

   

   The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most important and influential rock bands of the 1960s. Their music was integral to the development of British rock, with hits like You Really Got Me and... read more

   The Kinks revolutionized the rock sound in the early '60s. They experimented with louder rock sounds and made pioneering contributions to the field. Dave Davies became bored with the traditional "clean" guitar style of the period. In search of a louder, more biting sound, he famously split the speaker cone of his Elpico amplifier:

   "I got a single-sided Gillette razorblade and cut... [from the center to the edge of the] cone... so it was all shredded but still on there, still intact. I played and I thought it was amazing."

   The jagged sound of the amplifier was replicated in the studio. The Elpico was plugged into a larger Vox AC30, and the resulting effect became a mainstay in The Kinks' early recordings, most notably on "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night."

9. Rainbow

   

   Rainbow is a British rock band led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, active from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1993 to 1997. The band was originally formed with Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer and lyricist. Rainbow was ranked No. 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and has sold over 28 million... read more

10. Ramones

    

    The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in 1974 in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, New York City. They're widely credited with defining the punk rock sound.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Sex Pistols

    

    The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although they lasted only two and a half years and released just four singles and one studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, they are considered one of the most influential acts in the history of popular... read more

12. ?

    Judas Priest

    

    Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are frequently ranked among the greatest metal bands of all time and are commonly called "The Metal Gods," after their song on the 1980 album British Steel. Their influence on the development of heavy metal is profound,... read more

The Contenders

13. Rush

    

    Rush is a Canadian progressive rock band that was formed in 1968. The band's most iconic lineup consisted of guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee, and drummer Neil Peart, who joined in 1974. Following Peart's death from brain cancer on January 7, 2020, Lee and Lifeson announced in October... read more

14. The Doors

    

    The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and occasionally controversial rock acts of the 1960s, largely due to Morrison's poetic... read more

    Jim Morrison is the prototype of the rock band frontman even to this day. Everyone from Axl Rose to Steven Tyler to Anthony Kiedis clearly followed in Jim's footsteps, as does just about every modern hard-rocker wearing leather pants.

15. MC5

    

    MC5 was an American rock band from Lincoln Park, Michigan, formed in 1964. The original members included vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. The band was influential in the development of punk and hard rock music.

16. Red Hot Chili Peppers

    

    The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American funk-rock and alternative rock band founded in 1983 in Los Angeles. The current core lineup includes Anthony Kiedis, Michael "Flea" Balzary, Chad Smith, and Joshua Klinghoffer, although John Frusciante remains the most acclaimed guitarist associated with the... read more

17. 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

18. 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

19. The Velvet Underground

    

    The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. Active until 1973, the band was managed early on by Andy Warhol and became influential for their experimental sound and lyrical themes. Members included Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Maureen Tucker.

20. 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're not un-metal. Anyway, they revolutionized what you could write about when producing music. Writing about complex and specific political concepts, stories of the less fortunate, and rebellions. Morello developed techniques that changed the way people looked at the guitar, and both Commerford and Wilk were real virtuosos.

    Rage deserves to be higher on this list.

21. Foo Fighters

    

    Foo Fighters are an American alternative rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. The band was founded by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl after Kurt Cobain's death and Nirvana's breakup. The current lineup consists of Dave Grohl (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, primary songwriter), Pat Smear (rhythm guitar),... read more

22. System of a Down

    

    System of a Down, formed in 1994, is an Armenian-American alternative metal band from Glendale, California. The band name is sometimes shortened to System or SOAD. They're known for their politically charged lyrics, often addressing topics such as genocide and war, in songs like Holy Mountains, Prison... read more

23. Iron Maiden

    

    Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Their most critically acclaimed period is widely considered to be from 1983 to 1989, during which they released landmark albums like Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere... read more

24. Linkin Park

    

    Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin Park... read more

25. The Smiths

    

    The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce. They became one of the most influential bands of the 1980s, known for their distinct blend of jangly guitar pop and introspective... read more

    An amazing band that brought new sounds to the rock genre.

26. The Stooges

    

    The Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, are an American proto-punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan. They were active from 1967 to 1974 and reformed in 2003. Although they initially sold few records and often faced indifferent audiences, the Stooges are now recognized as a foundational influence... read more

27. New York Dolls

    

    The New York Dolls were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1971. They are considered pioneers of both punk rock and glam rock, with notable albums such as New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974). Although the original lineup disbanded in 1976, the band reunited in the 2000s with... read more