Top Ten Stoner Rock Bands

1. Kyuss

   

   Kyuss was an American stoner rock band formed in 1987 in Palm Desert, California, by Josh Homme, John Garcia, Brant Bjork, and Chris Cockrell. In 1990, they released an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss before shortening the name to Kyuss. Nick Oliveri later joined the group as the bassist, replacing Cockrell... read more

   Josh Homme, Scott Reeder, John Garcia, and Brant Bjork are some of the creators of stoner rock. They evolved together and built their sound together. Seriously guys, without Kyuss, Josh Homme wouldn't be so badass. Face it!

   This is easy. When you say stoner rock, you say Kyuss. This band should be first on every stoner rock list.

   First by a long way in this category, the masters of stoner rock! Followed by Sleep.

2. 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

   The root of all evil... Listen to early Sabbath records and enjoy their foresight and freshness, still today. Sweet leaf!

   Forever at the top. Anyone who doesn't see it that way doesn't understand what this is all about.

   All of these bands wouldn't be on here if it wasn't for Sabbath!

3. Queens of the Stone Age

   

   Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1996 before founder Josh Homme returned to his native Palm Desert, California. The band has featured a rotating lineup of musicians over the years. The current lineup includes Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita,... read more

   Burn the witches who voted for Kyuss! They're just not willing to go with the flow. The sky is falling if QOTSA isn't #1. Everybody knows you're insane if you don't love this band. They're like medication to me. No one knows just how amazing this band is.

   I'm sure if they could, these guys would do it again.

   Every Queens of the Stone Age song is good. Whether they grow on you or not, Queens of the Stone Age will always be the best!

   Kyuss, a bit too heavy in sound, should be number two.

   I don't personally know many stoner rock bands, but I would die for QOTSA. Such a great band. Their album Songs for the Deaf is stoner rock, but they got more alternative rock with their latest album covers.

4. Electric Wizard

   

   Electric Wizard is an English doom metal band from Dorset, England. Formed in 1993, the band has released eight full-length albums. Their works Dopethrone and Come My Fanatics. . are widely regarded as landmark releases in the doom metal scene due to their dense, heavy sound and occult themes.

   How come no one mentioned Electric Wizard? Soundgarden shouldn't even be up there. Soundgarden is grunge/alternative rock, not stoner metal. Neither should blues and Southern rock legends ZZ Top.

   Stoner metal is about the music, not about the fact that the members use drugs. Electric Wizard, the heaviest band of all time, should at least be mentioned.

   Listen to "Stone Magnet" on their self-titled album. If you don't think they deserve to be top 3 after that, then you're not looking for stoner rock.

   Most of these bands are NOT stoner rock. Electric Wizard most certainly is.

5. Sleep

   

   Should definitely be second on this list. Kyuss first (of course), Sleep second.

   Makes me feel alive and drunk. Music is vibrant, cool, and cool.

   Of course Sleep. Focus people, it's a stoner rock list.

6. Clutch

   

   Clutch is an American rock band from Frederick, Maryland, that originally formed in Germantown. The band members met in high school and later based their operations in Frederick, where they write and rehearse for their albums and tours. Known for their blues-inspired rock sound and energetic live performances... read more

   It surprises me that most of the bands mentioned here are not stoner. They belong in other genres. This is about bands that have the stoner rock sound, not bands to take drugs to.

   Clutch is one of the best examples of the sound.

7. Corrosion of Conformity

   

   Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina, formed in 1982. Throughout much of its history, the band has featured guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean, drummer Reed Mullin, and vocalist and rhythm guitarist Pepper Keenan... read more

8. Monster Magnet

   

   Monster Magnet is an American rock band from Red Bank, New Jersey. The band was founded by Dave Wyndorf, John McBain, and Tim Cronin. They gained popularity in the 1990s for their heavy, psychedelic sound and have released multiple albums over the decades.

   Like the person above said, Monster Magnet originated the movement in 1991 with the release of Spine of God. Surprised Hendrix is not mentioned.

   If you lived in the west, you would say Kyuss. If you lived in the northeast in the late '80s to early '90s, you would say Monster Magnet.

   MM circa 1989 #6? Really? I have nothing.

9. The Sword

   These guys are incredible! If you don't listen to them, you are missing out!

10. The Eagles of Death Metal

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Slo Burn

    Great follow-up to Kyuss for John Garcia.

12. ?

    Monkey3

    
The Contenders

13. Melvins

    

    The Melvins are an American sludge metal band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. Known for their heavy and experimental sound, they typically perform as a trio, but in recent years have occasionally performed as a four-piece with two drummers. They are considered influential in the development... read more

14. 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

    Pink Floyd is the best. That's all there is to it.

    Listening to Dark Side of the Moon start to finish while stoned is sensational.

15. Fu Manchu

16. Graveyard

    

    Graveyard is a Swedish hard rock band from Gothenburg, formed in 2006. The band is known for its blend of classic rock, blues, and psychedelic influences. Its self-titled debut album was released in 2007.

17. Spiritual Beggars

18. Tool

    

    Tool is an American alternative and progressive metal band formed in 1990.

    The lineup includes Maynard James Keenan (vocals), Danny Carey (drums), Adam Jones (guitar), and Justin Chancellor (bass), who joined in 1995. The band is recognized for incorporating electronic influences and for their... read more

    I love Tool. Their music will blow your mind. They have so much meaning in every song. Great band to trip to as well.

    Tool's music gets you high if you listen to it under the right light.

    Best band ever created hands down. Anything else is trash.

19. Wolfmother

    

    Wolfmother is an Australian hard rock band from Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 2000 by Andrew Stockdale (vocals, guitar), Chris Ross (bass, keyboards), and Myles Heskett (drums), the band's lineup has changed multiple times over the years. The current lineup includes Stockdale and various touring... read more

20. 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

21. Down

    

    Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup includes vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders, and drummer Jimmy Bower. They are known for blending elements of doom metal, sludge metal... read more

22. Soundgarden

    

    Soundgarden was an American grunge and alternative metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto.

    The band was one of the pioneers of the grunge movement and released critically acclaimed albums... read more

    They put so much soul in their songs that it seems like it possesses us in a good way. It's magical.

23. The Desert Sessions

    Josh Homme jamming with a few pals in the middle of the desert? Yes, please. Definitely stoner rock. They've had some great records.

24. Nightstalker

25. Iron Butterfly

    

    Iron Butterfly is an American rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 1966. They are best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", which provided a dramatic sound that led the way towards the development of hard rock and heavy metal music.... read more

26. Boris

    

    Boris is a Japanese experimental band formed in 1992 in Tokyo. The group consists of drummer Atsuo Mizuno, guitarist and bassist Takeshi Ohtani, and guitarist and keyboardist Wata. All three members contribute vocals, and the band is known for blending genres such as drone, metal, and noise.

27. Acid King

    

    Acid King is an American stoner metal band based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1993 by frontwoman Lori S., drummer Joey Osbourne, and bassist Peter Lucas. The band is known for its heavy, hypnotic sound and has released several studio albums and EPs.