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Best music bands (all time)

A ranking of music bands (music groups) of any type.

Year:
Loc:
Active
R.E.M.
1

R.E.M.

(1980)
R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by lead singer Michael Stipe, lead guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry...
9.5
9.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Lynyrd Skynyrd
2

Lynyrd Skynyrd

(1964)
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band.
9.3
9.3
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
Led Zeppelin
3

Led Zeppelin

(1968)
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
9.3
9.3
from 4 votes
Discuss [-]
The Rolling Stones
4

The Rolling Stones

(1962)
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...
9.2
9.2
from 6 votes
Discuss [-]
Queen
5

Queen

(1970)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1970, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals). Queen's earliest works...
9.1
9.1
from 27 votes
Discuss [-]
Metallica
6

Metallica

(1981)
Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California. Metallica was formed in 1981 when vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield responded to an advertisement posted by drummer Lars Ulrich in a local newspaper. The...
9
9
from 6 votes
Discuss [2]
Van Halen
7

Van Halen

(1972)
Van Halen is an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. From 1974 until 1985, the band comprised guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony...
9
9
from 3 votes
Discuss [1]
Bad Company
7

Bad Company

(1973)
Bad Company are an English hard rock supergroup formed in Westminster, London, in 1973 by two former Free band members—singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke—as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson b...
9
9
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
Dave Matthews Band
9

Dave Matthews Band

(1991)
Dave Matthews Band (often abbreviated to DMB) is an American rock band that was formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
The Clash
9

The Clash

(1976)
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, dub, funk, ska and rockabilly. For most of their recording ca...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Double Trouble
9

Double Trouble

(1978)
Double Trouble is an American blues rock band from Austin, Texas, formed by guitarist/singer Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1978. The group was active throughout the 1980s. Formed in Austin, Texas, by 1985 the group consisted of Vaughan, C...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Stone Temple Pilots
9

Stone Temple Pilots

(1985)
Stone Temple Pilots (often abbreviated as STP) is an American rock band from San Diego, California, that consists of brothers Robert DeLeo (bass, backing vocals) and Dean DeLeo (guitar), Eric Kretz (drums, percussion), and formerl...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
The Stooges
9

The Stooges

(1967)
The Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, are an American proto-punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003. The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame i...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Talking Heads
9

Talking Heads

(1975)
Talking Heads was an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Frantz (drums), Tina Weymouth (bass), and Jerry Harrison (keyboards, guitar...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Soundgarden
9

Soundgarden

(1984)
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Matt Cameron became the band's full-time drummer in 19...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Genesis
16

Genesis

(1967)
Genesis are an English rock band formed at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey in 1967. The most commercially successful line-up includes keyboardist Tony Banks, guitarist Mike Rutherford and drummer/singer Phil Collins. Other...
9
9
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Arcade Fire
16

Arcade Fire

(2001)
Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara...
9
9
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Ramones
16

Ramones

(1974)
Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. All of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname "Ramone", although none of them were relate...
9
9
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
The Beach Boys
16

The Beach Boys

(1961)
The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine...
9
9
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Cream
16

Cream

(1966)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup power trio consisting of bassist/singer Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger Baker, and guitarist/singer Eric Clapton. The group's third album, Wheels of Fire, was the world's first platinum-sellin...
9
9
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Deep Purple
21

Deep Purple

(1968)
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968.
8.9
8.9
from 7 votes
Discuss [-]
Pink Floyd
22

Pink Floyd

(1965)
Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in 1965 in London by students Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright. They gained popularity performing in London's underground music scene during the late 1960s, and...
8.8
8.8
from 11 votes
Discuss [1]
Rage Against the Machine
23

Rage Against the Machine

(1991)
Rage Against the Machine was an American rap metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consisted of rapper and vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello...
8.8
8.8
from 5 votes
Discuss [-]
Rush
24

Rush

(1968)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968 in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee; guitarist and backing vocalist Alex Lifeson; and dr...
8.8
8.8
from 4 votes
Discuss [-]
Heart
24

Heart

(1973)
Heart is an American rock band. Over the group's four-decade history it has had three primary lineups, with the constant center of the group since 1974 being sisters Ann Wilson (lead singer) and Nancy Wilson (guitarist)...
8.8
8.8
from 4 votes
Discuss [-]
Styx
26

Styx

(1972)
Styx is an American rock band formed in 1970 from Chicago. Styx is best known for the hit songs "Lady" (#6, 1973), "Come Sail Away" (#8, 1977), "Babe" (#1, 1979), "The Best of Times" (#3, 1981), "Too Much Time on My Hands" (#9, 19...
8.7
8.7
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
Scorpions
26

Scorpions

(1965)
Scorpions are a German rock band founded in 1965 in Hanover by Rudolf Schenker.
8.7
8.7
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
The Beatles
28

The Beatles

(1960)
The Beatles were an English rock band that formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the greatest and most influential act of the rock er...
8.6
8.6
from 10 votes
Discuss [1]
Radiohead
29

Radiohead

(1985)
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments), Colin Greenwood (bass), Phil...
8.6
8.6
from 5 votes
Discuss [1]
Black Sabbath
30

Black Sabbath

(1968)
Black Sabbath are an English rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist and main songwriter Tony Iommi, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne, and drummer Bill Ward. The band have since experienc...
8.6
8.6
from 9 votes
Discuss [-]
System of a Down
31

System of a Down

(1994)
System of a Down, often shortened to SOAD or System, is a four-piece Armenian-American rock band formed in 1994 in Glendale, California. The band currently consists of Serj Tankian (lead vocals, keyboards), Daron Malakian (vocals,...
8.5
8.5
from 8 votes
Discuss [-]
ZZ Top
32

ZZ Top

(1969)
ZZ Top is an American rock band that formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. The band comprises guitarist and lead vocalist Billy Gibbons (the band's leader, main lyricist, and musical arranger), bassist and co-lead vocalist Dusty Hill,...
8.5
8.5
from 4 votes
Discuss [-]
The Cure
32

The Cure

(1976)
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member. The Cure f...
8.5
8.5
from 4 votes
Discuss [-]
Blur
34

Blur

(1988)
Blur are an English rock band, formed in London in 1988. The group consists of singer/keyboardist Damon Albarn, guitarist/singer Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree.
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Megadeth
34

Megadeth

(1983)
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine's dismissal from Metallica...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [1]
Earth, Wind & Fire
34

Earth, Wind & Fire

(1969)
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band that has spanned the musical genres of R&B, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, rock, Latin and African. They are one of the most successful bands of the 20th century. Also known as EWF, the band w...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Faith No More
34

Faith No More

(1981)
Faith No More is an American metal band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1981. The band was originally named Faith No Man. Bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Roddy Bottum and drummer Mike Bordin are the longest remaining me...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Bullet for My Valentine
34

Bullet for My Valentine

(1998)
Bullet for My Valentine are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matthew Tuck (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Michael Paget (lead guitar, backing vocals), Michael Thomas (drums) and Jamie M...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Boston
34

Boston

(1976)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, that achieved their most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of cl...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Elvis Costello & The Attrations
34

Elvis Costello & The Attrations

(1978)
English backing band for the English new wave musician Elvis Costello between 1978 and 1986, and again from 1994 through 1996. They consisted of Steve Nieve (keyboards and ukulele), Bruce Thomas (bass guitar), and Pete Thomas (dru...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Sex Pistols
34

Sex Pistols

(1975)
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. The first incarnation of the Sex Pistols included singer John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), lead guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bass player Glen M...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Dio
34

Dio

(1982)
Dio was an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Rise Against
34

Rise Against

(1999)
Rise Against is an American melodic hardcore band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe and drummer Bra...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Europe
44

Europe

(1979)
Europe is a Swedish hard rock/heavy metal band formed in Upplands Väsby, Stockholm in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, bassist Peter Olsson and drummer Tony Reno.
8.4
8.4
from 15 votes
Discuss [1]
The Police
45

The Police

(1977)
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting (lead singer, bassist and principal songwriter), Andy Summers (guitarist) and Stewart Copeland (drummer)...
8.4
8.4
from 5 votes
Discuss [-]
Slipknot
45

Slipknot

(1995)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in September 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray. After several line-up changes in their early years, the band sett...
8.4
8.4
from 5 votes
Discuss [-]
Pearl Jam
47

Pearl Jam

(1990)
Pearl Jam is an American rock band, formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has comprised Eddie Vedder (lead vocals), Mike McCready (lead guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar) and Jeff Amen...
8.3
8.3
from 6 votes
Discuss [-]
ABBA
48

ABBA

(1972)
ABBA (stylised ᗅᗺᗷᗅ) are a Swedish pop group who formed in Stockholm in 1972. With members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, ABBA became one of the most commercially successful acts in the h...
8.3
8.3
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
Red Hot Chili Peppers
48

Red Hot Chili Peppers

(1983)
Red Hot Chili Peppers (also sometimes shortened to "The Chili Peppers" or abbreviated as "RHCP") are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983.
8.3
8.3
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
Alice in Chains
48

Alice in Chains

(1987)
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney and bass...
8.3
8.3
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
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