Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 50 bands of all-time has some weird choices. I seldom see people wearing U2 t-shirts, but they are number 3 ahead of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, ACDC and Nirvana (often seen on t-shirts worldwide). The Velvet Underground at number 9 (not 90) and the Byrds at 12 are somehow ahead of Oasis at 13.
Queen is at 20. Metallica at 25. Wilco at 26 is one ahead of Pearl Jam (who headline festivals where Wilco play on smaller stages).
ACDC (at 37), Black Sabbath (39) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (48) routinely sell out stadiums and bigger venues during worldwide tours; all three bands have inspired genres of music and thousands of copycat cover bands. There is no Van Halen, Aerosmith, Prince, KISS, Fleetwood Mac, Rush or The Eagles.
In response, here is Globalite Music’s top 25 rock bands based on their popularity and influence on thousands of bands worldwide who cover their songs or sound like them.
1. The Beatles
God’s gift to pop music. Most musicians would rate them number one and know dozens of their songs. Their third songwriter George Harrison wrote three classics (more than others on this list). The other two were the Bach and Beethoven of their century. The Fab Four are among the most popular people in world history. Imagine a world without them.
2. The Rolling Stones
Basically a garage band who have rolled out dozens of hits for 60 years. They could not be an opening act for any band ranked below them. Their greatest hits would fill a box set.
3. Led Zeppelin
Ask musicians. All four members are arguably best ever at their positions. They dominated the 70s — perhaps the greatest decade ever in music. They mastered styles and invented their own.
4. Pink Floyd
Greatest keyboard parts, guitar solos and concept albums ever. Their music is associated with travel, drugs, protest and freedom from tyranny. The Wall and Wish You Were Here are staples.
5. Queen
Perhaps the greatest frontman ever, Freddie Mercury also wrote complex music on piano with diminished chords and key changes. Drummer Roger Taylor added stunning backing vocals. They stole the show at Live Aid (the Woodstock of their time). Orchestras will perform Bohemian Rhapsody 200 years from now, along with music of YES (who also belong on this list).
6. Metallica
Metallica family is here, and everywhere. Probably more t-shirts worn worldwide than any band other than ACDC. Most powerful live concerts ever. Many of their fans have seen them 20 times or more. You can find shredders from Myanmar to Patagonia to Ukraine who emulate them.
7. Nirvana
Their fans now span generations and genders. Note the young women wearing Nirvana t-shirts and ripped jeans. Kurt is iconic in history like Elvis, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley. Dave Grohl turned out to be guitarist and frontman in Foo Fighters (one of the biggest bands of the last 30 years), but he’s still remembered as Kurt Cobain’s drummer in NIrvana.
8. The Who
All four members among best ever in their positions. Nobody rocked harder and louder. Imagine Oasis or Pearl Jam without them. Pete wrote the book on teen angst. While Cobain channeled Pete while smashing guitars, you’re more likely to hear cover bands play Nirvana than the Who.
9. Jimi Hendrix
An otherworldly figure, like Brave Ulysses of Greek Mythology. The other gods (Clapton, Page etc) bow before his burning guitar. He wrote his own classics, and made standards out of Hey Joe and Watchtower. To understand his genius, compare his version of Watchtower to Bob Dylan’s original. He was the highest paid act of his time, and was the headliner at Woodstock (over The Who and others). If Jimi was still alive, he might be number two on this list.
10. Oasis
Fans without tickets stood outside packed stadiums last year singing their anthems 30 years after their glory days of Rule Brittania. It’s as if the Beatles, the Stones and the Who had bastard children and called them the Gallagher brothers. Dave Grohl, who worked with Kurt, called Liam the last rock star. Noel is the greatest songwriter of his generation and an underrated guitarist.
11. Eric Clapton
A guitar god who outlived and outworked others of his era. Cream alone was comparable to Hendrix, and they inspired Zeppelin. The Beatles could have asked anyone to play a guitar solo on their recordings; they only chose Clapton (Gently Weeps).
12. Santana
Latin jazz bands play Santana, a guitar god who played (and influenced) salsa, bolero, rumba, mambo, cumbia etc. Thai legends of Songs-for-Life music (Carabao, Carawan) sound like him.
13. The Doors
They are still the gateway drug to magic in blues. Keyboardists idolize Ray Manzarek, and frontmen are channeling Jim Morrison. When the Doors of perception are cleansed, the truth will emerge.
14. Red Hot Chili Peppers
They got more people laid in the 90s (and onward) than any other band. Anthony among greatest writers ever. Flea is like Miles Davis on bass. High energy funky monks still rockin’ out.
15. Pearl Jam
Most resilient band (along with RHCP) of the 90s — the second greatest decade in pop music history (after the period between 1965 and 1975). “Crazy” Eddie Vedder is the sole survivor of the mad animal vocalists of the grunge era (Cobain, Cornell, Staley, Weiland etc).
16. Black Sabbath
Inspired a genre with thousands of bands. At Ozzy’s last show, the world’s greatest living rockers came to pay homage. Imagine Metallica, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains without them.
17. ACDC
Rolling Stones chose them over everybody else to open for them at Sars-stock in Toronto (among biggest concerts ever). ACDC can only sound like ACDC. They influence how millions of men walk on a daily basis.
18. The Police
Three guys did all of that. They only had 5 albums — all comparable to The Beatles. Sting among greatest songwriters ever. Mana, the biggest band ever from Mexico, sound like them.
19. U2
Fans had religious fervor for them in 1980s, when Bono was a global political force bigger than music. Coldplay (who could also make this list) are often compared to them.
20, The Eagles
Hotel California (originally called Mexican Reggae) is among the world’s most popular songs. It’s not even their best song (Desperado is). They might be soft, but it’s still rock.
21. RUSH
Three guys doing all that. Musicians study them to learn time signatures. If you can play Rush, you are immediately elevated by other musicians. Canada’s gift to world culture.
22. Radiohead
Anybody who sounds weird draws comparisons to Radiohead. True originals in an age of copycats. They don’t even like playing Creep, which is one of the world’s most covered songs.
23. Guns N Roses
Among most popular rock bands in Asia and Latin America, where thousands cover Sweet Child of Mine lick for lick. Try singing like peak Axel Rose. Not even he can do it.
24. Van Halen
Van Wailin. Eddie Van is the greatest since Ludwig Van. Keyboardists love his work on Jump. He also played guitar.
25. The Cure
Their sound inspired Soviet icon Viktor Tsoi and huge bands in Latin America (Soda Stereo, Heroes de Silencio, Los Prisioneros etc). They are to goth what Nirvana are to grunge.
images copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media all rights reserved
