The REAL greatest bands

[cartridge]

Ok guys I want realistic suggestions here, not your all time favourate band. Im talking real classics here, stuff such as Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, the Beatles and the like.

Anyone who who says that U2 are the "greatest" band, though they may well be (and justifiably so) your favourate band, you should seriously question your knowedge of music, because its clear you haven't any.

 

[stonetoflesh]

Anyone who who says that U2 are the "greatest" band, though they may well be (and justifiably so) your favourate band, you should seriously question your knowedge of music, because its clear you haven't any.

So what are the criteria to define "the greatest band"? If someone thinks U2 is the greatest band I wouldn't agree with them, but it wouldn't matter-- like all other arts, music is incredibly subjective when it comes to stuff like this. Technical prowess is probably the easiest means to "objectively" gauge music, but virtuosity does not necessarily equal musicality....

I can't say that there's a "greatest" band-- perhaps the Beatles have made the largest single influence on western popular music, that's the closest I'll go to trying to answer that question. I have plenty of favorites though, that I wouldn't consider the greatest by any means but I love 'em anyways...

 

[MEOMY]

you should seriously question your knowedge of music, because its clear you haven't any.

What exactly constitutes a "knowledge of music"? Do you mean music theory? History?

 

[MysteryProf]

Greatest band? The Rolling Stones, obviously!

 

[indigo tree]

U2 is considered amoung the classics y'know...

Are you talking in terms of influence? Then yes, I would probably have to go with the Beatles, as U2 was one of the bands they influenced.

 

[ps139]

There are so many levels you can rate this on. Influence, pure talent, who can stir people's souls, who is the greatest collection of 4 or 5 musicians that worked best as a unit.... I think I'd have a different answer for each. I'll throw out a few names, they're not all specifically classic rock but they are connected to it:
Phish
Zeppelin
Bob Marley
Pink Floyd
Grateful Dead
The Doors

edit: I wish Jimi was still alive

 

[nadroj1985]

Everybody knows my answer already If I were forced to make a judgement on who was the objectively greatest band ever (even though I believe such a judgement to be impossible), it would be the Velvet Underground. By quite a long shot.

 

[Key Peninsula Redneck]

Lynyrd Skynyrd, no contest. Gary Rossington is awesome! Steve Gaines was awesome.

 

[ps139]

Lynyrd Skynyrd, no contest. Gary Rossington is awesome! Steve Gaines was awesome.

I gotta say I think they made the greatest rock song ever. Unless "Stairway" is better, then Freebird is #2. Either way, thats not too shabby

 

[charmtrap]

If I were forced to make a judgement on who was the objectively greatest band ever (even though I believe such a judgement to be impossible), it would be the Velvet Underground. By quite a long shot.

I'd have to agree, at least within the definition of "band that many great bands were later influenced by" The Velvets are clearly the winners. As well as just having a couple of amazing records, irrespective of later events.

Of course, I believe that most of the best music ever made came from the late 70's and 80's , so if the definition of "greatest bands" has to include something stupid about them being creaky old **** then it's the Velvets for sure. The Velvets started the idea of art-rock, and they have the advantage of really not sounding like anything that came before. Utterly original.

 

[nadroj1985]

Of course, I believe that most of the best music ever made came from the late 70's and 80's , so if the definition of "greatest bands" has to include something stupid about them being creaky old **** then it's the Velvets for sure.

Well, for me, I don't need the caveat that the band has to be "creaky old ****" to vote for the Velvets. But I'm weird that way

The Velvets started the idea of art-rock, and they have the advantage of really not sounding like anything that came before. Utterly original.

Yep. Nice to have another Velvets fan around

 

[DMBfanLongliveStrongBad!]

here's my list:


zeppelin
pink floyd
bela fleck and the flecktones
phish
bob marley
jimi hendrix
doors
lynyrd skynyrd

my favorites are (the above) plus:
dave matthews band
i wouldn't say dmb is one of the greatest bands... unlike the bands above, they are not the best band in any category.

 

[cartridge]

When I say greatest band i mean with raw talent. Not being around for so long that you get millions of records sold by default.

 

[nadroj1985]

When I say greatest band i mean with raw talent. Not being around for so long that you get millions of records sold by default.

But you listed the Beatles in the OP








*nadroj is sorry but he just couldn't help himself *

 

[cartridge]

But you listed the Beatles in the OP








*nadroj is sorry but he just couldn't help himself *

The beatles were around for just 6 years and sold millions, U2 have been around about 24 years and sold considerably less.

You can usually tell a decent band by looking at the album charts over the years, the truly great bands usually have a number of albums in the top 100 selling albums ever. This is because good bands are usually more album orientated, fans are dedicated enough to buy an album rather than just a single, multiple top albums shows they are not just one hit wonders. Of course this test is not infalible crappy stuff sometimes gets high album ratings, and some truly amazing bands have only one if any, but singles charts are far worse.

 

[nadroj1985]

You can usually tell a decent band by looking at the album charts over the years, the truly great bands usually have a number of albums in the top 100 selling albums ever. This is because good bands are usually more album orientated, fans are dedicated enough to buy an album rather than just a single, multiple top albums shows they are not just one hit wonders. Of course this test is not infalible crappy stuff sometimes gets high album ratings, and some truly amazing bands have only one if any, but singles charts are far worse.

I will agree with you on one thing: the singles charts are worse........but the album charts are not much better, not much at all.

 

[ps139]

You can usually tell a decent band by looking at the album charts over the years, the truly great bands usually have a number of albums in the top 100 selling albums ever. This is because good bands are usually more album orientated,

Thats not always true. Some bands are concert oriented. You will find moments of beauty at their concerts and live albums that are not captured on their studio CDs. I will take a band that can rock a stadium over a good studio band any day.

 

[stonetoflesh]

You can usually tell a decent band by looking at the album charts over the years, the truly great bands usually have a number of albums in the top 100 selling albums ever. This is because good bands are usually more album orientated, fans are dedicated enough to buy an album rather than just a single, multiple top albums shows they are not just one hit wonders. Of course this test is not infalible crappy stuff sometimes gets high album ratings, and some truly amazing bands have only one if any, but singles charts are far worse.

http://www.freakycool.com/top100/
The Doors and the Rolling Stones each have one entry on the chart, and they're greatest hits packages rather than proper albums. Does this make them less great? Not in my eyes.
The Backstreet Boys have two albums on the top 100 selling albums of all time... does this make them a great band? Not in my eyes.

Album sales don't necessarily represent a group's talent, more than anything it represents the marketing. I wonder how this list would look if MTV never existed (ahh, what a lovely pipe dream!) and a group's records sold because of the musicianship, not how hott the girls in their videos were...

 

[cartridge]

Im going to repeat my self for those who obviously didnt bother to read my post: -

Of course this test is not infalible crappy stuff sometimes gets high album ratings, and some truly amazing bands have only one if any, but singles charts are far worse.

 

[Pope Gonzo]

When I say greatest band i mean with raw talent. Not being around for so long that you get millions of records sold by default.

As far as raw talent goes, I think U2 can easily be listed with the greatest bands ever. To try to name one is impossible, but I'd say the most valid list would balance raw talent with influence.

For the record(hehe... get it? Record... album sales... ha!), I'm pretty sure that list of top 100 selling albums is with American sales. I'm pretty sure Thriller has more world-wide sales. But I could be wrong