Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Neil Young, Prince. You rank them, I can't decide.

I am going to leave out my favorite band, The Beatles, and two others (U2, REM), since their versatility makes it impossible to place them in any one category. The following are the five "rock" bands in order of influence,and their depth and breadth of work:
1. The Rolling Stones (but only through Steel Wheels)
2. Eric Clapton and all bands of which he was a part.
3. The Allman Brothers Band
4. Aerosmith
5. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Yes, I know they are all "dinosaurs," but you can hear the influence of these bands on newer bands like Green Day, Oasis (not new any more), Coldplay, etc.

Here we go:

1)Radiohead
2)Springsteen
3)the Clash
4)Stones
5)Zeppelin

Honorable mention:
White Stripes

quote:

Originally posted by keylimetrev:

quote:

If you need to make Dylan a band, you can just say 'Bob Dylan and the Band' which he released a couple albums as.

Calling The Band Dylan's backing group is one of my big pet peeves. The band were already an established group long before dylan was doing anything at all, and they released several of the best rock records ever on their own.

actually the band was originally known as the hawks...when they backed Ronnie Hawkins until around '63...it wasnt until around 65/66 that they backed dylan on his world tour...and of course they recorded the basement tapes together...and their debut album..."Music From Big Pink" was not released until '68...so your biggest pet peave is grossly misinformed im afraid...

as for my top 5 rock artists...i have to think about that and will post soon...

and whoever compared the Beatles to Metallica should be shot...

quote:

Originally posted by Illiniq:

Dylan - Yes, his impact, songwriting, and lyrics are/were phenomenal...but again, we're not judging poets here, we're judging musicians, and from the standpoint of pure musicianship, he's no more daring than Springsteen

Dylan not only wrote the most important songs of hsi generation, but probably the most important songs we will ever see...especially considering the way artistic social impact has changed so dramatically...

and not only was he the supposed spokesmen of the topical songwriters, he shook off his new found folk fame and dared to show everyone he only wanted to entertain and be thought of as a musician by bringing a backing blues band to the Newport Folk Festival in '64...People booed him and called him Judas...his response...he turns to the band members and says..."Play Fuckin Loud"

Not only was Dylan a lyrical genius, and an innovator in the way Pop Culture was shaped (even John Lennon would tell you it was Dylan who showed him you can write what you feel) but he was also one of the most underrated musicians ever. People dont realize what he was capable of as a musician because of the simplicity of a lot of folk songs and blues...

the man was a musical/artistic/entertaining genius...

Number one by far...

1.The Ramones

2.AC/DC

3.Led Zeppelin

4.Black Sabbath

5.Motorhead

The Beatles transcend the rock genre, otherwise they'd top my list.

quote:

Originally posted by Smenkharon:
5.Motorhead

Glad to see some love for Lemmy and co. Pretty much the definition of rock 'n' roll to me (Although I didn't list them). Inferno rocks!

Thanks for the support towards a band who as you say are the definition of rock, which was a main criteria for my list. From djing a rock club for a little over a year now, I can say that many of the artists mentioned here would get me some very disapproving looks from bosses and patrons alike if I played them! I take a lot of requests, and my list reflects the frequency of requests I get from people. A major percentage of our patronage is foreigners, and tourists, and their dedication and love for the bands on my list is definately noticeable. I have never recieved a request for Dylan, Springsteen, Velvet Underground, U2 or Radiohead from anyone, ever!!!
To round out my list based on requested percentage, I would probably follow it up with Nirvana, The Clash, Rolling Stones, The Stooges, and Guns N' Roses, with Queen and Slayer to make it a dozen!

Also, Captain Beefheart always gets someone running up to the booth to say either "Oh my God, I can't believe you're playing this!" or "What the hell is this? I have to know!" or something to that effect!
All hail the Captain and his Magic band!

quote:

Originally posted by Smenkharon:
Thanks for the support towards a band who as you say are the definition of rock, which was a main criteria for my list. From djing a rock club for a little over a year now, I can say that many of the artists mentioned here would get me some very disapproving looks from bosses and patrons alike if I played them! I take a lot of requests, and my list reflects the frequency of requests I get from people. A major percentage of our patronage is foreigners, and tourists, and their dedication and love for the bands on my list is definately noticeable. I have never recieved a request for Dylan, Springsteen, Velvet Underground, U2 or Radiohead from anyone, ever!!!
To round out my list based on requested percentage, I would probably follow it up with Nirvana, The Clash, Rolling Stones, The Stooges, and Guns N' Roses, with Queen and Slayer to make it a dozen!

Also, Captain Beefheart always gets someone running up to the booth to say either "Oh my God, I can't believe you're playing this!" or "What the hell is this? I have to know!" or something to that effect!
All hail the Captain and his Magic band!

Yes well this thread is for top 5 greatest rock bands, I am assuming, of all time...not right now...of course people who enjoy the likes of Motorhead wont be requesting Dylan or the Velvet Underground, however rock would not be where it is at today if not for these Bands...Thats the beauty and brilliance behind them...

quote:

Originally posted by Smenkharon:
From djing a rock club for a little over a year now, I can say that many of the artists mentioned here would get me some very disapproving looks from bosses and patrons alike if I played them! I take a lot of requests, and my list reflects the frequency of requests I get from people. A major percentage of our patronage is foreigners, and tourists, and their dedication and love for the bands on my list is definately noticeable. I have never recieved a request for Dylan, Springsteen, Velvet Underground, U2 or Radiohead from anyone, ever!!!

I rarely hear the Velvet Undergound at clubs either. Usually, I hear stuff like 50 Cent and Missy Elliot, but I'm not about to proclaim either of them one of the top 5 artists of all time.

Popularity isn't the only criteria for great music. There are plenty of bands like the VU and Big Star who weren't popular in their own time, but their influence on music in later generations was huge.

It's a rock night, I'd get fired for playing 50 Cent or Missy Elliott! Influence means jack shit, rock is an art form, and perfection within the form is greater than influence. That's why The Ramones and AC/DC top the list. Longevity also comes into play when determining "greatest" bands, this is about greatness, not influence, otherwise you'd have Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson on the lists for inventing the form. And Bob Dylan is not rock music.

quote:

Originally posted by Smenkharon:
It's a rock night, I'd get fired for playing 50 Cent or Missy Elliott! Influence means jack shit, rock is an art form, and perfection within the form is greater than influence. That's why The Ramones and AC/DC top the list. Longevity also comes into play when determining "greatest" bands, this is about greatness, not influence, otherwise you'd have Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson on the lists for inventing the form. And Bob Dylan is not rock music.

Wow - Ignorance truly is bliss...

First of all...Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson are some of the greatest Blues Musicians ever...and last time I checked Blues isnt Rock...did blues influence rock?...absolutely...but it wasnt until people like Chuck Berry came around and started combining the two...but it was still ground roots blues...

second of all, Bob Dylan may have started off as a folk musician, but the man defined rock music in his generation...have you ever even heard the albums "bringing it all back home", and "Highway 61" which were subsequently released not only within 6 months of each other but also at the same time the Beatles released "Help" which isnt near the rock album these two Dylan albums were. Not too mention Dylan followed these up with "Blonde on Blonde" a year later..."Highway 61" and "Blonde on Blonde" can be argued as two of the greatest rock albums out there...and all this was ten years before AC/DC even released their first album.

No I know bands like AC/DC and the Ramones may rock harder (in other peoples opinions) then these true classic rockers...but the bottom line is, Angus Young was probably playing in his garage with some of his high school buddies covering songs like "Like a Rolling Stone", "Highway 61", "Rainy Day Women", and "All along the watchtower" which Dylan had written a decade before...and are undoubtedly some of the greatest rock songs ever written...

Dont get me wrong, but AC/DC rocks and they rock hard...but you have to give credit where credit is due...

The problem here is Rock is too broad a genre to classify 5 greatest bands...but the entire genre of rock wouldnt be anywhere without the likes of Dylan, Zappa, Reed, Berry, Hendrix, etc...

And dont even get me started on Longevity...

I would also like to say that I understand why you like AC/DC and other such bands better then guys like Dylan and so on...but you shouldnt make accusations about them until you know what you are talkin about...everybody has thier own opinions...but a lot of people have a problem seperating their favorites from the best...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: UrbanJesus,

I found this website...

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_albumsddd.html

The dude does a pretty good job of taking everything and every genre into perspective...scroll down and there are lots of top lists...

however like I said, any "best of" list can be argued due to peoples personal preferences...

And Finally after all my blabbing and bullshit...here is my list

5 - The Velvet Underground
4 - Frank Zappa
3 - The Rolling Stones
2 - The Beatles
1 - Bob Dylan

It was a tough choice for the top three...but Dylan was always 2 steps ahead of the Beatles...and I guess putting The Rolling Stones 3rd was out of personal preference since I thought the Beatles work was better eventually...And The Stones have become too much of a Money Making band instead of a Rock band...But they are still one of the greatest of all time

Also one question...Does Ray Charles count in this genre?

quote:

Originally posted by UrbanJesus:

Wow - Ignorance truly is bliss...

This is just a list. Better to find someone who agrees with you than criticize another for not listing who you think are the greatest.

quote:

Originally posted by UrbanJesus:

No I know bands like AC/DC and the Ramones may rock harder (in other peoples opinions) then these true classic rockers...but the bottom line is, Angus Young was probably playing in his garage with some of his high school buddies covering songs like "Like a Rolling Stone", "Highway 61", "Rainy Day Women", and "All along the watchtower" which Dylan had written a decade before...and are undoubtedly some of the greatest rock songs ever written...

Dont get me wrong, but AC/DC rocks and they rock hard...but you have to give credit where credit is due...

I like Dylan a lot (even listed Another Side of Bob Dylan in my fave LPs ever) but I don't see why one should be forced to list him and the Beatles...and the Rolling Stones...and the Velvet Underground etc. If that was the case, I would've stopped listening to music long back. Lemmy too is a prophet in his one way. Some dig "Ace of Spades", "Orgasmatron", "Chase is Better than the Catch", "Bomber" and some "Desolation Row". We aren't talking influential LPs (which in a lot of cases has a huge element of popularity attached to it), just the greatest. Some of the real deal exists independent of popularity, exerting an underground influence on bands (and people) who're on the same wavelength. Magma (if Coltrane and Wagner play in a rock band you'd get Magma), Soft Machine (for the first two releases alone), Residents (one of the truest cult bands), Gong (those pot-head pixies!), Saint Vitus (for being one of the coolest in the 80s), Holy Modal Rounders (for their weird nasal folk!), The Shaggs (true punk ha ha?) etc. (it goes on) for example. I could state my case for calling these bands the greatest. For what it's worth, I'd pick Nomeansno and Napalm Death over the Beatles and the Stones. Historical influence truly means nothing in a greatest bands list. Every fan has his own perspective. We're not paid to have a critical view.

quote:

Originally posted by UrbanJesus:
The problem here is Rock is too broad a genre to classify 5 greatest bands...but the entire genre of rock wouldnt be anywhere without the likes of Dylan, Zappa, Reed, Berry, Hendrix, etc...

but a lot of people have a problem seperating their favorites from the best...

I think rock would still have existed somewhere close to what it is now even without the guys you listed. Btw - huge Mothers of Invention fanatic here! For Zappa's theater you also had the Crazy World of Arthur Brown (minus the satire of course!). Plus you did have the Fugs and Bonzo Dog Band. Cut-and-paste techniques also existed independent of Zappa so some of these weird bands would still have had their days in the sun. Hendrix was important though!

"Greatest" is still like "favourites"...Highly debatable. If you want everyone to list the same five bands, I guess "bands who make rock lists the most" or "most popular influential acts" would do a better job. And where the hell is Black Sabbath in your list? After the Beatles (and possibly though not definitely VU...) I'd be hard pressed to find a more influential band.

Hemorrhoids buddy...I wasnt saying his list is wrong in anyway...or that my list is right...i was merely pointing out the ignorance of his statement "Dylan is not rock music", as well as the fact that influence means nothing...

I mean maybe influence isnt that important but all the bands I have listed did much more to rock music then just influence it...With my top 3 bands listed you have some of the greatest rock albums put out all time in one decade...but like you said this can be debated with any band...and I suppose you are right...

Also Im glad you are a big Zappa fan, cause he ruled...

And one more thing...if this had been a top ten there would be a lot more room on my list and it would be more pleasing to everyone...bands like Sabbath, Zeppelin, Bowie, Hendrix, Nirvana, and so on would be taken into consideration...hell even the Beach Boys could make it...although I dont really consider them rock I guess...

Anyways I didnt mean to come off as one of those Music Nazis I was just trying to clear up some misconceptions about Dylan...

quote:

Originally posted by Hemorrhoids:
After the Beatles (and possibly though not definitely VU...) I'd be hard pressed to find a more influential band.

Also Id like to add that the Beatles were more of an influence on Pop Culture rather then Rock music itself...Like I stated before, Dylan was always a couple steps ahead of the Beatles...and Dylan was a huge influence on Lennon's songwriting...Zappa too...I in no way weighed influence on pop culture, otherwise the Beatles would be number one...afterall they really made rock music more popular then it had ever been...But look at the Velvet Underground, their popularity only comes today...during their hayday they were considered an Underground/Indie rock band.


So I didnt really weigh Influence as much as it may seem, but the Beatles are still high on my list...thats because they put out a lot of great work...All the bands on my list have put out brilliant works of rock art, consistently for at least a decade, sometimes longer...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: UrbanJesus,

I never stated that those were my favourite rock bands, or even that my opinions came into play. I made my list based on being a dj in a rock club, the requests I get, and the response from the crowd to what I play. Yes, I own those Dylan albums, and I put them on when I'm in the mood for the music typically mentioned in the Folk thread, not when I want rock music. If it comes to what I love personally, I'm a huge fan of NoMeansNo(seen live at least 5 times), Napalm Death(seen live twice), and Zappa(saw the Mothers Of Invention this year) too. Blues is the root of rock music, The Stones made a career out of ripping off the great blues masters, Zeppelin 1 is straight blues songs rocked up, Sabbath is blues influenced heavy rock, The Beatles first few albums owe everthing to early blues and R&B! Dylan started as folk, rocked himself up a bit, and then went back to folk, that's his genre whether he rocks a little in it or not. No, Ray Charles does not belong in this discussion. Influence has little meaning in a discussion on who is greatest, and I have no problem seperating my favourites from the best, in fact none of my favourites made the list!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Smenkharon,

classifying Dylan as folk is embarrassing yourself...especially with the albums I have mentioned...there is more blues roots rock on those albums then anything...

Dylan rocks...deal with it...

I agree with you UrbanJesus. To classify Dylan as folk is to discount everything he's done since 1964. Anyone who see's him solely as a folk artist should check out the albums you mentioned, his work with the Band, and "Hard Rain", his 1976 live album which features a killer version of "Maggie's Farm" with ex-Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson.