r/musicsuggestions • u/RRE4EVR • 4d ago

Best American rock band of all time

This is obviously a subjective post. As post suggest “all time” so feel free to go back to to the 50’s and please consider that bands from this millennium may not hold up in a couple decades. Also genre blending bands welcome.

Greatful Dead my answer

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u/caso_perdido11 4d ago

Grateful Dead for me too.

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u/peteryansexypotato 4d ago

I think it'd have to be the Grateful Dead or Credence, for me.

There's a special place in my heart for the Violent Femmes self-titled album too.

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u/Serious_Start_384 1d ago

Even if one doesn't care for them, their material is a gateway to pre-rock/pre-british invasion American music. I learned about a lot of other music via GD.

They sing of the romanticized version of America, wild and free, lawless, and timeless.

Their attitude was (for better or worse) pure liberty, and all the beauty/ugliness that comes with it.

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u/Prior_Clerk4470 4d ago

I could see that, however they weren't very mainstream. They played for so many years and sold so many tickets. They were really an "Americana" band with roots in all types of American music.

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u/Hatta00 4d ago

"Mainstream" and "best" rarely coincide.

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u/Prior_Clerk4470 4d ago

Very true. They're one of my all time favorite bands.

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u/I_Am_Guy_Uh 4d ago

I think Beach Boys for their influence on rock in the studio, Grateful Dead for their influence on live rock music.