r/musicsuggestions • u/RRE4EVR • 5d 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/SenseNo635 5d ago

Van Halen - EVH redefined rock and roll guitar. Every band for the next 10 years tried to sound like them; unsuccessfully.

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u/UnderstandingOdd679 4d ago

I never loved them, especially when Sammy joined, but this is the one that came first to mind for me.

I would put them ahead of Petty and Springsteen. While I get The Beach Boys being influential in an earlier time, I think Pet Sounds is overrated.

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u/nwbeeceefriend 23h ago

Agreed....and i commend you for your bravery. I was afraid that if I made a negative comment about Pet Sounds, there'd be a knock at my door from someone coming to end me!

Not my all time favorite band but thinking of the hits, the times, and the enduring influence they've had on how rock music is played, while providing the quintessential rock band "blue print" (charismatic frontman, amazing lead guitarist/showman, steady bass player/background vocalist, hard hitting drummer with a huge kit), its hard to beat VH as the greatest American rock band (Unless, of course you want to get nipicky about the whole Dutch/American aspect of the VH story).