Gibson.com’s Top 50 American Rock Bands of All Time – #50-41
06.27.2011
We’ve nearly arrived again at that most American of holidays: the Fourth of July. In celebration of the country’s independence, and legacy of amazing bands, Gibson.com is counting down the Top 50 American Rock Bands of All Time.
That’s right, we’re celebrating the good, old U.S. of A. with some pre-holiday musical fireworks , sure to ignite a fiery debate over who owns the title of the best American rock band – ever! We enlisted the talents of Gibson.com’s editorial and writing staff, along with you, the readers, to weigh in on this most patriotic of subjects.
Today, we’re thrilled to announce #50-41 on the list. Check back to Gibson.com each day, as we reveal 10 more American greats, with the Top 10 coming on Friday.
50. Green Day
Green Day are an American band who make ambitious music out of, well, questioning America. The music of their 2004 album, American Idiot, expresses the fear in the U.S. the days after 9/11, as well as the band’s disillusion with the government of the era. All politically charged lyrics aside, Green Day are a rare bunch who have sold millions of albums (at 15 million, 1994’s “Dookie” is the world’s best-selling punk rock album ever), launched a Broadway musical and earned generations of punkster fans. – Anne Erickson
49. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
Frank Zappa was undeniably a creative genius, and part of this genius was expressed in his ability to surround himself with unique musicians. The original Mothers of Invention encapsulated the dirtier side of the ’60s, yet were equally capable of off-key darkness (“Who are the Brain Police”) and note-perfect pop (“You Didn’t Try to Call Me”). Frank eventually found more musically able Mothers, but the original lineup had an almost naive charm that couldn’t be replaced. – Peter Hodgson
48. Yo La Tengo
The Onion once ran a spot-on mock news story in which 37 record-shop assistants were lost, feared dead, when a roof caved in at a Yo La Tengo concert – the New Jersey outfit being beloved of indie-elitists and alt-rock aficionados the world over. Ira Kaplan and Co.’s 27-year catalog is strong and deep, from 2006’s guitar-heavy I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass to their subtle soundtrack work and backing-band efforts for The Kinks’ Ray Davies. Zig-zagging genres like an iPod Shuffle, Yo La Tengo remain an American guitar treasure. – Michael Leonard
47. Elvis Presley and the Blue Moon Boys
Any band that includes Elvis Presley among its ranks would have to be blessed with true rock and roll cool. But the Blue Moon Boys also counted guitar legend Scotty Moore, a startlingly original fingerpicking innovator who practically invented the concept of rock and roll lead guitar. As if that wasn’t enough, the Blue Moon Boys’ fusion of rock and country meant they played a crucial role in the history of rockabilly, too. The group was rounded out by Bill Black on bass and D.J. Fontana on drums. – Peter Hodgson
46. Kings of Leon
Hailing from the Nashville suburb of Mt. Juliet, this band of three sons of a Pentecostal preacher and their cousin have taken the world by storm with their unique blend of indie-bluesy-southern-arena rock. Their initial success happened in the U.K. and Australia, where their first two albums racked up crazy sales and awards. Today, with 56 worldwide platinum certifications, including success in the good ol’ U. S. of A., Kings of Leon are now bona-fide rock stars. Amen! – Sean Patrick Dooley
45. The Lovin’ Spoonful
One of the most important progressions in 20th Century popular music was the influx of folk into rock and roll. The importance of lyrics and multi-part harmonies played a major role in turning “rock ’n’ roll music” into “rock music.” Near the center of that movement was a Greenwich Village-based band called The Lovin' Spoonful, whose pop sensibilities and sterling vocals made for several Top 10 hits (including “Summer in the City” and “Do You Believe in Magic?”) and made a star out of frontman John Sebastian. The group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. – Michael Wright
44. Alice Cooper
In the beginning, Alice Cooper was a full band led by vocalist Vincent Damon Furnier. Under that moniker, Furnier and his clan brought a highly theatrical and vicious brand of ghoulish music designed to shock and rock to the metal mainstream. Gallons of fake blood (it is fake, right?), electric chairs and huge syringes were the antics of the band’s one-of-a-kind live shows. After the group splintered, Furnier began a solo career as Alice Cooper – a name that would follow him to today. With Coop (and the band’s) recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this one’s a no-brainer. – Anne Erickson
43. The Strokes
If the music biz had a machine to manufacture millennial boho NYC guitar hipsters, it would undoubtedly spit out The Strokes. Yet the quintet are definitely for real: Fab Moretti has played drums since he was five, Albert Hammond Jr.’s father was a songwriter of note, Nick Valensi can be a dazzling soloist. Their debut Is This It (2001) is the must-have album, but The Strokes’ new wave smarts and intricate guitar interplay still seduce – with the eclectic brew of 2011’s Angles hitting dizzy heights. – Michael Leonard
42. Cheap Trick
Although they first made it big in Japan, these preeminent purveyors of power pop are a uniquely American force. Fans have been surrendering to Cheap Trick’s sizzling brand of super-melodic rock for more than 30 years. Why? Because few songwriters exist that are as strange, clever and enthralling as Rick Nielsen, few groups can claim a “Man of 1,000 Voices” like Robin Zander and no band – ever! – has worked as hard on stage to be so consistently entertaining. – Bryan Wawzenek
41. NRBQ
Few bands have ever been as wildly eclectic as NRBQ was. Especially during their ’70s heyday, the group incorporated everything from British Invasion pop to free-form jazz into a sound that seemed wholly natural and meant to be. Often called “the world’s greatest bar band,” the group counted Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan among their most avid fans. Chart success eluded NRBQ, but the band’s exalted status was assured when writers for The Simpsons made them the show’s unofficial “house band” for three seasons. – Russell Hall
Votes for the Top 50 Covers of All Time were included from Michael Wright, Bryan Wawzenek, Andrew Vaughan, Sean Patrick Dooley, Cesar Acevedo, Paul Burch, Arlen Roth, Ted Drozdowski, Russell Hall, Peter Hodgson, Anne Erickson, Michael Leonard, Paolo Bassotti and the Gibson.com Readers Poll.
That’s right, we’re celebrating the good, old U.S. of A. with some pre-holiday musical fireworks , sure to ignite a fiery debate over who owns the title of the best American rock band – ever! We enlisted the talents of Gibson.com’s editorial and writing staff, along with you, the readers, to weigh in on this most patriotic of subjects.
Today, we’re thrilled to announce #50-41 on the list. Check back to Gibson.com each day, as we reveal 10 more American greats, with the Top 10 coming on Friday.
50. Green Day
Green Day are an American band who make ambitious music out of, well, questioning America. The music of their 2004 album, American Idiot, expresses the fear in the U.S. the days after 9/11, as well as the band’s disillusion with the government of the era. All politically charged lyrics aside, Green Day are a rare bunch who have sold millions of albums (at 15 million, 1994’s “Dookie” is the world’s best-selling punk rock album ever), launched a Broadway musical and earned generations of punkster fans. – Anne Erickson
49. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
Frank Zappa was undeniably a creative genius, and part of this genius was expressed in his ability to surround himself with unique musicians. The original Mothers of Invention encapsulated the dirtier side of the ’60s, yet were equally capable of off-key darkness (“Who are the Brain Police”) and note-perfect pop (“You Didn’t Try to Call Me”). Frank eventually found more musically able Mothers, but the original lineup had an almost naive charm that couldn’t be replaced. – Peter Hodgson
48. Yo La Tengo
The Onion once ran a spot-on mock news story in which 37 record-shop assistants were lost, feared dead, when a roof caved in at a Yo La Tengo concert – the New Jersey outfit being beloved of indie-elitists and alt-rock aficionados the world over. Ira Kaplan and Co.’s 27-year catalog is strong and deep, from 2006’s guitar-heavy I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass to their subtle soundtrack work and backing-band efforts for The Kinks’ Ray Davies. Zig-zagging genres like an iPod Shuffle, Yo La Tengo remain an American guitar treasure. – Michael Leonard
47. Elvis Presley and the Blue Moon Boys
Any band that includes Elvis Presley among its ranks would have to be blessed with true rock and roll cool. But the Blue Moon Boys also counted guitar legend Scotty Moore, a startlingly original fingerpicking innovator who practically invented the concept of rock and roll lead guitar. As if that wasn’t enough, the Blue Moon Boys’ fusion of rock and country meant they played a crucial role in the history of rockabilly, too. The group was rounded out by Bill Black on bass and D.J. Fontana on drums. – Peter Hodgson
46. Kings of Leon
Hailing from the Nashville suburb of Mt. Juliet, this band of three sons of a Pentecostal preacher and their cousin have taken the world by storm with their unique blend of indie-bluesy-southern-arena rock. Their initial success happened in the U.K. and Australia, where their first two albums racked up crazy sales and awards. Today, with 56 worldwide platinum certifications, including success in the good ol’ U. S. of A., Kings of Leon are now bona-fide rock stars. Amen! – Sean Patrick Dooley
45. The Lovin’ Spoonful
One of the most important progressions in 20th Century popular music was the influx of folk into rock and roll. The importance of lyrics and multi-part harmonies played a major role in turning “rock ’n’ roll music” into “rock music.” Near the center of that movement was a Greenwich Village-based band called The Lovin' Spoonful, whose pop sensibilities and sterling vocals made for several Top 10 hits (including “Summer in the City” and “Do You Believe in Magic?”) and made a star out of frontman John Sebastian. The group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. – Michael Wright
44. Alice Cooper
In the beginning, Alice Cooper was a full band led by vocalist Vincent Damon Furnier. Under that moniker, Furnier and his clan brought a highly theatrical and vicious brand of ghoulish music designed to shock and rock to the metal mainstream. Gallons of fake blood (it is fake, right?), electric chairs and huge syringes were the antics of the band’s one-of-a-kind live shows. After the group splintered, Furnier began a solo career as Alice Cooper – a name that would follow him to today. With Coop (and the band’s) recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this one’s a no-brainer. – Anne Erickson
43. The Strokes
If the music biz had a machine to manufacture millennial boho NYC guitar hipsters, it would undoubtedly spit out The Strokes. Yet the quintet are definitely for real: Fab Moretti has played drums since he was five, Albert Hammond Jr.’s father was a songwriter of note, Nick Valensi can be a dazzling soloist. Their debut Is This It (2001) is the must-have album, but The Strokes’ new wave smarts and intricate guitar interplay still seduce – with the eclectic brew of 2011’s Angles hitting dizzy heights. – Michael Leonard
42. Cheap Trick
Although they first made it big in Japan, these preeminent purveyors of power pop are a uniquely American force. Fans have been surrendering to Cheap Trick’s sizzling brand of super-melodic rock for more than 30 years. Why? Because few songwriters exist that are as strange, clever and enthralling as Rick Nielsen, few groups can claim a “Man of 1,000 Voices” like Robin Zander and no band – ever! – has worked as hard on stage to be so consistently entertaining. – Bryan Wawzenek
41. NRBQ
Few bands have ever been as wildly eclectic as NRBQ was. Especially during their ’70s heyday, the group incorporated everything from British Invasion pop to free-form jazz into a sound that seemed wholly natural and meant to be. Often called “the world’s greatest bar band,” the group counted Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan among their most avid fans. Chart success eluded NRBQ, but the band’s exalted status was assured when writers for The Simpsons made them the show’s unofficial “house band” for three seasons. – Russell Hall
Votes for the Top 50 Covers of All Time were included from Michael Wright, Bryan Wawzenek, Andrew Vaughan, Sean Patrick Dooley, Cesar Acevedo, Paul Burch, Arlen Roth, Ted Drozdowski, Russell Hall, Peter Hodgson, Anne Erickson, Michael Leonard, Paolo Bassotti and the Gibson.com Readers Poll.
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