Plenty of potential contenders but (sticking with rock bands) these are my prime contenders: The Beach Boys Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (if & bands count) CCR The Doors The Byrds Van Halen Allman Brothers Band R.E.M. Talking Heads The Velvet Underground
Hmmm... favorite, or "best". Personally, it's a toss up which I like best between the Crowes and REM. Top selling, I'd imagine the Eagles would have to be at/near the top. Metallica would also be a contender.
I don't mind that this thread has been done before. It's been awhile. People change. I'd go with The Jimi Hendrix Experience but they were only 1/3 American so I'll go with Dinosaur Jr.
I love this kind of thread, so today my choices are; 1) The Beach Boys: there can be no argument. They recorded one of the top 5 albums of all time and IMHO another 2 of the top 50. 2) The Byrds: their influence is still around today and as long as kids pick up a guitar that influence will always be there. Directly or indirectly. 3) Love: bet you didn't expect that Arthur Lee recorded the greatest albums of all time and then S/T debut is one of the 30 greatest debuts ever. 4) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: A great American band The like Of which will not be seen again. 5) The Band: for their influence and originality. Every member were highly musically gifted. 6) C,S,N&Y: definitely great, definitely flawed geniuses. 7) R.E.M.: Great at the start, great in the middle barring one album and very underrated at the end. There are many more The Doors, Allmans, C.C.R. Grateful Dead, and many more that came later. If there's one thing America got right it's music.
Just scanning my collection and its never occurred to me how poorly served American "bands" are in my collection. No wonder you lot are still obsessed with The Beatles. I'd say Talking Heads and Beastie Boys personally
It's The Stooges of course. Iggy. Or The Velvet Underground. I can't pick between them. Lou's did get recognition before he passed. I think the US should have an Iggy Pop day, he's a true original and innovator and a champ and a gentleman if that's important. He's worth ten presidents.
Acknowledging that the premise of picking a “best” is absurd, and restricting the conversation to rock, I think The Doors were arguably the most important band the US ever produced to this point, speaking from the perspective of their studio output and legacy.
What I find interesting is that when you limit the definition to “bands”, the US contingent seems to fall a bit short of the UK counterparts, and yet US acts dominate in overall record sales. This is because many of the major US musical acts are solo performers and/or R&B. It’s been true since the birth of rock and remains true today. Many solo performers are so iconic that you don’t need to mention last names: Elvis, Chuck, Jerry Lee, Buddy, Smoky, Marvin, Diana, Stevie, Gladys, Otis, Aretha, Tina, Michael, Billy, Bruuuce, Prince, Madonna, Whitney, Mariah, Snoop, Dre, Tupac, Eminem, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin, Taylor. Not to mention all of the great R&B groups, including Motown and the girl groups.
Ignoring "&" bands like Bruce & E Street, I'd pick... ...Pearl Jam. Most of my all-time favorite "true bands" aren't American. When it comes to US Americans, I tend to go with solo artists - Bruce, Madonna, Prince, Gaga, etc. So PJ are easily the top of the "band list" for me...
Beach Boys - No argument Byrds - Influential but no one listens to them anymore Love - One great album that no one listens to. (I do) Tom Petty - Huge. Most people like at least some of his music. The Band - They were pretty good in their day. Not for everyone. CSN&Y - Underachievers. Could have been great. REM - Great in the beginning, great in the middle but went out with a fizzle.
