We are having this debate at work... It is easy to talk about some of the biggest bands of all time, but most of them are British. What is the biggest band of all time in the US?

Edited July 27, 200520 yr by southsider2k5

Ouch.

 

Aerosmith.

 

Hell I don't know, that was the first one that popped in my head though.

That's exactly is it. Its hard. If it is all bands you can say Stones, Beatles, etc. American bands??? Eh, I don't know.

Metallica? That would be my guess even though Lars is Danish.

Metallica is too "modern" although they are almost *GASP* 20 years old now.

Um, the Beach Boys are American, right?

Ugh. Not the Beach "high on life" Girls.

Edited July 27, 200520 yr by kapkomet

I am not even looking for a specific era (new or old), I am just curious what others think. We couldn't really come to an answer.

Elvis??? did he have a band ?

Elvis??? did he have a band ?

 

I thought of him and *shudders* Michael Jackson, but they would go under solo artists IMHO.

Elvis (he did have a standard backing band in his early days, of which Scotty Moore was the guitarist)

Aerosmith

KISS

Beach Boys

 

If Guns N Roses had stuck it out and Axl had not gone insane, they would have dwarfed everybody BUT The Beatles and Led Zep. Only under the debut album line-up though. The second Izzy left, they were screwed.

Elvis (he did have a standard backing band in his early days, of which Scotty Moore was the guitarist)

Aerosmith

KISS

Beach Boys

 

If Guns N Roses had stuck it out and Axl had not gone insane, they would have dwarfed everybody BUT The Beatles and Led Zep. Only under the debut album line-up though. The second Izzy left, they were screwed.

Izzy could've stayed and they were still screwed.

Axl's ego and drugs/alcohol doomed that band. Steven Adler would be dead right now if he hadn't been kicked out.

Appetite For Destruction is one of rock's all-time masterpieces, though.

Edited July 27, 200520 yr by The Critic

If you are talking most quintessentially American band, then I'd say the Beach Boys, Eagles, Grateful Dead, NRBQ, and Big Star (who nobody has heard of but really should have). Album sales is another matter entirely,and I'm sure the record holders will be someone revolting like New Kids on the Block.

The Eagles... now there's one.

Izzy could've stayed and they were still screwed.

Axl's ego and drugs/alcohol doomed that band. Steven Adler would be dead right now if he hadn't been kicked out.

Appetite For Destruction is one of rock's all-time masterpieces, though.

 

But the only way Izzy would have stayed would have been if Axl hadn't gone wacky. So, thereby, they would have been massive, even more than they were. Remember though, I am an avid GnR hater. I love Izzy solo though, so I am all cool with the outcome.

I mean if your not talking longevity, but purely impact.

 

The Doors

 

Nirvana

 

Its hard to be a super band when your leader is gone at 27.

 

SB

The doors, the Grateful Dead, are two good ones.

Whitesnake.

 

REM?

Ramones, Lifetime, Green Day (as much as they piss me off nowadays), you can see where my roots are

 

Edit: mine aren't really the most popular or successful bands of all time but ones who influenced culture and music a whole lot. Quintessential American bands that defined their genre.

Edited July 27, 200520 yr by Spiff

I'm glad someone said the Eagles... I had totally forgot about them. That would have to be my vote for they sales and longevity, to go along with their huge hits.

Ramones, Lifetime, Green Day (as much as they piss me off nowadays), you can see where my roots are

 

Edit: mine aren't really the most popular or successful bands of all time but ones who influenced culture and music a whole lot.  Quintessential American bands that defined their genre.

 

 

Lifetime??? Who are they? What genre did they define? From your others, I am thinking some form of Punk (though Green Day hardly defined it), but after years in the Punk trenches...I have never heard of them. Are they a newer band?

I'm glad someone said the Eagles... I had totally forgot about them.  That would have to be my vote for they sales and longevity, to go along with their huge hits.

 

 

Longevity in how the music has stayed relevant? They took a little hiatus there, that many thought would never end, including the band.

Longevity in how the music has stayed relevant? They took a little hiatus there, that many thought would never end, including the band.

 

Yeah, their music is still huge today. Heck they were the highest grossing concert last time they went out on tour.

I don't like them at all, and think Henley is an ego-maniac prick, but ya have to respect the hell out of them.