The greatest rock bands of all time
The top 3 according to 44 votes from people: The Rolling Stones · The Beatles · Led Zeppelin. (Updated Jan 20, 2025.)
Bands (not solo artists) that rank highest in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists and in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's history, ordered by consensus between critics and fans.
Top 25
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1
The Rolling Stones
London, 1962–. Jagger and Richards, more than six decades of touring; number four for Rolling Stone.
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2
The Beatles
Liverpool, 1960–1970. Number one on Rolling Stone's list and the best-selling act in music history.
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3
Led Zeppelin
London, 1968–1980. 'Stairway to Heaven' and the blueprint of hard rock and heavy metal.
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4
Pink Floyd
London, 1965. The Dark Side of the Moon spent more than 900 weeks on the Billboard 200.
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5
Queen
London, 1970–. Freddie Mercury, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and Live Aid 1985.
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6
The Who
London, 1964–. Pete Townshend's smashed guitars and the rock opera Tommy.
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7
Nirvana
Aberdeen, Washington, 1987–1994. Kurt Cobain and Nevermind took grunge worldwide.
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8
Radiohead
Abingdon, England, 1985–. From OK Computer to Kid A, they reinvented themselves album after album.
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9
The Doors
Los Angeles, 1965–1973. Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek's organ.
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10
The Velvet Underground
New York, 1964–1973. Lou Reed, John Cale and Andy Warhol; the most influential band that hardly sold.
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11
U2
Dublin, 1976–. The Joshua Tree and some of the highest-grossing tours in history.
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12
The Clash
London, 1976–1986. 'The only band that matters'; punk with politics, reggae and London Calling.
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13
Black Sabbath
Birmingham, 1968. Tony Iommi's riffs and Ozzy Osbourne: the birth of heavy metal.
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14
Ramones
New York, 1974–1996. Two-minute songs and leather jackets that kicked off punk.
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15
The Kinks
London, 1963–1996. Ray Davies' very English songs, from 'You Really Got Me' to 'Waterloo Sunset'.
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16
Guns N' Roses
Los Angeles, 1985–. Appetite for Destruction is the best-selling debut album in US history.
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17
The Band
Toronto/Woodstock, 1967–1976. Dylan's backing band who invented Americana; The Last Waltz by Scorsese.
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18
R.E.M.
Athens, Georgia, 1980–2011. From college radio to 'Losing My Religion'.
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19
Creedence Clearwater Revival
El Cerrito, California, 1967–1972. Swamp rock with 'Proud Mary' and 'Fortunate Son'.
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20
Talking Heads
New York, 1975–1991. David Byrne's art-funk, Remain in Light and Stop Making Sense.
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21
AC/DC
Sydney, 1973–. Angus Young's school uniform; Back in Black is one of the best-selling albums ever.
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22
Fleetwood Mac
London, 1967–. From British blues to Rumours, with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.
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23
The Smiths
Manchester, 1982–1987. Morrissey and Johnny Marr; four studio albums that marked British indie.
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24
Rush
Canadian progressive rock trio formed in Toronto in 1968, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
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25
Pearl Jam
Seattle band formed in 1990, one of the defining groups of grunge with the album Ten.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 25… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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26
Metallica
Los Angeles, 1981–. Master of Puppets and the 'Black Album'; the biggest metal band in the world.
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27
The Beach Boys
Hawthorne, California, 1961–. Brian Wilson's harmonies and Pet Sounds; number 12 for Rolling Stone.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (4)
Rush and Pearl Jam missing, not even in the top 25? Come on
The Smiths in a 'rock' list, I'll allow it 😌
Beatles at #1 is boring but correct.
Led Zeppelin should be above the Stones. Fight me.