The Greatest American Rock Band of All Time?

[Alex]

The Ventures should be on a list like this.

I agree, but I'm biased - I'm from the Northwest.

To say nothing of The Sonics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGpActuZbGc

The originators of grunge!

Interesting. I read elsewhere that it's Nirvana (who I do not tolerate).

The Sonics were 60s. So they had 3 decades on Nirvana (a very overrated band IMO).

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Nirvana is overrated.  It's been 25 years, and I still don't understand the attraction.  And, no offense to any of their fans, but IMO, I highly doubt they would be placed so highly on so many lists of rock bands had Kurt Cobain had not died when they and grunge were at their peak. 

The Leadbelly and Vaselines covers are pretty much the only songs by them that I can stand to listen to.

[Lonely Summer]

The Ventures should be on a list like this.

I agree, but I'm biased - I'm from the Northwest.

To say nothing of The Sonics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGpActuZbGc

The originators of grunge!

Interesting. I read elsewhere that it's Nirvana (who I do not tolerate).

The Sonics were 60s. So they had 3 decades on Nirvana (a very overrated band IMO).

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Nirvana is overrated.  It's been 25 years, and I still don't understand the attraction.  And, no offense to any of their fans, but IMO, I highly doubt they would be placed so highly on so many lists of rock bands had Kurt Cobain had not died when they and grunge were at their peak. 

Early death does much to elevate the popularity of rock and rollers. I mean - and I don't mean to diss any of the following, who were all great in their own way - but why is Buddy Holly revered much more today than, say, the Everly Brothers or Rick Nelson? There's a mystique attached to the Jim Morrison's and Jimi Hendrix's of the world because they left us early. If you stick around for a long time, eventually the public sees you trip and fall.

[KDS]

Very true LS,

This is one of the reasons The Beach Boys aren't as revered as The Beatles.  The Beatles called it a day in 1970 with few blemishes on their record. 

Same goes for Led Zeppelin over The Who and Deep Purple. 

Nothing against The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, as both are great bands, but they did their legacy a great favor by packing it in early. 

[the captain]

It's the old show biz axiom: leave the audience wanting more. Worked for George Costanza.

[Lonely Summer]

Very true LS,

This is one of the reasons The Beach Boys aren't as revered as The Beatles.  The Beatles called it a day in 1970 with few blemishes on their record. 

Same goes for Led Zeppelin over The Who and Deep Purple. 

Nothing against The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, as both are great bands, but they did their legacy a great favor by packing it in early. 

Yes, that is true. Although I am glad our Boys continued and gave us a few more good records, and the opportunity to see them in concert.

[KDS]

Very true LS,

This is one of the reasons The Beach Boys aren't as revered as The Beatles.  The Beatles called it a day in 1970 with few blemishes on their record. 

Same goes for Led Zeppelin over The Who and Deep Purple. 

Nothing against The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, as both are great bands, but they did their legacy a great favor by packing it in early. 

Yes, that is true. Although I am glad our Boys continued and gave us a few more good records, and the opportunity to see them in concert.

I agree.  Same with The Who and Deep Purple. 

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

The Beach Boys were The Greatest American Band Of All Time™ from 1962 to 1980, after which R.E.M. took that title.

[alf wiedersehen]

The Beach Boys were The Greatest American Band Of All Time™ from 1962 to 1980, after which R.E.M. took that title.

There's some math humor for ya, folks.

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

The Beach Boys were The Greatest American Band Of All Time™ from 1962 to 1980, after which R.E.M. took that title.

There's some math humor for ya, folks.

Thanks, I'll be here all week, Tuesday to Friday!

[KDS]

I think Ronnie James Dio deserves a mention as a great American artist. 

He's always had Europeans in his band though, so that's why his name never comes up in these lists.  (ie. Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Vivian Campbell). 

[Toursiveu]

Greatest american rock band?

1) THE BAND !!!!

2) Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
3) The Mothers of Invention (even though they weren't really a band, more like Zappa and a bunch of other musicians)
4) The Doors
5) The Beach Boys
6) Creedence Clearwater Revival

Talking Heads? Are they a ROCK band or not?

[JK]

Talking Heads? Are they a ROCK band or not?

It's that word "rock" getting in the way again. In fact I deleted it from the title to this post.

[Emily]

Then there's the 'band.' I suppose that precludes Motown artists and post-Motown Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, Elvis, Aretha, James Brown, Prince (unless one counts the Revolution)?

[KDS]

The poll cited in the OP says "Greatest American Rock Band." 

I would consider The Talking Heads rock, but not the Motown, Soul, R&B stuff. 

[Emily]

I was responding to John K dropping the 'rock'. To me, it's a pretty arbitrary category, as is 'band'. Neither can be firmly defined which makes any answer to the question debatable not just on the word 'greatest', which I think is meant to be the point, but also on 'rock' and 'band'. Those terms just render the whole exercise pointless. Too many variables.

[the captain]

Greatest american rock band?

1) THE BAND !!!!

Did we annex Canada? Or is this being interpreted by continent instead of country? (The band was, what, 4/5 Canadian?)

[the captain]

I was responding to John K dropping the 'rock'. To me, it's a pretty arbitrary category, as is 'band'. Neither can be firmly defined which makes any answer to the question debatable not just on the word 'greatest', which I think is meant to be the point, but also on 'rock' and 'band'. Those terms just render the whole exercise pointless. Too many variables.

This is my real answer

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Greatest american rock band?

1) THE BAND !!!!

Did we annex Canada? Or is this being interpreted by continent instead of country? (The band was, what, 4/5 Canadian?)

To be incredibly nit-picky, Canada is American but I recognize that's not how most people think of it and that America tends to be a short form of United States of America.

[KDS]

Greatest american rock band?

1) THE BAND !!!!

Did we annex Canada? Or is this being interpreted by continent instead of country? (The band was, what, 4/5 Canadian?)

To be incredibly nit-picky, Canada is American but I recognize that's not how most people think of it and that America tends to be a short form of United States of America.

That would explain the exclusion of Neil Young and Rush. 

[Emily]

Greatest american rock band?

1) THE BAND !!!!

Did we annex Canada? Or is this being interpreted by continent instead of country? (The band was, what, 4/5 Canadian?)

To be incredibly nit-picky, Canada is American but I recognize that's not how most people think of it and that America tends to be a short form of United States of America.

So 'American' is debatable as well.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Greatest american rock band?

1) THE BAND !!!!

Did we annex Canada? Or is this being interpreted by continent instead of country? (The band was, what, 4/5 Canadian?)

To be incredibly nit-picky, Canada is American but I recognize that's not how most people think of it and that America tends to be a short form of United States of America.

So 'American' is debatable as well.

I say we tackle "Time" next!

[KDS]

Semantics

"Some antics???  I'm always up for some antics." 

[the captain]

Greatest american rock band?

1) THE BAND !!!!

Did we annex Canada? Or is this being interpreted by continent instead of country? (The band was, what, 4/5 Canadian?)

To be incredibly nit-picky, Canada is American but I recognize that's not how most people think of it and that America tends to be a short form of United States of America.

So 'American' is debatable as well.

I say we tackle "Time" next!

Excellent! For example, pre-Big Bang, was there a universe in which life, and music, developed? If so, do those bands count? Because as I understand it, that exists outside of time, time and space being intertwined and beginning at BB (even if there were predecessors or others). Fucking physics always ruins rock music polls.

[KDS]

Physics and Nirvana.

Nirvana - Throwing a wretch into every music poll done since April 1994. 

[Lonely Summer]

If band can be one person, then I want to revise my list to be:
Chuck Berry
Little Richard
Bob Dylan
Elvis Presley