The conversation surrounding the ranking of the best bands of all time is either ruthless or completely opinion-based. Over the years, numerous bands have successfully impacted the lives of millions with their style. Therefore it’s only obvious for the crowd to have multiple options. But to avoid all confusion, here we have crowd-sourced the necessary information based on things like tours, awards, sales figures, and much more to list out the best ten.
While there still may be disagreement on the listed names, but we all know that a random person couldn’t explain the most basic thing about music and its theory apart from just how they feel when they hear it. This implies that some of the best bands have had their name encrypted due to their massive sound impact and now the music theory. This means they must have had a mass appeal with their music. And, this certainly holds a part of our equation to chalk out the list of the top-ten!
The real fun kicks in when we start figuring out the best based on the richest rock stars and the best guitarists of all time. So, let’s see if there’s any pattern that emerges in the process. Let’s find out whether or not skill and money go hand-in-hand, and are the best of bands really that driven based on vocals and guitars. In the meanwhile, before we dig into the most celebrated names, it’s important to acknowledge the runner up’s as well. So, here it goes:
- Kiss: The band that sold over 28.2 million records and it is the count of their merchandising and tours that reflects on how deep their impact has been on the lives of the fans.
- Van Halen: The group has achieved over 80 million sales as they brought the flavor of hard rock back to the forefront and satisfied endless fans with their music.
- Def Leppard: The band racked in 42.3 million sales as it was amongst the names of the first rock bands to be aired on MTV during the height of its success.
- Guns N’ Roses: Needles to say about the popularity of this one. The band boasts around 77.6 million units, of which almost half came in from their one stunni8ng album with superbly successful singles.
- Deep Purple: Active since 1968, the group is the pioneer of heavy metal and modern hard rock. The band continues to have life-long followers and is continuing to gain new fans. Their span is surely impressive!
The list could go on and now let us get into the top 10 bands of all times!
1- THE BEATLES
Certified Sales: 279.8 million
Having a short run of only 10 years, from 1960 to 1970, THE BEATLES was still amongst the best-selling artists of all times. And, if someone has to add in their solo albums and side groups, then the band would enjoy that record forever. The group started young and smoothly led the British Invasion of rock and pop into the USA, and without any doubt, their fans grew up alongside, purchasing every single album as they went on. This band won all the awards, produced and starred in movies, and they even hold records for having the most covered song of all time. The Lennon-McCartney songwriting team has been the most successful ever. The band had a tremendous rock appeal that rightfully evolved through the interests of the hippy era.
2- THE ROLLING STONES
Certified Sales: 100 million
The Rolling Stones are so fabulous and grand that even the members of the group have fantastic solo careers, like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The band started in 1962 and quickly came to the forefront of the British Invasion. Out of the top five highest-grossing tours, four of them belong to this particular band. A major part of their success is attributed to them staying brutally honest to the safe foundational genres like rock, soul, and R&B. The team also recently won a Grammy Award for the Best Traditional Blues Album. Believing that consistency is the key, the band managed to still hold on to the top rank for nearly 60 years.
3- PINK FLOYD
Certified Sales: 121.4 million
Even when their early releases were led by Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd already started making a lasting impact on the British rock scene. It was when David Gilmour joined the band and took over the creative direction that they gained international recognition. Four of their albums topped both the UK and the US charts, but only two of their singles managed to reach the top ten in either of the regions. Throughout their career, the band released 15 albums and toured to support each of their releases. They have even composed film scores for some lesser-known movies and two of their albums namely, The Wall and The Dark Side of the Moon occupied space in the best-selling albums of all times. A dark melody line like theirs won’t ever be considered pop.
4- THE BEACH BOYS
Certified Sales: 31.1 million
As their fan base matured, The Beach Boys quickly rode the wave of the California Sound of surf-rock and then swiftly changed their gear into more personal themes. Progressively, their music’s arrangements and orchestrations became so complex that just like the Moody Blues, they couldn’t deliver it faithfully on the live stages. One of the most unmatched attributes that the band held was that their vocal harmonies were recorded in just one take. Moreover, they are one of the very few bands that found success before the British Invasion and successfully maintained it.
5- LED ZEPPELIN
Certified Sales: 140.6 million
A major part of reaching a wide audience base is having a massive appeal and Led Zeppelin was brilliant in that aspect. The band played music in the folk-rock and blues-rock genre but are also considered as the progenitors of heavy metal music. These guys did it big every time and possibly have had released the most influential songs in the history of rock including their single, Stairway to Heaven. Their concerts broke records and their albums ranked amongst the top-selling ever. All of their nine albums reached the top 10 and six of them reached the number-one slot on the charts as well. The band has bagged all the music awards available and their legacy is truly everlasting amongst both the fans and the musicians.
6- U2
Certified Sales: 110.3 million
Formed by a crew of friends in a secondary school in Dublin, before any one of them had any proficiencies in music, U2 within a short span of four years, scored a record deal. And, it was by their fifth album, when they became a global sensation. In the current scenario, they have won 22 Grammy Awards, which is more than any other band. Part of their success is attributed to the fact that the band tries to evolve and revolutionize their sound out of boredom or controversy. There is no doubt, that the band is a huge experimenter!
7- THE WHO
Certified Sales: 27.8 million
With their pop art and sub-culture influences, The Who endorses a huge appeal, and even more credit goes to their rock opera Tommy and its massive success. They certainly have one of the best concept albums. The band made enormous tours that were surely exciting and helped amplify their sound. But, it is not just about their music. The band contributed to the development of the Marshall stack, the use of large PA systems, the use of the synthesizer in rock, and even things like the usage of power chords on the guitar. More than fans, the musicians appreciate them and cite them consistently for being a top influence on music.
8- NIRVANA
Certified Sales: 52.3 million
Kurt Cobain was surely and most certainly the breakout star of Nirvana. And, it was since the passing and the breakup of the band in 1994, that Dave Grohl went on to become the musical great, playing the bass, the drums, and also singing the vocals on countless bands and other collaborations. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ launched them to fame in 1991. Moreover, it didn’t take long enough for the band to win all the music awards in rapid succession to each other. In 2014, the music band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the first year of their eligibility.
9- THE DOORS
Certified Sales: 48.2 million
Active from 1965 to 1973, The Doors ran for a short eight years but it quickly became one of the most influential bands of the counterculture era, and also a largely controversial band due to Jim Morrison’s unreliable behavior. With every passing decade, the band attracted and invited new fans, and due to their cover songs becoming increasingly popular, the usage of their songs in hit movies, and movies about them, quickly became a thing. With the release of their first album, The Doors re-entered the Billboard charts, 14 years after the band’s initial release. Their legacy will continue to live on forever.
10- QUEEN
Certified Sales: 147.6 million
Queen who had already secured their name on the list much previously, lately is gaining more and more ground. Since 1970, the band has stopped touring and creating new music. The name of the band may be Queen but they are certainly the kings of the pop-rock and the rock genre. Their songs are still being over-played today to an extent that many of us could be sick about them. If anyone has been to a sporting event, it is most obvious to have heard their songs being played as anthems. Moreover, there was even a biographical movie that has been made about the band most recently.