The top rock bands will vary depending on how one music fan’s taste differs from the next. Although there are many contenders, a few have truly risen to the very top. The rock and roll genre has been divided into a long list of sub-genres, which feature renowned musician from all over the world. These genres include alternative, beat music, Britpop, garage rock, heavy metal, glam rock, experimental rock, emo, art rock, southern rock, soft rock, surf and symphonic rock among others. The top rock bands can also be found among fusion genres such as afro-rock, stoner rock, samba rock, glam punk, folk rock, country rock, blues rock, rockabilly and many others.
The standard rock band lineup generally features a guitarist, vocalist, bassist and drummer. Additional instruments, such as piano, keyboard, organ and synthesizers may also be included depending on the style of the group. The bassist for the top rock bands of today harkens back to the early 1950s, when the genre was gradually evolving out of gospel, country western and blues music. The phrase “rock and roll” was coined by a Cleveland-based disc jockey named Alan Freed who use it to describe the unique sound of the music he played.
Many people believe that the top rock band of all time was not so much a group as it was a single man named Elvis Presley. Presley has become a staple of rock and was considered a controversial figure with his dancing style, which was considered sexually charged for the times. His first single, That’s All Right (Mama), was released in 1954 and is often credited as the first rock and roll release. Others credit Shake, Rattle and Roll by Big Joe Turner as the truly the first. Regardless of which you prefer, both can easily be ranked as one of the top rock bands in the genre’s history.
A decade later, other top rock bands would emerge from the sub-genres of this category. One of the most famous came from the psychedelic grouping. Jimi Hendrix is often described as the greatest electric guitar player in the history of music. Hendrix earned himself some of the most prestigious awards in rock, including some that were awarded after his death. In 1992, he was given a place in the United States Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was added to the United Kingdom’s Hall of Fame 13 years later.
Each sub-genre has its own collection of top rock bands. Folk rock celebrates Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. Progressive rock’s top performers include Yes, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Boston, Syx, Journey, Foreigner and Kansas. Jazz rock’s top bands and musicians include Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, the Free Spirits and Chicago while glam rock boasted David Bowie, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls and Gary Glitter. Soft rock favorites include Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Cat Stevens and many others.
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