What's your Mount Rushmore of the 4 most famous Rock and Roll bands ever?

chroix

New member
Jul 22, 2013
10,018
25,203
0
You say that you are laughing your *** off at the Bee Gees being listed as a rock band. Well little buddy you might want to contact the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about this, considering the fact that the Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. You need to inform them, that the Bee Gees are not a rock band.
People from Cleveland’s judgement are not to be trusted.
 
  • Like
Reactions: J_Dee

straykat

New member
Aug 8, 2003
5,214
943
0
Since you asked for bands (not artists)

Reality
1. Beatles
2.Stones
3.Eagles
4. Pink Floyd/Fleetwood Mac (can't decide)

Personal favorites
1. The Black F***ing Crowes
2. Stones
3. Pink Floyd
4. The Who
 

gamecockcat

New member
Oct 29, 2004
10,524
13,500
0
I'm with you on the 4th band after the Beatles, Beach Boys & the Stones. I had a hard time deciding between the Bee Gees & KISS for the 4th spot. But I went with the Bee Gees.
Interesting that you didn't consider Zep for #4. Of course, I didn't consider the Beach Boys, so there we have it. I think (i.e., in my opinion), the BBs were very influential in that period between 62-67 but not sure they were ever as 'big' as the Stones, Zep, Beatles, et al. But, I can't argue that they were very popular and influential.

Of those I considered for #4, I left out AC/DC, Queen (were they ever as big in the States as they were outside?), BBs, Sabbath - a lot of good bands with longevity and huge followings.

On my Mt. Rushmore, only the Stones and perhaps #4, depending on who I slotted in there, would be among my favorite 4 bands. So, at least I stuck to the theme of the OP. Good thread.
 

WildcatfaninOhio

Well-known member
May 22, 2002
18,252
15,522
113
You say that you are laughing your *** off at the Bee Gees being listed as a rock band. Well little buddy you might want to contact the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about this, considering the fact that the Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. You need to inform them, that the Bee Gees are not a rock band.

It’s been known for a very long time that the RnR HOF has been inducting acts that are not in the Rock genre. I hope you know that too. Or do you honestly think that Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Notorious BIG, Miles Davis all kicked some killer Rock albums?

If you were around in the late 70s when The Bee Gees were in their hay day, they were despised by Rock fans. We were wearing “Disco Sucks” tee shirts. There was a famous Disco Destruction night at a ballpark in Chicago where they blew up disco albums. Mostly those of The Bee Gees and Donna Summer. BTW, Donna Summer is in the HOF too, and she damn sure never cut a Rock song.

The Bee Gees are not now, nor were they ever, a Rock band. They were Disco. And the shirts we wore spoke the truth…it sucks!
 

DSmith21

New member
Mar 27, 2012
8,297
13,023
0
Add Kansas to your list (the band , not the Jayhawks)
Why are Joan Baez and Nina Simone in the Rock n Roll Hall but not Pat Benatar (14-15 top 40 hits)? Joan is a folk singer with a couple minor hits that she didn't even write and Simone was mostly a jazz performer. How about Bad Company not being in compared to others? It's a joke.
 
Last edited:

WildcatfaninOhio

Well-known member
May 22, 2002
18,252
15,522
113
Some of the worst snubs for the HOF...Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, J Giels Band, Grand Funk Railroad. Meanwhile, Madonna is in. WTF!?! When did Madonna ever record a Rock song? Just change the name to The Music HOF. It's clearly not reserved for Rock and Roll.
 

Dore95

New member
Mar 2, 2008
2,435
1,906
0
Beach Boys? OK I guess. Pet Sounds was great and very influential.

But the Bee Gees? I doubt that you could find anyone but the OP who would have them on a rock music "Mt. Rushmore".

OP - "Hey guys, who would you have on your UK basketball Mt. Rushmore? Here's mine: (1) Rupp; (2) Issel; (3) Mashburn; and (4) Bernadette Locke-Mattox".
 

Blue63Madison

New member
May 21, 2002
35,727
6,826
0
1 - The Beatles
2 - The Rolling Stones
3 - Led Zeppelin

4 is a tough call, imo. Toss up between AC/DC, Queen, Pink Floyd, ZZ Top. I could go with any of them.

Ps - still laughing my *** off over The Bee Gees listed as a rock band. 😆😆😆
The top three are for sure obvious: Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin.

I have no idea who I’d pick for the 4th spot. Plenty of candidates.
 

Ryan Lemonds Hair

Well-known member
May 31, 2018
15,257
30,634
98
You say that you are laughing your *** off at the Bee Gees being listed as a rock band. Well little buddy you might want to contact the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about this, considering the fact that the Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. You need to inform them, that the Bee Gees are not a rock band.
I don't think the rock n roll hall of fame is the barometer of what is considered rock. Madonna, Louis Armstrong, Led Belly, Nat King Cole, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, BB King, NWA, Notorious BIG, Public Enemy, Run DMC, Hank Williams and Muddy Waters are all in the rock n roll hall of fame and if you ask most anyone what genre of music they sing nobody would say rock n roll.
 

Dore95

New member
Mar 2, 2008
2,435
1,906
0
Many of those artists are in the Rock Hall as early influences and not performers, but your point is still a good one.

The concept of "rock" used to be a big tent. For example, I don't really have a problem considering much of the pop music of the 80s (Madonna, Prince, George Michael, even Michael Jackson) "rock". That changed with hip hop and then the stripping of guitars out of most pop music.

Anyway, today it seems like some people only consider rock music to be hard rock and heavy metal. For example, someone in this thread questioned whether the Beatles were rock. Of course they were!
 

WildcatfaninOhio

Well-known member
May 22, 2002
18,252
15,522
113
Beach Boys? OK I guess. Pet Sounds was great and very influential.

But the Bee Gees? I doubt that you could find anyone but the OP who would have them on a rock music "Mt. Rushmore".

OP - "Hey guys, who would you have on your UK basketball Mt. Rushmore? Here's mine: (1) Rupp; (2) Issel; (3) Mashburn; and (4) Bernadette Locke-Mattox".

I think it would actually be more like….

OP - "Hey guys, who would you have on your UK basketball Mt. Rushmore? Here's mine: (1) Rupp; (2) Issel; (3) Mashburn; and (4) Tim Couch
 

CrittendenWildcat

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2003
12,023
12,437
113
Beatles
Stones
Zeppelin and
The Who
Nailed it. Although some of the other suggestions I've seen in this thread (U2, Queen, AC/DC) are food for thought. Also, I could see Foo Fighters there someday, but they are too recent to show a lasting legacy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GeraldV

Jeff Drummond

Well-known member
Staff member
Nov 25, 2002
86,443
122,283
113
1. Stones (Longevity, Volume of hits, music associated with some of Hollywood's best films/soundtracks)
2. Beatles (more pop than rock n roll to me but the original super band)
3. Led Zeppelin (one of the pioneers of hard rock)
4. U2

I think this is most likely the bias-free correct answer. Four is a worthy debate, but U2 is as popular and successful as anyone you could put up against them there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WildcatFan1982

NCPurplecat

New member
Aug 3, 2019
1,104
1,070
0
Beatles. Rolling Stones Beach Boys and added Rush for a Canadian 4th. Rush had a great run up North and had a smaller but loyal fan base in USA.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Get Buckets

J_Dee

New member
Mar 21, 2008
4,284
4,317
0
I can't decide on four, but the Beatles are definitely number one. They're not my thing, but their influence on music can't be understated.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christophero

cole854

New member
Sep 11, 2012
10,156
22,638
0
Obvious omission on this thread, and yes, I know the topic said "bands", however, his lead guitar player and drummer were excellent.

He is the front man on the mountain...



Beatles a solid fixture....the other 2 could be chosen among many. The Stones are not a lock.
 

Fact_Checker

New member
Apr 26, 2021
577
419
0
The most famous? That's not subjective, it's objective. The 4 most famous rock bands ever are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, and AC/DC IMO. Doubt you can find anyone who hasn't heard of these bands.
 

gamecockcat

New member
Oct 29, 2004
10,524
13,500
0
Anyone else notice that pretty much every band mentioned in this thread started earlier than about 1980? 40+ years of 'rock' music and none of them were worth a mention? If I looked at all the suggestions, I'm sure there are a few names but the vast majority of the bands mentioned in this thread are older bands/artists. Perhaps the industry's splintering of the various styles of music into very specific silos has prevented another band from gaining more universal appeal. We used to have 'hard rock' and now it's how many classifications of just 'metal'? If you put a very specific label on it, doesn't that almost automatically limit the audience? I mean, if I see a new release and it's speed metal or post-punk or whatever, I may not even give it a listen as my previous experience with that designation has not been positive.
 

GrandePdre

New member
Jan 21, 2008
17,126
6,634
0
Not looking at any other posts.

The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
Led Zeppelin
The Beach Boys
 

CB3UK

Active member
Apr 15, 2012
294,356
102,884
78
You say that you are laughing your *** off at the Bee Gees being listed as a rock band. Well little buddy you might want to contact the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about this, considering the fact that the Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. You need to inform them, that the Bee Gees are not a rock band.
Have you been? Theyve got rappers and pop singer in there. It's anything but RnR anymore. Pretty ******* disappointing frankly.

That being said, BeeGees belong in:
 

P19978

New member
Mar 30, 2004
9,319
24,571
0
My personal Mt Rushmore?

In order:

Stones
Led Zep
Allman Bros
Clapton

As a bar band guitarist for 35 years, everything I needed to know I learned from these folks.
 

Wildcats1st

New member
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,910
0
The most famous? That's not subjective, it's objective. The 4 most famous rock bands ever are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, and AC/DC IMO. Doubt you can find anyone who hasn't heard of these bands.
This is actually a great list of top 4 but one of Metallica or AC/DC need to be swapped for u2. Why? Because u2 plays to massive crowds all over the world since they began. Doubt there is anyone in music more famous globally than Bono.I’d keep Metallica bc of American roots dump AC/DC add u2.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fact_Checker