There is no doubt these 25 bands are legendary, and each and every one of them helped shaping the modern music we all enjoy and love. But, They also sparked lot of debates among fans and music lovers all over the world regarding who is the best of all time. These performers are the top musicians of all time, but who is the best of the best? Our answer is not something you probably expected.
25. Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers rocked the stages of the United States ever since its formation in the year 1976! Since then, they have conducted multiple tours to soothe the ears of the fans with their music, which was a blend of Southern rock and heartland rock.
The unique symphonies of the band earned them popularity on a national level. Although the band saw some tough days with members leaving the group quite often, they continued to release albums till 2017. The gang parted when the lead singer Tom Petty passed away, and we last saw them perform live in 1983.
24. Prince
Prince was the rare ability to belt out hits meshing different genres; while for other artists, it may have proved disastrous, but for him, it worked! He combined numerous styles in his music ranging from R&B, country, rock, classical, pop, rock, jazz, and even hip-hop, and touched the hearts of millions.
The perfect sync of Prince with his band gave him an irresistible aura that pulled thousands to his sold-out concerts. The musician’s virtuosity earned him a ranking in the list of best musicians of all times, both by the fans and the music critics!
23. Elvis Presley
The tunes of Elvis Presley are played even now by every kid and musician. You simply cannot listen to Presley’s songs and resist humming along to his evergreen tunes. The charming demeanor earned him the nickname “The King” because he was indeed the king of the stage!
Presley often toured throughout the country and signed off from the stage with his all-time classic, Can’t Help Falling in Love. This song remains a classic love song to this day and is a long-time favorite to cover for prominent bands and singers, including Twenty-One Pilots and Ed Sheeran.
22. Deep Purple
Deep Purple could finish their concert 6 hours ago, and their beats could still continue to ring in your ears. This sheer loudness of the band music is what got them popular! In fact, they were included in the Guinness Book of World Records for becoming the loudest band worldwide for their concert at the London’s Rainbow theatre in 1972.
They are considered the pioneers of heavy metal music. Through the course of time, the gang made several variations to their style of music, setting them apart from conventional heavy metal bands.
21. Eagles
The Eagles hit the road for countless tours and left a lasting imprint on the audiences each time they performed live. Having won numerous accolades, including 6 Grammys and 5 American Music Awards, the Eagles established themselves as one of the most successful bands in
the United States!
The band generally toured with the singer Linda Ronstadt and some of their most memorable moments are together! Other times, they toured the country on their own. After selling nearly 200 million copies of their records, the Eagles rank in Rolling Stone’s list of the Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004.
20. Foo Fighters
Founded by the former Nirvana band member Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters have emerged as a fresh face of rock, hard rock, and grunge. The bandmates were fragments of Nirvana and Sunny Day Real Estate bands, which were put together by the former band's Drummer following the passing away of music legend Kurt Cobain.
They began touring country-wide and performed hits of rock and grunge songs, leaving the fans wanting more after each concert! According to the bandmates, their 2008 show at the Wembley Stadium in London remains their most memorable performance of all time.
19. The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band reinvigorated the spirits of Jazz, Blues, and country through their music. In the 70s, the band toured and performed in front of a live audience continuously. During their struggling phase, it was hard to pull their crowds.
However, as news of their talents started spreading and their continuous touring, they managed to assemble audiences in large numbers just to hear them play. This was when the doors to success opened up for the band! Unfortunately, the internal struggles of various band members often impeded the performance of the group.
18. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Although the musical career of Jimi Hendrix was short-lived, encompassing just four years, he still managed to influence the music industry in a surreal way. So much so that he is now considered one of the most influential electric guitarists in the world.
The most celebrated performance by him was during the 1967 Monterey Pop festival, a concert which incepted the first-ever tour of his band. The man and his band embraced rock, hard rock, blues, and R&B genres and loved to use high-volume amplifiers. Hendrix was the first musician to use tone-altering effects in music.
17. Alice Cooper
Having served in the music industry for over 50 years, Alice Cooper has emerged as a veteran musician who blessed the world with his rock music. The musician's concerts are known both for the theatrics and music.
Following the electrifying performances, the general media gave him the title of "the Godfather of Shock Rock." The genres of the hits switch from rock, heavy metal to hard rock and glam metal, and that's what the fans love! Alice Cooper is an enthralling persona on the stage, both as an individual and as a band member.
16. David Bowie
Having led the music industry for nearly 50 years, David Bowie was indisputably one of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century. He peaked during the 1970s when he went on the most captivating tours. The artist left the fans in sheer wonderment each time he departed from the stage after every breathtaking performance!
Following his hits and the sales of 100 million records worldwide, Rolling Stones included him in its list of the Greatest Artists of All Time. The musician also holds the title of “Greatest Rock Star Ever” awarded to him in 2016.
15. The Beatles
Besides their fabulous works, The Beatles is also famous for their live performances, mainly due to the audiences' reaction. Yes, during the golden years, Beatle maniacs would always go crazy whenever at a Fabulous Four concert. We won't even be surprised if there were more than ten people fainting on the spot due to their persona!
Their best concert ever probably dated back to 1965, when The Beatles performed in the Sam Houston Coliseum, Texas. That historical concert was not only legendary due to the brilliant performance, but also because of the continuous screams from the fans that lasted throughout the whole gig: 35 minutes straight!
14. Pearl Jam
When Pearl Jam began their debut at a small café in Seattle, nobody knew that the supposed-to-be simple project could attain such prominence worldwide thirty years later! Nowadays, the band regularly sells out tickets for each performance regardless of the venue. From zero to hero indeed!
Among many notable performances that the band has pulled off, the best one probably happened in July 2018. The concert was initially dated June 2018, but it was postponed for a month due to a vocalist’s health problem. As an apology for the past cancellation, Pearl Jam decided to perform continuously for three hours!
13. Guns N' Roses
After years of hiatus, Guns N’ Roses made a comeback in 2016, creating a historical tour entitled Not in This Lifetime. Consisting of the original line-up, the band embarked on a super long journey, performing in numerous parts of the earth for more than two years.
Have any of you ever questioned why the members named the tour that way? Well, there is actually a backstory to it. An Axl Rose response inspired the name; long before the comeback, the media asked about the possibility of reforming the group, and the vocalist replied, "Not in this lifetime.” Fortunately, the answer didn't stay true!
12. Kiss
The journey of the legendary rock band Kiss finally comes to an end. After 45 years of continuous touring and composing fascinating works, they've decided to end it by creating a final tour, entitled End of the Road. Hopefully, they will be able to pull it off well, just like old times!
Nonetheless, we aren’t sure about the so-called last performance, as such retirement announcements are not a first-timer for this group. In 2000, the vocalist of Kiss, Gene Simmons, broadcasted the decision to break up the band before reforming just two years after.
11. The Doors
During the best years, The Doors was just unstoppable! In addition to the ground-breaking songs such as Light My Fire and Roadhouse Blues, they were also pretty famous for live gigs. Wherever the band appeared, the fanatic fans popped up from anywhere in the country, changing the venue to a sea of people with relentless chants.
Unfortunately, ever since Jim Morrison's departure, the band is not the same anymore. They have decided to undergo a long-lasting hiatus, and rarely perform anymore. Their last show indeed dated a few years ago in 2016, yet it was only for the commemoration of one of the personnel's birthday.
10. Rush
Since their enticing set of performances in the R40 Live Tour, Rush has yet to decide what to do next. While the drummer Neil Peart has informed media regarding his retirement, the other members don’t want to hang their instrument just yet, giving a glimpse of hope regarding their return in the future.
It is actually a bit saddening, knowing that Rush has existed for approximately four decades. Among those glimmering years, they have been creating such impressive compositions, one of which is the unique Presto album. Right after the release, it quickly attained recognition from the critics and even won the Juno award!
9. Aerosmith
Aerosmith is widely considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and with their music career spanning over five decades, it's easy to see why. Nicknamed the 'Bad Boys from Boston,' the group is famous for their energetic live performances, which keep their fans dancing to their hit pieces for the whole show.
While they did their final tour in 2017, dubbed the Aero-verdarci Baby!, which saw them perform in 15 countries in three months, Aerosmith has toyed with the idea of retiring for a long time now, and it wouldn't be surprising to see them hang their guitars. However, we hope they will do one last show!
8. Iron Maiden
If you want to see creativity in full view, then an Iron Maiden concert is what we would recommend you to attend. England's heavy metal band is famous for its incredibly outrageous stage sets, which have included futuristic artwork and a First World War trench. If this isn't insane, then we don't know what is!
Apart from their great music and impressive stage designs, Iron Maiden got into the record books when they did the most extended rock tours in history to promote their Powerslave album from August 1984 to July 1985. The group was the Kings of concert circuit, and it's hard to disagree!
7. U2
Anyone who is an ardent fan of rock music knows who U2 is. Widely considered among the greatest artists of all time, the band has 14 albums and has won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other musical group on the planet.
When U2 lead singer Bono announced that the band might quit touring after over four decades in the business, the news broke many fans' hearts, and the hope is they would do one last worldwide tour. While they haven't officially retired yet, there could be some more albums and concerts in the cards, and we all look forward to that.
6. Bruce Springsteen
Nicknamed 'The Boss,' Bruce Springsteen is a versatile musician who seamlessly drifts between rock and folk music, with his hits winning him numerous accolades, including 20 Grammy awards. The singer is known for his intimate performances, where he connects with his audience.
Bruce improvises on stage quite often, leaving set music lists and taking impromptu requests from the crowd, and sings the specific songs, an act that's endeared him to the fans. So good is the performer that in July 2012, during a concert in Helsinki, Finland, he did a show that went for four hours. It could be a long performance, but we bet it was worth every dime.
5. Metallica
In the world of heavy metal music, Metallica ranks among the top bands to grace the genre. The musical group began their career in the 1980s and have since released ten albums, all of which have achieved massive success and enjoyed rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Metallica's success isn't only just restricted to their released pieces; their concerts are something of beauty too. The group made history in 1991, when they played in Moscow, in what was the first time a free show featured international musicians in Russia. Over one million people attended the event, making it the highest-attended performance ever for the group.
4. The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones, headed by their highly enthusiastic lead singer Mick Jagger, has been in the music industry for fifty-eight years and is among the best-selling groups of all time. Thus far, the band has released over 30 albums, and their status as the best musical groups is undeniable.
Despite refraining from touring in 2007, The Rolling Stones got back on stage in 2012, when they went to different countries in their 50 & Counting tour to celebrate the band’s 50th Anniversary. Whether they will give us more of their energetic live performances remains to be seen, but we can be sure their music will last forever.
3. AC/DC
When the Australian rock and roll band AC/DC started their career in 1973, we bet they didn't know they would rise to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time. The group's enjoyed massive success worldwide, selling millions of copies of their albums and having sold-out shows whenever they toured.
Their most grand tour would have to be the Black Ice journey, which took them 20 months to do, and their performance in Argentina was the subject of the movie AC/DC: Live at the River Plate. The band hasn't retired yet, and if you're a fan, look out for their new music and concert dates.
2. Pink Floyd
Formed in 1965, Pink Floyd rose to become the epitome of live rock performances, with their combination of music and visuals, creating an experience like no other. The band's known for their ingenious stage creations, which left the fans surprised and impressed at the same time.
One of Pink Floyd's most iconic tours is the The Wall album string of concerts, wherein one show, they built an actual wall, and during the performance, it came tumbling down in what was considered a memorable moment from the front. It doesn't look like the group is slowing down anytime soon, with their dramatic events a welcome addition to our lives.
1. Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was probably the most famous band in the 60s and 70s, and they sold out shows everywhere they went, the world over. Known for their composed albeit energetic music style, the group frequently played in the Madison Square Garden, and their three-night performance at the venue became a best-selling feature film.
Led Zeppelin sadly broke up in 1980, after one of the members passed on. The band has since been reuniting for shows when necessary, and while we don't think they would fully reunite for one last tour, anything is possible in music.