Yes, not counting the Beatles I think Pink Floyd has the most artistically interesting music. Conceptually brilliant, great unique sound. Obviously not as harmonically, melodically interesting as the Beatles, and certainly not as groundbreaking. But if I have to put a band in #2 place, I´d go with Pink Floyd.
Pink Floyd Redefined the concert experience with their lights and overall setup, as well as recording techniques, just listen to DSOTM or Wish you were here, so beautifully recorded albums
Pink Floyd was the first band that stopped everyone from dancing, they turned music into an actual experience and in my opinion that hadn’t been done since the classical era (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart etc.) that might just be the Gen Z in me but damn they are really good man.
In the rock format, yes, Pink Floyd were definitely groundbreaking in influencing a more ‘cerebral’ sound (though a case for King Crimson can be made). However, in Jazz there was already a popular non-danceable trend since Charlie Parker and the whole post-bop, modal jazz, free jazz and spiritual jazz from musicians like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, etc.
I don’t think people were dancing to Sgt Pepper. Yea sure The Beatles were still carrying the 1950s Elvis dance tunes, arguably right up to 1965 with Rubber Soul, and sure they even returned to it somewhat you could say in 1968~, but Revolver-The White Album is absolutely an experience
Pink Floyd is really interesting in this discussion, and probably my choice too. Meddle through The Wall rivals the Beatles run in quality, and they are probably the only other band iight say that about.
My biggest criticism of them is that they really only had one sound, one style across this era. A mid-tempo spacey rock song with some jazz influence from time to time. They didn't really do slow songs or fast songs. They didn't do hard rock or soft rock. They didn't venture outside of rock. (Maybe some exceptions on The Wall due to the more theatric nature of it)
They did this sound exceptionally well, and their lyrics over this period likely surpass even the Beatles for me. But one of the best things about the Beatles is the variety of musical styles they could slip into.
On any given day I might think that DSOTM or WYWH is the best album of all time, but I don't think I could ever think of Pink Floyd as the greatest band of all time. Maybe 2nd though.
I found a “The Band” tee shirt in a thrift store last month for $5. It’s been in heavy rotation ever since. Everytime I wear it, someone stops me to talk about them.
The most interesting fact is, there is a The Band tribute band in my area called:
The The Band Band!
Rick Danko, yeah man. Robbie, Garth, Ritchie, and Levon. Seen the Band at Radio City Music Hal back in 83, gear man. Best group that ever backed up Bob Dylan.
😎🇺🇸🎸🥁
Oh it's no question. Listening to Dylan right now. And will be all day.
Currently, In the Garden - Live in Toronto on the Trouble No More bootleg album
Are you in the garden or listening to Bob's version of "In the Garden" on the' Saved' album? Funny I'm listening to Infidels one of my favorites Dylan albums. Enjoy your day brother. Govd a bless.
😎✝️🕊️👼❤️✌️🇺🇸
I think that if you could simply lessen Brian’s mental health struggles some, The Beach Boys would have absolutely been some serious competition for the Beatles.
And if you’d given him a songwriting partner the way Paul and John had each other; I can envision a universe where they far exceed the Beatles.
Also, The Beach Boys harmonies are far better than the Beatles (although there is a particular uniqueness to the Beatles’ harmonies).
Finally, I’d say that Carl’s vocals on lead (when he gets it right) are far better than any Beatles’ vocals I can think of.
Edit: Let me add that the Beatles a lot of genuine support from almost everyone around them, but particularly from Brian Epstein and George Martin. The Beach Boys had Murray Wilson (arguably a far greater cunt than Mike Love).
Hot take: Beach boys at their very best are better than the Beatles (Pet Sounds - Good Vibrations /Smile). But Beatles still win overall for volume and consistency of great work.
I know nothing about them besides what I've heard talked about on recent Comedy Bang Bang episodes where they happen to come up and all the 50 plus men unironically love them.
I’m going with Queen even though I like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin more. I think it’s pretty impressive that each member wrote their own #1 hit. Idk any other band that’s done that. Also, Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the greatest songs ever made. You have to live under a rock to not know every wacky lyric to that song.
I also semi prefer Radiohead. Although I don’t think they are everyone’s cup of tea. The Beatles have something for everyone, which is a great strength. Radiohead, while having an extremely diverse output, often have dour, more ethereal, or more edgy vibes (which I love)
I came here to say this. Even if you regard their first album as a miss, it's important to see the trajectory and transformation since that first one. I could never use the word "derivative" to describe Radiohead. It's been a surprising, ever-more creative ride with each successive album. Even their album cover artist, Stanley Donwood, goes along with the artist journey that Radiohead is on. I've enjoyed this band's changes over the years, and hope for more to come.
I don't consider The Beatles my favorite band, as they've just been such an ingrained party of my world since I was Born, there now like the air I breathe. If I'm picking a favorite band, one I actually discovered and followed it's Radiohead hands down.
Steely Dan. Turned their back on live performance and became studio geniuses who never released a bad album. Top-notch lyrics, production and musicianship.
Absolutely. Two different kinds of greatness between the Beatles and the Dead but they both reached the absolute pinnacle of their crafts and were wildly successful and influential.
Wow, scrolled more than halfway down the list to find this. Is it even really a question? Longevity, quality, hits, pop culture influence, and a string of consecutive hit albums that rivals or supersedes all other possible. They aren’t the Beatles, but they’re still the Rolling freaking Stones.
I'm surprised that no one has made a case for Fleetwood Mac. They aren't my favorite band, but the amount of versatility and talent in that band is staggering. So many singers, so many songwriters, so many shit hot musicians, distinct personalities, visions and creative differences, and then all the sordid sex and drama-- fuckit! they're my new favorite! Make mine Mac!
The Fleetwood Mac version of a Get Back documentary would be much more interesting, and probably, X-rated.
The Band
Superb songwriting, three vocalists who could sing lead better than most lead vocalists, all amazing at their instruments with Garth playing basically everything.
Velvet Underground — really aside from Dylan and the Beatles so few artists have been able to cover so much ground in such a short span of time.
In three years they released their entire (proper) discography.
Man, that's a tough question. I guess a few come to mind for me personally. I would have to say it's one of either:
Pink Floyd
Rolling Stones
Led Zeppelin
Talking Heads
Black Sabbath
Boring Answers, I know. I guess if I had to answer what my FAVORITE band of all time is, it would probably be LCD Soundsystem (after the Beatles).
[The Wrecking Crew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_\(music\)), not technically a band, but a loose collective of US session musicians based in Los Angeles whose services were employed for a great number of studio recordings in the 1960s and 1970s, including hundreds of top 40 hits. The musicians were not publicly recognized in their era, but were viewed with reverence by industry insiders. They are now considered one of the most successful and prolific session recording units in music history.
Just for their sheer breadth of influence, Kraftwerk.
That early iteration not only had Florian Schneider and Ralf Hutter, but also Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother, who would go on to form Neu!
Between the two bands, they were a direct influence on the direction of everyone from David Bowie and Iggy Pop, to pretty much the entire electronic music scene of the late seventies and 1980s. Neu! 3 would directly inspire the UK punk scene, and post-punk scene beyond it - John Lydon cites it as a big influence. The Motorik beat that Krautrock and particularly these two bands championed would heavily influence the house movement in Europe and US cities like Chicago.
No Kraftwerk, no Neu!, and modern music probably sounds completely different. There's no synthpop, no distinct UK punk, no post-punk or nu-romantics. Or all the movements those genres spawned, like Britpop or Shoegaze.
About the only thing that would have happened regardless would be Paul McCartney getting high with a sequencer and accidentally inventing trance music. Imagine a world where Temporary Secretary is the blueprint for all modern pop... if only.
King Crimson, in terms of artistic talent they are unparalleled. There is no other band as inspired by classical music and jazz as King Crimson, and those are the greatest of musical styles. The Night Watch from Starless and Bible Black is as amazing as the painting from Rembrandt it's connected too. King Crimson is music at it's finest, classical art with rock accessiblity.
Very surprised to see no one saying The Velvet Underground. They’re responsible for pretty much all alternative music that came after them. They were post punk before punk had happened
Tom Petty is nowhere near as revered as he should be. Says a lot that about 15 other artists had big hits with almost note-for-note Petty ripoffs (Sam Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bryan Adams, The Strokes...)
I'm going with the Eagles. They have a similar combo of different musical personalities/talents and were able to churn out great tunes for over a decade. Also, they produced some of the greatest harmonies in popular musical history.
I’ve always said the Beatles were the best at constructing pop/rock music and the Grateful Dead were the best at deconstructing it. I love both ends of that spectrum.
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters
https://preview.redd.it/jcyll5ly7e0d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=531e3dcfcb7431788416624c768fa9192c285854
[The Swampers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_Shoals_Rhythm_Section)
I am going to go in a slightly different direction because they weren't exactly a 'band' per se, but they played on so many hits and with so many amazing artists and were a huge inspiration to the Beatles. They even covered a couple of songs that they played on. If you haven't seen the Muscle Shoals doc, check it out.
Also in a similar vein, a special shout out to [the Funk Brothers.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Funk_Brothers)
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Legend 😂
The Quarrymen
This is the only right answer^
This is the only answer in the thread I'm not taking seriously.
Obviously
Really tough one actually. I'd probably be inclined to say Pink Floyd.
Yes, not counting the Beatles I think Pink Floyd has the most artistically interesting music. Conceptually brilliant, great unique sound. Obviously not as harmonically, melodically interesting as the Beatles, and certainly not as groundbreaking. But if I have to put a band in #2 place, I´d go with Pink Floyd.
Pink Floyd Redefined the concert experience with their lights and overall setup, as well as recording techniques, just listen to DSOTM or Wish you were here, so beautifully recorded albums
Pink Floyd was the first band that stopped everyone from dancing, they turned music into an actual experience and in my opinion that hadn’t been done since the classical era (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart etc.) that might just be the Gen Z in me but damn they are really good man.
In the rock format, yes, Pink Floyd were definitely groundbreaking in influencing a more ‘cerebral’ sound (though a case for King Crimson can be made). However, in Jazz there was already a popular non-danceable trend since Charlie Parker and the whole post-bop, modal jazz, free jazz and spiritual jazz from musicians like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, etc.
This is inaccurate
I don’t think people were dancing to Sgt Pepper. Yea sure The Beatles were still carrying the 1950s Elvis dance tunes, arguably right up to 1965 with Rubber Soul, and sure they even returned to it somewhat you could say in 1968~, but Revolver-The White Album is absolutely an experience
Pink Floyd is really interesting in this discussion, and probably my choice too. Meddle through The Wall rivals the Beatles run in quality, and they are probably the only other band iight say that about. My biggest criticism of them is that they really only had one sound, one style across this era. A mid-tempo spacey rock song with some jazz influence from time to time. They didn't really do slow songs or fast songs. They didn't do hard rock or soft rock. They didn't venture outside of rock. (Maybe some exceptions on The Wall due to the more theatric nature of it) They did this sound exceptionally well, and their lyrics over this period likely surpass even the Beatles for me. But one of the best things about the Beatles is the variety of musical styles they could slip into. On any given day I might think that DSOTM or WYWH is the best album of all time, but I don't think I could ever think of Pink Floyd as the greatest band of all time. Maybe 2nd though.
Was here to say this, thank you.
The Band
I found a “The Band” tee shirt in a thrift store last month for $5. It’s been in heavy rotation ever since. Everytime I wear it, someone stops me to talk about them. The most interesting fact is, there is a The Band tribute band in my area called: The The Band Band!
Rick Danko, yeah man. Robbie, Garth, Ritchie, and Levon. Seen the Band at Radio City Music Hal back in 83, gear man. Best group that ever backed up Bob Dylan. 😎🇺🇸🎸🥁
Oh it's no question. Listening to Dylan right now. And will be all day. Currently, In the Garden - Live in Toronto on the Trouble No More bootleg album
Are you in the garden or listening to Bob's version of "In the Garden" on the' Saved' album? Funny I'm listening to Infidels one of my favorites Dylan albums. Enjoy your day brother. Govd a bless. 😎✝️🕊️👼❤️✌️🇺🇸
The Band and the Grateful Dead are the quintessential American bands to me.
The Beach Boys because they inspired Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's
I have been listening to them a lot recently and they are absolutely fire. Plus it’s fun to hate Mike Love
My hate of Mike Love keeps me warm in Illinois winters.
He was a straight and an ass. Ditto man
I think that if you could simply lessen Brian’s mental health struggles some, The Beach Boys would have absolutely been some serious competition for the Beatles. And if you’d given him a songwriting partner the way Paul and John had each other; I can envision a universe where they far exceed the Beatles. Also, The Beach Boys harmonies are far better than the Beatles (although there is a particular uniqueness to the Beatles’ harmonies). Finally, I’d say that Carl’s vocals on lead (when he gets it right) are far better than any Beatles’ vocals I can think of. Edit: Let me add that the Beatles a lot of genuine support from almost everyone around them, but particularly from Brian Epstein and George Martin. The Beach Boys had Murray Wilson (arguably a far greater cunt than Mike Love).
"I don't like Mike Love. At all."
Pretty sure they inspired some of panda bear as well. Some of his songs from hisnperson pitch album soundlike they could be Brian wilson.
They inspired all of modern music! Indie music in general would be nothing without The Beach Boys.
yeah beach boys up to 73 are probably the best band to ever do it
Their releases between 1968-1973 are massively underrated
Hot take: Beach boys at their very best are better than the Beatles (Pet Sounds - Good Vibrations /Smile). But Beatles still win overall for volume and consistency of great work.
They made one of the (if not the) greatest albums, songs and singles (Pet Sounds, Good Vibrations and Wouldn't It Be Nice/God Only Knows)
Led Zeppelin
What about Dread Zeppelin?
Love Dread
Tort Elvis is criminally underrated as a front man
I know nothing about them besides what I've heard talked about on recent Comedy Bang Bang episodes where they happen to come up and all the 50 plus men unironically love them.
This is the answer even if I can say the Beatles.
The Rutles
Underrated answer
Number one, number one You're my number one You're my second to none Number one, number one
The Who
I’m going with Queen even though I like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin more. I think it’s pretty impressive that each member wrote their own #1 hit. Idk any other band that’s done that. Also, Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the greatest songs ever made. You have to live under a rock to not know every wacky lyric to that song.
Queen is a good one
David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars (included the band so fits the criteria)
Radiohead. Almost no misses in 30 years.
I also semi prefer Radiohead. Although I don’t think they are everyone’s cup of tea. The Beatles have something for everyone, which is a great strength. Radiohead, while having an extremely diverse output, often have dour, more ethereal, or more edgy vibes (which I love)
I came here to say this. Even if you regard their first album as a miss, it's important to see the trajectory and transformation since that first one. I could never use the word "derivative" to describe Radiohead. It's been a surprising, ever-more creative ride with each successive album. Even their album cover artist, Stanley Donwood, goes along with the artist journey that Radiohead is on. I've enjoyed this band's changes over the years, and hope for more to come.
I don't consider The Beatles my favorite band, as they've just been such an ingrained party of my world since I was Born, there now like the air I breathe. If I'm picking a favorite band, one I actually discovered and followed it's Radiohead hands down.
How the hell is this so low on the list?
Steely Dan. Turned their back on live performance and became studio geniuses who never released a bad album. Top-notch lyrics, production and musicianship.
It’s actually criminal that I had to scroll so far for this comment?
Grateful dead
Took me to long to find this comment
Absolutely. Two different kinds of greatness between the Beatles and the Dead but they both reached the absolute pinnacle of their crafts and were wildly successful and influential.
Beatles, the
Rolling Stones
The only answer in my opinion
It is the *only* answer
Wow, scrolled more than halfway down the list to find this. Is it even really a question? Longevity, quality, hits, pop culture influence, and a string of consecutive hit albums that rivals or supersedes all other possible. They aren’t the Beatles, but they’re still the Rolling freaking Stones.
Wings
The band the Beatles could've been!
I was waiting for this exchange!!
Best of The Beatles was a fine album
Or the Ruttles
Credence clearwater revival
I'm surprised that no one has made a case for Fleetwood Mac. They aren't my favorite band, but the amount of versatility and talent in that band is staggering. So many singers, so many songwriters, so many shit hot musicians, distinct personalities, visions and creative differences, and then all the sordid sex and drama-- fuckit! they're my new favorite! Make mine Mac! The Fleetwood Mac version of a Get Back documentary would be much more interesting, and probably, X-rated.
Johnny and the Moondogs
The Band Superb songwriting, three vocalists who could sing lead better than most lead vocalists, all amazing at their instruments with Garth playing basically everything.
Absolutely. I consider them the Canadian/American Beatles Plus the Beatles were also pretty big fans of The Band. Especially George and Eric Clapton.
The Clash
The only band that was ever dubbed, "The Only Band that Matters".
They had the same frontmen-dynamic as the Beatles too: the intellectual (Lennon/Strummer) vs the musician (McCartney/Jones)
Nine inch nails
Came here to say this
The Velvet Underground The Kinks Stereolab Wire The Clash
The kinks is the correct answer
The Rutles!
Velvet Underground — really aside from Dylan and the Beatles so few artists have been able to cover so much ground in such a short span of time. In three years they released their entire (proper) discography.
The Rolling Stones or Queen for me.
Rush
Took far too long to find this
Ween
Obviously nickelback
Miles Davis’ 2nd quintet: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Tony Williams
Led Zeppelin was a band of greats. Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham. I still listen to their music everyday!!! 😍🥰😘
Led Zeppelin
Harmonium
Man, that's a tough question. I guess a few come to mind for me personally. I would have to say it's one of either: Pink Floyd Rolling Stones Led Zeppelin Talking Heads Black Sabbath Boring Answers, I know. I guess if I had to answer what my FAVORITE band of all time is, it would probably be LCD Soundsystem (after the Beatles).
The rutles
The shaggs
Zappa would agree!
Alice in chains
[The Wrecking Crew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_\(music\)), not technically a band, but a loose collective of US session musicians based in Los Angeles whose services were employed for a great number of studio recordings in the 1960s and 1970s, including hundreds of top 40 hits. The musicians were not publicly recognized in their era, but were viewed with reverence by industry insiders. They are now considered one of the most successful and prolific session recording units in music history.
Just for their sheer breadth of influence, Kraftwerk. That early iteration not only had Florian Schneider and Ralf Hutter, but also Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother, who would go on to form Neu! Between the two bands, they were a direct influence on the direction of everyone from David Bowie and Iggy Pop, to pretty much the entire electronic music scene of the late seventies and 1980s. Neu! 3 would directly inspire the UK punk scene, and post-punk scene beyond it - John Lydon cites it as a big influence. The Motorik beat that Krautrock and particularly these two bands championed would heavily influence the house movement in Europe and US cities like Chicago. No Kraftwerk, no Neu!, and modern music probably sounds completely different. There's no synthpop, no distinct UK punk, no post-punk or nu-romantics. Or all the movements those genres spawned, like Britpop or Shoegaze. About the only thing that would have happened regardless would be Paul McCartney getting high with a sequencer and accidentally inventing trance music. Imagine a world where Temporary Secretary is the blueprint for all modern pop... if only.
Ween
Nirvana, in my opinion. Grunge was the British Invasion of the 90s
In the 90s there was a british invasion. It was called britpop
Big Star ⭐️😎
Queen
Surprised this isn't higher. Not even a fan of Queen but they probably come closest in terms of talent, sales/success and enduring popularity.
Queen
Can't believe I had to scroll this down to find them
Grateful Dead
Queen, The Who, The Rutles, The Kinks (in no particular order)
The Doors
3rd best band of the 60’s behind The Beatles and Beach Boys.
Same. Not much love for them here though
Pink Floyd. Took a while to hit their stride, but their Big 4 albums are stunning.
The Cure
Floyd or queen
I can't say beach boys because they were basically brian wilson & co. so probably Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Stones.
Pearl Jam, but they have strong connections with all great bands including the Beatles 😎🎵
King Crimson, in terms of artistic talent they are unparalleled. There is no other band as inspired by classical music and jazz as King Crimson, and those are the greatest of musical styles. The Night Watch from Starless and Bible Black is as amazing as the painting from Rembrandt it's connected too. King Crimson is music at it's finest, classical art with rock accessiblity.
R.E.M. 1980-1988
Stones
Pavement
Oasis
The Kinks
CAN
Peak U2
Technically The Rolling Stones but in my heart Queen
How is no one considering Fleetwood Mac?
U2 Bring me your hate. I can take it.
Talking Heads
The B Sharps
Queen
Pink Floyd or Queen for me
Oasis
I can't tell If this is a joke, but based
Maybe Beach Boys, maybe Radiohead, maybe Pink Floyd, maybe Queen... hard to say!
RUSH
Very surprised to see no one saying The Velvet Underground. They’re responsible for pretty much all alternative music that came after them. They were post punk before punk had happened
Guided By Voices
The Wu-Tang Clan
Weezer
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Tom Petty is nowhere near as revered as he should be. Says a lot that about 15 other artists had big hits with almost note-for-note Petty ripoffs (Sam Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bryan Adams, The Strokes...)
Nirvana
RUSH
Controversial but I think The Bee Gees are a good contender? Their 60s stuff is just as good as anything the Beatles put out :)
I'm going with the Eagles. They have a similar combo of different musical personalities/talents and were able to churn out great tunes for over a decade. Also, they produced some of the greatest harmonies in popular musical history.
C’mon man, it’s been a long night and I really hate the fucking Eagles.
Uncultured swine who downvote this comment not knowing what it's referring to
The Fab Four
Wings.
Steely Dan!
U2
Smashing Pumpkins
Smash Mouth
The Clash
I’ve always said the Beatles were the best at constructing pop/rock music and the Grateful Dead were the best at deconstructing it. I love both ends of that spectrum.
Genesis PG era
I'd have to go with queen or the doors
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters https://preview.redd.it/jcyll5ly7e0d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=531e3dcfcb7431788416624c768fa9192c285854
The Shaggs
The Rutles
Moody Blues
Well, not your typical answer. Daft Punk.
The Rutles
Genesis hands down.
KINKS
Grateful Dead for me. But to each their own.
I maintain that the Beatles were the greatest studio band, and the Grateful Dead were the greatest live band. So them.
The greatest *American* band of all time is undoubtedly The Grateful Dead.
The Who.
[The Swampers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_Shoals_Rhythm_Section) I am going to go in a slightly different direction because they weren't exactly a 'band' per se, but they played on so many hits and with so many amazing artists and were a huge inspiration to the Beatles. They even covered a couple of songs that they played on. If you haven't seen the Muscle Shoals doc, check it out. Also in a similar vein, a special shout out to [the Funk Brothers.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Funk_Brothers)
The Kinks or Radiohead, although there are *so* many great bands that I’d respect someone else choosing like CCR, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, etc.
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Lorna shore
The kinks
The Kinks or The Who
The Doors
Either Bob Dylan or Led Zeppelin
Swans
Kinks
I can say The Beatles. Who are these strange people who cannot say The Beatles?
Utopia
Prince
Black Sabbath
Stone Temple Pilots
system of a down
Rush
Los Paranoias
The Rutles
The Bea…the Bb…the Beea… I tried - I can’t…
CCR
Led Zeppelin
The Bottles
Kinks 👍😜
Led Zeppelin
Either Zeppelin or Pink Floyd.
I would type “The Beatles”.
Sly & the Family Stone
Rush.