Top Ten Artists That Define Rock Music


The Top Ten


Rock Opera, Rock Pop, whatever ROCK you could find, Queen had a song of that. They were all around and they basically scoped the whole MUSIC scene. They had the greatest rock songs of all time too and the had the greatest rock performer as well, Freddie Mercury. Nothing can compare to what great Rock Artist these guys are and what great ARTISTS they R. In fact, they should be number one on this list.

Where would we be today without Queen? NO WHERE! They could do any genre and make it have to do with rock. Example: Opera Rock (Bohemian Rhapsody. )

For all 1970s and Classic Rock Fans, and Queen, listen to Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack and A Night at the Opera and then add all their achievments together. - allqueen

Without Queen's lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, rock would be where it is today. - israel08


They've got the riffs, the solos, the soul, the groove, the heavy stuff, the ballads, the epics and a huge catalogue that has enormous variety. Great guitar, drums, bass, singing and musicianship. Isn't that what rock n' roll is all about?

PS. Why is slayer in the top 10s? They're good but they don't define rock at all. - fidelcanojr

if you have never heard of zeppelin, you have been living under a rock since the 60's!

they are one of the most famouse bands ever! - 678rob754

Much more potent than Queen, and while not as strong at harmonizing, the musical chemistry is far superior.

Led Zeppelin defined rock. But not like Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley or Beatles. - zxm


Why are Journey number 1? They have got to be the most overrated rock band of all time with the most overrated rock song of all time. Yes Steve Perry is okay, but he is extremely overrated. He sounds like every 80's singer. Any real music fan knows that Journey sucks. I expected The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd among others to be on the top of this list. But when I see that Journey is #1, then this list can't be taken seriously. Give me a break!

Saying that Rush defines rock n roll is a bit far fetched...actually a LOT far fetched! They are a good band, but The Beatles shaped and changed rock forever. If you ask anyone who The Beatles are, they would know, but I can't say the same for Rush.

Journey is above The Beatles? Unbelievable! The Beatles marked the coming of an entirely new age of music. As far as impact and influence goes, The Beatles deserve Number 2 at least. - winner333

Without the Beatles, there wouldn't be a lot of the bands there are today! They are truly great... - jprg12


I'm a huge fan of Journey! They are my favoriteband, except for maybe AC/DC. I'm just not sure of they define rock as much as Elvis or Led Zeppelin.


Amazing band definitely defines rock

My favorite band from the 80s

1 Comment

As John Lennon said, "Before Elvis, there was nothing".

Actually before Elvis there were tons of black rock and blues artists but OKAY - Erucu

You say it yourself, before there were tons of " black "... but none of Rhythm and Blues singers were white. Elvis said many times ( on interviews, on the 1968 T.V. come back show... ) that before him black artists were doing what he was doing back in 1954. He opened the doors to white audiences. Without him this list would not even exist!

The King. He didn't really father rock n roll but he just did it so well. - comicoco


AC/DC should be way higher at least ahead of Journey. Classic! When you think of rock you think of AC/DC, The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, KISS, and Metallica - booklover24

AC/DC defines rock plain and simple
Who put's journey up everywhere

The Best Rock band ever! How are they not #1 or at least in the top 5? Seriously, Highway to Hell is like an Anthem for all things Rock.

They defines hard rock - shatti

7 Rush

One of my favourite bands of all time. They take hard rock to the next level. - IronSabbathPriest

Rush is amazing and is the best band of all time I don't no why its not number 1

I loved Rush! Although they are more progressive. - Pony

The most talented band of all time


They really defined rock they were the first bad influence rock band and began an age of rebellion they should easily be number one

I was listening to the Stones back when everyone else I knew listened to the Beatles. - BobG

Rolling stones is a legend


Absolutely no way should Linkin Park even be on this list. They never did anything to define rock. If they didn't exist, the world would be no different.

They have ease, soul every song. Lp is the best number 1

Lp is the best they should number 1

They define 21st century rock!


They certainly did better than the Beatles, that's for sure

Why is this below Linkin Park?

Why is this below Linkin Park? Linkin Park created nothing new, they just made good songs that sounded like other good songs. PF, however, did things no one else had done before.

The Contenders


Hows does Green Day and Linkin Park define rock? Seriously people, IF YOU don't KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOUR VOTING FOR THEN don't VOTE

Only Millennials could have Chuck Berry down at #12 on a list like this, since they imagine that the world began the day they were born.

Father of Rock N' Roll. There wouldn't be any rock music without him. Both Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry did for rock music. But if its about rock solos, riffs, then Chuck Berry deserves the credit. He should be on top 20 at least. - zxm

The embodiment of rock n roll. No Chuck = wasteland

1 Comment

I don't necessarily listen to Kiss at ALL, but when I grew up, I always thought "Man, those are THE guys" when thinking of rock music. - higgsboson2142

KISS Should be number one in this list, Because The Music, Make-Up, and the Stage Performance that they had since day 1, KISS Is the greatest rock band in the history of rock n roll


What is Avril Lavinge doing on this list?

WHAT?! Metallica at 22 and F***ING LINKIN PARK AT 4?! This list is bull plus slayer and black sabbath are even further down! If it wasn't for Sabbath metal wouldn't exist!


U2 barely qualifies as rock. They suck

They're ok I guess but not the best


How is this possible? A product of the un-initiated voting!

My favorite band of all time. (Well, except during the mid-70's when guys started leaving the band or dying.) - BobG


Guns n roses has a lot of good songs. welcome to the jungle, sweet child o mine, mr. brownstone, paradise city, your crazy and so much other tops. oh and they also did a cover on knockin on heveans door.


Why other stupid rock posers are above them? Green Day is so much better than those posers. They should be in the top 10.

Oh damn Green Day can't be in 31'st position.. Guys vote for Green Day they are so epic...

Why theses guys are ahead of AC/DC I will never understand.


the who must be on the top 5 - snoopbanks

Played punk rock before the punks came along. - BobG

This disappoints me. Sometimes I wonder if they were the last band that knew what rock 'n roll is about.

Becuse 60's wasn't only Rolling stones and Beatles


Nirvana is the definition of Grunge Rock - Danielsun182

Inspired me to play guitar and smells like teen spirit was so inspiring to people... Beatles, Nirvana, Rolling Stones, Led ZeplinnACDC, The chili peppers all have to get up on this!

Nirvana were the greatest musicians ever.

So Nirvana is below One Direction? I've lost faith in humanity. Should be in the top 10. One Direction isn't even rock! - Alpha101


Sabbath at 36? That's enough internet for today...

These guys defined everything in heavy metal, including hard rock, glam rock, grunge, and Iron Man is in Beavis and Butthead.

These guys have a unique sound to their music and are one of the bands that practically started rock/metal. Sabbath is a legend!


They define industrial rock.


One of the biggest debut albums ever.


I decided to vote for someone on the list that I consider extremely influential and talented but underrated less obvious and currently low ranked. Tough choice between him and Kelly Clarkson, though. - Billyv

Hale the the thin white duke


Van Halen number 15!?!? Nickelback number 9. Van Halen is one of the most original Rock Bands ever. Nickelback is number two on's most hated musical artist partly because of their lack of originaly. Van Halen have the Greatest and most inovative guitarist after Jimmi Hendrix, Michael Anthony is a hell of a bass player and is one of the best backup vocalist in hard rock. Then their is the unique Alex van halen with his unique double kick style drumming and helped put Ludwig Drums on the map with an awesome snare drum tone and lastly there is David lee roth one of rocks greatest frontman of altime, the band survived his departure from Van Halen and enjoyed success with Sammy Hagar... a success bigger than Nickelback.

Eddie van halen was voted the greatest guitarist of all time by guitar magazine. He has one of the most famous and legendary tones of all time. He is one of the guitarist who can shred melodically. He worked with the greatest musician in history Michael ...more

28 The Allman Brothers

IRON MAIDEN in 29...
Good luck...Rock N Roll...

IRON MAIDEN IS BETTER THAN Green Day enough said


Are you kidding me, come on society, one of the best and most influential American rock bands of all time!

Aerosmith is definitely one of the best bands in the world! And one of my personal favorites! They have so many great songs and Steven Tyler has a fantastic voice!

Best band of all time. come on! They have to be #1

No should be at one

31 Little Richard Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman, known by his stage name, Little Richard, is an American musician, singer and songwriter.

Absolute great guitar solos and riffs... Hendrix was a god - jprg12

Best guitarist of all time on Rolling Stone Magazine, so clearly he defines rock music

If rock means electric guitar, there is nobody more important...


I can't spell Rock without Pepper they made it extremely "Hot"

Um... Who put bands like 30 seconds to mars Green Day and nickelvack on here... The list is supposed to be defininng bands and 30 seconds to mars suck so does Green Day and nickelback may be ok but not defining


Their music is holy, we should name their music Holy-Rock


Best band in my opinion even though they have slowed down especially after all hope is gone and I think.5 the gray chapter is okay but not as good as their debut album and Iowa and they kind of slow down for subliminal verses.


Avenged sevenfold is way better then all of the other bands on the top! A7X foREVer

Redefining modern heavy metal since 1999... - sam117

Awful awful awful awful band

46 L'Arc~en~Ciel L'Arc~en~Ciel L'Arc-en-Ciel is a Japanese rock band, founded in Osaka in 1991. With a reported 40 million records sold, they were the first Japanese act to headline at Madison Square Garden.

They have a unique sound to their music and have lots of great songs. Good with both Staley and Cantrell as singers. Definitely one of the best bands in the world!

50 Marilyn Manson

One of my favorites in the music industry. People can say what they want about him, but Marilyn Manson rocks!

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List StatsCreated 21 May 2009
Updated 31 Dec 2016

1,000 votes
116 listings
10 years, 185 days old

Top Remixes (9)

1. Chuck Berry
2. The Beatles
3. Elvis Presley
1. Elvis Presley
2. Rush
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival
1. Queen
2. Led Zeppelin
3. Metallica

View All 9

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