The Best Rock Band in the World, every year since 1970

The conversations around ranking the best bands of all time are opinion-based, but we’ve boiled it down so that it’s at least based on the opinions of hundreds of millions of people.

We can crowdsource that info based on things like sales, tours, and awards won.

While there might be a consensus this way, we all know the average person couldn’t explain to you the most basic thing about music theory, but they know what they like when they hear it.

That means that some of the most-skilled bands out there won’t make the list because they don’t have mass appeal.

The real fun is comparing the list here with our lists like the richest rock stars and the best guitarists of all time and seeing if there’s a pattern that emerges.

Do money and skill go hand-in-hand in the music industry, and are bands really driven by lead roles like guitar or vocals?

Open those links in the background to find out, but in the meantime let’s jump into the list of the best bands of all time…

Queen already earned their slot on this list but lately, they’re gaining even more ground.

Since 1970 they’ve not stopped touring and creating new music, albeit with new vocalists since Freddy Mercury passed.

That’s a big time.

Trivia Facts: Since 2004, Queen hit the road with new successful tours under the name “Queen+” with vocalists Adam Lambert and Paul Rodgers filling in for Freddy Mercury.

There’s a musical based on their songs.

They’ve released 15 albums but had 21 tours to support the releases.

The Doors were active from 1965 to 1973, a short eight-year run, but quickly became one of the most influential bands of the counter-culture era and a largely controversial band due to Jim Morrison’s erratic behavior.

Every decade has had a revival in interest in the band and new fans added, due to cover songs becoming popular, usage of their songs in hit movies, movies about them, etc.

Their first album The Doors re-entered the Billboard charts 14 years after its initial release as did their greatest hits and “best of” albums.

They were the first American band to earn eight consecutive gold records.

Morrison was the first rock musician to be arrested on-stage during a live performance.

Nirvana’s breakout star was undoubtedly Kurt Cobain, and since his passing and the breakup of the band in 1994, Dave Grohl has gone on to be a musical great, playing the drums, bass, and singing vocals for countless bands and collaborations.

It didn’t take long for them to win all of the music awards in rapid succession, even being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the first year of their eligibility in 2014.

It took the strength of their Nevermind album to finally knock Michael Jackson’s Dangerous from the top spot on the Billboard charts.

Trivia Facts: Nirvana’s founders, Cobain and Novoselic, first formed a Creedence Clearwater Revival band before evolving into the band we know and love.

If you’re like me, you may be thinking “why, though?” The Who has a huge appeal, with their pop art and mod subculture influences and even more so thanks to their rock opera Tommy and its success.

I like any concept album and theirs is great.

They contributed to the development of the Marshall stack, the use of the synthesizer in rock, the use of large PA systems, and even down to things like power chords on the guitar.

Trivia Facts: The Who really solidified their reign when they played at Woodstock.

They also started the use of non-musical noise like feedback, and now everybody does it!

Within four years they scored a record deal.

At the present, they’ve won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, period.

Part of their success is every time they run into controversy or boredom from their fan base, they evolve and revolutionize their sound.

Trivia Facts: The U2 360 degree Tour of 2009 to 2011 broke the records for being the highest-attended and the highest-grossing concert tour in history.

The Beach Boys rode the wave of the California Sound of surf rock and then evolved into more personal themes as their fan base also matured.

Their music’s orchestrations and arrangements became so complex that, like the Moody Blues, they couldn’t perform it faithfully live on stage.

They’re one of the few bands that found success before the British Invasion and maintained it during and after that period.

Trivia Facts: The Beach Boys spirituality led Dennis Wilson to befriend Charles Manson and begin recording music with him at Wilson’s home studio, which you can hear if you look for it.

The Beach Boys came under massive negative media scrutiny during that time.

Led Zeppelin played music in the blues-rock and folk-rock genres but are also thought of as progenitors of heavy metal, too.

Possibly the most influential and popular song in rock history is their single Stairway to Heaven.

These guys did it big, every time.

Each of their nine total albums reached the top 10 and six reached the number-one slot on the charts.

They’ve earned all of the music awards available.

Trivia Facts: Led Zeppelin’s career occurred in a time before we had the internet, and even though it’s been nearly 40 years since their last album was released, their fan base is still growing.

The internet’s combined manpower has unveiled just how many of their songs were actually heavily influenced by, if they didn’t straight up plagiarize, other songs from their time period.

Even with their early releases led by Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd was already making their mark on the British rock scene.

Later, when David Gilmour joined the band and took over the creative direction they gained international recognition.

Four of their albums topped both the US and UK charts, though only two of their singles ever reached the top 10 in either region.

In a six-decade career, they’ve released 15 albums and toured to support each release.

Two of their albums, The Wall and The Dark Side of the Moon are both in the list of the best-selling albums of all time.

Dark music like theirs won’t ever be considered a pop, but they have just as many fans and longer-lasting popularity.

Trivia Facts: Pink Floyd’s band name is derived from two of Syd Barrett’s favorite blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.

They were huge fans of the comedy group Monty Python and helped finance the 1975 movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

The Rolling Stones are such a big deal that even the members’ solo careers, like that of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, are just as big.

Of the top 5 highest-grossing tours, four of them belong to this band.

Part of their success is attributed to them staying true to the safe foundational genres like R&B, soul, and rock.

They even recently won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.

Consistency is key when pop music evolves and changes so rapidly, which is why they’re still on top after nearly 60 years.

Trivia Facts: The Rolling Stones thankfully survived several feuds that have broken up other bands.

In that time they’ve released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums, 25 compilations, 120 singles, and embarked on 48 tours.

The Beatles had a short run of only 10 years from 1960 to 1970, but they’re still the best-selling artists of all time by far.

If you were to add in their solo albums and side groups, they’ll hold that record forever.

They started young and led the British Invasion of pop and rock into the USA, and their fans grew up alongside them, purchasing each album as time went on.

These guys won all the awards, starred in and produced movies, and even hold records like having the most covered song of all time.

They had pop appeal, and rock appeal, and evolved through the interests of the hippy era… they’re some of the best musicians to ever exist.

They’re so good that hipsters think it’s cool to hate them.

Trivia Facts: UNESCO recognizes January the 16th as World Beatles Day. Eric Clapton was almost welcomed as the fifth Beatle.

Paul McCartney is still releasing music and getting millions of views on YouTube!

Runners Up: Who’s Almost the Best Band of All Time?

There are so many top-notch bands out there, so hopefully, if you didn’t see your favorite above then you’ll see them next to or in the honorable mentions further down.

The Eagles had a 9-year run starting in 1971 (though they’re back recently!) and made a lasting impact in that time.

Like Pink Floyd, their album singles all did “okay” but never great, but they were so consistently good that they now hold the 1st and 3rd spots on the most sold albums ever list, with the winner being their greatest hits record.

In 1994, the band got back together and quickly dropped an album of new material and live music, released a documentary, and embarked on an extended tour.

This will only further solidify their sales and fan base.

Everyone loves their blend of soul, bluegrass, rock, and R&B, for good reason.

Trivia Facts: A member of The Eagles was once fired.

The group always had an even 5-way split of profits, but this member wanted a higher percentage and got told where to stick it.

He later invented reasons to sue the group for $50 million in daamges and the judge quickly dismissed the case upon hearing it.

It’s hard to imagine a Jamaican or Reggae band that will ever have a larger impact than Bob Marley and The Wailers.

The Wailers were a vocal ska group that went through various lineups before becoming Marley’s backing band, and more shakeups after that.

You’d think the star of the show was Marley and you’d be right, but it was the Wailers that wrote some of the biggest hits, such as “Stir It Up” and “Get Up, Stand Up.” They wrote so much scattered material that the Roots Reggae Library has tried to make a comprehensive list, but we aren’t sure it’s fully complete.

Trivia Facts: Bob Marley & The Wailers consisted of 19 full members, 2 touring members, and 18 session musicians over their 18 year period of activity.

The band gets its name from one of the founders, Bunny Wailer.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience only had 3 years of activity from 1966 to 1969, and that was enough to change the rock music industry forever with their three studio albums and tours.

Following the lead of Cream, the Experience helped popularize the power trio, further opening the road for bands like Rush.

The early passing of Hendrix in the middle of a tour put an end to the band.

Who knows what the music industry, let alone rock music, would be like today if that hadn’t happened.

Trivia Facts: All three of their albums are featured among the top 100 best albums.

In 1992, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Even in three years they had a break-up due to bad relations, but thankfully got the band back together.

Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, Metallica are widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful heavy metal bands of all time.

Founding members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, along with Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, have crafted a sound that is both aggressive and melodic, attracting legions of dedicated fans across the globe.

Throughout their extensive career, Metallica have released numerous chart-topping albums, including Master of Puppets, …And Justice for All, and their self-titled record, often referred to as the Black Album.

Metallica have consistently pushed the boundaries of heavy metal music, proving relevant after more than four decades of making music.

Their willingness to experiment with different styles and sounds while staying true to their roots has contributed to their longevity, making them a force to be reckoned with in the world of rock and metal.

Metallica’s fierce energy, technical mastery, and unyielding dedication to their craft have left an indelible mark on the annals of music history, solidifying their place among the pantheon of greats.

Trivia: The band was initially formed after drummer Lars Ulrich placed an ad in a local newspaper called the Recycler.

Vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield responded to the ad and joined forces with Ulrich, setting the stage for one of the most iconic musical partnerships in history.

Rush is progressive rock god, so much so that they gained a mainstream and international fan base, despite the “weird” genre.

Peart was known to use electronic drums to be a one-man-band.

Trivia Facts: They have all the music awards, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, and even documentaries about them.

Though people even love or hate them, even their fans love and hate some of their 19 studio albums.

Yes is an unbelievable band full of some of the biggest egos you’ll ever hear about.

That’s why they kept breaking up, getting back together, having two versions of the band operating at the same time, merging those, etc.

And that really sucked for the fans and the industry as a whole, because everything they release is incredible.

They’re a big enough deal, especially with the older crowd, that they have an annual prog-rock-themed cruise called Cruise to the Edge.

Their music deals with very spiritual topics that have probably hurt their widespread fan base, but those who love it really love it.

Trivia Facts: They’ve had 19 members over the time periods they actually made music instead of being in hiatus.

Honorable Mentions for the Best Bands of All Time

We can quickly list off a big handful of more of the all-time great bands, so why not?

Many of these groups are still playing and pumping out new music, so they have a real chance to climb the list higher.

Kiss have sold 28.7 million records (way more uncertified) and it’s their tours and merchandising that show just how deep of an impact they left on their many fans.

Van Halen has achieved over 65.2 million sales by bringing hard rock back as the leading genre and satisfying endless fans needs.

AC/DC are among the giants of heavy metal with their 130.2 million certified sales.

Guns N’ Roses boast 80.4 million units moved, of which almost half come from one amazing album with extremely successful singles.

Aerosmith has 104.8 million sales under their belt, but did you know they’ve made even more money through their work with the Guitar Hero video game franchise?

Deep Purple has been active since 1968 and is the pioneer of heavy metal and modern hard rock.

They have lifelong followers and continue to gain new fans.

Iron Maiden is said to have sold over 100 million albums worldwide though it hasn’t been tracked.

Def Leppard raked in 42.6 million sales, partially due to being among the first rock bands on MTV during the height of its popularity.

The Dave Matthews Band took over the jam band touring scene.

They’ve been hitting number-one on the charts and winning all the awards since the release of their first album.

The Pat Metheny Group constantly tours globally and hires only the best instrumentalists and vocalists from anywhere on the planet.

And if we changed the variables used to rate the bands, the entire list would rotate around or change entirely.

It’s fun to find your own favorite band appears and fun to watch people rage when theirs doesn’t.

If you enjoyed this, then you’ll probably have fun scrolling through the list of the richest musicians in the world.

Let us know if your favorite didn’t appear in this best bands of all time list and we’ll see what we can do about it.

Top 10 Best Bands of All Time (2023 Update)

This is the table for the top 10 best bands of all time.

RankBandCertified Sales1The Beatles290.4 Million2The Rolling Stones102.7 Million3Pink Floyd123.8 Million4Led Zeppelin142.4 Million5Beach Boys32.7 Million6U2114.6 Million7The Who27.9 Million8Nirvana56.0 Million9The Doors50.5 Million10Queen184.0 Million

Tina Fineberg/APName the biggest and best rock band in the world.Go ahead…we’ll wait.It’s not as easy as it was 50 years ago when such a demand would spark a massive debate name-dropping legends like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and The Who.Are you willing to admit that Greta Van Fleet is as good at gets these days?

How about Imagine Dragons?The reality is the idea of a rock star isn’t what it was in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s.

Times change, but being the biggest and baddest rock act in the land has always meant something.Taking into account record sales, accomplishments, buzz, quality of music and overall awesomeness, here is a look at the best rock band of the year, every year since 1969.Don’t Edit1969: The BeatlesDon’t EditMonty FrescoThe Beatles began 1969 with what would be their final live performance on the rooftop of the Apple Records building.

So how can a band that didn’t tour at all in 1969 be the greatest band in the world?

The band spent most of its time from 1966 on in the studio, recording its most ambitious albums.

For some fans, that peaked in 1969 with the release of “Abbey Road,” which came less than a week after John Lennon left the band.

The album sold 4 million copies before the end of the year.Don’t EditOther contenders: Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The WhoEven if the Beatles didn’t break up, they may have soon been supplanted as the best rock band in the world anyway.

Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones were both embarking on the biggest creative periods of their respective careers.

Meanwhile, Pete Townshend was wowing everyone with The Who’s groundbreaking rock opera “Tommy.”Don’t Edit1970: Led ZeppelinDon’t EditDon’t EditCourtesy of Everett CollectionThe Beatles were still ruling the charts in 1970 with “Let It Be” (both the single and album).

But Led Zeppelin was conquering the world in every other way.

The band spent the year on tour with two albums that would hit No. 1 on the charts.Don’t EditOther contenders: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungCCR’s “Cosmo’s Factory” was a force in the U.S., establishing the band as one of the biggest in North America.

Meanwhile, Santana saw a commercial breakthrough with “Abraxas.” And while most important album released in 1970 may have been Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid,” mainstream fans were more drawn to supergroup Crosby, Stills, & Nash, which had added Neil Young.Don’t Edit1971: Led ZeppelinDon’t EditHandoutThere’s a reason Zeppelin earned the nickname “The Biggest Band in the World” during a large portion of the 1970s.

No one could come close to what Zeppelin was doing in 1971 with the release of “Led Zeppelin IV” and its tour de force “Stairway to Heaven.” The band would go on to tour Europe, Australia, North America and Japan for the next two years.Don’t EditOther contenders: The Rolling Stones, The WhoYou have to feel for The Stones.

They released, arguably, their best album in Sticky Fingers and scored one of the top singles in the world with “Brown Sugar.” It wasn’t enough to top Zeppelin.

For what it’s worth, The Who also released its best album with “Who’s Next,” only to also be a runner-up.Don’t EditDon’t Edit1972: The Rolling StonesDon’t EditThe Plain Dealer ArchivesIt took a massive double album to earn The Stones the status of the biggest and best band in the world.

As if releasing “Exile on Main Street” wasn’t enough, the band capped of 1971 with the compilation “Hot Rocks 1964-1971,” which landing in the top five in both the U.S. and U.K.Don’t EditOther contenders: Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, ChicagoThis was The Rolling Stones year by a mile.

Still, Deep Purple made an impact with “Machine Head” and “Smoke on the Water.” Jethro Tull’s follow up to “Aqualung” sold well, while Chicago’s fourth studio album ruled the charts in the United States.Don’t Edit1973: Pink FloydDon’t EditHandout“The Dark Side of the Moon” was the juggernaut of 1973.

Even the members of the band boycotting the album’s press push (because mixing wasn’t done), didn’t slow its momentum.

“Dark Side” would also serve as the centerpiece of the band’s 1973 U.S. tour.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, WarLed Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones were still, arguably, the two biggest bands in the world, releasing “Houses of the Holy” and “Goats Head Soup,” respectively.

But the top-selling album of 1973 was War’s “The World Is A Ghetto.”Don’t Edit1974: The BandDon’t EditHandoutThe reunion between The Band and Bob Dylan was the musical event of 1974.

It began with The Band backing Dylan on the album “Permanent Waves” and culminated with a 40-show tour, documented on the live album “Before the Flood.”Don’t EditOther contenders: Paul McCartney & Wings, Deep Purple, Bad CompanyLed Zeppelin took the year off from touring, clearing the way for Paul McCartney’s band to score the top-selling album and single in the world.

Deep Purple remained a huge band in the U.K., while supergroup Bad Company’s debut album was a hit in the U.S.Don’t Edit1975: Led ZeppelinDon’t EditDon’t EditZeppelin capped the greatest run of its career with its biggest album and biggest tour.

“Physical Graffiti” was also the first release on the band’s newly formed record label Swan Song.Don’t EditOther contenders: Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Earth, Wind & FirePink Floyd had the top-selling album worldwide with “Wish You Were Here,” while The Eagles scored three top-10 singles with “One of These Nights,” “Take It to the Limit” and “Lyin’ Eyes.” But the biggest surprise of the year was “Earth, Wind & Fire” releasing the top-selling album of its career up until that point with “That’s the Way of the World.”Don’t Edit1976: QueenDon’t EditReleasing “A Night at the Opera” at the end of 1975 elevated Queen to superstar status and gave the band its first platinum selling release.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” also became a worldwide smash.Don’t EditOther contenders: EaglesThis was an extremely close race between the Eagles and Queen, considering the former released its greatest hits compilation (You know, the greatest selling “album” of all time) and followed that up with “Hotel California.”Don’t EditDon’t Edit1977: Fleetwood MacDon’t EditWarner/RepriseThe combination of real-life drama and brilliant music made Fleetwood Mac’s landmark “Rumours” the best-selling album of 1977 by a wide margin.

The album would spawn four hit singles and cement Fleetwood Mac as one of the biggest bands in world.Don’t EditOther contenders: Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, EaglesBig albums from the Eagles and Pink Floyd would continue to perform well.

Still, the album failed to made an immediate dent in the U.S.Don’t Edit1978: The Rolling StonesDon’t EditPromotional PhotoJust in case you forgot how great the Rolling Stones were, the band took a few years off from being the world’s “it” band, only to return with its best-selling album “Some Girls.

Led by “Beast of Burden,” the album would propel the next phase in the Stones’ career.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Van Halen, BostonDisco ruled 1978, making it hard for any rock band to gain traction.

Still Van Halen turned heads with its debut, while Boston continued its successful run on the charts with “Don’t Look Back.Don’t Edit1979: The EaglesDon’t EditGeorge RoseThe Eagles closed out 1979 with “The Long Run,” an album that, from a sales standpoint, would make releases by Led Zeppelin, KISS and The Knack secondary.

“The Long Run” marked the Eagles third straight No.1 album in the U.S. and finally helped the band crossover to the U.K.Don’t EditOther contenders: Pink Floyd, Led ZeppelinWe’ll get to Pink Floyd’s massive year in a minute.

But one could argue that maybe “In Through the Out Door” was the last time Led Zeppelin could be considered one of the biggest bands in the world.Don’t Edit1980: Pink FloydDon’t EditDon’t EditGerald ScarfePink Floyd’s “The Wall” was the top selling album in the world in 1979.

The album was an odd tour de force, accompanied by a tour in 1980 and 1981 that was small in terms of the number cities but massive in production scale.

It also spawned the top single of 1980 with “Another Brick in the Wall.”Don’t EditOther contenders: AC/DC, Queen, The Rolling StonesThe Stones could basically do anything at this point, releasing “Emotional Rescue.” AC/DC, meanwhile, made a stunning return with the top album in the world, “Back in Black,” just months after its lead singer died.

Queen was also dead set on proving it had staying power, releasing one of its grittiest albums with “The Game.”Don’t Edit1981: The Rolling StonesDon’t EditThe Stones were passed their prime.

“Tattoo You” was a sales juggernaut (eventually going on to sell 8.5 million copies), while “Start Me Up” served as one of the year’s biggest singles.Don’t EditOther contenders: The PoliceAs we ushered in the 1980s, bands like REO Speedwagon, Foreigner and Journey were becoming pop-rock forces.

Sting and company’s “Ghost in The Machine” was second only to “Tattoo You” in terms of worldwide sales.Don’t EditDon’t Edit1982: The ClashDon’t EditHandoutThe Clash’s first four albums earned the band praise from critics and diehard fans.

But “Combat Rock,” released in 1982, became The Clash’s mainstream breakthrough, led by the singles “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go.”Don’t EditOther contenders: Duran Duran, Roxy Music, Iron MaidenDuran Duran was merging new wave and rock, and driving MTV fans crazy.

Roxy Music was saying goodbye with “Avalon.” Elsewhere, Iron Maiden was reaching massive heights in the metal world with its epic album, “The Number of the Beast.”Don’t Edit1983: The PoliceDon’t EditHandout“Synchronicity” was the top-selling album in the world in 1983.

No band was bigger than The Police, whose hit “Every Breath You Take” was on the verge of becoming one of the biggest songs of all time.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Culture Club, ZZ Top, GenesisWith Phil Collins as its lead singer, Genesis was pushing towards its commercial peak.

Culture Club was making its case as one of the best new acts in the world on the strength of its debut “Kissing to Be Clever.” Perhaps the biggest surprise of 1983 came from blues rockers ZZ Top, who released a mainstream monster “Eliminator,” which would go on to sell more than 10 million copies.Don’t Edit1984: Talking HeadsDon’t EditA year after releasing its commercial breakthrough “Speaking in Tongues,” Talking Heads embarked on its “Stop Making Sense” tour, regarded as one of the best concert tours in history, which was documented by a Jonathan Demme film.Don’t EditOther contenders: Van HalenThis was close.

Van Halen’s embracing of synths would elevate the band to a higher status commercially on “1984,” which featured the singles “Jump,” “Panama” and “Hot for Teacher.”Don’t Edit1985: The CureDon’t EditDon’t EditThe Cure’s move from Gothic rock to a more varied style of alternative-rock and pop helped introduce the band to a new audience.

It helps that “The Head on the Door” was, from top to bottom, The Cure’s catchiest album to date.Don’t EditOther contenders: Dire Straits, Tears for FearsTwo monster albums – “Brothers In Arms” and “Songs From Big Chair,” respectively – would make Dire Straits and Tears For Fears two of the biggest successes of the year.Don’t Edit1986: R.E.M.Don’t EditJose GalvezWith its first three albums, R.E.M. conquered the college rock world.

But on 1986’s “Life’s Rich Pageant,” the band proved it was one of the most well-rounded rock bands we’d seen in quite some time.Don’t EditOther contenders: Bon Jovi, The SmithsThe Smiths’ “The Queen Is Dead” is considered by some to be the best British rock album post-Beatles.

But the band didn’t make much of a dent in the U.S. Bon Jovi was as big as any rock band in the States, thanks to the massive success of “Slippery When Wet,” even if critics weren’t jumping on the bandwagon.Don’t EditDon’t Edit1987: U2Don’t EditHandoutEven in a year that featured Michael Jackson’s “Bad” and George Michael’s “Faith,” nothing could stop U2.

The band’s landmark “The Joshua Tree” would cement Bono and company as the biggest rock band in the world.Don’t EditOther contenders: Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, R.E.M.Def Leppard’s monster album “Hysteria” couldn’t be ignored, while R.E.M. continued its brilliant creative run with “Document.” But it was Guns N’ Roses hard-hitting debut, “Appetite for Destruction” that would shake up the rock world for the next few years.Don’t Edit1988: Guns N’ RosesDon’t EditKe.MazurWelcome to the jungle, indeed.

On the heels of “Appetite for Destruction,” no band was featured on more magazine covers or buzzed about on TV more than Guns N’ Roses.

They were the “it” band of the moment that embodied everything fans wanted, from sex, drugs and rock and roll to fantastic music.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: U2, Bon Jovi, The Traveling WilburysThe Traveling Wilburys – a supergroup featuring George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty – intrigued every music fan around.

Bon Jovi remained a mainstream juggernaut with “New Jersey.” U2 decided to go the rockumentary route with “Rattle and Hum,” a release that was larger than life even if not all that great.Don’t Edit1989: Guns N’ RosesDon’t EditPromo photoMainstream audiences followed Guns N’ Roses every move.

The band’s “G N’ R Lies,” released in 1988, had everyone anticipating what would come next, while the band spent the year touring the world (opening for but over shadowing the likes of Aerosmith and Iron Maiden) and gracing the cover of “Rolling Stone.”Don’t EditOther contenders: Aerosmith, PixiesIn truth, no band came close to Guns N’ Roses during this period.

Still, Aerosmith scored well on the charts with “Pump,” while the Pixies were redefining alternative rock on “Doolittle.”Don’t Edit1990: PixiesDon’t EditDon’t EditAndrew CatlinThe Pixies capped an amazing three year run of albums with 1990’s “Bossanova,” which made more of a dent in the U.K. than the U.S. Still, the band’s music would prove highly influential in terms of where rock music would go in the 1990s.Don’t EditOther contenders: HeartHip-hop and pop were taking hold of the mainstream, which benefited Heart.

The band was in the midst of releasing its most accessible run of albums, including 1990’s “Brigade,” which would go double platinum.Don’t Edit1991: MetallicaDon’t EditDanny ClinchMetallica’s self-titled 1991 effort, aka The Black Album, saw the band ditching its thrash sound for monstrous rock that would see them conquer the world.

The Black Album came with five well received singles and stands today as one of the greatest selling albums of all time.Don’t EditOther contenders: U2, R.E.M., Guns N’ RosesMetallica had stiff competition in 1991.

Guns N’ Roses dropped “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II,” which had fans lining up outside of record stores.

R.E.M.’s “Out of Time” pushed the indie rock faves to new mainstream heights.

U2 delivered what many consider its comeback album, embracing electronic music on “Achtung Baby.”Don’t EditDon’t Edit1992: NirvanaDon’t EditAnd so grunge was upon us.

“Nevermind” actually arrived in 1991 with the music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” arriving the fall.

Things skyrocketed from there, as Nirvana became, maybe reluctantly, the biggest band in the world for 1992 and beyond.Don’t EditOther contenders: R.E.M., Pearl JamThe year 1992 saw R.E.M. make its full evolution from college rockers to one of the biggest bands of all time thanks to “Automatic For The People.” Pearl Jam was also coming off of “Ten” and challenging Nirvana for grunge supremacy.Don’t Edit1993: Pearl JamDon’t EditEpic RecordsNirvana may be recognized historically as the greater band.

The album stayed on top of the charts for over a month.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Nirvana, U2Nirvana and Pearl Jam were essentially going back and forth when it came to who was the biggest band in the world.

Kurt Cobain snapped out of drug phase just long enough to record “In Utero.” Elsewhere, U2 was doing wild and crazy things on its Zoo TV Tour.Don’t Edit1994: Green DayDon’t EditHandoutGreen Day became the new rock stars of the moment, establishing the blueprint for pop punk on “Dookie.”Don’t EditOther contenders: Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, R.E.M.R.E.M. continued its stretch of commercial and critical success with “Monster,” while Soundgarden became grunge’s third titan with “Superunknown.” But Pearl Jam going strong with “Vitalogy.”Don’t Edit1995: OasisDon’t EditDon’t EditJill FurmanovskySo maybe Oasis wasn’t the second coming of the Beatles.

The Gallagher brothers’ bravado, coupled with the back-to-back releases of “Definitely Maybe” and “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” made Oasis, unquestionably, the biggest band in the world.Don’t EditOther contenders: Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in ChainsSmashing Pumpkins “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” arrived in epic fashion, while Alice in Chains inserted itself in the discussion of great grunge bands.Don’t Edit1996: Smashing PumpkinsDon’t EditLisa JohnsonIf you thought Billy Corgan had peaked with “Siamese Dream,” you were wrong.

“Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” released in 1995, set the band up as one of the biggest rock bands in the world and one of the leading acts coming out of the grunge period.Don’t EditOther contenders: Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, ToolPearl Jam was the biggest band to come out of grunge and continue its massive run.

Though, critics weren’t quite as receptive to “No Code.” And while Rage Against the Machine was as politically charged as you could get, it managed to translate to the mainstream charts worldwide.

And don’t forget Tool, whose album “Aenima” sold 3 million copies.Don’t EditDon’t Edit1997: RadioheadDon’t EditTom Sheehan“OK Computer” was not only a game changer from a musical standpoint, it was also quite the force in terms of popularity worldwide, outselling every other rock album of 1997.Don’t EditOther contenders: No Doubt, The Verve, OasisLed by surefire rock star Gwen Stefani, No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom” continued to sell well during the first half of 1997.

Overseas, Oasis continued to be huge, but The Verve was gaining ground.Don’t Edit1998: Beastie BoysDon’t EditRyan MurphyThey were already cemented at one of hip hop’s greatest acts.

But make no mistake – the Beastie Boys were as much rock stars as any band around thanks to 1998’s “Hello Nasty,” which fans and MTV ate up.

The album stayed on top of the charts in the U.S. for three weeks.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Korn, The Smashing PumpkinsBilly Corgan and company weren’t done, delivering “Adore” as the follow-up to “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.” With rap-metal in full swing, Korn delivered its mainstream breakthrough “Follow the Leader,” which all but took over MTV.Don’t Edit1999: Rage Against the MachineDon’t EditHandoutNo band was hotter in 1999 than Rage Against the Machine, who released “The Battle of Los Angeles,” an album that separated the band from every other act on the rap-metal scene.

The songs from “The Battle of Los Angeles” made it into “The Matrix Trilogy,” and major video games like “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2” and “Madden NFL 10.”Don’t EditOther contenders: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Foo FightersThe Red Hot Chili Peppers were back, firing on all cylinders with “Californication,” while Foo Fighters’ status continued to rise in the mainstream with the single “Learn to Fly.” Trent Reznor was still in ambitious mode, releasing the No. 1 album “The Fragile.”Don’t Edit2000: RadioheadDon’t EditDon’t EditAPRadiohead ushered in the Pitchfork era of indie-rock with its stunning album “Kid A.” Even today, the album is regarded as, arguably, the best of the 21st century.Don’t EditOther contenders: U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers“Californication” and its successful singles put the Red Hot Chili Peppers on top of the world.

Then there was U2, experiencing yet another massive comeback with “All That You Can’t Leave Behind,” which would earn the band seven Grammys.Don’t Edit2001: Linkin ParkDon’t EditT.J. HamiltonLinkin Park (and rap metal as a whole, for that matter) was no critical darling.

But there was no denying the massive run of “Hybrid Theory,” an album that sold and sold and sold to the tune of 27 million copies.Don’t EditOther contenders: The Strokes, Dave Matthews BandKnown as a non-stop touring act, Dave Matthews Band was making quite a dent on the charts and radio as well with “Everyday.” Meanwhile, The Strokes were everyone’s “it” band, leading the post-punk revival with the critically acclaimed “Is This It.”Don’t EditDon’t Edit2002: System of a DownDon’t EditHandoutWith bands like Nickelback and Creed ruling the charts, fans gravitated towards something edgier and darker in 2002.

The band’s album “Toxicity,” released in the fall of 2005, was an unlikely hit that spawned two hit singles and music videos in the title track and “Aerials.”Don’t EditOther contenders: Linkin Park, ColdplayLinkin Park’s “Hybrid Theory” kept selling, while Coldplay was making a push at being dubbed the next U2.Don’t Edit2003: The White StripesDon’t EditThe White Stripes were already critical darlings, but “Elephant” and its big single “Seven Nation Army” gave the band a mainstream breakthrough.

Jack White was rock’s new genius.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Linkin Park, MuseMuse was one of the biggest bands in the U.K. during the 2000s.

Linkin Park released yet another one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century with “Meteora.”Don’t Edit2004: Green DayDon’t EditTina FinebergThe members of Green Day were no longer pop punks in 2004.

The result was “American Idiot,” the band’s biggest album and a force on the charts, spawning a series of hit singles that would run all the way through 2005 as well.Don’t EditOther contenders: Maroon 5, Blink-182Maroon 5’s debut album made Adam Levine a sex symbol.

And while Blink-182 had bigger albums than its 2003 self-titled effort, none were more critically acclaimed or, perhaps, beloved.Don’t Edit2005: The KillersDon’t EditDon’t EditJim CooperGreen Day’s “American Idiot” continued to rule 2005.

But matching the punk rock titans in terms of worldwide sales and hit singles were upstarts The Killers, whose album “Hot Fuss” was unavoidable.Don’t EditOther contenders: Green Day, Coldplay, GorillazColdplay continued to sell a ton of records, but it was a cartoon band that gave music fans a surprise treat.

The Gorillaz’s second album “Demon Days” cemented Damon Albarn’s latest project as a force to be reckoned with.Don’t Edit2006: Fall Out BoyDon’t EditHandoutFall Out Boy’s “From Under a Cork Tree” and its massive single “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” ushered in the pop-punk era.

It’s impact on MTV, rock radio and the Warped Tour can’t be understated.Don’t EditOther contenders: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Panic!

at the Disco“Stadium Arcadium” gave the Chili Peppers yet another hit album.

Fall Out Boy wasn’t alone in bringing pop punk to the forefront.

at the Disco’s debut “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out” marked the arrival of yet another formidable act.Don’t EditDon’t Edit2007: Foo FightersDon’t EditHandoutThe top-selling rock albums of 2007 came from Daughtry and Nickelback.

Thus, as fans looked around, Foo Fighters simply felt like the last great rock band standing.

“Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” was a big release for Dave Grohl and compnay, getting back to their harder roots and earning a Grammy for Best Rock Album.Don’t EditOther contenders: My Chemical Romance, Fall out BoyBoth MCR and FOB proved they were more than just young pop-punk acts and could rock hard by releasing the best albums of their careers – “The Black Parade” and “Infinity On High,” respectively.Don’t Edit2008: ColdplayDon’t EditHandoutColdplay may still have been a punchline to some.

But the band’s fourth album “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends” was no joke.

It was nominated for several Grammys, while topping the chart in the both the U.S. and U.K.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Radiohead, Kings of LeonAfter being an indie-rock band that only sold well in the U.S., Kings of Leon exploded in the States with “Only by the Night.” Radiohead fueled the debate on how people consume music by offering its latest stellar album “In Rainbows” in a pay-what-you-want format.Don’t Edit2009: ParamoreDon’t EditAlbums by Green Day, Kings of Leon and U2 sold a heck of a lot more.

But Paramore proved it was more than just its debut album “Riot!” pushing the follow up “Brand New Eyes” to No.2 on the charts.

Helping the band capture the hearts of teens even more was “Decode,” the lead single from the chart-topping soundtrack to “Twilight.”Don’t EditOther contenders: Green Day, Florence + The MachineGreen Day copied the same formula that worked with “American Idiot” on “21st Century Breakdown.” Then there was Florence Welch, a new rock star who captivated many with her band’s debut.Don’t Edit2010: Arcade FireDon’t EditDon’t EditEric KayneArcade Fires’ “The Suburbs” was a game-changer for the band, debuting at No. 1 in three countries, including the U.S. The album’s historic status was cemented when it shockingly won Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards.Don’t EditOther contenders: Vampire Weekend, The Black KeysVampire Weekend’s “Contra” proved the band was no one hit wonder, while The Black Keys’ “Brothers” marked a turning point for the Akron band’s mainstream status.Don’t Edit2011: Foo FightersDon’t EditCredit: John SoederAs 2011 belonged to female pop stars like Adele, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, there stood Foo Fighters with another solid album in “Wasting Light,” carrying the torch for rock music at a time when the genre was fading.Don’t EditOther contenders: No oneWith all due respect to Evanescence and Red Hot Chili Peppers, who both released successful album, no other rock band really made a dent in 2011.Don’t EditDon’t Edit2012: The Black KeysDon’t EditPromo Photo2012 was The Black Keys’ moment.

The band’s album “El Camino” was one of the top-10 sellers of the year, which platinum status and a near-sweep of the Grammys’ rock category.Don’t EditOther contenders: Mumford & SonsLove them or hate them, Mumford & Sons were as big as anyone in 2012.

The rest of the year’s best rock releases belonged to indie bands.Don’t Edit2013: Vampire WeekendDon’t EditJack PlunkettVampire Weekend’s “Modern Vampire of the Cities” was the best reviewed album of 2013 and proved the band was as artistically capable as any other indie act on its level.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Arcade Fire, Queens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone Age’s “…Like Clockwork” was ranked among the best rock albums of the year.

Arcade Fire’s “Reflektor” wasn’t as highly regarded as some of the band’s previous work, but still proved better than 90 percent of what other artists were putting out.Don’t Edit2014: Arctic MonkeysDon’t EditDavid GrunfeldIt took five albums, but Arctic Monkeys finally broke through in America with “AM.” The album sold nearly 3 million worldwide with the single “Do I Wanna Know?” becoming the band’s first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.Don’t EditOther contenders: Against Me!, The Black Keys, Foo FightersFoo Fighters remained in the spotlight with its HBO docu-series and album “Sonic Highways.” The Black Keys turned in another Grammy favorite with “Turn Blue.” Most groundbreaking, however, was Against Me!’s “Transgender Dysphoria Blues,” which centered on frontwoman Laura Jane Grace’s gender transition.Don’t Edit2015: Alabama ShakesDon’t EditDon’t EditRich FuryAlabama Shakes “Sound & Color” wasn’t the biggest seller of the year, but it was hailed by many as 2015’s best rock album.

The band earned a collection of high-profile Grammy nominations at the 2016 ceremony.Don’t EditOther contenders: Fall Out Boy, Twenty One PilotsFall Out Boy proved it wasn’t going anywhere with yet another solid album in “American Beauty/American Psycho.” Columbus band Twenty One Pilots debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with “Blurryface.”Don’t Edit2016: The 1975Don’t Edit”I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It” is a long album title.

The 1975 seemingly came out of nowhere in 2016, scoring a No. 1 album on the U.K. and U.S. charts, while becoming the most buzzed about band in indie rock.Don’t EditOther contenders: Radiohead, Twenty One PilotsRadiohead returned in strong fashion with “A Moon Shaped Pool,” its best album in years.

Twenty One Pilots’ 2015 album “Blurryface” performed even better in 2016 with “Ride” becoming a success on the singles charts.Don’t EditDon’t Edit2017: Twenty One PilotsDon’t EditAlex DriehausTwenty One Pilots has essentially ruled the rock world for the past three years.

Yet, if anyone still doubted the band’s mainstream cred, 2017 cemented that when the band took home the Grammy for best Pop Duo/Group Performance.Don’t EditOther contenders: Paramore, Panic!

at the DiscoParamore reinvented itself with 2017’s “After Laughter,” ditching any traces of alt-rock and embracing 1980s synth pop.

scored its first No. 1 album with “Death of a Bachelor.”Don’t Edit2018: Panic!

at the Disco have the second highest charting rock album of 2018, but the band’s “Pray for the Wicked” was the highest charting new album when it came to vinyl sales that year.

That means all the hip kids felt they were totally the coolest.Don’t EditDon’t EditOther contenders: Greta Van Fleet, Imagine DragonsIn retrospect, Greta Van Fleet feels like a throwback band (or Led Zeppelin knockoff) whose time in the spotlight came and went rather quickly.

Imagine Dragons has been a sales juggernaut for years but feels like more of a faceless band, especially when compared to Panic!

which has a rock star in Brendon Urie.Don’t Edit2019: QueenDon’t EditMarco ArndtFor the record, we’re not talking about Queen with Adam Lambert, though they certainly benefitted from 2019.

So how is it a band whose iconic lead singer has been dead for 30 years was the biggest thing going in 2019?

“Bohemian Rhapsody” became the highest grossing music biopic of all time, earning more than $900 million at the worldwide box office.

The film’s massive success pushed Queen’s record sales through the roof, dwarfing those of just about any current rock band in 2019.Don’t EditOther contenders: Imagine Dragons, Twenty One PilotsParamore reinvented itself with 2017’s “After Laughter,” ditching any traces of alt-rock and embracing 1980s synth pop.

scored its first No. 1 album with “Death of a Bachelor.”Imagine Dragons and Twenty One Pilots both finished in the top 10 on the year-end rock charts.

Imagine Dragons even had two albums in the top 10.

The truth is, they just don’t make rock bands like they used to, allowing Freddie Mercury’s legacy to decimate all.Don’t Edit

Scroll to Top