If you're a rock and metal fan, you've probably wondered what the greatest bands of all time are. Nando Machado has compiled a list of the best rock and metal bands from the United States, including some of the most iconic and influential in music history. Find out if your favorites are on the list!
"Another list, another controversial one. First of all, this list reflects a personal opinion. Of course, there are some facts that are indisputable, but others leave room for different interpretations, discussions, exchanges, and even changes of mind.".
Remember that differing opinions are welcome as long as they are expressed respectfully and with plausible arguments. Feel free to comment; imagine we're at a bar and we've already had a few beers.
I apologize to the bands that I love very much and that ended up not being included in this list: Grand Funk Railroad, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, ZZ Top, Alice in Chains, Queensryche, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Slipknot, Anthrax , and Twisted Sister.
Apologies to those Rock Gods, if we had room for 22 or 23 you'd all be on the list. It was very difficult to choose only 11 names to represent the second leading country in the world when it comes to rock and metal bands. So here we go, to (my) definitive list of the greatest US rock and metal bands of all time.
11. Megadeth (Los Angeles, California)
Dave Mustaine is a special guy. A guy who, after being kicked out of Metallica , managed to form a band of Megadeth deserves to be on this list. For his tenacity, resilience, determination, and perseverance, despite all the problems he's had with drugs in the past and his recent health issues, we have to take our hats off to this guy.
Great guitarist, great master of riffs, an emblematic figure in the world of metal. Dave Mustaine and Megadeth must be revered, even more so after the band included one of the greatest Brazilian guitarists, the great ex- Angra Kiko Loureiro, in their lineup. Long live Megadeth, long live the sensational Dave Mustaine.
10. Rage Against the Machine (Los Angeles, California)
This band, formed in Los Angeles in 1991, has all the necessary components for a name to become iconic in rock history. The mix of hip-hop with heavy metal, Tom Morello , the groovy and super-precise rhythm section of Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford Zack de la Rocha 's raspy, spoken-word vocals with extremely political and powerful lyrics make RATM an impactful and addictive band.
Their show recorded in Mexico City and released on DVD proves that seeing a band live can be a transformative experience. It's impossible to remain indifferent to their sound. I just want to scream: Fuck You I Won't Do What You Tell Me, MOTHERFUCKER!!!
9. Nirvana (Seattle, Washington)
Since we only had 11 slots on this list, I ended up having to choose one among the many excellent bands that emerged in Seattle in the 90s. Alice in Chains , Soundgarden , or even Pearl Jam could all be very well represented on this list. Although each of these bands has unique and distinct characteristics, they all ended up being lumped together in the same "basket" called grunge. In my opinion, this is unfair because each of them is much more than that.
I ended up choosing Nirvana because they were the first band I ever listened to. I'll never forget the impact I felt when I first heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit." What was that? A punk band? Rock? A mix of everything I'd ever heard with a different attitude. Super melancholic lyrics and an original energy, a desire to get into the mosh pit like there was no tomorrow.
Nirvana shook up the music market and changed the world, inspiring thousands of kids who started playing guitar or drums, and were largely responsible for the Do It Yourself , similar to what happened in the punk movement, but this time in the early 90s. All of this makes Nirvana one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
8. Pantera (Dallas, Texas)
For a band to be complete and make it onto a list of this caliber, all its members need to be in sync; it needs all the elements to become a legend. And Pantera had all that and much more.
These cowboys from hell, it was impossible to stay still listening to "Mouth for War," for example. Brothers Darrell Dimebag and Vinnie Paul had a sound that no one else has ever managed to replicate from the drums and guitar. Phil Anselmo , say what you will about him, but as a frontman he's unmatched, the greatest frontman in thrash metal, if we can even call Pantera a thrash band (in my opinion, YES, Pantera was thrash, with a dash of "Extra Hot" Texan spice). Rex Brown, with his precision, skill, and stage presence, completed the team. And charisma, you know that thing we can't explain? Well, they had it in abundance.
7. Slayer (Los Angeles, California)
What can be said about Slayer ? The most honest band in the world of metal. They never messed up, even with some uneven albums throughout their career, it can be said that they never screwed up. Even after the departure and death of the band's main songwriter, Jeff Hanneman , Slayer managed to bring in a brilliant and worthy guitarist, the highly respected master of riffs and heavy rhythm parts, Gary Holt , the eternal guitarist and leader of Exodus , another giant of world thrash metal.
Slayer said goodbye to the stage last year and they are already missed, very much missed. Writing this short text has given me a huge urge to listen to the band's most perfect album and one of the pillars of thrash metal, Reign in Blood , complete with the scream of the master Tom Araya at the beginning of "Angel of Death" (poor neighbors)...
6. Guns N' Roses (Los Angeles, California)
It's impossible not to acknowledge the impact Guns N' Roses had on the music world with the release of their perfect debut album, Appetite for Destruction . They were responsible for bringing rock back to the mainstream and to the radio. They inspired millions of teenagers to buy a guitar and learn an instrument.
They brought danger back to rock, which had become quite bland and clean, full of makeup and glitter. They brought back jeans and leather, fueled by plenty of Jack Daniels and other illegal substances. They were the ones who dirtied everything again, thankfully. I still remember the first time I heard "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child o' Mine," and it was hard to define what it was. 70s glam? Hard rock à la Aerosmith ? Metal? Definitely a mix of all of that.
Axl Rose and Slash are among the greatest vocalist-guitarist duos in rock history, and Appetite for Destruction is one of the most important debut albums by a band, which in itself already places Guns N' Roses among the greatest rock bands of all time.
5. Ramones (New York, New York)
Speaking of influential bands, these guys certainly influenced countless bands worldwide. Even with some idiots who thought Ramones was a t-shirt brand, they practically invented punk rock in the 70s and showed the world the wonders that could be achieved with three chords.
The world wouldn't be what it is today without the Ramones. Punk rock, thrash metal, grunge wouldn't exist; many bands we listen to today would never have ventured into the world of music if it weren't for Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy . It's a great shame we don't have any members of the original lineup with us anymore, but we have one of the greatest battle cries in rock: Hey Ho Let's Go!
4. Van Halen (Pasadena, California)
We're talking about Van Halen (and not "Van Hagar"). This band came close to perfection, very close. From their debut album to 1984 (which had one of the biggest hits in rock history, the classic "Jump"), the band released unparalleled albums.
Eddie Van Halen is simply a guitar genius, and if he's not the greatest guitarist of all time, he's in the top 3. Eddie changed the way guitar was played; he actually invented a new instrument and got sounds that had never been done before. David Lee Roth were unique, and he is undoubtedly one of the greatest frontmen in rock history. The rhythm section was also unique: Michael Anthony , the bassist who delivered the most perfect backing vocals ever, and the monster who commanded that true "spaceship" with four bass drums, Alex Van Halen , completed this dream lineup. There will never be another band like Van Halen, at least not the VH of those first six albums, and that's a fact.
3. Aerosmith (Boston, Massachusetts)
Seeing an Aerosmith show is a unique experience. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are among the greatest and most influential vocalist-guitarist duos in history. Without them, we wouldn't have Guns N' Roses and so many other bands that were influenced by the "Toxic Twins".
The band achieved the incredible feat of conquering the world twice. In the first part of their career, they released gems like "Mama Kin," "Toys in the Attic," "Walk This Way," "Sweet Emotion," and one of the most wonderful ballads of all time, "Dream On." When they returned in the 80s, after overcoming the drug addiction that nearly ended the lives of its members, Aerosmith came back with a vengeance! With the album Pump , they achieved more success than ever, putting rock back on top of the charts. They had countless hits, even appearing on Hollywood movie soundtracks, and the band managed to maintain the same lineup throughout (almost) their entire career.
2. Kiss (New York, New York)
You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best. The Hardest Band in the World KISS !!! Anyone who has heard this phrase knows what it does to the head and body of a rock fan. Kiss was responsible, for over 40 decades, for the greatest show on Earth. A Kiss concert is a unique experience, always has been and always will be. They were responsible for transforming a rock concert into a huge party, with a show of lights, explosions, blood, makeup, guitars and guitarists flying, and many, many other pyrotechnic effects.
Always led by marketing and music geniuses Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley , this duo became the Lennon and McCartney of hard rock, always accompanied by stars like the brilliant Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in their best and most unforgettable phase, or by Bruce Kulick and Eric Carr in their most pop and commercially successful phase, or by Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer in their " revival " phase. Kiss is and always will be a giant of rock, and should always be revered and respected for their services to music. There will never be another band or another show like Kiss. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest rock bands of all time!
1. Metallica (San Francisco, California)
Metallica started in Los Angeles, but they consider San Francisco their home. This band, formed by four metal-obsessed kids, originally included Dave Mustaine. He was later replaced by the great Kirk Hammett , who played in Exodus, and fit like a glove in Metallica. It was an excellent choice not only for his creativity and good taste in solos and riffs, but also for his laid-back personality and for getting along well with Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield , the "owners" of the band.
Along with hippie Cliff Burton , Metallica invented a type of sound that changed the lives of teenagers around the world, including mine. The band's first three albums reached perfection. Then came tragedy, the premature death of the brilliant Cliff, one of the greatest bassists in metal history (along with Steve Harris (of Iron Maiden ) and Terry "Geezer" Butler (of Black Sabbath ). Metallica then reinvented itself, not just once but many times. With the Black Album they reached the top of the world and became the biggest rock band on the planet.
The band included the excellent bassist Jason Newsted , who was later replaced by the experienced Robert Trujillo , bringing fresh blood to the band. For me, Death Magnetic is a perfect album, and with the Big Four shows they organized with Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, Metallica brought metal back to the top of the world.
Metallica's charisma, energy, originality, and authenticity make them the biggest name in American rock and metal of all time. They rightfully occupy the top spot on my humble list of the greatest American rock and metal bands of all time