Well, I’m not too surprised at the results here. It is hard for me to choose with the bands and solo acts mixed. I am very conflicted right now about which act will get my final vote – right now it’s a virtual tie in my mind. When I decide, I’m going to rank my top five.
If you take away the solo acts, the way I see it, there are four bands that are in the very top echelon above and beyond all others – The Beatles, Eagles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. The criteria I used in forming my opinion are:
- Popularity
- Quality and quantity of their music and songwriting
- Influence on other musicians and rock culture
- Longevity
Of course, my two favorites were left out of this “experiment”. Now if they had been included, I think The Beatles should probably win most of the time in any kind of poll, contest, or “exercise” such as this. My second place vote would go to the Eagles, even though I know everyone would not agree with me. I personally think the Eagles have always been extremely underrated by the critics. Also, because of their mass appeal, I think in some respects it was considered “cool” to hate them – kinda the anti-establishment attitude. It’s very difficult to explain because in so many ways the Eagles were among the anti-establishment, but yet, they somehow managed to break the barrier with their beautiful harmonies and melodies so that their music also appealed to the establishment. It’s as if some people loved their music, harmonies, and melodies so much that they didn’t care what the lyrics were about. Even though they are the band that defines country rock, they also managed to very successfully crossover into so many other genres of music. So while the band does have some detractors, I believe their popularity surpasses the Stones and Zeppelin, and that helps earn them 2nd place on my list. I just don’t believe that any other band has such widespread “crossover” appeal among all kinds of people and age groups. Many people from all walks of life just plain and simply love their music. I think this is why, even after the band broke up, their music just wouldn’t die.
I’ve never been a huge Rolling Stones fan, but their longevity alone puts them very close to the Eagles on my list. As has already been pointed out, these guys were kind of the “anti-Beatles” when they first arrived on the scene with a harder, edgier, sound – perhaps the precursor to hard rock. I like a lot of their songs, but not to extent that I like Eagles songs. There is no denying the impact they have had on rock music. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other band that has stayed together for 45 years without breaking up.
Now, this brings me to Led Zeppelin. My purely objective head acknowledges that they have earned a place among the other three elite bands mentioned here. However, my heart always tells me that they have also always been overrated. They are the original hard rock band. It’s not that they aren’t talented, and I know they have big fan base and sold lots of records, but I don’t believe they (or hard rock) have anywhere near the broad crossover appeal of The Beatles or the Eagles. For whatever reasons, as much as it was considered “cool” for the anti-establishment to hate the Eagles, it was also considered “cool” to like Zeppelin. To this day, I still feel so “uncool” when I admit that I am not a big fan. But, I actually know a lot of other people who feel much the same way as I do. In all honesty, Stairway to Heaven is about the only Zeppelin song that I like a lot – to me, it is indeed the band’s one true masterpiece. Most of their music just doesn’t appeal to me. The only CD I own these days is Mothership, but I never listen to it. I actually once tried to give it away to my 18 year old niece, but she listened to it and said “no thanks”. Sorry, Led Zeppelin fans, but I just don’t think their music resonates that well outside of the hard rock/heavy metal fan base, and that is the reason that the band didn’t make the final cut here.
Re: Greatest Band Round #5 Finale
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Originally Posted by Ive always been a dreamer
But everyone has their opinion, even if it's wrong. 
Actually you aren't the only one that I've ever heard say that even tho I don't get it but like I've admitted before, I don't get the whole Beatles thing myself so it's all a matter of taste I believe.
