•Their records sell ... "... because they're good, not because they've been hyped to death by the media," McNabb added.
•There have been scores of imitators. "How many Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder knockoffs have invaded rock radio since Ten?" asked Scott Jordan, another Atlanta fan.
•Their concerts are first-rate — and affordable. Jake Mohlman from Barrington, R.I., praised the band for keeping ticket prices low. "It's unique in an era when most artists gouge their fans to the limit," he wrote. "Likewise, releasing their shows on low-cost bootlegs brings a new dimension to seeing one of their shows."
See below for the rest of the top 20 and more of your comments. For more debate, feel free to chat with me at 1 p.m. ET.
2. Aerosmith. "Their first hit was in 1973, and they're still selling out concerts," wrote Brooklyn Center, Minn., reader Darren Slack, who added that "fans don't boo them if they play stuff off their latest album" and they're "probably one of the first groups teenagers and parents both dig (and not in a Pat Boone kind of way, either)." Said David Matthews from Tampa: "No one died, no one got p—-ed and left the band, no one got kicked out and was replaced — and their ability to rock the house is still going strong."
3. Van Halen. "How many bands from America have been as huge as Van Halen, then had to replace the lead singer and still be as popular, or even more popular, than before?" asked St. Louis reader Christopher Cokenour. "Van Halen's songwriting, whether with David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar, took you to a place of happiness, never getting too heavy, never being too stupid." In addition, Patrick Beam in Little Rock was one of several readers to say "Eddie Van Halen influenced every guitarist that was alive or has been born since."
4. The Eagles. "They win for longevity (I've got my ticket stub to their 1977 Hotel California tour), concert performances (also have ticket stubs from six 'farewell' concerts), they write their own songs and have tons of records sold," said longtime fan Sheri Broom from Savannah, Ga.
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5. Journey. "No contest!" said Deer Park, Texas, fan Bob Barney. (He went on to type the band's name 12 times using a large font and a spectrum of colors.) From Ronda Nelson in Terre Haute, Ind.: "They have been rockin' for over 30 years and are out on tour right now supporting a new CD."
6. Guns N' Roses. "A lot of people have said that it's unbelievable that Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child O' Mine and Patience could have all come from the same band," wrote Laurie Hamilton from Bennington, Vt. Said Marlborough, Mass., reader Matthew Sychantha: "These guys practically set up the world, combining punk, thrash metal and hair metal in an interesting, twisted style."
7. The Grateful Dead. "I feel a band's records are limiting; true musical genius comes through live music," wrote Carl Fuller, a Dead fan from Flagstaff, Ariz. "The Dead also created an entire tribal subculture in society. Few bands can claim this honor."
8. Queensryche. Some reasons why, according to David Russell in Fishkill, N.Y.: "They've endured 25 years of the changing rock scene. They still tour all the time, selling out all the time and putting on an unbeatable live show. Their music has evolved with the times and has never failed to succeed. Their lyrics are constantly full of thought-provoking material and deep meaning. They are the best all around band ... period!"
9. The Doors. "They had the complete package: musicianship, lyrics, songs and stage presence," wrote Michael Morris from Bourne, Mass. "But more importantly, their music has far transcended the band (even with the cult-psycho-martyr status of Jim Morrison) and stands the test of time. No one was doing, or will ever do, what The Doors did. They were the original alternative band, and that makes them the greatest American band."
10. R.E.M. "Their ability to link lyrics with great depth to an alternative/folk/rock sound is unparalleled in the world of music," said Lebanon, Pa., fan Jay McCumber. "There is no one who sounds like R.E.M. except R.E.M. Automatic For The People is the greatest American rock record ever."
11. The Allman Brothers Band and Fleetwood Mac (tie). "Duane Allman was one of the greatest guitar players that ever lived; a legitimate argument could even be made that he was the best," wrote Pittsburgh fan Ned Twyman. Jeff Sprankle from East Haddam, Conn., agreed, adding, "this band has had benders that have lasted longer than most bands' careers." As for the Mac, Debbie Gultice in Xenia, Ohio, said "harmonies between Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie are haunting. And who has ever heard of a band with three songwriters who can create hits?"
12. Metallica. From Patrick Dickens: "Although I don't like where heavy metal is today, Metallica essentially created an entire sub-genre of rock 'n' roll. Even if some won't give them credit for creating heavy metal, there is no doubt that they defined it and carried everybody else along on their backs."
13. KISS. "Thirty-two years, millions of records, massive merchandising and a fan base that does not want them to stop touring, ever" qualify them as the best band, according to Christopher Burke in Colorado Springs. As for those live shows, Michael Gershe in Akron, Ohio, said they're "the most fun you can have for two hours with your clothes on."
14. The Ramones. "Every band, American or otherwise, has been influenced by them in some fashion," said Raleigh reader Tom Maeser. From Matt Cox: "They didn't burn out, they didn't fade away, and they weren't a one-hit wonder. They were a band who played to make music and turn people on. I got turned on to the Ramones in the fifth grade, and today, 20 years later, they are still my favorite band, and my kids' favorite band."
15. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Creedence Clearwater Revival (tie). Steve Howell from Bear, Del., had a few things to say about E Street: "From a recorded album perspective, (their) stuff is indescribable. If you haven't seen them, don't walk, run, to get tickets the next time they are in town. The first thing you will think after the show is, 'I want to — no, I need to — go again tomorrow night.'" And Creedence? "They define good ol' American rock," wrote Andrew Neuburger in Olathe, Kan. "They have 20+ songs that get regular play on many different radio formats. A great combination of rock, country, R&B, rockabilly and swamp pop made their songs accessible to everyone."
16. Dave Matthews Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd (tie). "DMB is the epitome of what American rock stands for: huge tours, loud rock and the working class," wrote Gabriel Wallis in Greenville, S.C. Mike Minnick in Morton, Pa., praised Skynyrd's "killer songs ... and they still tour in spite of losing so many members. And the music still sounds the same as when they were still complete."
17. The Beach Boys. "The Beach boys, fueled by Brian Wilson, were the only band to compete with arguably England's best-ever rock band, The Beatles," wrote Milwaukee fan Nick Blavat. "Pet Sounds still pushes what music is, even by a 2005 standard. Brian Wilson's George Lucas-like re-touching of the Beach Boys' unreleased masterpiece, Smile, clearly shows their staying power and influence in American music."
18. Nirvana. From Greg Mahoney, a college professor in Georgetown Township, Mich.: "The first time I heard Nevermind, to paraphrase Beck out of context, I knew things were gonna change, I could feel it. To bolster the point: I do most of my research in China, (and) during the nation's first Beer Festival, held in Shenzhen, a teenage cover band fronted by a punked-out Chinese girl ripped through Smells Like Teen Spirit with all the ferocity of Cobain and Co. Indeed, things had changed, and you could feel it."
19. The Replacements. Among Bill Walsh's long list of reasons for picking the 'Mats, the Illinois reader said that "Tommy Stinson was 13 when they recorded their first album, Sorry Ma, Forgot To take Out the Trash, "the high school in Heathers is Westerberg High" and, finally, "What other band would have the cojones to name an album Let It Be, which is better than the Beatles' version?"
Rounding out the list is ...
20. Bon Jovi. Unfortunately, most voters chose not to elaborate why Jon, Richie and the gang were tops. I guess they wanted the music to speak for itself — or maybe they were just too busy rocking to type.
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