Greatest Rock Artists Of All Time (Revision Version)

[Tim]

While we are at it, artists from Chris F's old top 300 we haven't looked at yet, from highest to lowest:

The (Young) Rascals
MC5
The Shadows
The Marvelettes
Joe Tex
Tina Turner
Beck
Tom Waits
Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
Robbie Williams
The Eurythmics
Tori Amos
Tracy Chapman
Queen Latifah
Electric Light Orchestra
Sarah McLachlan
Todd Rundgren
The Moonglows
Duane Eddy
Patti LaBelle
The Ronettes
The Doobie Brothers
The Hollies
Dusty Springfield
Chubby Checker
The B-52s
Buffalo Springfield
Mary Wells
INXS
Annie Lennox
George Harrison
Joan Armatrading
Steve Miller Band
Carly Simon
The Chiffons
Ricky Lee Jones
Chaka Khan & Rufus
Kansas
Lloyd Price
Laura Nyro
Soundgarden
No Doubt
Anita Baker
The Lovin’ Spoonful 
Jeff Buckley
Dead Kennedys
Blue Öyster Cult
Grand Funk Railroad
Dick Dale
Alanis Morissette
Television
Foreigner
Melissa Etheridge 
Erykah Badu
Kurtis Blow
X
System of a Dawn
Peter Frampton
The Pointer Sister
The Roots
Jack Scott
Dave Matthews Band
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew
Fugazi
Ice-T/Body Count
Black Flag
Larry Williams
Ritchie Valens
Big Mama Thornton

[Tim]

Brian's list of suggestions for Chris F's list:

Here's a list of artists of some significance that aren't on the list. The numbered ones are what look to me like the ones that come the closest, and the rest follow in alphabetical order. The numbering starts at 183 because the ones I added are in positions 101-182. Otherwise, those numbers don't mean anything.

183. Heart
184. The Monkees
185. Gene Vincent
186. Toots & the Maytals
187. Jimmy Buffett
188. Isaac Hayes
189. UB40
190. Lou Reed
191. Huey Lewis & the News
192. Ohio Players
193. Warren Zevon
194. Duran Duran

Captain Beefheart
Cheap Trick
Crystals
Dire Straits
The Fall
Megadeth
Motorhead
New York Dolls
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Nine Inch Nails
Pavement
PJ Harvey
Randy Newman
Rick James
Scorpions
Slayer
Stylistics
T. Rex
Wire
Linda Ronstadt
Luther Vandross

Artists we already looked at/planning to look at in bold.

[pauldrach]

Is there a single page in this thread that includes all artists you've looked at and are considering for simple CTRL+F search? If not, could you edit the missing names into some post on page 8? I can't seem to find Beck on page 8 and that can't be right. Screamin' Jay isn't there either and I know you've looked at him.

[Fido]

I'd give Monkees influence Diamond popularity and acclaim is not the strongest suit for either.

Diamond's songwriting acclaim puts him ahead imo, especially considering he wrote several for the Monkees, including their greatest song.

[Tim]

Next:

Tangerine Dream
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Jean-Michel Jarre
The Human League
Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
The Prodigy
The Chemical Brothers
Massive Attack
Moby
Tyler, the Creator

1. The Human League
2. Massive Attack
3. The Prodigy
4. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
5. Moby
6. The Chemical Brothers
7. Tyler, the Creator
8. Yellow Magic Orchestra
9. Tangerine Dream

Out: Jean-Michel Jarre

Human League huge influence on synth-pop and on broader acceptance of electronic music with blockbuster "Don't You Want Me", one of the leading artists of Second British Invasion. Massive Attack critically beloved & trip-hop pioneers. Prodigy the top big beat artist of the 1990s, further popularization of EDM with The Fat of the Land.

Numan New Wave/synth-pop pioneer, influence on post-punk as well with multiple #1 albums in UK. YMO huge influence on synth-pop, electro, limited commercial appeal outside of Japan, Ryuichi Sakamoto went on to further recognition due to his film scoring. Tangerine Dream pioneers in kosmische Musik and their Virgin period influential in both New Age and EDM, extensive work in soundtracks. Moby popularizing techno, one of the biggest primarily electronic stars of the 1990s. Chemical Brothers another big beat pioneers and highly acclaimed. Tyler, the Creator the leader of Odd Future, responsible for bringing horrocore back to popularity, went on to diversify his sound, a string of highly acclaimed and popular albums. JMJ obviously belongs near the top of any electronic music list but a bit peripheral to rock.

[ManPerson]

I feel like Tangerine Dream are as peripheral to rock as JMJ.

[Tim]

1. The Human League
2. Massive Attack
3. The Prodigy
4. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
5. Moby
6. The Chemical Brothers
7. Tyler, the Creator
8. Yellow Magic Orchestra

Out: Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream

[ManPerson]

I think Tyler, the Creator takes popularity and acclaim over Moby.

[Tim]

Inserted:

190. Alice Cooper
191. James Taylor
192. Steely Dan
193. Bob Seger (& the Silver Bullet Band)
194. The Mamas & the Papas
195. Solomon Burke
196. The Flamingos
197. The White Stripes
198. Smashing Pumpkins
199. Duran Duran
200. The Human League
201. Neil Diamond
202. The Monkees
203. Alicia Keys
204. Rush
205. The Moody Blues
206. Sonic Youth
207. Chicago
208. KISS
209. The Staple Singers
210. Usher
211. Björk
212. Arctic Monkeys
213. Chuck Willis
214. Little Willie John
215. Del Shannon
216. Nine Inch Nails
217. Rage Against the Machine
218. Def Leppard
219. Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
220. Bon Jovi
221. The Cars
222. Bad Bunny
223. Kool & the Gang
224. Lionel Richie/Commodores
225. The Ventures
226. The Animals
227. Ivory Joe Hunter
228. Pretenders
229. Leonard Cohen
230. Frank Ocean
231. Jackson Browne
232. Massive Attack
233. The Prodigy
234. Phil Collins
235. Sade
236. Ariana Grande
237. Nicki Minaj
238. Hall & Oates
239. Boyz II Men
240. Pet Shop Boys
241. War
242. Salt-N-Pepa
243. Peter Gabriel
244. Johnny Ace
245. The Righteous Brothers
246. Cher
247. R. Kelly
248. The Spinners
249. Barry White
250. Jethro Tull

251. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
252. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
253. 50 Cent
254. Justin Bieber
255. Journey
256. John Mellencamp
257. ZZ Top
258. Heart
259. The Dells
260. Tyler, the Creator
261. Moby
262. The Chemical Brothers
263. Jan & Dean
264. Boogie Down Productions
265. Shirley & Lee
266. Judas Priest
267. Giorgio Moroder
268. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
269. Aphex Twin
270. Yellow Magic Orchestra
271. Bonnie Raitt

In retrospect, agree with Fido that Cohen ended up a bit high so moved him and Ocean just above Jackson Browne.

[Tim]

Next:

Ice Cube
Motörhead
Hüsker Dü
T.I.
Future
Isaac Hayes
Destiny's Child
Boston
Bryan Adams
Weezer
Alice in Chains

[Area Man]

Would Devo have a shot at a list like this? Their popularity isn't stellar (though "Whip It" can still be heard on the radio, at least in the United States, and the album Freedom of Choice went platinum), but they were very early New Wave pioneers. According to Wikipedia, their musical short film The Truth About De-Evolution was filmed in May 1976 (though their performances/recordings may date back to 1974). For context, the oldest album to labeled New Wave as a primary genre - Blondie from Blondie - was recorded in August-September 1976 and released in December 1976 (there are a few singles prior to that, though, also in 1976). I'm not sure if this really counts as influence per se, but it's worth noting. They have a micro-genre that's sometimes named after them, variously known as either "Devo-core" or "egg punk." Wikipedia also says that this visually-iconic band was "a pioneer of the music video format." They were nominated thrice for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and were apparently called the "band of the future" by David Bowie (is that acclaim? I don't even know). Not a demand, just wondering.

[Tim]

Added Devo to the list of candidates on page 8.

[Tim]

Went through greatest artists by decade lists to look for high ranking artists we haven't considered plus Devo plus some others.

10cc
2 Live Crew
The 5th Dimension
A$AP Rocky
Aaliyah
Faye Adams
Christina Aguilera
Air
Air Supply
Arthur Alexander
Animal Collective
Adam Ant (incl. Adam & the Ants)
Fiona Apple
Arcade Fire
Archibald
Arrested Development
Backstreet Boys
Bad Brains
Bad Company
The Bangles
Bauhaus
Beach House
Jeff Beck
Belle and Sebastian
Jesse Belvin
Pat Benatar
Big Star
The Black Crowes
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Keys
James Blake
Blink-182
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blur
Bon Iver
Gary "U.S." Bonds
Earl Bostic
Tiny Bradshaw
Brandy
Toni Braxton
BTS
Tim Buckley
Johnny Burnette & the Rock and Roll Trio
Burning Spear
Bush
Busta Rhymes
Jerry Butler
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Buzzcocks
Cabaret Voltaire
J. J. Cale
Can
Cardi B
Sabrina Carpenter
Clarence Carter
Goree Carter
The Chantels
Charli XCX
Childish Gambino
The Dave Clark Five
Kelly Clarkson
Jimmy Cliff
Joe Cocker
Cocteau Twins
Counting Crows
The Cranberries
The Crests
Jim Croce
Sheryl Crow
Crowded House
Frank "Floorshow" Culley
Culture
Daddy Yankee
Larry Darnell
The Spencer Davis Group
The Delfonics
Devo
Dinosaur Jr.
Dizzee Rascal
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince [Will Smith]
DJ Shadow
DMX
Bill Doggett
Donovan
Lee Dorsey
Nick Drake
Dream Theater
Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Echo & the Bunnymen
Billie Eilish
The Emotions
Fairport Convention
Faith No More
Fishbone
FKA twigs
The Flaming Lips
Luis Fonsi
Franz Ferdinand
fun.
Nelly Furtado
Serge Gainsbourg
Gang of Four
Cecil Gant
Gloria Gaynor
Paul Gayten
The J. Geils Band
Gnarls Barkley
Goo Goo Dolls
Gorillaz
Ellie Goulding
Grimes
Tiny Grimes
The Guess Who
Dale Hawkins
Herman's Hermits
Hole
Hootie & the Blowfish
Janis Ian
Billy Idol
Enrique Iglesias
Imagine Dragons
Bull Moose Jackson
Joe Jackson
The Jam
Tommy James & The Shondells
Jamiroquai
Carly Rae Jepsen
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Albennie Jones
Grace Jones
KC & the Sunshine Gang
The Killers
Ben E. King
King Curtis
Kings Of Leon
The Kingsmen
Korn
Lenny Kravitz
Major Lance
Cyndi Lauper
Avril Lavigne
LCD Soundsystem
Jimmy Liggins
Lil' Kim
Linkin Park
Dua Lipa
Little Willie Littlefield
Living Colour
Kenny Loggins
Lorde
Lonnie Mack
Madness
Magazine
Post Malone
The Manhattans
Manic Street Preachers
Marilyn Manson
Maroon 5
Bruno Mars
Ricky Martin
Maxwell
MC Hammer
MC Lyte
George McCrae
Don McLean
Big Jay McNeely
Clyde McPhatter
Meat Loaf
Joe Meek & the Tornados
Men at Work
M.I.A
Mickey & Sylvia
Midnight Oil
Migos
Ministry
Kylie Minogue
Minutemen
Misfits
Janelle Monáe
Wild Bill Moore
Joe Morris
Mötley Crüe
Mumford & Sons
Muse
My Bloody Valentine
My Chemical Romance
Johnny Nash
The National
Nelly
Aaron Neville
Joanna Newsom
Nickelback
Harry Nilsson
NSYNC
Sinead O’Connor
The Offspring
One Direction
Ozzy Osbourne
P!nk
Augustus Pablo
Robert Palmer
Pantera
The Alan Parsons Project
The Penguins
Pere Ubu
Katty Perry
Lee "Scratch" Perry & the Upsetters
Liz Phair
The Pharcyde
Little Esther (Phillips)
Phish
Phoenix
Gene Pitney
Placebo
Portishead
Prefab Sprout
Billy Preston
Jimmy Preston
Primal Scream
Procol Harum
Professor Longhair
Psy
Public Image Ltd
Pulp
Pusha T/Clipse
Queens of the Stone Age
Queensrÿche
Rainbow
Rammstein
REO Speedwagon
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Cliff Richard
Jonathan Richman/The Modern Lovers
Johnny Rivers
Chappell Roan
Robyn
Olivia Rodrigo
Run the Jewels
The Saints
Sam the Sham & the Pharaos
Travis Scott
Gil Scott-Heron
Sepultura
Shakira
Ed Sheeran
Sigur Rós
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Sister Sledge
Sleater-Kinney
Percy Sledge
(Small) Faces
Elliott Smith
Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns
Sam Smith
Solange
The Sonics
Sonny & Cher
The Spaniels
Sparks
The Specials
Spice Girls
St. Vincent
Gwen Stefani
Steppenwolf
Cat Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Stiff Little Fingers
Sting
The Stone Roses
Stone Temple Pilots
The Stranglers
The Stray Cats
The Streets
The Strokes
Nolan Strong & the Diablos
Styx
Sublime
Suede
Suicide
Supertramp
SZA
Tame Impala
Talk Talk
Ten Years After
Them
Carla Thomas
Rufus Thomas
Richard (& Linda) Thompson
Sonny Thompson
The Three Degrees
Throbbing Gristle
Tool
Peter Tosh
Toto
Traffic
The Trammps
The Turtles
Bonnie Tyler
UGK
Uriah Heep
Vampire Weekend
Suzanne Vega
The Verve
Village People
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Junior Walker & the All Stars
Scott Walker
Whodini
Wilco
Otis Williams & the Charms
Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams
Amy Winehouse
Steve Winwood
Bobby Womack
Link Wray
XTC
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yo La Tengo
The Zombies

[ManPerson]

The Prodigy seem a bit high. I would think that Pet Shop Boys take acclaim and popularity for instance and that Ariana Grande easily takes popularity while acclaim is at least somewhat comparable.Salt-n-Pepa are probably more popular and influential as well.

I'd have Yellow Magic Orchestra last, I feel like Bonnie Raitt takes popularity and acclaim over them no matter how you slice it and while they obviously take influence by a wide margin, I don't think it's by enough.

[ManPerson]

Went through greatest artists by decade lists to look for high ranking artists we haven't considered plus Devo plus some others.

Aaliyah
Faye Adams
Christina Aguilera
Arcade Fire
Backstreet Boys
Bad Brains
Jeff Beck
Jesse Belvin
Pat Benatar
Big Star
The Black Eyed Peas
Black Flag
Blink-182
Blur
Bon Iver
Gary "U.S." Bonds
Jerry Butler
Cardi B
Sabrina Carpenter
Goree Carter
The Chantels
Childish Gambino
The Dave Clark Five
Kelly Clarkson
The Delfonics
Devo
Donovan
Lee Dorsey
Nick Drake
Billie Eilish
Franz Ferdinand
The Flaming Lips
Nelly Furtado
Gnarls Barkley
Gorillaz
Billy Idol
Imagine Dragons
The Jam
The Killers
Kings Of Leon
Korn
Avril Lavigne
LCD Soundsystem
Linkin Park
Lorde
Post Malone
Maroon 5
Bruno Mars
Big Jay McNeely
Clyde McPhatter
M.I.A
Misfits
Janelle Monáe
Mötley Crüe
Mumford & Sons
Muse
My Bloody Valentine
My Chemical Romance
The National
Nelly
Nickelback
NSYNC
The Offspring
Ozzy Osbourne
Katty Perry
Pink
Portishead
Primal Scream
Professor Longhair
Pulp
REO Speedwagon
Chappell Roan
Olivia Rodrigo
Run the Jewels
Scorpions
Shakira
Ed Sheeran
(Small) Faces
Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns
The Spaniels
Spice Girls
Gwen Stefani
Steppenwolf
Cat Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sting
The Strokes
Suede
Supertramp
Tame Impala
Sonny Thompson
Traffic
Vampire Weekend
The Verve
Junior Walker & the All Stars
Wilco
Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams
Amy Winehouse
Bobby Womack
Link Wray

I could see Travis Scott thrown in there as well. Also, if we want to combine Pusha T and Clipse they would be a strong contender.

[Tim]

Next:

Ice Cube
Motörhead
Hüsker Dü
T.I.
Future
Isaac Hayes
Destiny's Child
Boston
Bryan Adams
Weezer
Alice in Chains

1. Destiny's Child
2. Ice Cube
3. Isaac Hayes
4. Motörhead
5. Hüsker Dü
6. T.I.
7. Future
8. Boston
9. Weezer
10. Alice in Chains
11. Bryan Adams

Destiny's Child prolly the ultimate modern girl group since TLC, huge popularity and cultural presence with solid acclaim even if not to levels Beyonce' as a solo artist reached. Ice Cube along with Dr. Dre the biggest name in G-Funk, gangsta rap, remained a flagman of these genres after leaving N.W.A as well with a run of acclaimed and popular albums. Isaac Hayes one of the top names in both soul & funk, part of it as a producer but his work on Hot Buttered Soul & Shaft soundtrack is highly innovative, acclaimed and in latter's case, popular, responsible for spearheading an album era in R&B even before Marvin and Stevie. Motörhead huge influence on (speed) metal, Lemmy went on to become a broader rock icon, highly respected within punk as well. Hüsker Dü a major influence on both hardcore punk and alt rock as well beloved critically.

T.I. as a trap pioneer responsible for direction of rap during the 2010s and beyond, Future one of the top artists in the genre, strong in all the criteria. Boston blockbuster debut as well as kickstarting arena rock, Weezer rather big influence on emo, pop-punk and indie rock, with The Blue Album and Pinkerton being widely acclaimed, AiC alt metal pioneers as well as being one of the most popular rock bands of the 1990s. Adams popularity beast.