Greatest Rock Artists Of All Time (Revision Version)

[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
Blue Cheer
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
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
Calvin Harris
Dale Hawkins
Herman's Hermits
Hole
Hootie & the Blowfish
Janis Ian
Billy Idol
Enrique Iglesias
Imagine Dragons
Iron Butterfly
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
Ted Nugent
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
Phish
Phoenix
Gene Pitney
Placebo
Poison
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
Quiet Riot
Rainbow
Rammstein
REO Speedwagon
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Cliff Richard
Jonathan Richman/The Modern Lovers
Minnie Riperton
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
Ringo Starr (& His All-Starr Band)
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
UFO
UGK
Uriah Heep
Vampire Weekend
Vanilla Fudge
Suzanne Vega
The Verve
Village People
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Junior Walker & the All Stars
Scott Walker
Joe Walsh
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.

[ManPerson]

Maybe Meat Loaf could be added to the list of contenders.

[Tim]

Added. Also removed Scorpions as they were already on Brian's list of suggestions.

[ManPerson]

Next:

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

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

[Tim]

I'd say Motorhead beats Husker Du in both influence and popularity.

[ManPerson]

I think the bands Husker Du influenced were more important than the bands Motorhead influenced, even if Motorhead's more important to metal than Husker Du were to alt-rock. I could see Motorhead over Future though, at least.

[ManPerson]

Here's what I'd suggest
185. A Tribe Called Quest
186. Wu-Tang Clan (incl. solo projects)
187. Pixies
188. Snoop Dogg
189. Lana Del Rey
190. Isaac Hayes
191. Alice Cooper
192. James Taylor
193. Steely Dan
194. Bob Seger (& the Silver Bullet Band)
195. The Mamas & the Papas
196. Solomon Burke
197. The Flamingos
198. The White Stripes
199. Smashing Pumpkins
200. Duran Duran
201. The Human League
202. Neil Diamond
203. The Monkees
204. Destiny's Child
205. Alicia Keys
206. Rush
207. The Moody Blues
208. Sonic Youth
209. Ice Cube
210. Chicago
211. KISS
212. The Staple Singers
213. Usher
214. Björk
215. Arctic Monkeys
216. Chuck Willis
217. Little Willie John
218. Del Shannon
219. Nine Inch Nails
220. Rage Against the Machine
221. Def Leppard
222. Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
223. Bon Jovi
224. The Cars
225. Bad Bunny
226. Kool & the Gang
227. Lionel Richie/Commodores
228. The Ventures
229. The Animals
230. Ivory Joe Hunter
231. Pretenders
232. Leonard Cohen
233. Frank Ocean
234. Husker Du
235. Jackson Browne
236. Massive Attack
237. Motorhead
238. Phil Collins
239. Sade
240. Ariana Grande
241. Nicki Minaj
242. Future
243. Hall & Oates
244. Boyz II Men
245. T.I.
246. Pet Shop Boys
247. War
248. Salt-N-Pepa
249. Peter Gabriel
250. The Prodigy

251. Johnny Ace
252. The Righteous Brothers
253. Cher
254. R. Kelly
255. Weezer
256. The Spinners
257. Barry White
258. Jethro Tull
259. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
260. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
261. 50 Cent
262. Justin Bieber
263. Journey
264. John Mellencamp
265. Boston
266. ZZ Top
267. Alice in Chains
268. Heart
269. Bryan Adams
270. The Dells
271. Tyler, the Creator
272. Moby
273. The Chemical Brothers
274. Jan & Dean
275. Boogie Down Productions
276. Shirley & Lee
277. Judas Priest
278. Giorgio Moroder
279. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
280. Aphex Twin
281. Bonnie Raitt
282. Yellow Magic Orchestra

[Tim]

Guess I will post what I drafted for this group:

185. A Tribe Called Quest
186. Wu-Tang Clan (incl. solo projects)
187. Pixies
188. Snoop Dogg
189. Lana Del Rey
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. Isaac Hayes
202. Neil Diamond
203. The Monkees
204. Alicia Keys
205. Rush
206. The Moody Blues
207. Sonic Youth
208. Chicago
209. Destiny's Child
210. KISS
211. The Staple Singers
212. Usher
213. Björk
214. Arctic Monkeys
215. Ice Cube
216. Chuck Willis
217. Little Willie John
218. Del Shannon
219. Nine Inch Nails
220. Rage Against the Machine
221. Def Leppard
222. Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
223. Motörhead
224. Bon Jovi
225. The Cars
226. Bad Bunny
227. Kool & the Gang
228. Lionel Richie/Commodores
229. The Ventures
230. The Animals
231. Ivory Joe Hunter
232. Pretenders
233. Leonard Cohen
234. Frank Ocean
235. Jackson Browne
236. Massive Attack
237. Phil Collins
238. Sade
239. Hüsker Dü
240. Ariana Grande
241. Nicki Minaj
242. Hall & Oates
243. Boyz II Men
244. Pet Shop Boys
245. War
246. Salt-N-Pepa
247. Peter Gabriel
248. The Prodigy
249. Johnny Ace
250. The Righteous Brothers

251. Cher
252. R. Kelly
253. The Spinners
254. Barry White
255. Jethro Tull
256. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
257. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
258. T.I.
259. 50 Cent
260. Future
261. Boston
262. Weezer
263. Justin Bieber
264. Journey
265. John Mellencamp
266. ZZ Top
267. Heart
268. Alice in Chains
269. Bryan Adams
270. The Dells
271. Tyler, the Creator
272. Moby
273. The Chemical Brothers
274. Jan & Dean
275. Boogie Down Productions
276. Shirley & Lee
277. Judas Priest
278. Giorgio Moroder
279. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
280. Aphex Twin
281. Bonnie Raitt
282. Yellow Magic Orchestra

[pauldrach]

The following artists I saw fit to induct into my Alternative to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are missing on page 8:

Brook Benton
Big Daddy Kane
Big Maybelle
The Cadillacs
Cameo
(Johnny Cash)
The Chi-Lites
Common
Culture Club
Cypress Hill
D'Angelo
(Miles Davis)
Desmond Dekker & the Aces
Dr. John
En Vogue
EPMD
The Five Keys
Roberta Flack
Foo Fightrers
Free
Gang Starr
The Gap Band
Geto Boys
Go-Go's
Jane's Addiction
(Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five)
Jungle Brothers
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
Kool Moe Dee/The Treacherous Three
(Brenda Lee)
(Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers)
Little Anthony & the Imperials
Love
Darlene Love/The Blossoms/Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
Percy Mayfield
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
The Meters
(Roy Milton & His Solid Senders)
New Edition
Gram Parsons/The Flying Burrito Bros
Teddy Pendergrass
Little Esther Phillips
The Replacements
Simple Minds
Slick Rick
Johnnie Taylor
Tears for Fears
Thin Lizzy
Three Dog Night
The Treniers
(Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble)
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
Bill Withers
Zapp

Artists in brackets are on the fringe of rock and arguably ineligible. Rufus & Carla Thomas should be listed separately.

[Tim]

Added to page 8 & split Carla & Rufus.

[Tim]

With this many candidates I can see us going to 300 at least, maybe even 450-500.

[Fido]

I think the bands Husker Du influenced were more important than the bands Motorhead influenced, even if Motorhead's more important to metal than Husker Du were to alt-rock. I could see Motorhead over Future though, at least.

Motorhead is one of those bands whose impact extends to every artist that followed from their style. They were precursors of the NWOBHM, of punk and metal crossovers, and essentially they made metal faster and heavier, which later led to thrash and everything else. You could make the case for them being the most influential metal band after Sabbath.

Edit: I could also see Massive Attack over Browne

[ManPerson]

Trying to find a middle ground of sorts

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

251. The Righteous Brothers
252. T.I.
253. Cher
254. R. Kelly
255. The Spinners
256. Barry White
257. Weezer
258. Jethro Tull
259. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
260. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
261. 50 Cent
262. Boston
263. Justin Bieber
264. Journey
265. John Mellencamp
266. ZZ Top
267. Heart
268. Alice in Chains
269. Bryan Adams
270. The Dells
271. Tyler, the Creator
272. Moby
273. The Chemical Brothers
274. Jan & Dean
275. Boogie Down Productions
276. Shirley & Lee
277. Judas Priest
278. Giorgio Moroder
279. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
280. Aphex Twin
281. Bonnie Raitt
282. Yellow Magic Orchestra