Greatest American Rock Band

[MetalDog]

Metallica might could possibly challenge the top two, and you're not in the minority on Pearl Jam (if you are, you've got company!)

But think about any of the bands you listed, and consider if the combination of influence, success, and longevity trumps either Kiss or The Eagles?  Personally, I'd rather listen to Van Halen, Pearl Jam, or Motley Crue, but I have a hard time denying that those top two just kick everyone else's butts in those categories, Grateful Dead and Beach Boys included.

And while I am at it, Metallica easily crushes The Eagles using those three criteria.  They invented a genre of music, thrash.  They can charge just as much, if not more, for concert tickets than The Eagles.  AND, as a going concern, have recorded and released more albums for longer than Henley and his boys.

Now that those poseurs have been dealt with...what do we do with KISS?

[Staggerwing]

Have a cold gin?

[bayonetbrant]

Yeah, but the Eagles still sell out tour after tour after tour.  Kiss does pretty well, too, but not at the level the Eagles do as a live act.

Metallica popularized thrash, but "invented"?  I think there's a bunch of bands that were in pretty early.

I agree that Metallica is probably going to end up in the conversation as we start to see their level of influence, as they've been comparably successful and are starting cross the longevity bridge.

[bayonetbrant]

Please don't think I'm just some Eagles fanboi; I'm just trying to recognize that as "great" American bands go, they're at the top of the conversation with not a lot of peers.

[MetalDog]

Alright, I'll give on invented.  For now.  Metal is as sub-genre'd as any form of music.  And thrash flourished around a lot of different progenitors of other subs.  I would definitely say they only had competition from Slayer.  And Anthrax, and Scott Ian and the boys were most definitely third behind the other two biggies.  Just a matter of which you preferred first.

I will certainly advance the cause of Van Halen.  How many of you, with any aspirations of rock and roll stardom, didn't imagine you were Eddie Van Halen or Diamond Dave.  They cranked out six albums in eight years and all of them were good to great.  And then Dave leaves and they bring in Sammy Hagar and make four consecutive Number 1 albums!!!  That's just For Unlawful Carnal KnowledgED UP!!

[GDS_Starfury]

given the choice between the Eagles, KISS and Van Halen I'd take Van Halen any day.

[BanzaiCat]

^ Out of those three, certainly.

Though KISS is the only one of the three I've seen live, and that was two years ago. They put on a hell of a show along with Motley Crue and some no-name minor band I'd never heard of before and forget the name of now.

[MetalDog]

I saw KISS twice in the 80's.  Ironically, it was without the makeup, which, at the time, was supposed to be the new normal.  No more makeup.  Of course, they went back on that a short time later and now I am in the minority of KISS concert goers.  And they put on a helluva show.  Queensryche opened for them the second time I saw them.  Could have sworn they were on the road promoting Operation: Mindcrime.  Never did get them, although I had a couple of friends who dug them.

[bayonetbrant]

I think Van Halen certainly belongs in the discussion... definitelyna big influence on people

[BanzaiCat]

I saw KISS twice in the 80's.  Ironically, it was without the makeup, which, at the time, was supposed to be the new normal.  No more makeup.  Of course, they went back on that a short time later and now I am in the minority of KISS concert goers.  And they put on a helluva show.

I remember all that - I think the album was Animalize and it was 1984 when they first came out without the makeup on. They impressed me big time live...not just because the show was incredible, but also keeping in mind these are 60+ old men still rocking their asses off, and in Houston August heat outdoors, in full makeup and costume.

Queensryche opened for them the second time I saw them.  Could have sworn they were on the road promoting Operation: Mindcrime.  Never did get them, although I had a couple of friends who dug them.

I didn't get into Queensryche until the Empire album came out. I had a couple of friends that were into them and they suggested we go to a concert. I remember it clearly as Suicidal Tendencies opened, and I thought they sucked. Then Queensryche came out and they pretty much played Operation: Mindcrime in its entirety, which confused me as I didn't listen to that album, though I heard a couple of their songs. It was funny for me, anyway, going to the concert and expecting them to do mostly stuff off of Empire and here I'm thinking during the show, "WTF is this?...Oh, I know that one...wait, what the hell is that?"

[bayonetbrant]

First Kiss album with no makeup was Lick It Up in '83. I still like Animalize as one of my top 2 or 3 all-time Kiss albums.

[BanzaiCat]

First Kiss album with no makeup was Lick It Up in '83. I still like Animalize as one of my top 2 or 3 all-time Kiss albums.

D'oh, my bad with the album. Animalize was my first KISS album, admittedly.

If you're a KISS fan and you haven't seen the movie Role Models, you should check it out. Lots of great references in that movie.

[Gusington]

I never got into Queensryche at all and now I think I kay have missed out...how many albums do they have? Are they still together? All I know is Operation Mindcrime and Silent Lucidity. I imagine Queensryche being similar to Dream Theater but not as...long winded.

To me Van Halen, in any incarnation, is definitely in the top 5, if not top 3.

[bayonetbrant]

Queesryche are still around and recently had a nasty split with Geoff Tate and a legal fight over the name.  They've still put out excellent music, but are well past their peak, in large part because Chris DeGarmo left the band in '97.

[Centurion40]

I would throw my lot in with Aerosmith. Not my favourite American band, but their longevity and influence cannot be denied.

But a greater influence than Kiss?

I like Kiss, and The Eagles.  Neither are my all-time favorite band.  But their combination of influence, longevity, and success just pummel all the other current options in my mind.  In 15 more years, I'd hope Pearl Jam is in that conversation, but it'll take that long to truly get a sense of their influence.

Point well taken on the Eagles.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the Eagles rank #5 on the all-time best selling artists list.  After (in order) The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, and Led Zeppelin.  I must note that they are the only American rock band in the top 5, or even the top 10.  Aerosmith comes in at #13, tied with the Rolling Stones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists_in_the_United_States