100 Most Popular Rock Bands of All Time

The three-man punk/reggae group formed in London with members from Great Britain and the United States — Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland — had a string of hits in the 1980s, such as “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic,” “Don’t Stand So Close to Me,” and the chart-topping single “Every Breath You Take.” Eight of their albums went platinum, and four — “Zenyatta Mondatta,” “Ghost in the Machine,” “Synchronicity,” and the compilation album “Every Breath You Take” — were multiplatinum efforts.

The Colorado pop-rockers are led by songwriter and producer Ryan Tedder, who’s worked with Adele, Paul McCartney, and Beyoncé. OneRepublic has had three songs reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, with two of the songs — “Counting Stars” and “Apologize” — going to No. 2. Their most successful album, “Oh My My,” went to No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

Radiohead first hit the Billboard 200 in 1993, when the group’s debut album “Pablo Honey” peaked at No. 32. The band later reached the top of the charts with the release of “Kid A” in 2000 and “In Rainbows” in 2008. In addition to their innovations in rock — adding experimental electronic sounds and recording techniques — Radiohead is credited with changing the music distribution industry by releasing “In Rainbows” online on a pay-what-you-want basis. The British group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Nickelback are a post-grunge rock act from Canada who, beginning in 2001, posted six Top 10 hits in the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 1 “How You Remind Me” in 2001. Seven of their albums reached the Billboard 200 Top 10, and the LP “All the Right Reasons” reached the peak in October of 2005. The album was one of six to go platinum. Billboard named the group the top band of the 2000s.

The Florida rockers fused blues-rock with a carefree good ole boy attitude to rocket to stardom in the 1970s. Lynyrd Skynyrd were boosted by the songwriting talent of Ronnie Van Zant in their early days, but after his tragic death in a plane crash in 1977 the band had to regroup. The band pulled together and became a prolific touring group known for their extended jam sessions with songs such as “Free Bird.” Their highest-charting single, “Sweet Home Alabama” — a stinging rebuke to Neil Young’s “Southern Man” — went to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Three of their albums reached the Top 10 on the Billboard 200.

Iron Maiden began its rock and roll life in East London in 1975, and despite frequent lineup changes, disruptions due to substance abuse, and controversy surrounding their alleged Satanic association, the band was one of the most influential metal acts of the 1980s. Their 1982 album “The Number of the Beast” includes songs like the title track and “Hallowed Be Thy Name.” American radio stations were skittish about playing the album because of protests from Christian activists. Two Iron Maiden albums — “The Final Frontier” and “The Book of Souls” — reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

Creedence Clearwater Revival, also called CCR, combined rockabilly, R&B, and country to post nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 from 1968 to 1971, and seven singles went platinum. CCR weighed into the politically divisive Vietnam War-era with songs like “Fortunate Son” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain.” Five CCR songs reached No. 2, including the often-covered “Proud Mary.” The California-based group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Kiss, whose original members included Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley, captivated fans with their flamboyant makeup and costumes, outrageous shows that included smoke bombs, and fist-pounding rock. Kiss hit the road in 1975 and built a fan base with its many touring dates. The group has nine Top 10 albums, including “Sonic Boom,” which went to No. 2 in 2009. Members of the band are on “The End of the Road” farewell tour that concludes on July 17, 2021 in New York City.

California rockers Van Halen have been much lampooned as the caricature of an arena rock band. But there was nothing second rate about Eddie Van Halen’s innovative guitar technique and the showmanship of frontman David Lee Roth. The band’s biggest hit, “Jump,” went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is played before tip offs at basketball games. Five of Van Halen’s albums topped the Billboard 200, and 13 went platinum, including multiplatinum records “5150” and “1984 (MCMLXXXIV).”

Combining guitar riffs and post-punk angst, Seattle-based grunge-indie rockers Pearl Jam followed, and eventually eclipsed, the success of fellow Seattle rockers Nirvana in the 1990s. Formed by guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, and eventually joined by Eddie Vedder, the Grammy winners and rock hall of famers cranked out five No. 1 albums such as “Vs.,” “Vitalogy,” and “No Code.” In all, 11 Pearl Jam records reached the Top 10 and seven went platinum.