Rock & Pop Bands A-D


Best Rock Bands A-D of All Time + Greatest Pop Bands

There are numerous best rock bands of all time. At least subjectively – because everyone has their own taste in music. While some consider the Rolling Stones to be one of the best rock bands ever, others rave about Black Sabbath. Although the two bands are worlds apart they are now connected, along with other classic bands in this ADDucation list featuring the best rock bands of all time.

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Key: B=Bass | D=Drums | G=Guitar | K=Keyboard | SX=Sax | SYN=Synthesizer | T=Trombone | V=Vocal | †=Died

Best Rock Bands Line up Ex-members Best Albums and Hits (first release date)
Abba
(SWE, 1972-1982)		 V: Agneta Fältskog, Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad K: Benny Andersson G: Björn Ulvaeus Albums: Ring, Ring (1972), Waterloo (1974), ABBA (1975), Arrival (1976), The Album (1977), Voulez-Vous (1979), Super trouper (1980), The visitors (1981), The first 10 years (1982)

Greatest Hits: Waterloo (1974), SOS (1975), Mamma Mia (1975), Dancing Queen (1976), Fernando (1976), Money Money (1976), Knowing me, knowing you (1977), Take a chance on me (1978), Gimme! Gimme! (1979), Chiquita (1979), Super Trouper (1980), The winner takes it all (1980), One of us (1981)
AC/DC
(AUS, 1973)		 V: Brian Johnson G: Angus Young, Stevie Young  B: Cliff Williams D: Phil Rudd V: Bon Scott † 1980, G: Malcome Young † 2017, Mark Evans, D: Simon Wright, Chris Slade Albums: High Voltage (1974), TNT (1975), Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976), Let There Be Rock (1977), Powerage (1978), Highway to Hell (1979), Back in Black (1980), For those about to rock (1981), Flick of the Switch (1983), Fly on the Wall (1985), Blow up your Video (1988), The Razors Edge (1990), Ballbreaker (1995) Stiff Upper Lip (2000), Black Ice (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Rock or Bust (2014)

Greatest Hits: TNT (1975), The Jack (1975), Live Wire (1975), Big Balls (1976), Jailbreak (1976), Love at First Feel (1976), Problem Child (1976), Ride on (1976), Let There Be Rock (1977), Highway to Hell (1979), Hells Bells (1980), Thunderstruck (1990), Hard as a Rock (1996), Rock ‘n Roll Train (2008), Rock or Bust (2014)
Aerosmith
(USA, 1970)		 V: Steven Tyler G: Joe Perry, Whitfor B: Tom Hamilton D: Joey Kramer G: Jimmy Crespo, Rick Dufay Albums: Toys in the Attic (1975), Draw the Line (1977), Permanent Vacation (1987), Get a Grip (1993), Big Ones (1994), Nine Lives (1997), Just Push Play (2001), Music From Another Dimension! (2012). One of America’s best rock bands.

Greatest Hits: Dream on (1973), Walk this Way (1975), Come Together (1978), Dude – Looks Like a Lady (1987), Love in an Elevator (1989), Livin’ on the Edge (1993), Cryin (1993), Amazing (1994), I don’t want to miss a thing (1998), Jaded (2000)
A-ha
(NOR, 1982-2010)		 V: Morton Harket G: Pal Waaktaar-Savoy K: Magne Furuholmen Albums: Hunting High and Low (1985), Scoundrel Days (1986), Stay on These Roads (1988), East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990), Memorial Beach (1993), Minor Earth, Major Sky (2000), Lifelines (2002), Analogue (2005), Foot of the Mountain (2009), Cast in Steel (2015)

Greatest Hits: Take on Me (1984), The Sun Always Shine on TV (1985), Cry Wolf (1986), Hunting High and Low (1986), Living Daylights (1987), Stay on These Roads (1988), Touchy! (1988), Crying in the Rain (1990), Summer Moved On (2000), Forever Not Yours (2002); Celice (2005); Foot of the Mountain (2009)
Alan Parsons Project
(GB, 1975-1987)		 V/K: Eric Woolfson G: Alan Parsons V: John Miles, Colin Blunstone G: Ian Bairnson B: David Paton SX: Mel Collins D: Stuart Elliot, Stuart Tosh Albums: Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1976), I Robot (1977), Pyramid (1978), Eve (1979), The turn of a friendly card (1980), Eye in the Sky (1982), Ammonia Avenue (1984), Vulture Culture (1984), Stereotomy (1985), Gaudi (1987)

Greatest Hits: A Dream within a Dream (1976), Lucifer (1979): Games people play (1980), Time (1981), Eye in the Sky (1982), Don’t answer me (1984)
Alice In Chains
(USA, 1987)		 V: William DuVall G: Jerry Cantrell B: Mike Inez D: Sean Kinney V: Layne Staley † 2002 B: Mike Starr † 2011 Albums: We Die Young (1990), Facelift (1991), Sap (1992), Dirt (1992), Jar of Flies (1994), Alice In Chains (1995), MTV Unplugged (1996), The Essential (2006), Black gives way to blue (2009), The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013)

Greatest Hits: Would? (1992), Down in a Hole (1993), Get me wrong (1994), Over now (1996)
Asia
(GB, 1981)		 V/K: Geoff Downes V/B: John Wetton G: Steve Howe D: Carl Palmer V/B: Greg Lake V/G: John Payne Albums: Asia (1982), Alpha (1983), Astra (1985), Then and Now (1990), Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Silent Nation (2004), Phoenix (2008), Omega (2010), XXX (2012), Gravitas (2014)

Greatest Hits: Heat of the Moment (1982), Only time will tell (1982), Don’t Cry (1983)
Bachman-Turner Overdrive aka BTO
(CAN, 1970-1977)		 V/G: Randy Bachman, Chad Allen B: Fred Turner D: Robbie Bachman V/G: Tim Bachman, Jim Clench † 2010 Albums: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1973), Bachman-Turner Overdrive II (1974), Not fragile (1974), Four wheel drive (1975), Head on (1975), Freeways (1977), Street action (1978), Rock ‘n‘ Roll nights (1979)

Greatest Hits: Taking Care of Business (1974), You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet (1974), Free Wheelin’ (1974),  Hey You (1975)
Backstreet Boys
(USA, 1993)		 V: Howie Dorough, Alex McLean, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson Albums: Backstreet Boys (1996), Backstreet‘s Back (1997), Millennium (1999), Christmas Album (1999), Black & Blue (2000), Never Gone (2005), Unbreakable (2007), This is Us (2009); In a World Like This (2013)

Greatest Hits: We’ve got it going on (1995), I’ll never break your heart (1996), Quit playing games with my heart (1996), Everybody (1997), All I Have to Give (1998), I want it that Way (1999), Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely (1999), Shape of My Heart (2000), Incomplete (2005)
Band, The
(CAN/USA, 1957-1999)		 V/B: Rick Danko † 1999 V/D: Levon Helm † 2012, SX: Garth Hudson V/G: Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan V/K: Richard Manuel † 1986 Numerous Albums with Ronnie Hawkins (1957-1964) and Bob Dylan (1970-1975), as „The Band“: Music from Big Pink (1968), The Band (Brown Album, 1969), Stage Fright (1970), Cahoots (1971), Rock of Ages (1972), Moondog Matinee (1973), Northern Lights – Southern Cross (1975), Islands (1977), The Last Waltz (1978), Jericho (1993), High on the Hog (1996), Jubilation (1998)

Greatest Hits: The Weight (1968), The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (1969, never officially released as a single), Up on Cripple Creek (1969), King Harvest (1970)
Barclay James Harvest
(GB, 1966-1998)		 V/G: Les Holroyd, John Lees D: Mel Pritchard † 2004 K: Wolly Wolstenholme Albums: Barclay James Harvest (1970), Once Again (1971), Baby James Harvest (1972), Everyone is everybody else (1974), Time Honoured Ghosts (1975), Octoberon (1976), Gone to Earth (1977), XII (1978), Eyes of the Universe (1979), Berlin Live (1982), Victims of Circumstance (1984), Face to Face (1987), Welcome to the Show (1990), Caught in the Light (1993), River of Dreams (1997). One of the best rock bands on the 70s.

Greatest Hits: Hymn (1977), Poor Man’s Moody Blues (1978), Life is for Living (1980)
Beach Boys, The
(USA, 1961)		 V/B: Brian Wilson V: Mike Love V/G: Alan Jardine V/G: Carl Wilson † 1998 D: Dennis Wilson †1983 V: Bruce Johnston Albums: Surfin‘ U.S.A. (1963), Little Deuce Coupe (1963), Surfer Girl (1963), Shut Down Vol. 2 (1964), Beach Boys Concert (1964), All Summer Long (1964), Summer Days (1965), Beach Boys Party (1965), 20/20 (1969), Surf’s Up (1971), Still Cruisin’ (1989), That’s Why God Made the Radio (2012)

Greatest Hits: Surfin’ USA (1963), Surfer Girl (1963), Fun Fun Fun (1964), I Get Around (1964), Help Me, Ronda (1965), California Girls (1965), Barbara Ann (1965), Sloop John B (1966), God Only Knows (1966), Good Vibrations (1966), Do it Again (1968); Kokomo (1988)
Beatles, The
(GB, 1960-1970)		 V/G/B: Sir Paul McCartney V/G: John Lennon † 1980 V/G: George Harrison † 2001 D: Sir Ringo Starr B: Stuart Sutcliffe † 1962 D: Pete Best; Manager Brian Epstein † 1967 Albums: Please Please Me (1963), Meet the Beatles (1963), A Hard Day‘s Night (1964), Beatles for Sale (1964), Help! (1965), Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), The Magic Mystery Tour (1967), The BEATLES (White Album, 1968), Yellow Submarine (1969), Abbey Road (1969), Let it Be (1970)

Greatest Hits: Love me do (1962), She loves you (1963), I want to hold your hand (1963), Can’t buy me love (1964), Hard day‘s night (1964), Yesterday (1965), Help! (1965), Paperback Writer (1966), Michelle (1966), Yellow Submarine (1966), Strawberry fields forever (1967), All you need is love (1967), Penny Lane (1967), Hello, Goodbye (1967), Hey Jude (1968), Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (1969), Get back (1969), Let it be (1970)
Bee Gees, The
(Isle of Man, 1958-2003)		 V: Robin Gibb † 2012  G: Sir Barry Gibb V/B/K: Maurice Gibb † 2003 D: Colin Petersen, Vince Melouney Albums: Bee Gees 1st (1967), Horizontal (1968), Idea (1968), Odessa (1969), Trafalgar (1971), Main Course (1975), Children of the World (1976), Spirits Having Flown (1979), Living Eyes (1981), E.S.P. (1987), One (1989), High Civilization (1991), Still Waters (1997), There is Where I Came in (2001)

Greatest Hits: Massachusetts (1967), Words (1968), I’ve got a message to you (1968), You should be dancing (1976), How deep is your love? (1977), Saturday night fever (1977), Staying alive (1977), Night Fever (1978), Tragedy (1979), Love you inside out (1979), You win again (1987), Secret love (1991), Alone (1997)
Black Eyed Peas
(USA, 1995)		 V: Will.I.am, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie V: Dante Santiago, Kim Hill Albums: Behind the Front (1998), Bridging the Gap (2000), Elephunk (2003), Monkey Business (2005), The E.N.D. (2009), The Beginning (2010)

Greatest Hits: Where is the Love? (2003), Shut up (2003), Hey Mama (2004), Don’t Phunk with My Heart (2005), My Humps (2005), Boom Boom Pow (2009), I Gotta Feeling (2009), Meet me Halfway (2009), The Time – Dirty Bit (2010); Just Can’t Get Enough (2011); Don’t Stop the Party (2011)
Black Sabbath
(GB, 1969-2017)		 V: Ozzy Osbourne G: Tony Iommi B: Geeze Butler D: Bill Ward V: Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan Albums: Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), Master of reality (1971), Volume 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975), Heaven and Hell (1980), Mob Rules (1981), Tyr (1990), Dehumanizer (1992), Cross Purposes (1994), Forbidden (1995), 13 (2013)
Blur
(GB, 1989)		 V/G: Damon Albarn G: Graham Coxan B: Alex James D: Dave Rowntree G: Simon Tang Albums: Leisure (1991), Modern Life is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994), The Great Escape (1995), Blur (1997), 13 (1999), Think Tank (2002), The Magic Whip (2015)

Greatest Hits: There is no other way (1991), Girls and Boys (1994), Country House (1995), Song 2 (1997), Beetlebum (1997), Tender (1999), Coffee & TV (1999)
Bon Jovi
(USA, 1983)		 V/G: Jon Bon Jovi G: Richie Sambora D: Tico Torres K: David Bryan B: Alec John Such Albums: Bon Jovi (1984), 7800° Fahrenheit (1985), Slippery When Wet (1986), New Jersey (1988), Keep the Faith (1992), These Days (1995), Crush (2000), Bounce (2002), Have a nice Day (2005), Lost Highway (2007), The Circle (2009), What About Now? (2013), This House is Not for Sale (2016)

Greatest Hits: Living on a Prayer (1986), You Give Love a Bad Name (1986), Bad Medicine (1988), Keep the Faith (1992); Bed of Roses (1993), Always (1994), This Ain’t a Love Song (1994), It‘s My Live (2000), Everyday (2002), Have a Nice Day (2005), Make a Memory (2006), We Weren‘t Born to Follow (2009)
Boney M
(GER, 1976)		 V: Bobby Farrell † 2010, Marcia Barrett, Liz Mitchell, Maizie Williams Albums: Take the Heat off me (1976), Love for Sale (1977), Nightflight to Venus (1978), Oceans of Fantasy (1979), The Magic of Boney M (1980), Boonoonoonoos (1981), 10.000 Lightyears (1984), Eye Dance (1985)

Greatest Hits: Daddy Cool (1976), Sunny (1976), Belfast (1977), Ma Baker (1977), Rivers of Babylon (1978), Rasputin (1978), Brown Girl in the Ring (1978), Mary‘s Boy Child (1978), Painter Man (1978), Hooray! It‘s a Holiday (1979), El Lute (1979), Felicidad (1980)
Chicago
(USA, 1967)		 V/K: Robert Lamm V: Lee Loughnane V/T: James Pankow D: Tris Imboden V/B: Jason Scheff V: Peter Cetera G: Terry Kath † 1978 D: Daniel Seraphine Albums: Chicago II (1970), Chicago III (1971), At Carnegie Hall (1971), Chicago X (1976), Chicago XI (1977), Chicago XVI (1982), Stone of Sisyphus (2008); Now: Chicago XXXVI (2014). One of the USA’s best rock bands of the seventies.

Greatest Hits: 25 or 6 to 4 (1970), I‘m a man (1970), Old days (1975), If you leave me now (1976), Baby what a big surprise (1977), Hard to say I’m sorry (1982), You’re the inspiration (1984), Stay the night (1984), Look away (1988)
Clash, The
(GB, 1976-1986)		 V/G: Joe Strummer † 2002, Nick Sheppard G: Vince White V/B: Paul Simonon D: Pete Howard V/G: Mick Jones D: Terry Chimes V/D: Topper Headon Albums: The Clash (1977), Give ’Em Enough Rope (1978), London Calling (1979), Sandinista! (1980), Combat Rock (1982), Cut the Crap (1985)

Greatest Hits: Tommy Gun (1978), London Calling (1979), Bankrobber (1980), Rock the Casbah (1982), Should I Stay Or Should I Go (1982)
Coldplay
(GB, 1996)		 V/P: Chris Martin G: Jonny Buckland, B/K: Guy Barryman D: Will Champion Albums: Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), X&Y (2005), Viva la Vida or Death and all his Friends (2008), Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full of Dreams (2015). One of the best rock bands since the millennium.

Greatest Hits: Yellow (2000), In my Place (2002), Speed of Sound (2005), Viva la Vida (2008), Paradise (2011, Princess of China (2012), Magic (2014), A Sky full of Stars (2014), Adventure of a Lifetime (2015), Hymn for the Weekend (2015), Something Just Like This (2017)
Creedence Clearwater Revival “CCR”
(USA, 1967-1972)		 V/G: John Fogerty B: Stu Cook D: Doug Clifford G: Tom Fogerty Albums: Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968), Bayou Country (1969); Green River (1969), Willy and the Poor Boys (1969), Cosmo‘s Factory (1970), Pendulum (1970), Mardi Gras (1972)

Greatest Hits: Suzi Q (1968), Proud Mary (1969),  Bad Moon Rising (1969), Green River (1969), Down on the Corner (1969), Travelin’ Band (1970), Up Around the Bend (1970), Lookin’ Out My Back Door (1970), Hey Tonight (1971), Sweet Hitch-Hiker (1971), I Heard it Through the Grapevine (1976)
Cream
(GB, 1966-1968)		 V/G: Eric Clapton V/B: Jack Bruce D: Ginger Baker Albums: Fresh Cream (1966), Disraeli Gears (1967), Wheels of Fire (1968), Goodbye (1969)

Greatest  Hits: I Feel Free (1966), Sunshine of Your Love (1967), White Room (1968), Crossroads (1969), Badge (1969)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “CSNY”
(1968-2016)		 V/G: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Neil Young Albums: Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969), Déjà Vu (1970), Four Way Street (1971), So Far (1974), CSN (1977), Daylight again (1982), American Dream (1988), After the Storm (1994), Looking Forward (1999)

Greatest Hits: Marrakesh Express (1968), Ohio (1970), Woodstock (1970), Teach Your Children (1970), Just a Song Before I Go (1977), Wasted on the Way (1982), Southern Cross (1982)
Cure, The
(GB, 1978)		 V/G: Robert Smith G: Porl Thompson B: Simon Gallup D: Jason Cooper V/B: Michael Dempsey D/K: L. Tulhurst K: Roger O‘Donnell D: Boris Williams Albums: Boys Don‘t Cry (1980), Faith (1981), Pornographic (1982), Japanese Whispers (1983), The Top (1984), Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me (1987), Disintegration (1989), Wish (1992), Bloodflowers (2000), The Cure (2004), 4:13 Dream (2008). One of the best rock bands of the 80s.

Greatest Hits: A Forest (1980), The Walk (1983), The Lovecats (1983), The Caterpillar (1984), Close to me (1985), Lullaby (1989), Lovesong (1989), Pictures of You (1990), High (1992), Friday I’m in Love (1992)
Deep Purple
(GB, 1968)		 V: Ian Gillan G: Steve Morse B: Roger Glover D: Ian Paice K: Don Airey V: Rod Evans G: Ritchie Blackmore B: Nick Simper K: Jon Lord † 2012 V: David Coverdale V/B: Glenn Hughes V: Joe Lynn Turner Albums: Shades of Deep Purple (1968), The Book of Taliesyn (1968), Deep Purple III (1969), Deep Purple in Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972), Who do we Think we Are (1973), Burn (1974), Stormbringer (1974), Come Taste the Band (1975), Perfect Strangers (1984), The House of Blue Light (1987), Slaves and Masters (1990), The Battle Rages On (1993), Purpendicular (1996), Abandon (1998), Bananas (2003), Rapture of the Deep (2005), Now what? (2013), Infinite (2017)

Greatest Hits: Hush (1968), Speed King (1970), Black Night (1970), Child in Time (1970), Strange Kind of a Woman (1971), Smoke on the Water (1972), Highway Star (1972), Woman from Tokyo (1973), Mistreated (1974). Widely regarded one of the best rock bands of all time.
Depeche Mode
(GB, 1980)		 V: Dave Gahan K: Andrew Fletcher G/B/K: Martin Gore K: Vince Clarke D: Alan Wilder, Christian Eigner Albums: Speak & Spell (1981), A Broken Frame (1982), Construction Time Again (1983), Some Great Reward (1984), Black Celebration (1986), Music for the Masses (1987), 101 (1988), Violator (1990), Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993), Ultra (1997), Exciter (2001), Playing the Angel (2005), Sounds of the Universe (2009), Delta Machine (2013), Spirit (2017)

Greatest Hits: Everything Counts (1983), People are People (1984), Master and Servant (1984), Blasphemous Rumours (1984), Shake the Disease (1985), Stripped (1986), Never let me down again (1987), Personal Jesus (1989), Enjoy the Silence (1990), I feel you (1993), It‘s no good (1997), Dream on (2001), Precious (2005), Martyr (2006), Wrong (2009), Heaven (2013)
Dire Straits
(GB, 1977-1995)		 V/G: Mark Knopfler K: Alan Clark, Guy Fletcher B: John Illsley G: David Knopfler, Hal Lindes D: Pick Withers, Terry Williams Albums: Dire Straits (1978), Communiqué (1979), Making Movies (1980), Love Over Gold (1982), Brothers in Arms (1985), Money for Nothing (1988), On Every Street (1991). One of the UK’s best rock bands.

Greatest Hits: Sultans of Swing (1979), Romeo and Juliet (1981), Private Investigations (1982), Money for Nothing (1985), Brothers in Arms (1985), Calling Elvis (1991)
Doors, The
(USA, 1965-1973)		 V: Jim Morrison † 1971 G: Robby Krieger D: John Densmore K: Ray Manzarek † 2013 Albums: The Doors (1967), Strange Days (1967), Waiting for the Sun (1968), The Soft Parade (1969), Morrison Hotel (1970), Absolutely live (1970), Doors 13 (1970), L.A. Woman (1971), Other Voices (1971), Full Circle (1972), An American Prayer (1978)

Greatest Hits: Light my Fire (1967), The End (1967), Hello, I Love You (1968), Touch me (1968), Riders on the Storm (1971)
Dream Theater
(USA, 1985)		 V: James LaBrie G: John Petrucci B: John Myung K: Jordan Rudess D: Mike Portnoy V: Charles Dominici K: Kevin Moore Albums: When Day and Dream Unite (1989), Images and Words (1992), Awake (1994), A Turbulence (2002), Train of Thought (2003), Octavarium (2005), Systematic Chaos (2007), Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009), A Dramatic Turn of events (2011), Dream Theater (2013), Breaking the Fourth Wall (Live, 2014), The Astonishing (2016)
Duran Duran
(GB, 1978)		 V/G: Simon Le Bon G: Dominic Brown B: John Taylor D: Roger Taylor K: Nick Rhodes G: Andy Taylor, Warren Cuccurullo Albums: Duran Duran (1981); Rio (1982); Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983); Notorious (1986); Big Thing (1988); Liberty (1990); Duran Duran – The Wedding Album (1993); Thank You (1995); Medazzaland (1997); Pop Trash (2000); Astronaut (2004); Red Carpet Massacre (2007); All you need is Now (2010); Paper Gods (2015)

Greatest Hits: Girls on Film (1981), Hungry Like a Wolf (1982), Save a Prayer (1982), Is There Something I Should Know? (1983), The Reflex (1984), Wild Boys (1984), A View To A Kill (1985 for James Bond 007), Notorious (1986), Ordinary World (1993) > Find more best rock bands on next pages!

See also: Best Rock Bands E-K… | Best Singers N-Z…

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