Big 4 bands of classic rock?

[WildRanger]

In your opinions, who are those 4 bands?
These two things matter the most: POPULARITY + IMPACT.

[The Walrus]

Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin. Queen or Sabbath as the last one, probably Sabbath if you count them (instead of metal), otherwise Queen.

[KevShmev]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin

[Podaar]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin

I think the thread should be locked now.

[Snow Dog]

So many could be listed here that four is difficult, and could change day to day. But for right now, I'd say The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Van Halen. Honorable mentions go to Pink Floyd, Queen, Black Sabbath, and AC DC.

[ChuckSteak]

No "chuch" thing.

[jammindude]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin

I think the thread should be locked now.

I think you could make a pretty strong case for Pink Floyd replacing The Who on that list.     And I say that as someone who really thinks the Stones are grossly overrated and mostly irrelevant in the 21st Century.   

[Cool Chris]

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I think you could make a pretty strong case for Pink Floyd replacing The Who on that list.     And I say that as someone who really thinks the Stones are grossly overrated and mostly irrelevant in the 21st Century.   

I would waffle on that one too, and The Who and Floyd are two of my favorite bands.

I am not sure how the Stones are "irrelevant in the 21st Century" though. They will always be legends in the realm of classic rock, will always get a ton of radio airplay, and even on this forum people have included songs of theirs in the "Greatest Rock Song" discussion thread.

[jammindude]

I guess I just hate those guys.    But I acknowledge they deserve be in the conversation more than The Who does.

[King Postwhore]

The Who should be there. Sorry jammin. 

[Cool Chris]

Fair enough. The gap between The Stones and The Who is very small though. In my Top 4, they are on equal footing with the other two.

[Architeuthis]

The Who should definitely be there..

[jammindude]

The Who should be there. Sorry jammin.

That would be fantastic if I thought it were true.   The Who is amazing.  The Stones don't deserve the wipe The Who's butt.  I was just trying to keep favoritism out of the conversation.   

[KevShmev]

I am not a huge Stones fan, but they are clearly one of the biggest bands ever and highly influential.

[TAC]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin

I think the thread should be locked now.

Yup. Gee, that was fun!

[DragonAttack]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin

I think the thread should be locked now.

Yup. Gee, that was fun!

Indeed.  Your next poll in a couple of hours should be 'who goes onto the second Mt. Rushmore?

[Cool Chris]

Your next poll in a couple of hours should be 'who goes onto the second Mt. Rushmore?

Floyd
Queen
Skynyrd
AC/DC

Ok, that's a lot harder.

Or we could do Worst 4 popular Classic Rock bands

Aerosmith
Genesis
Steve Miller Band
Eric Clapton (solo)

[TAC]

[Anguyen92]

Why stop here?  Why not list the Big 4 bands of American Classic Rock?  Might be harder than one would think.

[Architeuthis]

The Who should be there. Sorry jammin.

That would be fantastic if I thought it were true.   The Who is amazing.  The Stones don't deserve the wipe The Who's butt.  I was just trying to keep favoritism out of the conversation.

[TAC]

Why stop here?  Why not list the Big 4 bands of American Classic Rock?  Might be harder than one would think.

Aerosmith
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Alice Cooper
Bob Seger

[Architeuthis]

Why stop here?  Why not list the Big 4 bands of American Classic Rock?  Might be harder than one would think.

Boston,  Aerosmith,  Tom Petty,  Lynyrd Skynyrd..

[KevShmev]

Why stop here?  Why not list the Big 4 bands of American Classic Rock?  Might be harder than one would think.

That is easy:

America
The Doobie Brothers
Seals and Crofts
Christopher Cross

[Architeuthis]

Also for American bands, Heart, Journey, REO Speedwayon, and Styx deserve honerable mentions..

[KevShmev]

We can't leave out Rush. Canada is from North America, after all.

[King Postwhore]

Don't listen to Kev. He's been listening to Yacht Rock lately.  Lol

[jingle.boy]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin

I think the thread should be locked now.

I think you could make a pretty strong case for Pink Floyd replacing The Who on that list.     And I say that as someone who really thinks the Stones are grossly overrated and mostly irrelevant in the 21st Century.

I always considered Pink Floyd to be #5.  If you removed their junk, they might have a right to be in the conversation, but they've got too much stuff that was just WAY too experimental and psychedelic to be considered 'rock' at the time, or 'classic rock' now.

The 'next' big four is an interesting proposition.

[max_security]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin

That is the list no question. The order is subjective below the Beatles depending on the year or topic.

[CrimsonSunrise]

Back in the 70's, and early 80's the list would be....

Led Zeppelin
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Who

NOW....  after the test of time....

Led Zeppelin
The Beatlers
The Rolling Stones
Pink Floyd

[max_security]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin

I think the thread should be locked now.

I think you could make a pretty strong case for Pink Floyd replacing The Who on that list.     And I say that as someone who really thinks the Stones are grossly overrated and mostly irrelevant in the 21st Century.

I always considered Pink Floyd to be #5.  If you removed their junk, they might have a right to be in the conversation, but they've got too much stuff that was just WAY too experimental and psychedelic to be considered 'rock' at the time, or 'classic rock' now.

The 'next' big four is an interesting proposition.

Yeah , the next four would be tough.

[KevShmev]

I think the next 4 would be:

Pink Floyd
Jimi Hendrix Experience (many forget he was not a solo artist when he was alive)
Eagles
Queen

[Cool Chris]

Jimi Hendrix didn't release enough material, despite having an unquestionable impact and influence. He is the James Dean of music, where the brevity of his career helped create his legacy. I am also not a fan at all, but I am trying to keep that out of my argument.

Yacht Rock got a chuckle out of me.

[jammindude]

The Eagles are the only classic rock band I hate more than the Stones.  Please don't make me include them. 

It's been a long day and I ****in hate the Eagles, man!!!

[The Walrus]

Man, I just do not get the love for The Who. Or The Eagles, but especially The Who.

[Architeuthis]

The Who rocks!  I used to think the same way, but I really started paying attention to the details in their music. After seeing them live in 2016, I became a believer.
I'm actually surprised that BOSTON doesn't get more love here on DT forums...