1. The Beatles
The Beatles come in at first place for their indisputable influence on the history of rock music, and in fact, music in general! In only ten year, this iconic group managed to release an incredible twelve albums! John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, formed the Beatles in Liverpool in 1960, and went on to become one of history’s best-selling bands.
The Beatles
The Beatles were awarded the title of best-selling musician in the United States due to their records selling over 178 million units, and they have sold more singles in the UK than any other musicians. They are also the winners of an Academy Award and seven Grammy Awards, and they hold the record for having the most number one hits on the Hot 100 chart, with 20 #1s. In just ten years they created a number of different sounds, having an influence on a variety of genres and musicians. In case you are still not convinced of their well-deserving spot as number one on our list, we will just tell you this; they have sold around 800 million albums internationally. Case closed.
We only had 25 spots on our list but we think there are a number of other bands whose influence on the genre cannot be overlooked, and we think they deserve an honorable mention, so keep scrolling if you feel your favorites weren’t given their due or if you just want to know who else influenced this scene unforgettably.
Honorable Mention: Cream
Cream was responsible for one of the most immediately recognizable guitar riffs of all time on “Sunshine of Your Love”, reason enough for them to be canonized. Cream is often referred to as a “supergroup” as they are thought to be the inspiration for countless other rock bands.
Cream
Eric Clapton is almost always at the top of every “Greatest Guitarists” list, Jack Bruce made bass playing seem completely effortless, and drummer Ginger Baker had a unique style that was all his own, all which gave this group their undeniable rock legacy.
