Howard Stern names the three greatest rock bands of all time: “No argument”
Howard Stern named The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin as the three greatest rock bands of all time during a 2020 radio discussion. His choices matter because each group helped shape rock music and had an influence that reached beyond the genre.
Stern ranked The Beatles first, praising their importance to popular music; he put The Rolling Stones second for building on blues and creating what he called masterpieces. Led Zeppelin took third place, with Stern highlighting Jimmy Page’s riffs, John Bonham’s drumming and Robert Plant’s vocals. The article notes that all three bands released their first singles within seven years of one another in the 1960s.
In short
- Stern’s top three are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.
- He ranked The Beatles first and The Stones second.
- All three bands emerged in the 1960s.
Explained simply
Rock became a major force in popular music in the 1960s, drawing on styles including blues and earlier rock ’n’ roll. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin each developed a distinctive sound during that era and influenced later musicians.
The Beatles were known for their songwriting and changing studio sound; the Rolling Stones drew heavily on blues; and Led Zeppelin combined powerful guitar riffs, drums and vocals. Their records and performances helped shape rock music’s sound and reach, which is why comparisons between the bands remain part of discussions about the genre’s history.