Out of the thousands of great bands, songwriters, and performers, it's almost impossible to choose the nine best rock artists. But trying it was sure a lot of fun. Some artists had huge effects that only lasted a few years, but they still ruled the charts and culture for the rest of their lives. Other artists have had such a big effect on the world that their music and styles have stuck around for a long time.
Your favorite things won't be on the list very often. It's just a numbers game, you know! and we can't include everyone who has made a difference in our lives. We'll only say a few words about their importance here because we hope you'll click on the links and read the much longer articles on this site that pay tribute to these great artists.
1. Elvis Presley
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This one might seem a little obvious for rock, huh? He was called the "King of Rock and Roll," but even without that name, Elvis seemed to have always been a rocker. He was out of this world. His confidence, style, and charm made him appear from another planet. And in 1956, the rock and roll king dropped his hit song "Heartbreak Hotel," which changed music for good.
2. David Bowie
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David Bowie's career is a model for aspiring rock stars. He was a creative master storyteller. We've lost excellent storytellers in modern rock music. His extensive and varied selections assist generate mental scenes. The Oscar-nominated film The Martian uses "Starman."
3. Jimi Hendrix
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Hendrix not only made it possible for guitarists to try new things, but he also helped change rock music from the beginning of the 1960s to the end of the decade. Not only that, but his solo from the hit song "Voodoo Child" was released as a single right after Hendrix died and went straight to number one in the UK (Oh yeah! Since then, it has been played about 10 billion times on classic rock radio. He's a legendary frontman, that's for sure.
4. Paul McCartney
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Since the beginning of rock and roll, there have been thousands of rock bands, but only the best ones have lasted through time and stayed famous and influential. So, of course, we should talk about Paul McCartney, the only Beatle still alive. Since the 1960s, he has been an icon. He has written or co-written 32 songs that have reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
5. John Lennon
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It's easy to envisage John living into 1980 and The Beatles reforming before George's 2001 death. It's not known for river babies to use a German expression Any Lennon fan knows he had a healthy ego. He put it aside for many years to work with his fellow Beatles, a tiny miracle in hindsight. John gave rock 'n' roll a softer side and became famous for more than his music. He was eloquent and challenged listeners.
6. Robert Plant
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What's left to say about Robert Plant? Led Zeppelin was amazing. Led Zeppelin "borrowed" music from southern rock and blues groups. The band has paid several settlements for stealing others' work. This is Zeppelin's black eye because they improved on everything. Their rock musicianship remains unmatched. Robert is often imitated but never duplicated.
7. Ann Wilson
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Several female rock stars have fronted badass bands. She's vocally talented. Few rock vocalists can outscream Ann Wilson. Chris Cornell is close and deserves mention, but other female rockers...? Nope. Live performance is the test. For those who haven't seen her, she always delivers.
8. Pete Townshend
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The lead guitarist follows the bassist. Many may argue the rock god status and guitar god chain of command, but this isn't that list. No guitarist should be on this list unless it's Jimmy Page, however... Page stole riffs. Pete is a rock star who's still rocking. Before Keith Moon's death (on drums), The Who appeared like they could rebuild the planet. Pete's aloofness was a strength.
9. Michael Balzary
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Flea is a legendary rock star who is still performing well. Flea's musicianship makes him a great rocker. He's a bass guitar virtuoso but also a trumpet prodigy. Who else makes tighty-whities cool? Continue. Flea's 21st-century pastimes He released huge bass guitar tutorials on YouTube to inspire people to play.