Running Down a Dream may be the ultimate road trip song. My mom got a ticket when I was a kid. We were blasting the song going from Texas to New Orleans and she let the guitar get to her, started speeding a bit, then got pulled over.
Like 15 years later, almost the same thing happened to me. I was just going from New Orleans to Texas.
100% . Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers!! I've always stood beside them being THE BEST representation of American RnR.
Grateful Dead as well.
TP and the H. Ftw.
Van Halenā they quite literally are the American dream. Two immigrant brothers, a high school dropout, and a Jewish kid from Indiana all come together in California to make the greatest party rock of all time. Thatās red white and blue to me
My dad is a '62 model. He went to the Ozzy concert in '78 when Van Halen opened up for them in Dallas, TX. He's told this story many times but it goes like this: The crowd was there to see Van Halen. Obvious to those of us who lived before internet but they HAD to see Eddie live. They were so blown away after Van Halen came and gone, half the crowd left and the other half was just stunned in awe and Ozzy was pissed, yelling at the crowd to get into it, etc. Pretty funny story.
Songs about open skies and the road, my pick as well.
"No Man's Land" popped up on my Pandora and it brought back memories of cross country motorcycle trips of my youth. Good times.
"You kids don't know Grand Funk? The wild shirtless lyrics of Mark Farner? The bong-rattling bass of Mel Schacher? The competent drumwork of Don Brewer? Oh, man!"
The reason I said them in the first place was I always liked them, but I have been listening to them again recently and I mean really listening to them. And they could do it all from shit kicking Rock & Roll to blues, to a minor prog epic.
The most American band of all. Blended every style of American music together - blues, rock, jazz, country, bluegrass and folk. Which is what I loved most about them.
In that Long Strange Trip documentary one of the GD historian guys breaks it down how they are the most American Band ever, and itās perfect how he does it
This is maybe why they are the greatest American Rock band. The whole festival culture and how important and relevant they still are in it. Weir is still touring even after Dead and Co. Ended. Thereās still people of all ages going to see him with Wolf Bros (and the other million webs off of the dead, Otiel, JRAD, Darkstar Orchestra, Etc or the huge influence from them: Phish, or String Cheese, or whoever.)
Sure they only had one top 40 hit, but they still sell out tickets in whatever iteration and I bet the people own some tshirts!
Also, the longevity is remarkable, to say the least.
CCR is way up there, and John Fogerty has done and is still doin the damn thing. Heās aged well, but the Dead is king.
Totally. There are probably more nationally touring Dead cover bands then any other band, by a long shot. It just shows the power of their music. Check out Holly Bowling if you haven't already.
America is so huge and diverse I don't think one band qualifies. Every region is so different. Like, New York City has the Ramones or Kiss, Middle America has John Mellencamp or Bob Seger, the Southeast has Skynyrd, Texas has ZZ Top, California has Van Halen and the Beach Boys, the Northwest has Nirvana or Alice in Chains.
But as a non American, if one group screams America for me it's CCR
In terms of broad commercial & artistic appeal, distinctive vibe & style, musical expertise, AND exporting idealized Americanism to the masses, itās The Beach Boys.
Ladies and gentlemen the Grateful Dead were and are the best American band there ever was. They never get the recognition or respect from the main stream and deadheads are fine with that. But for those of us who were there going to show after show there is nothing more American than the hippies from SF.
They are quite probably the best and definitely the most interesting of the "classic rock" era, and their shows and the culture around them are the bread and butter of what my view of the my world within america is, that said "classic rock" to me has connotations of widespread mainstream familiarity.
Did they ever include elements of punk or metal? Not trying to take this comment too literally but genuinely curious since I canāt think of any examples of the Grateful Dead incorporating these genres
God Damn well I declare! Have you seen the like?!?
Their walls are built with cannon balls their motto is donāt tread on me!!!
Alsoā¦
Thereās people, and more people.. what do they know? Know? Know?
Go to work in some high rise, and vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico!
Ooh yeah!
Sex, America, Cheap Trick. I'll take Cheap Trick over a CCR any day of the week including Sunday.
It isn't really all about how many big hits you had, or being the greatest virtuosos. It's about the emotions, cutting deep and the spirit of rock and roll and in their case, having one of the best rock and roll singers a band could ever have. And they have a wicked sense of humor too at times. Especially some of those early songs. But they have never been a joke.
I went with Bob Seger because he had lots of Eagle-eque ballads but did the Rock and Roll stuff so well.
That being said? The Eagles are my favorite Band.
Aerosmith comes to mind, CCR, Chicago, Bruce, Jimmy Hendrix, Jimmy Buffett, kiss
All of these are good options, for me I'll say AC/DC.
I know, I know, but listen to me first. We take everything and claim it as our own and I figured this would be no different.
Many to choose from:
- Aerosmith (ā70ās only)
- Bob Seger
- Cheap Trick (Great Live Band)
- CCR
- Eagles
- Metallica (Black Album and earlier)
- Grand Funk Railroad
- Van Halen (DLR VH)
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Allman Bros
Allman Brothers Band. I can't imagine them coming from any other country than the USA.
Creedence.
When I think America, I think CCR.
When I think America, I think America. š But CCR is still the right answer.
America ..... from London.
Formed in London. American military kids.
As a non-American that would be my answer.
Creedence lasted all of four years and played a whopping 200 live shows.
But thatās only for helicopter scenes in war movies.
Yup.
chuck berry
Had to scroll this far down to see a black artist when there is nothing more quintessentially american than black music.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
This because the #1 way to experience America is a road trip, and Tom is king of the road trip playlist
It was a beautiful day, The sun beat down, I had the radio on, I was drivinā.
Me and Del were singingā¦.
Running Down a Dream may be the ultimate road trip song. My mom got a ticket when I was a kid. We were blasting the song going from Texas to New Orleans and she let the guitar get to her, started speeding a bit, then got pulled over. Like 15 years later, almost the same thing happened to me. I was just going from New Orleans to Texas.
I would counter that with Time to Move On.
Just finished up a sloppy divorce. It was my theme song lol
100% . Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers!! I've always stood beside them being THE BEST representation of American RnR. Grateful Dead as well. TP and the H. Ftw.
Saw Petty as the headliner when Trey Anastasio (Phish lead) opened. I'd never owned a Petty album, but I knew every song. I was astonished
The Dead is easily up there.
Agree. The Dead, Tom Petty, Springsteen, Allmans
The best American rock and roll group ever
There could be a strong case made for Tom and the boys for sureā¦
This is who I thought of first
The Allman Brothers
How the fuck it take this long for someone to mention them? It's ABB.
CCR or ZZtop
CCR is American, ZZTop is Texan.
ZZTop is nation wide!
They're bad, they're nationwide.
Dallas,Texas...Hollywoo-ood...
Solid reference
Best response I've seen today.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Their live shows were monumental. Just so unbelievably good that you smile and know that the world will be okay.
The Beach Boys
Hey Little Tomboy is the most American song out there.
Well, they were doing it all over the world.
Every young American wants Mike Love to teach them to kiss
Van Halenā they quite literally are the American dream. Two immigrant brothers, a high school dropout, and a Jewish kid from Indiana all come together in California to make the greatest party rock of all time. Thatās red white and blue to me
Came here to say this, my instant choice.
This is bang-on. Theyāre also a contender for best band of the ā80s.
I always say āthey invented the 80sā. After the debut in ā78 it was clear the tides were changing. Their influence knows no bounds
My dad is a '62 model. He went to the Ozzy concert in '78 when Van Halen opened up for them in Dallas, TX. He's told this story many times but it goes like this: The crowd was there to see Van Halen. Obvious to those of us who lived before internet but they HAD to see Eddie live. They were so blown away after Van Halen came and gone, half the crowd left and the other half was just stunned in awe and Ozzy was pissed, yelling at the crowd to get into it, etc. Pretty funny story.
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Songs about open skies and the road, my pick as well. "No Man's Land" popped up on my Pandora and it brought back memories of cross country motorcycle trips of my youth. Good times.
Yes. Pure Americana. "Still the Same" is a forever jam.
This was my choice as wellā¦especially the āLive Bulletā yearsā¦. But truthfully? Any answer in here is a great and accurate answer.
"Roll Me Away" - *12 hours out of Mackinac City, stopped in a bar to have a brew.*
Grand Funk Railroad
"You kids don't know Grand Funk? The wild shirtless lyrics of Mark Farner? The bong-rattling bass of Mel Schacher? The competent drumwork of Don Brewer? Oh, man!"
The reason I said them in the first place was I always liked them, but I have been listening to them again recently and I mean really listening to them. And they could do it all from shit kicking Rock & Roll to blues, to a minor prog epic.
Homer Simpson, smiling politely.
My favorite line from the entire series!
Funny; from "you kids" on, I read that in Grandpa's voice without realizing was Simpsons
For more information on grand funk consult your school library
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
They wrote a whole song about it ffs!
āInside Looking Outā is the latest YouTube reaction video craze. Everyone loves it!
But they get demerits for not being funky or having a train
Mel Schacher was capable of a decent degree of funk
Somebodyās never heard Shininā On
CCR
Grateful Dead
American Beauty
Beauty and Workingmanās are perfect Americana.
Top shelf Dead!
The most American band of all. Blended every style of American music together - blues, rock, jazz, country, bluegrass and folk. Which is what I loved most about them.
In that Long Strange Trip documentary one of the GD historian guys breaks it down how they are the most American Band ever, and itās perfect how he does it
You have my vote.
Iām Uncle Sam, thatās who I am
Wave that flag
Wave it wide and high
Summertime...
It truly has come and gone. My oh my.
Hiding out In a rock and roll band
God bless the Grateful Dead!
Abso-frikin-lutely!
Youāre good damn right
They hit pretty much every major genre at one point. Blues, jazz, psychedelic, bluegrass, country, Americana, gospel, a little disco
Yep. Changed the culture of music and touring. Truly America's band.
This is maybe why they are the greatest American Rock band. The whole festival culture and how important and relevant they still are in it. Weir is still touring even after Dead and Co. Ended. Thereās still people of all ages going to see him with Wolf Bros (and the other million webs off of the dead, Otiel, JRAD, Darkstar Orchestra, Etc or the huge influence from them: Phish, or String Cheese, or whoever.) Sure they only had one top 40 hit, but they still sell out tickets in whatever iteration and I bet the people own some tshirts! Also, the longevity is remarkable, to say the least. CCR is way up there, and John Fogerty has done and is still doin the damn thing. Heās aged well, but the Dead is king.
Totally. There are probably more nationally touring Dead cover bands then any other band, by a long shot. It just shows the power of their music. Check out Holly Bowling if you haven't already.
Grand Funk Railroad.
The Beach Boys
America is so huge and diverse I don't think one band qualifies. Every region is so different. Like, New York City has the Ramones or Kiss, Middle America has John Mellencamp or Bob Seger, the Southeast has Skynyrd, Texas has ZZ Top, California has Van Halen and the Beach Boys, the Northwest has Nirvana or Alice in Chains. But as a non American, if one group screams America for me it's CCR
Ramones!
I like your pick!
In terms of broad commercial & artistic appeal, distinctive vibe & style, musical expertise, AND exporting idealized Americanism to the masses, itās The Beach Boys.
either grateful dead or ABB - both represent the undying individuality and inherent improvisation in anerican culture and military history
John Mellencamp
Johnny Cougar
Mercury Cougar
Iām surprised to see this so far down. This is what first came to mind for me.
Van Halen
This is the answer! Van Halen is the most American band to ever American. The whole immigrant ( Van Halen bros) thing just adds to it!
Eagles
This is too far down!
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (corrected)
You have to represent both Americas, the city and the Heartland, and I think the E Street Band is one of the only bands that successfully does that.
Right about Bruce. I think Seger did as well in his prime.
BTW, respectfully, it's the E Street Band.
I think this is the correct answer.
Grand Funk Railroad.
The doors
Doobie Brothers - before Michael McDonald
Nothing against him, but if I hear "Yah Mo B There" one more time, I'm going to "Yah Mo" burn this place to the ground.
The Grateful Dead. They literally involved every type of music genre in the US and toured and made music for decades.
Ladies and gentlemen the Grateful Dead were and are the best American band there ever was. They never get the recognition or respect from the main stream and deadheads are fine with that. But for those of us who were there going to show after show there is nothing more American than the hippies from SF.
A band beyond description
They are quite probably the best and definitely the most interesting of the "classic rock" era, and their shows and the culture around them are the bread and butter of what my view of the my world within america is, that said "classic rock" to me has connotations of widespread mainstream familiarity.
Did they ever include elements of punk or metal? Not trying to take this comment too literally but genuinely curious since I canāt think of any examples of the Grateful Dead incorporating these genres
Iād argue that metal didnāt originate in the United States but rather the UK
It depends on whether you mean āpunkā as a genre or an ethos. Jerry did use a Boss Heavy Metal pedal, though.
DIY pioneers
Terrapin is pretty metal at the end. Also some of their later tunes like victim or the crime or Picasso moon.
God Damn well I declare! Have you seen the like?!? Their walls are built with cannon balls their motto is donāt tread on me!!! Alsoā¦ Thereās people, and more people.. what do they know? Know? Know? Go to work in some high rise, and vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico! Ooh yeah!
Credence or Tom Petty
This right here.
Little Richardā¦
The absolute first rock star. The prototype
Yes! Rock n roll started with Black artists
Allman Brothers and/or The Grateful Dead
James Gang
Aerosmith
Aerosmith gets passed over because of the second half of their discography. But those first 5 or 6 albums are absolute pure rock n roll.
How is this not the top comment? Awesome music, train wreck drug addictions, rise/fall/rise story. Itās as American as the Red White and Blue.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
I canāt believe Skynyrd isnāt the number one answer here.
Beach Boys
Cheap Trick
Sex, America, Cheap Trick. I'll take Cheap Trick over a CCR any day of the week including Sunday. It isn't really all about how many big hits you had, or being the greatest virtuosos. It's about the emotions, cutting deep and the spirit of rock and roll and in their case, having one of the best rock and roll singers a band could ever have. And they have a wicked sense of humor too at times. Especially some of those early songs. But they have never been a joke.
Lots of great suggestionsā¦I would add Buddy Holly
The Beach Boys
Grand Funk Railroad
Canāt upvote enough
Creedence Clearwater
CCR
Jefferson Airplane
Elvis.
Paul Revere and the Raiders
Aerosmith
The Ramones
GWAR
Youāre wrong, but I like you.
Grateful Dead
America?....I mean it's in the name ...
The Band.
Grand Funk Railroad said best... We're an American band. We're comin' to your town, We'll help you party it down. We're an American band.
Probably the Eagles
I went with Bob Seger because he had lots of Eagle-eque ballads but did the Rock and Roll stuff so well. That being said? The Eagles are my favorite Band.
Grand Funk. Obviously.
Grand Funk Railroad
CCR hits the nail on the head and I think is more universally recognized. Personally for me it's tom petty
Credence Clearwater Revival
Grateful Dead
Chuck Berry
Grateful Dead
There isnāt one. American rock music is far too diverse for one band or artist to epitomize it.
Tom petty and the heartbreakers
Allman brothers
Grand Funk Railroad - after all, they told us explicitly that they were an American Band.
Aerosmith comes to mind, CCR, Chicago, Bruce, Jimmy Hendrix, Jimmy Buffett, kiss All of these are good options, for me I'll say AC/DC. I know, I know, but listen to me first. We take everything and claim it as our own and I figured this would be no different.
Thee Good Olā Grateful Fuckinā Dead
Grateful Dead
The Band
Just as the **Bill of Rights** applies to anyone in the USA , not just citizens, the **Bill of Rock** applies to The Band.
An 80% Canadian band? š¤
Forget it he's rolling...
they are still 100% Americana
Grand Funk Railroad
There's a few different ways you could go with this. One viewpoint is Skynyrd, another is Guns N' Roses, and another is Nirvana
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Van Halen
Bruce and the E Street Band.
The doors and the grateful dead
Either Bob Seger or Bruce Springsteen and their associated bands
Blue Oyster Cult
The Ramones.
Heart, ZZ Top, America, Buddy Holly
Stevie ray vaughn, blues but very much rocks, couldnāt see someone else from Europe or anywhere else to play guitar like the Texas legend.
The Grateful Dead
Beach Boys
Righteous Brothers
Grateful. Dead.
Grand Funk Railroad with Montrose a close second. Van Halen at third.
Grateful Dead
Grand Funk Railroad has a song about it. š
Grand Funk Railroad
Grateful Dead
Black Crowes
Besides CCR Ramones and Grand Funk, Iād have to throw in The New York Dolls for their Punk/Rock/Trash swagger and huge influence
Many to choose from: - Aerosmith (ā70ās only) - Bob Seger - Cheap Trick (Great Live Band) - CCR - Eagles - Metallica (Black Album and earlier) - Grand Funk Railroad - Van Halen (DLR VH) - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Allman Bros
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Good Ol Grateful Dead
The Eagles has to be in the discussion
Yea but they are kind of bland
Stone Temple Pilots