The Top 35 Best Live Bands Of All Time
The Clash hit the London rock scene in 1976. Their lyrics will filled with political themes reminiscent of the social unrest during the time they were active. They were just as much stylized protests as they were songs. They had a unique blend of punk, reggae, funk, jazz, and hip-hop. It made a unique, idiosyncratic sound that could only be attributed to The Clash.
R.E.M. joined the music scene in the early 80s. They were a group of students from the University of Georgia, led by Michael Stipe. They were one of the first mainstream alternative bands, which has found itself to still be a rather exclusive group. They had distinctive vocals, unique lyrics, and enigmatic live performances. The band’s following was rather committed in their early years, but it was in the 90s when they achieved global fame. Thanks to the release of their albums Out of Time and Automatic for the People.
Even if you’re not that familiar with The Police as a band, you’re probably well-aware of who Sting is. They formed in 1977 achieved worldwide fame in the late 80s. Their music is influenced by jazz and reggae . The Police actually had four successive number-one albums, including hits such as “Don’t Stand Too Close to Me” and “Message in a Bottle”. Unfortunately, the group did disband in 1983 after irreconcilable differences and in-fighting.
The Beach Boys were Hawaiian-short wearing, beach bums from California in the early 60s. Or at least that’s the design aesthetic they used a lot. They represented the lighter side of rock and roll. While they started as a garage band, they eventually reached critical acclaim in the 80s, having produced quite a few hit songs. Their jovial sound can still be heard at many celebrations.
An alternative, grunge-rock band from Seattle, they became quite popular in the early 90s. While they received much mainstream success, unfortunately, their time in the sun was short-lived. Band leader Kurt Cobain took his own life in 1994. But the legacy of their band has continued to live on. The smiley face logo the band popularized is still a pop culture icon today.
The Kinks were another English band formed in London. The Kinks came about in 1963, focusing on rock. Their work was considered emblematic of English culture and very popular in their home country. Unfortunately, due to their onstage antics, the band ended up being banned from performing in the United States. Although that didn’t stop people from enjoying their music.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers toured the world right up until lead singer Tom Petty died suddenly in 2017, at the age of 66. The band’s final tour, which celebrated their 40th anniversary, concluded with three nights at the Hollywood Bowl. The set list included rarely played tracks such as “Rockin’ Around (With You),” which was the first track on their 1976 debut album, “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,” and which hadn’t been performed live since 1983.
Elvis Presley was known as “The King,” and he was certainly the king of performing. Starting with his first Memphis show in 1954, he toured constantly, entertaining millions of people all over the world.
His final gig was in Indianapolis on June 26, 1977, only six weeks before he died. As he often did, he closed the show with his 1961 hit “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Presley’s gigs also made history — one of his most notable concerts, “Elvis-Aloha from Hawaii,” was the first live show by a solo artist to be beamed worldwide by satellite.
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