Who are America’s 10 best-selling classic rock bands?
What do we actually mean when we refer to music as ‘classic rock‘?
The term has a rich history, and it’s one that keeps great songs at its centre, but when the genre of rock was first becoming popular, there was nothing classic about it; this was music that lived in the here and now, that was slowly revolutionising all of sound. When bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Pink Floyd were topping the charts with their distortion-laden and face-melting approach to music, there was nothing more modern on the go, and it meant that some people accepted them with open arms; meanwhile, others were less excited about this new wave of guitar lovers.
This is a trend that will always exist within music when someone brings along a new idea. It doesn’t matter how good a band like Led Zeppelin are, they were pushing the boat out, and for a lot of people, these new ideas will never match up to what they consider the peak of an art form. This happened when rock first sprouted wings, and it happened again when the genre started evolving.
Creative people can’t remain stagnant; that’s a mindset which simply isn’t built into those who love music and want to see it thrive. As such, when rock music was created, it wasn’t enough for people to just stand by and consider that another genre had solidified. Instead, it changed, people moved into the realm of glam, heavy metal, and new wave, as various subsections of rock slowly took over the charts and the original sound was left by the way side.
As is always the case with such developments, a lot of people weren’t overly keen, and as a result, the term classic rock was born. This referred to rock music that still championed the sound which rose to prominence during the ‘60s and early ‘70s. This is also the section of rock music which has stood the test of time the best, as while bands from all areas of the genre are still relevant, there are more in classic rock than in any other branch.
It begs the question of who some of the biggest classic rock bands in the US are. The States is where a lot of this style of music was initially developed and perfected, so you would think the bands that top the charts the most would undoubtedly be some of the best there is.
The three best-selling classic rock bands in the US
Before we list all ten bands who have cemented themselves as the best-selling classic rock acts in the States, let’s pay close attention to the top three. In third place, you have Led Zeppelin, a band who well and truly broke boundaries with their music, and that innovation is reflected in their record sales. They took the definitive rock sound and infused it with a whole range of different genres to really highlight how far this kind of music could be pushed.
Next, you have The Eagles, a band who weren’t just a rock outfit, but they merged two of the US’s biggest genres: rock and country. That style is still huge in America, as it taps into the heart of the listener and draws out emotion and feeling more so than any other style of music ever could.
But finally, the best-selling band of all time was The Beatles, who were always going to be a chart-topping rock group the moment they performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, as it seemed that all of America was watching, and suddenly, all of America was a fan.
The 10 best-selling classic rock artists in the United States:
- The Beatles
- The Eagles
- Led Zeppelin
- Billy Joel
- Elton John
- Pink Floyd
- AC/DC
- The Rolling Stones
- Aerosmith
- Bruce Springsteen
Never Miss A Tale
The Far Out Classic Rock Newsletter
All the latest Classic Rock content from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.