UK
52 artists
The Beatles
Over 600 million records sold. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr. Changed mu...
Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham. Stairway to Heaven is the most played song i...
Queen
Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon. Bohemian Rhapsody was 6 minutes long, defying...
Pink Floyd
The Dark Side of the Moon spent 937 weeks on the Billboard 200. Syd Barrett founded the band before ...
The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are the greatest songwriting partnership after Lennon-McCartney. Over...
David Bowie
The chameleon of rock who reinvented himself constantly. Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke, and countl...
The Who
Pete Townshend invented the rock guitar smash. Tommy was the first rock opera. Keith Moon was the wi...
Depeche Mode
Over 100 million records sold. Violator was their commercial peak. Dave Gahans stage presence is mes...
The Smiths
Morrissey and Johnny Marr created the template for indie rock. Only together for 5 years but influen...
Radiohead
OK Computer predicted the alienation of the digital age. Kid A divided fans but proved they would ne...
Oasis
Liam and Noel Gallagher feuding is as famous as the music. Morning Glory sold 22 million copies. The...
Blur
Damon Albarn later created Gorillaz. Parklife defined Britpop. The rivalry with Oasis was called the...
Gorillaz
Created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The first virtual band. Over 27 million records sold. Cli...
Sex Pistols
Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Steve Jones, Paul Cook. Never Mind the Bollocks is the defining punk alb...
Black Sabbath
Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward. Invented heavy metal. Iommi lost fingertips in ...
Deep Purple
Smoke on the Water has the most famous guitar riff in history. The Mark II lineup is considered the ...
Iron Maiden
Bruce Dickinson is also an airline pilot and cancer survivor. Eddie the Head mascot appears on every...
Adele
Over 120 million records. 21 sold 31 million copies. Someone Like You was the first song to debut at...
Ed Sheeran
Over 150 million records. Shape of You is the most streamed song on Spotify. Divide tour was the hig...
Coldplay
Over 100 million records. Yellow made them famous. Chris Martin is one of the most charismatic front...
Arctic Monkeys
Their debut was the fastest-selling debut album in UK history. Alex Turner evolved from teenage obse...
Amy Winehouse
Back to Black sold 20 million copies. Won 5 Grammys in one night. Rehab was her signature song. Over...
John Lennon
Imagine is the most covered song in history. Over 100 million solo records in addition to Beatles sa...
The Cure
Robert Smith is the only constant member. Over 30 million records. Disintegration is the shoegaze bl...
Joy Division
Ian Curtis died at 23, on the eve of the band's first American tour. They released two studio albums...
New Order
Formed from the ashes of Joy Division. Blue Monday is the best-selling 12-inch single ever. Over 15 ...
Dua Lipa
Over 40 million records. Levitating was the most played song of 2021. Future Nostalgia revived disco...
Def Leppard
Over 100 million records. Hysteria sold 25 million copies. Rick Allen continued drumming with one ar...
The Clash
The Only Band That Matters. Over 25 million records. London Calling is the greatest double album eve...
Eric Clapton
The only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Over 100 million records. Layla was ...
Sade
Sade Adu voice is instantly recognizable. Over 75 million records. Smooth Operator and No Ordinary L...
The Police
Sting, Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland. Roxanne was their breakthrough. Over 75 million records. Ever...
Cream
Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker. The first power trio. Over 35 million records. Sunshine of Y...
The Kinks
Ray and Dave Davies. You Really Got Me invented the rock power chord. Over 50 million records. Lola ...
The Yardbirds
Produced three of the greatest guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page.. For Your Love went ...
Radiohead detail
See Radiohead main entry....
Spice Girls
The biggest girl group since the Supremes. Over 100 million records. Wannabe debuted at number one i...
Elton John
Over 300 million records. Candle in the Wind 1997 is the best-selling physical single ever at 33 mil...
Paul McCartney
The most successful songwriter in history. Over 100 million solo records in addition to Beatles. Yes...
John Lennon detail
See John Lennon main entry....
George Harrison
The quiet Beatle. Over 20 million solo records. All Things Must Pass was the best solo Beatles album...
Ringo Starr
The luckiest man in rock history according to some. Over 10 million solo records. Yellow Submarine a...
Ozzy Osbourne
The Prince of Darkness. Over 50 million solo records after Black Sabbath. Blizzard of Ozz is a metal...
Def Leppard detail
See Def Leppard main entry....
Whitesnake
David Coverdale is the voice of glam metal. Over 30 million records. Here I Go Again is a power ball...
Florence and the Machine
Florence Welch voice is a force of nature. Over 10 million records. Dog Days Are Over was the breakt...
Aphex Twin
Richard D James is electronic musics greatest eccentric. Over 5 million records. Selected Ambient Wo...
Massive Attack
Invented trip-hop in Bristol.. Teardrop is the House theme. Unfinished Sympathy is one of the greate...
Portishead
Beth Gibbons voice is otherworldly. Over 10 million records. Sour Times defined trip-hop. Dummy won ...
Underworld
Born Slippy .NUXX from Trainspotting is iconic. Over 5 million records. Karl Hyde lyrics are stream ...
The Prodigy
Firestarter and Breathe brought electronic music to rock fans. Over 25 million records. Keith Flint ...
The Chemical Brothers
Block Rockin Beats defined big beat. Over 15 million records. Hey Boy Hey Girl is a festival anthem....