1970s
35 artists
Queen
Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon. Bohemian Rhapsody was 6 minutes long, defying...
AC/DC
Angus and Malcolm Young founded the band. Bon Scott died in 1980 and was replaced by Brian Johnson. ...
U2
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. The Joshua Tree made them the biggest band in the wor...
Madonna
The Queen of Pop. Over 300 million records sold. Like a Virgin at the first MTV VMAs was scandalous....
Prince
Over 150 million records sold. Purple Rain sold 25 million copies. Changed his name to an unpronounc...
ABBA
Over 400 million records sold. Won Eurovision in 1974 with Waterloo. The Mamma Mia musical and films...
Kraftwerk
The fathers of electronic music. Influenced every synth-pop, hip-hop, and techno artist. The Robots ...
The Ramones
Invented punk rock in New York. All members adopted the surname Ramone. Over 100 million records. Bl...
Sex Pistols
Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Steve Jones, Paul Cook. Never Mind the Bollocks is the defining punk alb...
Iron Maiden
Bruce Dickinson is also an airline pilot and cancer survivor. Eddie the Head mascot appears on every...
Aerosmith
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were called the Toxic Twins. Over 150 million records. Walk This Way with...
Eagles
Their Greatest Hits is the best-selling album of the 20th century in America. Hotel California is th...
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...
Talking Heads
David Byrne is one of rocks great eccentrics. Stop Making Sense is the greatest concert film ever ma...
Aerosmith detail
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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...
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Revived blues in the 1980s when it was considered dead. Over 15 million records. Texas Flood was his...
Bjork
The most fearless artist in music.. Debuted as a child singer in Iceland. The Sugarcubes launched he...
Kraftwerk detail
See Kraftwerk main entry....
The Police
Sting, Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland. Roxanne was their breakthrough. Over 75 million records. Ever...
Beastie Boys
Started as a hardcore punk band. Licensed to Ill was the first rap album to hit number one. Over 50 ...
Toto
Session musicians who formed a band. Over 40 million records. Africa became a meme and returned to c...
Steely Dan
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. Over 40 million records. Aja is considered a sonic masterpiece. The ...
AC/DC detail
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Def Leppard detail
See Def Leppard main entry....
Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen revolutionized guitar with two-hand tapping. Over 80 million records. Jump was their...
Journey
Dont Stop Believin is the most downloaded song of the 20th century. Over 80 million records. Steve P...
Foreigner
Over 80 million records. I Want to Know What Love Is is one of the greatest power ballads. Cold as I...
Boston
Tom Scholz spent 6 years recording the debut album in his basement. Over 30 million records. More Th...
Kansas
Carry on Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind are classic rock staples. Over 15 million records. The vio...
Whitesnake
David Coverdale is the voice of glam metal. Over 30 million records. Here I Go Again is a power ball...
Tom Petty
Over 80 million records. Free Fallin and American Girl are American standards. The Heartbreakers wer...
Kraftwerk detail 2
See Kraftwerk main entry....