Top 40 Best 60s Rock Bands Of All Time

We list some of the best 60s rock bands of all time. At the time, Rock and Roll was topping the charts, which enjoyed much success in the 1950s. But soon, British bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and more, started to emerge. This sparked the British Invasion, when The Beatles landed in the La Guardia airport, on the 7th of February 1964. They became the first British band to be known in The United States. The music not only brought feel-good vibes to the country, it also started to make “black” music popular within the country due to similarities in music. So, African-American musicians who were not appreciated before started to get acknowledged like Jimi Hendrix. Rock music has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, a style that drew directly from the blues and rhythm and blues genres of African-American music and from country music. Rock music is usually recognized by its electric guitar, usually as part of a rock band with electric bass guitar, drums, and one or more vocal artists.

Top 40 Best 60s Rock Bands

1. The Beatles

The Beatles were a highly influential English rock ‘n’ roll band from Liverpool. They are the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful rock music band in music history. The innovative music and style of band members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr helped to define the 1960s, and they continue to be well regarded for their artistic achievements and their huge commercial success. They gained popularity in the United Kingdom after their first hit, “Love Me Do”, in late 1962. They acquired the nickname “the Fab Four” as Beatlemania grew in Britain over the following year, and by early 1964 they had become international stars, leading the “British Invasion” of the United States music market. The Beatles are the best-selling music act of all time, with estimated sales of 600 million units worldwide. In 2004 and 2011, the group topped Rolling Stone’s lists of the greatest artists in history.

Stream The Beatles songs

2. Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac is a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac was founded by guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer, before bassist John McVie joined the lineup. The band released a self-titled debut album in 1968. The album reached number four on the UK charts. They later released the singles ‘Black Magic Woman’ and ‘Need Your Love So Bad’. The band released their second album ‘Mr.Wonderful’ the following year. Following the release of their second album the band added the guitarist, Danny Kirwan to their line-up. Shortly after the band released their first number one single in the UK, ‘Albatross’. In 1998 the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Stream Fleetwood Mac songs

3. Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) was an American roots rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 70s with a string of successful songs from multiple albums released from 1968-70. The group consisted of singer, lead guitarist, and songwriter John Fogerty; rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty; bass player Stu Cook; and drummer Doug Clifford. Their musical style encompassed rock and roll and the so-called swamp-rock genre, of which they were a leading example. Hit singles such as “Suzie Q,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Up Around the Bend,” and “Proud Mary” established CCR as one of the top rock groups of the late 1960s. The band broke up in 1972.

Stream Creedence Clearwater Revival songs

4. The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band whose music propelled them to the heights of popularity during the “British Invasion” in the early 1960s. They went on to become the longest-lived major rock band in history, and one of the most successful. As the self-consciously dangerous alternative to the bouncy Merseybeat of the Beatles in the British Invasion, the Stones had pioneered the gritty, hard-driving blues-based rock & roll that came to define hard rock. The band has won three Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004.

Stream The Rolling Stones songs

5. Led Zeppelin

Initially called the New Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin was formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page, the final lead guitarist for the legendary British blues band the Yardbirds. Bassist and keyboard player Jones, like Page, was a veteran studio musician; vocalist Plant and drummer Bonham came from little-known provincial bands. Zeppelin ushered in the era of album rock — they refused to release singles off their albums, even when they were garnering massive radio play — and of arena rock, playing ever-larger stadiums as their ticket sales skyrocketed. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. The band is also considered “as influential” during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960s.

Stream Led Zeppelin songs

6. Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd started in 1965 with the members Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. Some of the members of the Pink Floyd band started out in previous other bands such as Sigma 6, The Meggadeaths, and The screaming Abdabs all formed in 1964. Gaining a following as a psychedelic band, they were distinguished for their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics and elaborate live shows, and became a leading band of the progressive rock genre. They are one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in popular music history. Pink Floyd were inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

Stream Pink Floyd songs

7. The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an iconic American rock band, frequently cited as one of the most influential and commercially successful groups in the history of popular music due to their intricate vocal harmonies, studio experiments, and novel approaches to pop songwriting. Rooted in doo-wop and rock and roll, their early string of vocal surf hits defined the ’60s California Sound. They have recorded dozens of Top 40 hits (including four US #1 singles), many best-selling albums, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Stream The Beach Boys songs

8. Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd is a Southern Rock band, formed in Jacksonville, Florida, USA in 1964. The band became prominent in the Southern United States in 1973, and rose to worldwide recognition before three members and one road crew member died in an airplane crash in 1977. The band reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny as the frontman. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Lynyrd Skynyrd No. 95 on their list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006.

Stream Lynyrd Skynyrd songs

9. Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath was an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. In the early 70s, they were the first to pair heavily distorted, sonically dissonant blues rock at slow speeds with lyrics about drugs, mental pain and abominations of war, thus giving birth to generations of metal bands that followed in their wake. Their name itself taken from a notorious horror film, they are often credited with creating the Heavy Metal genre as well as the doom metal subgenre. Black Sabbath officially disbanded in March 2017. They have also won two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance, and in 2019 the band were presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Stream Black Sabbath songs

10. Simon and Garfunkel

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are American musicians, songwriters, and singers known collectively as Simon & Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom and Jerry in 1957 in Queens, New York, and had their first taste of success with the minor hit “Hey Schoolgirl”. Simon & Garfunkel won 7 Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Stream Simon and Garfunkel songs

11. The Doors

The Doors was an American rock band which formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1965. The band consisted of Jim Morrison (vocals), Ray Manzarek (organ), Robby Krieger (guitar) and John Densmore (drums). The Doors were the first American band to accumulate eight consecutive gold LPs. In 1993, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Stream The Doors songs

12. Chicago

Chicago is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967. Chicago was one of the most successful bands of the rock era, racking up 21 Billboard Top Ten hits between 1970 and 1990. The original line-up of Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Stream Chicago songs

13. The Who

The Who were key figures of the British Invasion, the mid-60s mod movement, and 70s arena rock. They exploded conventional rock and R&B structures with Pete Townshend’s furious guitar chords, John Entwistle’s hyperactive basslines, and Keith Moon’s vigorous, seemingly chaotic drumming. They are cited as an influence by many hard rock, punk rock, power pop and mod bands, and their songs are still regularly played. The Who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Stream The Who songs

14. Genesis

Genesis formed in 1967 in Godalming, Surrey (United Kingdom) and was one of the most popular progressive rock bands in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. During the 1970s, Peter Gabriel was the lead singer until his departure, when drummer Phil Collins stepped up to the mic and replaced him. They have won numerous awards (including a Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video with “Land of Confusion”) and have inspired a number of tribute bands recreating Genesis shows from various stages of the band’s career. In 2010, Genesis were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Stream Genesis songs

15. Deep Purple

Deep Purple is an English hard rock band that formed in Hertfordshire in 1968. They’re regarded as pioneers of the popular music genre of heavy metal along such acts as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. The band (specifically Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Gillan, Glover, Coverdale, Evans, and Hughes) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Stream Deep Purple songs

16. Steve Miller Band

Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California, USA. The band features Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. In 2016, Steve Miller was inducted as a solo artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Stream Steve Miller Band songs

17. The Animals

The Animals were a British rock band of the 1960s, formed in Newcastle. They were part of the British Invasion, being one of the most popular bands of their era. The Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Stream The Animals songs

18. The Kinks

The Kinks is an English rock group that came out of the British R&B scene of the early 1960s. Formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies in 1964 and categorised in the United States as a “British Invasion” band, the Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock groups of the era. In 1990, the original four members of the Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the UK Music Hall of Fame in November 2005.

Stream The Kinks songs

19. Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf is a rock band which formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1967. The band originally consisted of John Kay (vocals, guitar), Michael Monarch (guitar), Rushton Moreve (bass), Goldie McJohn (keyboards) and Jerry Edmonton (drums). The band is best known for their hit singles “Born to be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride”.

Stream Steppenwolf songs

20. Buffalo Springfield

Buffalo Springfield was a folk rock band which formed in 1966 in Los Angeles, California, United States. After several drug-related arrests and line-up changes, the group disbanded in 1968. Buffalo Springfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Stream Buffalo Springfield songs

21. The Monkees

The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966. The original lineup was: Micky Dolenz (drums, vocals), Michael Nesmith (guitar, vocals), Davy Jones (percussion, vocals) and Peter Tork (bass, keyboards, vocals). The band sold more than 75 million records worldwide making them one of the biggest-selling groups of all time with international hits, including “Last Train to Clarksville”, “I’m a Believer”, “A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You”, and among many others.

Stream The Monkees songs

22. The Hollies

The Hollies are a well-respected British beat and pop band that formed in the early 60s. They are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash founded the band as a Merseybeat-type group in Manchester, although some of the band members came from towns further north in East Lancashire. The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Stream The Hollies songs

23. The Allman Brothers Band

The Allman Brothers Band was an American rock band formed in Macon, Georgia, United States, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman (slide guitar and lead guitar) and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards, songwriting), as well as Dickey Betts (lead guitar, vocals, songwriting), Berry Oakley (bass guitar), Butch Trucks (drums), and Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson (drums). Though they defined Southern rock in the ’70s, the Allman Brothers Band were far more than just a rock band hailing from the South. They melded elements of blues, jazz, R&B, country and rock into their own unique sound, as evidenced by the diversity of classic rock radio staples like ‘Ramblin’ Man,’ ‘Melissa,’ ‘Midnight Rider,’ “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed’ and ‘Whipping Post.’ Butch Trucks died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on January 24, 2017 in West Palm Beach, Florida at the age of 69. Gregg Allman died from complications arising from liver cancer on May 27, 2017 at his home in Georgia, also at 69. The band was awarded seven gold and four platinum albums, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Stream The Allman Brothers Band songs

24. The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was a pioneering experimental rock band from New York City first active from 1965 to 1973. Its best-known lineup consisted of vocalist/guitarist Lou Reed, bassist/violist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen Tucker. After Morrison’s death in 1995, the remaining three members played together for a single performance at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1996, the last time the band performed together musically.

Stream The Velvet Underground songs

25. Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane, a rock band based in San Francisco, California, was one of the pioneering bands of psychedelic rock. Formed in 1965, the group defined the San Francisco Sound and was the first from the Bay Area to achieve international commercial success. Jefferson Airplane was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Stream Jefferson Airplane songs

26. Yes

Yes is a British progressive rock band which formed in London, United Kingdom in 1968. They are best known for 1970’s “I’ve Seen All Good People”, the 1972 9-minute US Top 20 smash “Roundabout” and their 1983 No. 1 hit “Owner of a Lonely Heart”.

Stream Yes songs

27. Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it was pivotal in the development of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music. Led by Sly Stone, the Family Stone was comprised of men and women, and Blacks and whites, making the band the first fully integrated group in rock’s history. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Stream Sly and the Family Stone songs

28. The Moody Blues

The Moody Blues are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge, and bassist Clint Warwick. The band has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, which includes 18 platinum and gold LPs.

Stream The Moody Blues songs

29. The Guess Who

The Guess Who is a rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba that was one of the first Canadian groups to establish a major successful following both in their own country as well as abroad. After changing their name to The Guess Who, they found their greatest success in the late 60s and early 70s, under the leadership of singer/ keyboardist Burton Cummings and guitarist Randy Bachman, with hit songs including “American Woman”, “These Eyes”, “No Time” and many others.

Stream The Guess Who songs

30. The Byrds

The Byrds were a popular American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. They are considered one of the most important and influential bands of the 1960s. In 1991, the Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an occasion that saw the five original members performing together for the last time.