Top Ten American Bands

So I thought I'd put together a list of what I perceive to be the top ten AMERICAN bands of all time. A lot of things played into the list - these aren't my favorite bands - not by a long shot - but they are the bands I think are the most influential and/ or have been the most successful over the years. Again, these are bands, not individual artists.

Here it is - MY countdown of the Top Ten American Bands...

10) Red Hot Chili Peppers

• The Chili Peppers have been around for quite a while now, and still make hits. They edged out several very worthy bands to make the list, primarily because they get sooooo much air play. Can you really go more than a couple of days without hearing one of their songs on a rock station? Go ahead, take the challenge!

9) The Eagles

• Besides Hotel California, I don't even like any songs by The Eagles, BUT the Eagles have sold more albums than any other American Band, and that's why they make my list. I'm not sure why or how that happened, but it is still a fact.

8) Dave Matthews Band

• The DMB came out during the peak of the Alternative Music craze, and managed to become popular with their own unique sound. Their popularity still sells out venues.

7) Aerosmith

• Longevity and countless hits! From the 70's through the 90s, Aerosmith has been a force. And of course, they introduced white America to rap music with "Walk This Way," which was an important development in American Music.

6) R.E.M.

• Though not quite as relevant as they once were, R.E.M. is still together, still touring and still making albums. They were making alternative rock music, before that was even a recognized genre. Groundbreaking and consistent hits throughout the 80s and 90s earn them a spot in my countdown.

5) Van Halen

• Three decades of music, and two lead singers, both of which were very successful for the band. I am personally a Van Haggar fan, but I know those who love Diamond Dave are very loyal. But regardless of your top choice, there are few people who can't appreciate what Van Halen has been able to accomplish over the years.

4) The Beach Boys

• Though the Beach Boys don't seem to fit with the rest of the bands on this list, I do find them to be very influential and let's face it, no one has ever been able to duplicate their sound. When you hear a Beach Boys song on the radio, you know who it is without having to strain your brain to figure it out. Their hits - and there are many of them - are classics.

3) The Grateful Dead

• The Dead Heads are who put the Dead so high on the list.... Legions of fans who would follow the band anywhere, even after the death of the lead singer, put the Dead into the top three.

2) Nirvana

• I don't even like Nirvana's music. While I far prefer the music of Pearl Jam and other bands of the Seattle Sound, it is Nirvana that is widely recognized as being the leader of the Grunge movement, and thank God for it. In a time when pop music was really pitiful, grunge was a welcome change.

1) Metallica

• Most every classic rock or general rock station has a time for "Mandatory Metallica." I think that says it all... any band that has that kind of national impact like that, deserves special attention. And needless to say - the band is damned talented.