Before I begin let me lay down my ground rules for this list:
1. This is my list, therefore it’s highly subjective. So, you won’t see The Beatles on this list. They have the number 1 spot on my “most overrated bands ever” list.
2. Longevity matters. As much as I might like Keane and The Killers, they don’t qualify. Nor does Guns & Roses. These bands endured.
3. This is ROCK bands. So you won’t see The Eagles on this list. Don’t tell me they rock. They don’t. A little bit of guitar in “Already Gone” doesn’t change that fact.
4. Feel free to agree or disagree with me in the comments. Give me your own list.

Here they are:

10. Queen–There was only one Freddy Mercury. His tenor provided a distinct sound that is unparalled in rock history. Skip over the kitschiness of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and try on “Tie Your Mother Down” or “Under Pressure.”

9. Pink Floyd–Transcendently psychedelic, these rockers have a library of cuts that defy musical genres. Scathing social commentary (“Money”), mournful dirges (“Wish You Were Here”) and trippy lyrics (“The Wall”) combined to provide one of the most influential acts in rock history. Say what you want but the experimentation of music would not be as advanced if not for these pioneers. Check out the social justice epic “On the Turning Away.”

8. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band–Bruce, the solo artist, has never come close to the musical tour de force that comes when he has collaborated with his long-time mates. Our need to isolate the frontman as the heart and soul of a band does a great disservice to the virtuosity of Clarence Clemons, Little Steven, Roy Bittan, Max Weinberg and others. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” is one of the greatest albums ever put on vinyl.

7. The Pretenders–This band deserves special merit for laying to rest the myth that a woman cannot front a rock band. It is sexism in the highest order to just single out the Pretenders as a female-led quartet. They stand as giants in the annals of rock because they are great band. Chrissie Hynde is one of rock’s most dynamic voices. Check out “Stop Your Sobbing” or “Hymn to Her.”

6. Metallica–More than anyone else, this group brought Heavy Metal to the mainstream. I’m somewhat critical of some later career moves they have made but the material they released through “The Black Album” is pure thrash at it’s finest. Check out “Ride the Lightning” especially the beautiful brilliance of “Fade to Black.”

5. Led Zepplin–I’m as tired of “Stairway to Heaven” as the next guy. But I defy you to find a better first six albums, up through Physical Graffiti, than their initial run. With Bonzo on the drums, a mean bass player in John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page’s landmark guitar licks and Robert Plants distinctive range this band was one of the first true supergroups. Check out “Houses of the Holy.”

4. The Who–Sure, they won’t stay retired. But that’s not a bad thing. No band has as many pure rock and roll anthems as do The Who. Daltrey and Townsend weathered the loss of a seminal drummer in Keith Moon and still kept churning out the rawk. I challenge you to find greater arena rock than “Baba O’Riley,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again” or “Who Are You.”

3. Ramones–Greatest.Punk.Band.Ever. If a song lasts three minutes then there’s too much filler. The Ramones were my favorite band between the ages of 18–25. The tragic part is that 75 percent of them died shortly after they broke up. There will never be another band that was so easily able to produce such readily likeable punk classics.

2. The Rolling Stones–They are, without a doubt, the grandfathers of rock and roll. Still going strong after 40+ years they are continually churning out quality music. During their heyday from the mid-60s to mid-80s they released more timeless tunes than anyone else. 44 years later Exile on Main Street is still fresh.

1. U2–They rose to prominence as I was coming of age. I’ve grown up with them and still find hope, meaning and redemption in all of their music ranging from Boy to Atomic Bomb. They have done more than release music, they have changed minds, influenced followers, revolutionized the world and shaken the ideas of what a band can do. Bono is the greatest frontman of all time of the greatest band of all time. But they are more than a band, right?

Thoughts?