What is the best band in hard rock?

From thunderous blues-driven riffs to arena-filling anthems and glam-soaked swagger, hard rock has produced some of the most electrifying acts in music history. Whether you prefer raw power, melodic hooks, or showmanship that goes to eleven, the competition here is fierce. Where do you stand?

Led Zeppelin

English hard rock pioneers formed in 1968, whose thunderous blues-driven sound laid the blueprint for decades of heavy rock and metal.

1/19

AC/DC

Australian hard rock institution formed in 1973, delivering relentless riff-driven anthems on landmark albums like Back in Black and Highway to Hell.

2/19

Guns N' Roses

American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1985, whose debut Appetite for Destruction remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.

3/19

Van Halen

American hard rock band formed in Pasadena in 1972, revolutionizing guitar playing through Eddie Van Halen's two-handed tapping technique.

4/19

Aerosmith

Boston hard rock legends formed in 1970, combining blues rock swagger with massive hooks across a catalog spanning Rocks, Toys in the Attic, and Pump.

5/19

Deep Purple

English hard rock and heavy metal pioneers whose Machine Head album and Smoke on the Water riff are among the most recognized in rock history.

6/19

Bon Jovi

American hard rock band from New Jersey formed in 1983, achieving enormous commercial success with anthemic albums like Slippery When Wet.

7/19

Def Leppard

English hard rock band formed in Sheffield in 1977, known for their melodic hard rock sound and the massively successful albums Pyromania and Hysteria.

8/19

Mötley Crüe

American glam metal band from Los Angeles formed in 1981, known for their hard-partying image and arena rock anthems like Dr. Feelgood and Girls Girls Girls.

9/19

Whitesnake

English hard rock band formed by David Coverdale in 1978, achieving international fame with the self-titled 1987 album and hits like Here I Go Again.

10/19

Alice Cooper

American shock rock pioneer whose theatrical stage shows and hard rock anthems like School's Out and Welcome to My Nightmare defined an era.

11/19

Kiss

American hard rock band formed in New York in 1973, known for their flamboyant makeup, pyrotechnic live shows, and anthems like Rock and Roll All Nite.

12/19

Scorpions

German hard rock band formed in Hanover in 1965, celebrated for their melodic hard rock sound and anthems like Rock You Like a Hurricane and Wind of Change.

13/19

Heart

American hard rock band from Seattle formed in 1967, led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson and known for powerful rock anthems like Barracuda and Crazy on You.

14/19

Bad Company

British hard rock supergroup formed in 1973, delivering straight-ahead no-frills rock with Paul Rodgers' commanding vocals on classics like Can't Get Enough.

15/19

Tesla

American hard rock band from Sacramento formed in 1982, known for their blues-influenced sound and albums like Mechanical Resonance and The Great Radio Controversy.

16/19

Warrant

American glam metal band from Los Angeles formed in 1984, known for melodic hard rock anthems like Cherry Pie and Heaven.

17/19

Winger

American hard rock band formed in New York in 1987, blending melodic hard rock with progressive elements on albums like Winger and In the Heart of the Young.

18/19

Black Crowes

American hard rock band from Atlanta formed in 1984, reviving classic rock influences with a raw, soulful sound on debut album Shake Your Money Maker.

19/19