The 100 Most Famous Bands of All Time

Ranked by Wikipedia link data — the closer to #1, the more famous.

The Beatles top the bill, with The Carpenters, Queen, The Doors and ABBA next in line — the groups whose names are etched into music history. Ranked by Wikipedia link data, the list spans rock, pop, metal and everything after. Read the hundred, then test how many you could name without the list.

▶ Play the Name 100 Bands challenge
  1. The BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960.
  2. The Carpenters
  3. Queen
  4. The Doors
  5. ABBAABBA were a Swedish pop music group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
  6. Lordi
  7. ParamoreParamore is an American rock band formed in Franklin, Tennessee, in 2004.
  8. MotörheadMotörhead were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by bassist and lead vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist Larry…
  9. The Rolling Stones
  10. MetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer…
  11. Pink Floyd
  12. BTSBTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010.
  13. Led Zeppelin
  14. Linkin Park
  15. U2U2 are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1976. The group comprises Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr..
  16. NirvanaNirvana, in the Indian religions, is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of…
  17. BlackpinkBlackpink is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment. The group is composed of four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa.
  18. Iron Maiden
  19. NightwishNightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist…
  20. Red Hot Chili Peppers
  21. AC/DCAC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock…
  22. ColdplayColdplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny…
  23. One Direction
  24. 30 Seconds to Mars
  25. Twice
  26. Guns N' Roses
  27. Rammstein
  28. Black SabbathBlack Sabbath were an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist…
  29. Green Day
  30. Duran Duran
  31. The Who
  32. RadioheadRadiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985.
  33. Deep Purple
  34. KissA kiss is the touching or pressing of one's lips against another person, animal, or object.
  35. Bon Jovi
  36. Aerosmith
  37. Muse
  38. Dire Straits
  39. Sex Pistols
  40. Judas Priest
  41. The Beach Boys
  42. MegadethMegadeth is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine.
  43. Scorpions
  44. Eagles
  45. Depeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980.
  46. Spice Girls
  47. OasisIn ecology, an oasis is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environment that sustains plant life and provides habitat for animals.
  48. System of a Down
  49. Pussy Riot
  50. Modern Talking
  51. The Clash
  52. Pearl Jam
  53. Maroon 5
  54. Måneskin
  55. The Prodigy
  56. Backstreet Boys
  57. Lacuna Coil
  58. The Velvet Underground
  59. Slipknot
  60. RamonesThe Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974.
  61. Black Eyed Peas
  62. EvanescenceEvanescence is an American rock band founded in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas.
  63. The Cure
  64. Nine Inch Nails
  65. Bee Gees
  66. The Cranberries
  67. KornKorn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, originally formed in 1993 by James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald…
  68. Slayer
  69. Blink-182Blink-182 is an American rock band formed in Poway, California, in 1992.
  70. Arctic Monkeys
  71. Joy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in Salford in 1976.
  72. Daft Punk
  73. My Chemical Romance
  74. Simon & Garfunkel
  75. AKB48
  76. Jonas Brothers
  77. R.E.M.
  78. Tokio Hotel
  79. Rage Against the Machine
  80. Girls' Generation
  81. Sum 41
  82. EXO
  83. Fleetwood MacFleetwood Mac were a British and American rock band formed in London in 1967.
  84. Momoiro Clover Z
  85. Kara
  86. Genesis
  87. t.A.T.u.
  88. Dream Theater
  89. Foo Fighters
  90. Nickelback
  91. Alice in Chains
  92. Soundgarden
  93. Limp Bizkit
  94. OneRepublicOneRepublic is an American pop rock band formed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA in 2002.
  95. Boney M.Boney M. are a reggae, funk and disco music group founded in 1974 in West Germany.
  96. Avenged Sevenfold
  97. The Police
  98. ClannadClannad were an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal, by siblings Ciarán, Pól, and Máire (Moya) Uí Bhraonáin…
  99. Wanna One
  100. The Pussycat Dolls

Think you can name all 100?

Name 100 Bands

The viral timed quiz: name 100 bands in 10 minutes — every answer verified, no signup.