Chronology

Timeline of Rock History seventy-five years on the road

A chronological view of the Top 500, grouped by era and ordered by the year each band started making music. Read this as a sweep across rock's lifetime.

500 bands
7 eras
1955–2025 span

1950s – 1960s

Rock is born from blues, R&B, and rockabilly; the British Invasion, psychedelia, and the album era reshape popular music.

Creedence Clearwater Revival 1959–1972
The Beatles 1960–1970
The Beach Boys 1961–present
The Rolling Stones 1962–present
The Animals 1962–present
The Hollies 1962–present
The Kinks 1963–1996
The Yardbirds 1963–1968
MC5 1963–1972
The Who 1964–present
The Velvet Underground 1964–1973
The Byrds 1964–1973
The Easybeats 1964–1969
The Doors 1965–1973
The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1966–1970
Cream 1966–1968
Buffalo Springfield 1966–1968
Os Mutantes 1966–present

1970s

Hard rock, progressive epics, glam, the rise of heavy metal, and the punk explosion that resets the rules.

Lynyrd Skynyrd 1964–present
The Band 1964–1999
Pink Floyd 1965–2014
The Guess Who 1965–present
Slade 1966–1992
Soft Machine 1966–present
Fleetwood Mac 1967–present
Genesis 1967–present
Chicago 1967–present
Jethro Tull 1967–present
The Stooges 1967–2016
T. Rex 1967–1977
Gong 1967–present
Van der Graaf Generator 1967–present
Steppenwolf 1967–present
Led Zeppelin 1968–1980
Black Sabbath 1968–2017
Deep Purple 1968–present
Rush 1968–2018
Yes 1968–present
Free 1968–1973
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 1968–present
King Crimson 1968–present
Sweet 1968–1981
UFO 1968–present
Caravan 1968–present
ZZ Top 1969–present
The Allman Brothers Band 1969–2014
Thin Lizzy 1969–1984
Mott the Hoople 1969–1980
Wishbone Ash 1969–present
Uriah Heep 1969–present
Magma 1969–present
Renaissance 1969–present
April Wine 1969–present
Neil Young & Crazy Horse 1969–present
Queen 1970–present
Aerosmith 1970–2024
Emerson, Lake & Palmer 1970–2010
The Modern Lovers 1970–1988
Roxy Music 1970–1983
Gentle Giant 1970–1980
Eagles 1971–present
Steely Dan 1971–present
New York Dolls 1971–1977
Camel 1971–present
The Jam 1972–1982
Hatfield and the North 1972–1975
AC/DC 1973–present
Kiss 1973–present
Bad Company 1973–present
Journey 1973–present
Heart 1973–present
Cheap Trick 1973–present
Television 1973–1992
Skyhooks 1973–1980
Bachman-Turner Overdrive 1973–present
The Ramones 1974–1996
Patti Smith Group 1974–1979
Sex Pistols 1975–1978
Rainbow 1975–1997
The Clash 1976–1986
Joy Division 1976–1980
Boston 1976–present
Foreigner 1976–present
Buzzcocks 1976–present
The Damned 1976–present

1980s

Post-punk, new wave, hair metal, college rock, thrash metal, and the underground that becomes alternative.

Scorpions 1965–present
Judas Priest 1969–present
Van Halen 1972–2020
Midnight Oil 1972–present
Split Enz 1972–1984
Devo 1973–present
Ultravox 1973–2012
Cold Chisel 1973–present
The Saints 1973–present
Blondie 1974–present
The Stranglers 1974–present
Iron Maiden 1975–present
Talking Heads 1975–1991
Motörhead 1975–2015
Pere Ubu 1975–present
Triumph 1975–1988
The Boomtown Rats 1975–present
U2 1976–present
The Cure 1976–present
Def Leppard 1976–present
Siouxsie and the Banshees 1976–1996
Black Flag 1976–1986
Accept 1976–present
The Cars 1976–1988
Wire 1976–present
The Fall 1976–2018
Gang of Four 1976–present
Madness 1976–present
Saxon 1976–present
Diamond Head 1976–present
Téléphone 1976–1986
Toto 1977–present
Dire Straits 1977–1995
The Police 1977–1986
INXS 1977–2012
Bad Brains 1977–present
Stiff Little Fingers 1977–present
Magazine 1977–1981
The Specials 1977–present
Simple Minds 1977–present
The Go-Betweens 1977–2006
Whitesnake 1978–present
Duran Duran 1978–present
Echo & the Bunnymen 1978–present
Bauhaus 1978–2008
Dead Kennedys 1978–1986
Killing Joke 1978–present
The Pretenders 1978–present
Public Image Ltd 1978–present
Dexys Midnight Runners 1978–present
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 1978–present
The Birthday Party 1978–1983
The Triffids 1978–1989
Cocteau Twins 1979–1997
The Replacements 1979–1991
Hüsker Dü 1979–1988
Mission of Burma 1979–1983
Venom 1979–present
Los Prisioneros 1979–2006
Marillion 1979–present
Men at Work 1979–1986
Loverboy 1979–present
R.E.M. 1980–2011
Depeche Mode 1980–present
New Order 1980–present
The Sisters of Mercy 1980–present
Minor Threat 1980–1983
Hunters & Collectors 1980–1998
The Church 1980–present
Metallica 1981–present
Sonic Youth 1981–2011
Slayer 1981–2019
Anthrax 1981–present
Mötley Crüe 1981–present
Tears for Fears 1981–present
Big Country 1981–present
Sumo 1981–1987
Indochine 1981–present
Hoodoo Gurus 1981–present
Big Black 1981–1987
The Smiths 1982–1987
The Pogues 1982–present
Soda Stereo 1982–1997
Megadeth 1983–present
Bon Jovi 1983–present
The Jesus and Mary Chain 1983–present
The Waterboys 1983–present
The Cult 1983–present
Helloween 1984–present
Guns N' Roses 1985–present
Pixies 1986–present
The Mission 1986–present
Operation Ivy 1987–1989

1990s

Grunge, Britpop, indie crossover, nu metal, and post-rock — the most fragmented and commercially dominant decade for rock.

Pulp 1978–present
Bad Religion 1980–present
Noir Désir 1980–2010
Happy Mondays 1980–present
Pantera 1981–2003
Ministry 1981–present
Front 242 1981–present
Napalm Death 1981–present
Butthole Surfers 1981–present
Skinny Puppy 1982–present
Godflesh 1982–present
Queensrÿche 1982–present
Fates Warning 1982–present
Voivod 1982–present
They Might Be Giants 1982–present
Spacemen 3 1982–1991
Primal Scream 1982–present
X Japan 1982–present
Red Hot Chili Peppers 1983–present
My Bloody Valentine 1983–present
NOFX 1983–present
Bathory 1983–2004
Death 1983–2001
Morbid Angel 1983–present
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 1983–present
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones 1983–present
Melvins 1983–present
Guided by Voices 1983–present
The Flaming Lips 1983–present
The Stone Roses 1983–1996
Inspiral Carpets 1983–present
The La's 1983–1992
Soundgarden 1984–2017
Dinosaur Jr. 1984–present
The Offspring 1984–present
Stratovarius 1984–present
Blind Guardian 1984–present
Rage 1984–present
KMFDM 1984–present
Mayhem 1984–present
Obituary 1984–present
Sepultura 1984–present
Héroes del Silencio 1984–1996
The Tragically Hip 1984–2017
Annihilator 1984–present
Live 1984–present
Yo La Tengo 1984–present
Radiohead 1985–present
Neurosis 1985–present
White Zombie 1985–1998
Carcass 1985–present
Dream Theater 1985–present
Crowded House 1985–present
The Wedding Present 1985–present
L7 1985–present
Screaming Trees 1985–2000
Hothouse Flowers 1985–present
Green Day 1986–present
Fugazi 1986–present
Darkthrone 1986–present
Bolt Thrower 1986–2016
Maná 1986–present
Caifanes 1986–1995
No Doubt 1986–present
Hootie & the Blowfish 1986–present
Goo Goo Dolls 1986–present
Slint 1986–1991
Sebadoh 1986–present
Loop 1986–present
Manic Street Preachers 1986–present
Boredoms 1986–present
Nirvana 1987–1994
Alice in Chains 1987–present
Kyuss 1987–1995
Deicide 1987–present
Entombed 1987–2014
Mother Love Bone 1987–1990
Galaxie 500 1987–1991
Blur 1988–present
The Smashing Pumpkins 1988–present
Ride 1988–present
Nine Inch Nails 1988–present
Cannibal Corpse 1988–present
Dismember 1988–2011
Sublime 1988–1996
311 1988–present
Mudhoney 1988–present
Tad 1988–1999
The Charlatans 1988–present
The Boo Radleys 1988–1999
Slowdive 1989–present
Marilyn Manson 1989–present
Café Tacuba 1989–present
You Am I 1989–present
Suede 1989–present
Hole 1989–2002
Stone Temple Pilots 1989–present
Pavement 1989–present
Mazzy Star 1989–present
Therapy? 1989–present
The Cranberries 1989–present
Pearl Jam 1990–present
Tool 1990–present
Sleep 1990–present
At the Gates 1990–present
The Verve 1990–2009
Bikini Kill 1990–1997
Temple of the Dog 1990–1991
Oasis 1991–2009
Rage Against the Machine 1991–present
Rancid 1991–present
Burzum 1991–present
Emperor 1991–present
Immortal 1991–present
Cake 1991–present
Counting Crows 1991–present
Don Caballero 1991–present
Weezer 1992–present
Aterciopelados 1992–present
Silverchair 1992–2011
Elastica 1992–2001
Bush 1992–present
Built to Spill 1992–present
Catatonia 1992–2001
Sunny Day Real Estate 1992–present
Korn 1993–present
Supergrass 1993–present
Garbage 1993–present
Ben Folds Five 1993–present
Foo Fighters 1994–present
Skunk Anansie 1994–present
Mineral 1994–present
Mansun 1995–present

2000s

Garage-rock revival, post-hardcore, emo, indie sprawl, and the early streaming-era shifts.

Propagandhi 1986–present
Meshuggah 1987–present
Porcupine Tree 1987–present
Deftones 1988–present
Mago de Oz 1988–present
Opeth 1989–present
Dark Tranquillity 1989–present
Powderfinger 1989–2010
Mercury Rev 1989–present
The Pillows 1989–present
In Flames 1990–present
Stereolab 1990–present
Tortoise 1990–present
Spiritualized 1990–present
Travis 1990–present
The Frames 1990–present
AFI 1991–present
HIM 1991–2017
Enslaved 1991–present
Cradle of Filth 1991–present
Angra 1991–present
Babasónicos 1991–present
Reel Big Fish 1991–present
Blink-182 1992–present
Three Days Grace 1992–present
Our Lady Peace 1992–present
Modest Mouse 1992–present
Less Than Jake 1992–present
Shellac 1992–present
Stereophonics 1992–present
Ash 1992–present
At the Drive-In 1993–present
Jimmy Eat World 1993–present
Children of Bodom 1993–2019
Dimmu Borgir 1993–present
Los Planetas 1993–present
Billy Talent 1993–present
Spoon 1993–present
The Sea and Cake 1993–present
Super Furry Animals 1993–present
Muse 1994–present
System of a Down 1994–present
Sigur Rós 1994–present
Godspeed You! Black Emperor 1994–present
Lamb of God 1994–present
Rammstein 1994–present
Symphony X 1994–present
The Vines 1994–present
The Living End 1994–present
Strapping Young Lad 1994–2007
Wilco 1994–present
Sleater-Kinney 1994–present
Goldfinger 1994–present
Snow Patrol 1994–present
Placebo 1994–present
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead 1994–present
Slipknot 1995–present
Mogwai 1995–present
Coheed and Cambria 1995–present
Nickelback 1995–present
Matchbox Twenty 1995–present
Cursive 1995–present
The Get Up Kids 1995–present
Linkin Park 1996–present
Coldplay 1996–present
Queens of the Stone Age 1996–present
Sum 41 1996–present
Good Charlotte 1996–present
Nightwish 1996–present
Augie March 1996–present
The Shins 1996–present
of Montreal 1996–present
Gomez 1996–present
The White Stripes 1997–2011
Isis 1997–2010
New Found Glory 1997–present
Thursday 1997–2017
Underoath 1997–present
Soulfly 1997–present
The Libertines 1997–present
Death Cab for Cutie 1997–present
American Football 1997–present
The Strokes 1998–present
High on Fire 1998–present
Eagles of Death Metal 1998–present
My Morning Jacket 1998–present
Kings of Leon 1999–present
Explosions in the Sky 1999–present
Simple Plan 1999–present
Dashboard Confessional 1999–present
Taking Back Sunday 1999–present
Killswitch Engage 1999–present
Broken Social Scene 1999–present
Mastodon 2000–present
Brand New 2000–present
The Decemberists 2000–present
Yeah Yeah Yeahs 2000–present
The Killers 2001–present
Pelican 2001–present
The Black Keys 2001–present
The Mars Volta 2001–present
My Chemical Romance 2001–present
Fall Out Boy 2001–present
The Used 2001–present
Jet 2001–2012
Alexisonfire 2001–present
Audioslave 2001–2017
Arctic Monkeys 2002–present
Senses Fail 2002–present
Velvet Revolver 2002–2008
Saosin 2003–present
Wolfmother 2004–present
Panic! at the Disco 2004–present
Paramore 2004–present
Band of Horses 2004–present
The Raconteurs 2005–present

2010s

Post-rock, modern metal, indie folk, math rock, and a resurgence of guitar music alongside ascendant rock-adjacent genres.

Boris 1992–present
Phoenix 1995–present
Gojira 1996–present
Kaiser Chiefs 1996–present
Karnivool 1997–present
Kasabian 1997–2024
Cult of Luna 1998–present
Metric 1998–present
Gorillaz 1998–present
Bloc Party 1999–present
The National 1999–present
Mono 1999–present
Between the Buried and Me 2000–present
Stars 2000–present
Arcade Fire 2001–present
Death from Above 1979 2001–present
Theory of a Deadman 2001–present
The Cribs 2001–present
TV on the Radio 2001–present
Deerhunter 2001–present
Comeback Kid 2002–present
Protest the Hero 2002–present
Franz Ferdinand 2002–present
Razorlight 2002–present
Editors 2002–present
The 1975 2002–present
LCD Soundsystem 2002–present
Battles 2002–present
A Day to Remember 2003–present
Tesseract 2003–present
Babyshambles 2003–present
Animal Collective 2003–present
The Hold Steady 2003–present
This Will Destroy You 2004–present
Russian Circles 2004–present
Black Mountain 2004–present
Bring Me the Horizon 2004–present
Cancer Bats 2004–present
The Kooks 2004–present
The Maccabees 2004–2017
Beach House 2004–present
Periphery 2005–present
Foals 2005–present
The Horrors 2005–present
The xx 2005–present
Bombay Bicycle Club 2005–present
The War on Drugs 2005–present
Vampire Weekend 2006–present
Fleet Foxes 2006–present
Bon Iver 2006–present
Animals as Leaders 2007–present
Tame Impala 2007–present
Mumford & Sons 2007–present
Florence + the Machine 2007–present
alt-J 2007–present
Sleaford Mods 2007–present
Two Door Cinema Club 2007–present
The Dead Weather 2008–present
Real Estate 2008–present
IDLES 2009–present
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard 2010–present
Wolf Alice 2010–present
Glass Animals 2010–present
Gang of Youths 2011–present
Fat White Family 2011–present
DIIV 2011–present

2020s

Contemporary heavy music, post-genre indie, and the continued reinvention of rock idioms in a streaming-first world.

Fontaines D.C. 2014–present
Shame 2014–present
Hyukoh 2014–present
Black Midi 2017–present
Squid 2017–present
Dry Cleaning 2017–present
Black Country, New Road 2018–present