Why did America never produce a truly legendary rock band?

Even today, Springsteen could sell out a stadium pretty much anywhere he felt like playing.

INXS....hahhaha..hhah.hha......heh..heh 3/10 for the laugh

Aerosmith, Skynyrd, Nirvana.

US doin fine.

Next time you're in Europe, pay attention to the music that people are listening to. About half of what is playing over there is American. When I was in Italy a few years ago, My Chemical Romance and the Red Hot Chili Peppers got more air time than any European band. There aren't a lot of things that the U.S. exports, but entertainment is still a major export for us. Our music and movies are consumed in mass quantities all over the world.

Eagles, Dead, Doors, Allman Bros.,...

...and Journey!

guns n' roses probably the best band ever

Beach Boys

Nirvana is legendary, despite the backlash they've received in the years following Cobain's death.

I would even go so far to say that Nirvana's drummer, Dave Grohl,is the frontman of a band better than Nirvana itself, in Foo Fighters. If it weren't for the fact that the American public has become mentally handicapped when it comes to their musical tastes over the past 15 years, Grohl and Foo Fighters would be considered a truly legendary band, as well. With that said, given their recent album's critical and somewhat commercial success, I would not be shocked if they pulled off an "Album of the Year" Grammy in 2012 (although, Adele will be difficult to beat in that category), which might create a small change in the musical tide, albeit not to the extent of the "grunge" movement of the 90s. I'm not saying a Grammy is that significant...but it gets a band exposure and a larger following, which is essential if a band is going to be considered "legendary".

Bhuyt wrote:

Eagles, Dead, Doors, Allman Bros.,...

...and Journey!

In a world where journey is considered a legendary band, I will slit my wrists vertically

OP is obviously a troll, but I will concur with Aerosmith, Skynyrd, Doors and I will definitely add Creedence Clearwater Revival

solid others are Tom Petty, Bob Seger, KISS, ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, The Cars, Van Halen

and how about them Canadians (America Jr) like Neil Young and Rush?

The Ramones are legendary.

The Band!!!!!!!! (kinda canadian too but w/e)

Steely Dan, guys.

Rush mo fos

Dual Action Pump wrote:

The Band!!!!!!!! (kinda canadian too but w/e)

Luckily that's still "America"

Pearl Jam.

Watch and learn, foo:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7GhmTHGH40http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr-I5xX_BFk&feature=related

fffffffffffffffttttt! wrote:

INXS....hahhaha..hhah.hha......heh..heh 3/10 for the laugh

Let me put it in terms you little nicklebackers can comprehend (hopefully):

1) Global in popularity and influence

2)Persistence over time in influence, quality and originality

3) Representative of an artistic zeitgeist (oops, sorry...lost you there)

Nirvana comes close but fails on 1)

All other U.S. bands mentioned are but tidepools (and a few cesspools) adjacent to the wider ocean of rock magnificence.

Individual artists are a different matter, but that is for another thread. For some reason, Americans had a great deal of trouble in properly balancing the individual talents and personalities to produce the power of (typically) four-piece powerhouses such as Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr, Daltry/Entwistle/Townshend/Moon or Bonham/Jones/Plant/Page.

Listen and learn, foo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7GhmTHGH40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr-I5xX_BFk&feature=related

If 100,000 people showed up to watch a fat man walk a lap, would that make him a legendary runner?

just sayin'