If you’ve been following this space since Day One, you’re undoubtedly familiar with what some of my favorite bands/artists are, but I figured the time had come to go on the record once again. I wanted to force myself to whittle the list down to 10 bands that I consider to be my absolutes at this point in time and hopefully inspire all of you to do the same.
A few of these have been etched in stone (i.e. my birth certificate) since I was a kid while others have come on strong in the past few years, so the windows into who I was then and who I am now have never been more ajar.
Before I proceed, let’s consider what makes a particular band one’s favorite. Is it how much they’ve listened to them in their lifetime? Is it how many times they’ve experienced them in a live setting? Is it how much physical media from them they’ve invested their hard-earned time and money into acquiring?
Perhaps it’s a combination of all three, because I think they’re all part of what it means to be a fan.
With that, here are the 10 bands I consider to be my favorites at this point in my journey:
Black Sabbath (All Eras)
I only ever saw them with Dio at the helm, but it was magical and one of the most impactful musical experiences of my life.
Pink Floyd
No amount of infantile posturing between its surviving members can shake my affection for the catalog.
Led Zeppelin
The collective power of Page, Plant, Jones, and Bonham guided my middle school years more than any of my teachers ever did.
Rush
Another monumental band for me and the loss of Neil Peart still hurts.
The Tragically Hip
It feels like there are as many people that despise this band that adore them and I understand both sides, but, for me, Gord Downie epitomized everything I wanted to be as a person.
Thin Lizzy
Americans don’t respect Lizzy to the degree that they should, but you should do yourself a favor and dive into what made Phil Lynott such a masterful wordsmith.
Genesis
Their run from “Trespass” to “Wind and Wuthering” is as inspired as anything you’ll ever hear.
King Crimson
There’s nothing quite like Crimson and how they continuously challenge the listener on a cerebral level.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
He’s tested my fandom in recent years, but the brilliance of those first eight albums can’t be denied.
Jethro Tull
While his voice isn’t what it once was, the fact that Ian Anderson is still churning out quality material at this stage of his career is a testament to his greatness.
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