Compared to who??? I'm not a huge Beatles listener (most of their music simply doesn't move me that much), but I would never, ever call them mediocre. And Tupac - come on now. Tupac was a great personality in hip-hop but his music was not groundbreaking by any means.
They're the greatest pop band ever, but the Stones are the greatest rock band ever. Two of the three non-southern Caucasian branches (Dylan is the third) on the Rock n' Roll tree. "Yesterday," however, is the greatest pop song ever - but that was written, recorded and performed exclusively by McCartney.
But it all happened mid-'60s to early '70s, which means it probably influenced all the great stuff you're listening to now.
If you're including "classical" music then, no, not a single 2:30 per song commercial pop band is in the running for the top five. Mozart and Beethoven for the tie. Louis Armstrong and John Phillip Sousa to show. Frankie, Nat King Cole and Dino, five-six-seven. Kinda think Andrew Lloyd Weber and Stephen Sondheim should be in there as well. Then James Brown, because I think funk is just too unique rhythmically to be lumped in with rock, and I don't see how you get rap, disco or techno without it.
I voted yes because The Beatles were the greatest popular music group of all time by a number of measures and that includes popular music from centuries gone. But it amazes me that everyone's talking about Led Zeppelin, especially in terms of influence, and leaving out Bob Dylan. And it's hilarious that Nirvana's included here as much as I love them. Regardless of whether Nirvana copped anything off Pixies, Pixies were far more influential to the bands that came after than Nirvana. And Velvet Underground was way, way more influential than either. If we're talking influence, Dylan's tied (at least) with The Beatles. I'd put VU right behind those two groups for impact on popular music. Each of those three acts changed the weather. Led Zeppelin was also an important act in the history of rock and roll (in much the same was Hendrix was) but the leap they made from blues to their particular brand of rock was nowhere near as large as the ways in which these other three acts changed the way we think about music and art and entertainment. BTW for the poster who suggested earlier that Dylan was heavily influenced by The Beatles, I'd posit it was the other way around. They were both influenced by each other, but The Beatles changed their entire approach to songwriting after they heard Dylan. He was the difference between Beatles 62-66 and 67-70.
Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Velvet Underground, Black Sabbath, Buddy Holly, the Sex Pistols, The Byrds, The Kinks, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, REM, and James Brown were all influential in different ways, but the main thing they had in common was that they influenced genres and sub-genres of music, with the exception of Dylan and Holly (well, they did this, too). Buddy Holly was the 1st artist in the "rock and roll" genre to produce his own music, setting a standard followed by the Beatles and other self-contained groups. Bob Dylan was the most influential artist in R&R in terms of lyrics. Townshend, Lennon, Davies, Jagger, Morrison, Springsteen, Hendrix, and almost every other major songwriter cites Dylan as their primary influence lyrically. Velvet Underground were way, way ahead of their time in influencing punk and grunge. The roots of new wave can be traced directly to David Bowie. The Byrds are mentioned by numerous southern rock and country rock bands, particularly the CD Sweetheart of the Rodeo. Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath's influence is obvious on all the hard rock bands who followed in the 70s and 80s. REM was cited by numerous "alternative" bands as a huge influence. And on and on. There are countless others who have had a major impact on music. And for the record, the Beatles aren't my favorite band, although they are up there on the list. But as far as the "greatest band ever," I think if you exhausted all available criteria- popularity, influence, innovation, cultural impact, both musically and lyrically, they would be at the top of the list. Now "best" is another category. I personally think the best band in the world is The Who, but I can see why many would not think so (e.g. they play too sloppy, Townshend isn't the best guitarist, etc.). You could make a "best" band case for The Heartbreakers, Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Attractions, Cheap Trick, The Rolling Stones, CCR, Rush, Sly and the Family Stone (they get my vote), Prince and the Revolution, Van Halen, Screaming Blue Messiahs, Santana, and many, many others. I think Mozart, Beethoven, Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Michael Jackson, and others have to be considered as the greatest for various different reasons, whether they be as the godfathers of a musical genre or for global popularity.
You could add Bowie, Lennon and Harrison to that list as well. But he wasn't just influential lyrically. He paved the way for singers that didn't sing "pretty." Without him doing that, in addition to many of the singers you listed (Springsteen in particular) there's no Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Jim Croce and on and on. And he also brought folk (and, by extension, country) to rock and roll, which had previously relied primarily on the blues. He was also the first punk. He blazed so many different kinds of trails that its silly to consider anyone but The Beatles his equal in changing the face of rock and roll. But I do dig your Who love. They're my favorite rock band too, just edging out Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks and The Band. And I met Roger Daltrey once and chatted him up for about five minutes. Jealous?
Yes and no. Would have loved to have met the members of the Who. But I'm not really big into meeting big-time celebrities. I'm always afraid that they'll be less than what I thought they were and it will affect how I feel about their music. I've always met your smaller-scale artists like Midnight Oil, Georgia Satellites, Psychedelic Furs, The Smithereens, and Night Ranger. It's cool when you see how those bands genuinely appreciate your appreciation of their music. Matter of fact, my favorite moment was when I attended Sam Houston State University and the Georgia Satellites played at a local club up there. After the concert, one of my friends had a huge party, and I have no idea how this came about, but two of the Satellites, including the lead singer Dan Whatever His Last Name Is, showed up. Sitting on a couch singing along with him to "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" a capella is one of the highlights of my youth. That and playing pool with Vernon Maxwell at the Yucatan Liquor Stand. Life doesn't get any better than that.
BTW, absolutely right on all points with Dylan- singing, folk influence, the first "punk," etc. Don't always have to like the most influential artists, but their influence can't be ignored.
Yes, greatest of all-time. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SQ_G9ETE21U&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SQ_G9ETE21U&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ey-3g4MGfCI&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ey-3g4MGfCI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1r0uNJ5ldBQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1r0uNJ5ldBQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
Blake's answer is about the best way to answer this question. First, you need to limit them to rock. I don't care for the Beatles at all. I realize they were a great, influential musical act, but they have never interested me. I understand you are saying overall, regardless of personal likes or dislikes, of course though. Also, you need to qualify what makes the band the greatest of all time. Sells, influence on other bands, etc.
The OP said all time, so I guess you are taking this out of the realm of just pop music. If that's the case, the Beatles have been influencing music for 40 years, Mozart for over 200. Its not even a contest.
I mixed margarita's from midnight to 4 AM for Eric Burdon at my friends house while he sang Beatles songs with some guys from the War band he hadn't seen in years The Who is my all time favorite live show but you guys are forgetting some of the crappy songs they made during the Meaty Beaty years. Boris The Spider? Aside from McCartney's overly cute campiness, did they ever release a bad song?
Nearly all music created today has in some form or fashion been influenced by the Beatles. Granted, some of that is by their popularity, and them as entertainers, but much of it is a result of the impact of George Martin. This guy incorporated and pulled from so many genres, the Beatles were really his musical toy.... There's a reason why even today so many artists and musicians do covers of Beatles song's. They were not the most brilliant musicians, but in terms of influence, they are second to no other band.
musically. i dont find their songs that great. i just don't see what's so special about them, other than the fact that they were incredibly popular. very true, even if indirectly. that doesn't mean i'd listen to them though.
Awsome story!! On this thread, where the Beatles have a flaw in their legacy is live. They weren't around long enough to take advantage of the advances in PA's to really be anything but subpar live.
