Are the Eagles America's best band?

[VAisForEagleLovers]

My list:

1. The Doors
2. Steely Dan
3. Eagles

It's very strange, I was a huge fan of The Doors back in the 70s and 80s. Now, I switch the station any time they come on. I have no idea why, except maybe I just played them too much when I was younger?

[NOLA]

Without a doubt, I believe the Eagles deserve the title. I know it's been said many times before, but they have provided the virtual soundtrack to millions of people's lives across the globe. Their music has the innate ability to cross genres and generations. There is something to be said of a legacy that has endured for over forty years.

[AlreadyGone95]

My list:

1. The Doors
2. Steely Dan
3. Eagles

Maybe it's because I'm a youngster, but I never hear Steely Dan talked about much. Radio stations only play 2 or 3 of their songs, compared to 10 or more of The Doors anf the Eagles. Noneof the friends that I talk with about music ever mention them. If it wasn't for my mom, I probably wouldn't know anything about them.

I'm not saying that they're not one of the greats. I just wanted to say that coming from the standpoint of a almost 20 year old, they wouldn't be. If you were to ask a random person around my age, I'm nearly positive that they hsve heard of the Eagles and the Doors. I don't know about Steely Dan.

[Funk 50]

I've heard from 60s music fans that The Doors were much more successful in 70s and beyond, after Morrison's death than they were when they actually existed. I think the same is true of Queen after Freddie's death.

The Doors legacy also got a lift by the 1991 movie starring Val Kilmer.
Steely Dan make enjoyable music but I don't think they're mainstream enough to be America's best band. The Beach Boys are too fickle and haphazard, the Eagles, since the 70s aren't prolific enough.

I fear America's top rock band may be a band I don't like.

[Fleurette767]

I'm still wracking my brain on this one you know...Perhaps in the U.S. we tend to have more influential solo artists than bands... If you think worldwide influence on rock, then it's Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis, Bob Dylan, etc. Those might be easier to come to a consensus over than U.S. bands?