10 Bands That Helped Shape Blues Rock
Blues and blues rock have been one of the most influential genres in music history. Artists such as B.B King, Eric Clapton, and John Lee Hooker are some of the best musicians ever, and a few that brought the genre into the limelight.
There have also been numerous bands and billboard music award winners that revolutionized the genre and ensured its continued growth. Here are the ten bands that helped shape blues rock.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of the most famous names in music. Popular throughout the 60s, they had hit after hit, and are still played across the world to this day. Interestingly, they never had a No.1, with their biggest classics only ever reaching the No. 2 spot.
CCR is also ranked in the Top 100 Greatest Bands of All Time, with their album Green River being ranked as the 95th best Album of All Time.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Another popular group through the 70s and recently the 90s and 2000s, Lynyrd Skynyrd, was a giant in the music world until tragedy struck in 1977. Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gains, along with other passengers, died in a plane crash. The band would go on hiatus following the incident but returned in the late 1980s. Rolling Stone magazine has also ranked them as the 95th greatest band of all time.
Humble Pie
A lesser-known band but no less influential and successful is Humble Pie. Widely recognized as one of the first “super groups” in music, Peter Frampton was once their guitarist. While they didn’t have much chart success, lead singer Steve Marriot was famed for having a voice that could “melt walls.” They also seamlessly blurred the lines between Rock and Blues, creating a somewhat unique sound many hadn’t heard before.
Faces
Faces didn’t have a long life span and weren’t as famous as other English bands of the time, but with Rod Stewart as lead vocalist, success was inevitable. The band is widely recognized as changing how English Rock and Blues were viewed, paving the way for other English musicians in the genres.
Derek & The Dominos
Formed by Eric Clapton, the Dominos are unique in the sense that they only released one studio album, but that one album was enough. The soulful strumming of Clapton, mixed with his vocals and those of Bobby Whitlock, created a rock-infused Blues sound that is hard to beat.
ZZ Top
With their massive beards and alternative look, ZZ Top is the epitome of modern-day Blues. While they branched into rock, their Blues and Southern roots have stayed firmly in place. With multiple awards, and 6 No. 1 tracks on the mainstream charts, ZZ Top is easily one of the most successful Blues and Blues Rock bands of all time.
Double Trouble
The name Double Trouble may not ring a bell with every music fan, but their lead singer will. They were the backing band for the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan and had their roots in Blues, Rock, and Soul music. With Vaughan, they were an act admired by millions, including Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, ZZ Top, and many others.
Canned Heat
Canned Heat has been around since 1965 and has continued to change and revolutionize Blues and Blues Rock. They are famed for helping to push the origins of Blues, often giving credit to the original artists as opposed to themselves. They soared to fame after appearing at Woodstock and have remained a staple in the music industry ever since.
The Jeff Beck Group
Another group that called Rod Stewart one of their own. It was formed by Jeff Beck in 1967, and was a trailblazer in Blues and putting the genre into the mainstream. The band was only together for four years but had an impact that many bands could only wish for.
Steve Miller Blues Band
Another Blues and Southern Rock band still going strong is the Steve Miller Band. They had several songs that were hits in the 70s across multiple genres, from Rock to Blues and Psychedelic. While their current success is not at the same height as before, they cemented their name in music history a long time ago.
Neil Young with the Blue Notes😎
Savoy Brown, led by guitarist Kim Simmonds, is overlooked due to lack of top ten hit success. They have over 50 years of quality blues rock in the bag.
I was going to say, like VinnyH, Savoy Blues Band we’re out in front, Canned Heat, Ten Years After, and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.Even Climax Blues Band.
Cream
Remember that to have blues rock, you had to have electric blues: Numerous juke box groups; Also Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters both straddled the line once they got to Chicago and met the Chess brothers. (as did their back ups like Hubert Sumlin) If you do CCR, then do Janice Joplin , Hendrix. And John Mayhall’s Blues Breakers.
I saw Savoy Brown in ’78 & the REAL AC/DC was their opening act & they (Savoy Brown) were phenomenal!
Without Michael Bloomfield none of the others would’ve happened
What about Taste,what about Rory Gallagher and his band not even mentioned!and Free also with Paul kossoff?
Come on, The Allman Brother’s Band!!!
Hmmm. Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Allman Bros, Savoy Brown, Ten Years After, then you got the 3 Kings, Albert Collins…
Blue Cheer, Savoy Brown,
I have seen almost half of all of the band’s listed here most recently Jeff Beck and ZZ Top in Dallas at the starplex. Last time I was at the starplex was to see Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe cocker BB King, Dr
John, John Lee Hooker June 27 1990. They are all gone now. Also saw ZZ Top with Quicksilver Messenger service in 1971. I have seen Steve Miller, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, 10 years after, and have lived several places up and down the infamous Jacksboro highway over the years that John Mayall sings about. And it is all true. Ès
We can not ever forget the album Pearl with Janice Joplin….Cry baby was as soulful as it gets.
Savoy for sure, But Mountain Also with Fatsby, Peppalardi, and Lange.
What about AAB or Freddie King,etc.
Joe Bonamassa! 30+ years ago he was opening fort BB King, and he’s STILL the master!
Never forget Eric Burdon
Hello?? How is Zeppelin and The Doors not on a Blues Rock list????
Cmon, Yes I agree about Humble Pie, Ten Years After, Savoy Brown, Paul Kossoff. How could you not mention David Bowie, Roxy Music, Kinks, Lou Reed any Iggy Pop..
Hell yea!
How about a little band called LED ZEPPELIN?
Fleetwood Mac, at least in it’s original incarnation, the Peter Green era, should be considered. Several have mentioned Savoy Brown. I did see them with Long John Baldry AND Fleetwood Mac being the opening bands. Unfortunately post Peter Green. The Bare Trees album was their then current album.
The Yardbirds!
How in the world could they not include THE ROLLING STONES!?
The Yardbirds ABSOLUTELY sent blues rock into another dimension!
No one mentioned Johnny Winter? For shame!
There’s a lot of greats mentioned but, what about Zeppelin, Robert Cray, Steppenwolf, the Dead, Kingfish, Jerry(all he did and with several blues artists) and more.
Bad Co., Widespread Panic, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Healy(RIP)
Super Sessions, Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, Steven Stills
Looks like you left off the one band that starred the Blues Rock style, the Rolling Stones.
Journey