And for good reason. Though all of these bands have provided some tier-one songs, Zeppelin and Queen stand out as the top 2. As much as I love Led Zeppelin, Queen has to be the most consistent performer. Really, though, Led isn't far behind.

Guys, don't read the spoiler below if you are faint of heart.
Rock music didn't die at the end of the '70s.
I'll admit, enough nostalgia can really make a band, no matter how meh (Rolling Stones), mediocre (Queen), generally ok (The Who), or pretty good (Led Zeppelin), seem like the absolute pinnacle of what can be done with musical instruments.

But those four up there aren't close to the be-all, end-all of rock music. At most, I'd say they're best use is to draw new music listeners away from radio dreck and into the world of non-mainstream choices, but I'd hope they'd grow out of the "new music nowadays aint got that spark of mah oldies!" and realize that new, good, content is being made.

Hear hear. I can't stand people who decide that just cause it isn't being played on the local classic rock station it doesn't count as music and doesn't warrant a listen.

Still out of those bands, I'm gonna pull away from the Queen circle-jerk that is NPF and vote Led Zep. They're totally amazing.

I agree with that except for the fact that these bands (and others) are still gaining fans daily who say the same about them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the fans too young to have heard these bands growing up haven't been tinted by nostalgia but still recognize great music. Personally I think Led Zep is a bit overrated.

Also my friends dad suggested another one to me today: Creedence Clearwater Revival.

No, they're still being warped by nostalgia. With these bands, the overall perception is so entrenched in the population that before you even listen to the first song you walk in with a pre-established mindset. Whether it's your dad espousing the glories of the good old days, or reading a music publication where they bitch and moan over how bad today's music is in comparison with yesteryear's, or even seeing twenty people wearing a 'vintage' concert shirt, you go in there thinking that you're about to hear something fantastical.

I think I'm coming off as a bit offensive towards old music though. In general old music isn't bad, just horrifically overrated. Just because you were given FF8 when you were awaiting FF6 doesn't make it as bad as FF2, it just makes it FF8, but it does make it annoying when everyone around you insists you're holding FF6.

For best rock band, I'll go with my favorite, Broken Social Scene.

All 4 are overated, Scorpions FTW. Winds of Change may be the single most beautiful song ever written.

I'm just glad that there are people here who realize that some bands are better than Zeppelin. When my friend brought up the subject yesterday, he got mad that I disagreed with him, repeated the reasons he chose them about three times, and then threaten to punched me if I said another word about my choices.

I smell the sickening scent of social constructionism. Anyway the only band I picked that I feel that my opinion is derived from society rather than personal preference is Led Zep. The rest I got to really love on my own.

On modern rock bands, Wolfmother kicks serious arse.

The pinnacle of what can be done on musical instruments?
I think making trumpet sounds on guitar, piano sounds on drums, and drum sounds on the bass pretty much sums this up.
(All Queen by the way)

I just thought of two more bands that could be near the top of this list, The Eagles and Pink Floyd.