Planet Rock - Top 500 - Interesting listeners votes

[rwillett]

13 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Agree, one of my completely rational hatreds is Tenacious D

I agree, it's completely rational and perfectly justified hatred. I'd put it on the same level as Bennie Hills "Fastest Milkman in the West". Mind you that song might come in in the Top 100, so we need to be careful for what we wish for.

Rob

Edited yesterday at 10:38 by rwillett

[ezbass]

12 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

also one person, one vote?

I did look and I think it was 3.

 

9 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Agree, one of my completely rational hatreds is Tenacious D

I fail to understand the public’s fascination with novelty songs. That said, I really don’t like Jack Black either and how he gets any work at all amazes me.

 

15 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

is quite telling how absolute pants these lists are.

‘Twas ever thus.

[SteveXFR]

At the lower end, there's probably lots of songs tied on the same number of votes.

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, ezbass said:

Sabbath have made an early assault on Queen’s lead this morning, with Symptom of the Universe, although I see Queen hanging onto the ‘win’ at the end. That said, expect a late surge in LZ songs, Stairway & Kashmir will be near the top, with Whole Lotta Love along the way. I reckon the top ten will take a long time to play, as I reckon Stairway, Kashmir, Bo Rhap, Freebird, Comfortably Numb and Smoke on the Water will all be there, none of which are short. There will also be at least one AC/DC track in there, so who will join them? Maybe The Who will start to get some late love, with Won’t Get Fooled being another top 10 epic.

 

Whole Lotta Rosie hasn't appeared yet either, nor Highway to Hell. Number one will surely be between Stairway and Bo Rhap.

 

I was just looking for Sweet Child O' Mine, which hasn't appeared yet, then remembered Sweet Home Alabama - and then, thinking of American states, Hotel California. None of them in yet, so they're in the top 155. And then California led me to RHCP, and there's none of their songs in yet.

[rwillett]

My guess as to the top 10 is

1. Stairway to Heaven
2. Bohemian Rhapsody
3. Freebird
4. Hotel California
5. All Right Now
6. Highway to Hell
7. Comfortably Numb
8. Paranoid
9. Sweet Child of Mine
10. Smoke on the Water

 

No idea to be honest...

 

If there is anything from 2000 onwards, I'd be surprised.

 

I make no claims on the merits of the songs.

Rob 

[SteveXFR]

17 minutes ago, tauzero said:

And then California led me to RHCP, and there's none of their songs in yet.

 

Their only good stuff is their early stuff which is far too interesting to get in the list and everything post BSSM is just terrible. 

[tauzero]

37 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Their only good stuff is their early stuff which is far too interesting to get in the list and everything post BSSM is just terrible. 

 

As you've already demonstrated that your taste is rather different to the average Planet Rock listener, I'm sure that there will be at least three RHCP songs in the 500.

[SteveXFR]

3 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

As you've already demonstrated that your taste is rather different to the average Planet Rock listener, I'm sure that there will be at least three RHCP songs in the 500.

 

Fair point, they'll probably enjoy the bland stuff from Stadium Arcadium. There will probably be some post 2000 Pearl Jam as well. 

[tauzero]

Bat out of hell might get into the top 20. And maybe another Bowie track or two.

 

Given the worship for Prince on here, it's a bit surprising that he hasn't put in an appearance.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

On 06/01/2026 at 11:31, NancyJohnson said:

The major problem with these Top <insert number here> things is that they're so subjective.  

It can't be anything else but that - can it? Listeners voting for their favourite songs. The very definition of subjectivity.

I quite like it, even if some of my favourite bands aren't in there.

There's quite a few I've not heard before, so I'll be checking them out.

There's also quite a few I would never listen to again and I'm quite glad I've dodged them.

[rwillett]

Here's the latest

 

 

and broken down by Decade. The 1970's and 1980's still dominate.

 

 

Queen are still top with 17

 

 

Black Sabbath are now second with 14

 

R

 

with AC/DC and Led Zepp on 13

 

 

 

 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Very interesting @rwillett. Thanks for crunching the numbers.

I’m not surprised that the likes of Queen, Sabbath and Zeppelin are leading the way.

It would almost be wrong if they weren’t there.

I’m not knocking the content of the list because I do genuinely love most of what’s on it, but it can be summarised thus (IMHO)….

Clutch (at present) have only one song in there - Electric Worry. 

It’s the song everyone who doesn't really know them, knows them by. It’s OK, but the band are far far more than that.

I will be stunned if any other of their songs are in the remaining 70 or whatever we’re up to now.

It is what it is. Love the music, ignore the list.

[ezbass]

23 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Clutch (at present) have only one song in there - Electric Worry. 

The same can be said Volbeat and Five Finger Death Punch, but I’m happy that they’ve made an appearance, the former just recently.

 

Sabbath now up to 15. 

[redbandit599]

On 08/01/2026 at 09:13, rwillett said:

 

 

Not sure how Massive Wagons have a song in 2026, but thats the date Planet Rock have put down. Most of these are "newer" than 1970's and 1980's but I am no expert

 

Rob

Thanks for this, be great to see the post 2000 split of the full list when available. Purely selfish interests as it's a handy list to rip off for my covers band! 🙂

Edited 2 hours ago by redbandit599

[kodiakblair]

21 hours ago, rwillett said:

My guess as to the top 10 is

1. Stairway to Heaven
2. Bohemian Rhapsody
3. Free bird

My God, add Bat out of Hell, 2112 and it's a repeat of the Tommy Vance New Year show from 4 decades back 😁

 

Longer the track the more folk vote for it.

[rwillett]

THis is yesterdays split of decades

 

 

and here's todays

 

 

Every decade has seen a decrease in % apart from the 1970's and 1990's staying the same. So as we move closer to the top 70 or so, its the 1970's that are starting to dominate as evidenced by Black Sabbath starting to catch up with Queen.

 

32 minutes ago, redbandit599 said:

Purely selfish interests as it's a handy list to rip off for my covers band!

 

I never thought of that, that's a good use of the analysis. 

32 minutes ago, redbandit599 said:

Thanks for this, be great to see the post 2000 split of the full list when available.

 

This is it so far

 

 

And Massive Attack has been updated to 2016 rather than 2026  Personally I know very few of these bands so will look into them.

 

Rob

Edited 2 hours ago by rwillett

[SteveXFR]

24 minutes ago, ezbass said:

The same can be said Volbeat and Five Finger Death Punch, but I’m happy that they’ve made an appearance, the former just recently.

 

Sabbath now up to 15. 

 

Five finger death punch are metal for people who don't like metal. Just a bunch of scumbag riffs that go nowhere. 

[Lozz196]

Have Velvet Revolver, Airbourne, or Black Stone Cherry made an entrance yet?

[ezbass]

28 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

 

Five finger death punch are metal for people who don't like metal. Just a bunch of scumbag riffs that go nowhere. 

Oops! I’ve plainly touched a nerve there. I merely mentioned them as a newer rock band (metal or otherwise) who are post ‘60s/‘70s who made an appearance, against the poll’s general grain. FWIW I don’t mind them and wouldn’t try to pigeonhole them stylistically, their version of Bad Company or Black on Blue certainly isn’t metal in my book.

[ezbass]

1 minute ago, Lozz196 said:

Have Velvet Revolver, Airbourne, or Black Stone Cherry made an entrance yet?

Can’t remember, feel free to have a gander https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/planet-rock/news/rock-news/the-500-greatest-rock-songs-of-all-time

[SH73]

 I have been listening most of every day to help me get through....I'm hoping Iron Maiden will make too 20 at least. I missed few hours , has Hallowed be thy name been played  yet?

[cetera]

58 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

 

Five finger death punch are metal for people who don't like metal. Just a bunch of scumbag riffs that go nowhere. 

with an absolute tw@t of a guitarist.... (spoken from experience)

[Merton]

42 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Have Velvet Revolver, Airbourne, or Black Stone Cherry made an entrance yet?

Yes

[rwillett]

1 hour ago, Lozz196 said:

Have Velvet Revolver, Airbourne, or Black Stone Cherry made an entrance yet?

and as if by magic

 

[Maude]

Sleep Token should be in the top ten.