Anyone who knows me even remotely well knows I love college basketball. In fact, I’m on vacation this week, specifically to have time to watch all of the first-round games of the NCAA Tournament.
I also get to my alma mater, Bradley University in Peoria, six or seven times a year to watch my Braves. First 20-win season since 2008-09, baby! Go, Braves! #TheMovement.
Thanks for indulging me.
One of the few things I love more than college basketball is music. So, this being the week that March Madness tips off, what else would I do but combine the two?
The NCAA Tournament has 64 teams.
I know, I know; technically there are 68 teams. Four 11th-seeded teams and four 16th-seeded teams participate in play-in games in Dayton, the winners advancing to the field of 64. But I’m a traditionalist about a few things, and one of them is that the NCAA Tournament has a field of 64 teams.
As I was watching the overlong selection show on Sunday announcing the teams that were in the tournament, I had a thought. If I put together a field of my 64 favorite rock bands of all-time, what would they be? Where would they rank?
So, you know what I did? I started a list. And my selection committee of one put together a field of 64 rock bands and artists. There was no selection show on TV, but there’s this article. There wasn’t any criticism of my selections and placements, unless you count the occasional eye rolls I got from my wife from across the living room.
Now, I will open myself to criticism. Here is my field of 64 artists in my all-time rock music tournament. It’s completely subjective, of course. And I’m sure if I did this exercise again next year, the field would look at least slightly different.
A few things you should know about my musical tastes.
I’m a fan of alternative rock music, but I also love classic rock.
I’m a child of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. I’m certain that’s apparent from this field.
Most of the music I listen to today is fresh and modern. While I love classic rock bands, I don’t listen to them often anymore. (I’m very likely to share my field of 64 current favorite rock bands next week.)
Don’t @ me about my placement of The Beatles and Rolling Stones.
But feel free to let me know what you think.
Here, without further introduction, are my favorite 64 rock bands and artists of all-time:
No. 16 seeds:
64. Frank Turner
63. Maritime
62. INXS
61. Tokyo Police Club
No. 15 seeds:
60. The Killers
59. Duran Duran
58. The Joy Formidable
57. Red Hot Chili Peppers
No. 14 seeds:
56. The Strokes
55. Boston
54. Keane
53. Nirvana
No. 13 seeds
52. Alice Cooper
51. The Smashing Pumpkins
50. Blondie
49. Led Zeppelin
No. 12 seeds
48. Adam & The Ants
47. Motion City Soundtrack
46. Talking Heads
45. R.E.M.
No. 11 seeds
44. Radiohead
43. Devo
42. Oasis
41. Cake
No. 10 seeds
40. Vampire Weekend
39. David Bowie
38. Rolling Stones
37. Ben Folds Five
No. 9 seeds
36. Bob Marley & The Wailers
35. Pixies
34. The Cars
33. Fleetwood Mac
No. 8 seeds
32. Pink Floyd
31. Paul McCartney and Wings
30. Genesis
29. Journey
No. 7 seeds
28. New Order
27. The Clash
26. Sex Pistols
25. The Beatles
No. 6 seeds
24. AC/DC (with Bon Scott)
23. Bruce Springsteen
22. Styx
21. The Lemonheads (look them up, check them out)
No. 5 seeds
20. Aerosmith (before “Dude Looks Like A Lady”)
19. Prince
18. The New Pornographers
17. The Cure
No. 4 seeds
16. Coldplay
15. The National
14. The Who
13. Weezer
No. 3 seeds
12. Electric Light Orchestra
11. Biffy Clyro (Spoiler alert: My current favorite band)
10. Van Halen
9. Arcade Fire
No. 2 seeds
8. The Police
7. Kiss
6. Foo Fighters
5. Elton John
No. 1 seeds
4. U2
3. Tom Petty
2. Cheap Trick
1. Queen
There will never be another voice like Freddie Mercury’s. That is all.
