Best pop/rock band

[astroglide]

fugazi

[ohkanada]

Rush

[stigmata]

Sex Pistols & Muse both deserve a mention.

I know you said "No radiohead" but it's not a fair exemption IMO because they [censored] well rocked hard at times, especially pre-OKC.

[duckman]

U2 and its not even close

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

Alright, I'm coming into this way late and haven't read any of it, so the thread may be completely different now. That said, the clear answer to the OP is:

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

[mrkilla]

one more Duran Duran?

[samjjones]

Old School, not mentioned:
Bon Jovi
Foreigner
Bad Company

[El Diablo]

mk: Duran Duran, nice.

samj: I was just about to suggest BadCo. Shooting Star has been in my head all morning. Foreigner another good one.

All: I think many of you put too much stock in best and rock, not enough in pop. In recent years, I bet Nickelback and Creed are right at the top of the list for best-selling rock bands. However, any non-retard realizes they suck. So, what I had in mind was bands that consistently crank out popular accessible songs - yet don't suck.

[samjjones]

I was riding in my car the other day with my friend, and this idiot played "Human Clay", which he for some reason had downloaded to his iPod. I laughed at and mocked my friend mercilessly, and after listening to the entire album at full blast, told him what a gigantic gaylord he was. My friend sucks.

[lippy]

[ QUOTE ]
In 3 years:

Arctic Monkeys

Also, once they become mainstream in america.

[/ QUOTE ]

Arctic Monkeys is an awesome, awesome band.

Anyone who said Creed, Nickelback or U2 has lost any legitimacy in my mind.

My suggestion -> NERD
A lot more pop than rock, but there is a slight amount of rock involved in some of their music.

Also, has anyone mentioned Beck?