Artists / Bands from United Kingdom (250)
Popular Rock Artists and Bands from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has one of the richest rock histories in the world. From classic rock and punk to alternative and progressive styles, UK bands have shaped global music trends for decades. Here’s a guide to some of the most popular rock artists and bands from the United Kingdom.
1. The Beatles
The Beatles, formed in Liverpool in 1960, are arguably the most influential rock band in history. They revolutionized rock music with innovative songwriting, recording techniques, and cultural impact.
Fun Fact: Their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) is considered a groundbreaking work in modern rock.
Did You Know? The Beatles hold the record for the most number-one hits on the UK charts, and their influence extends across virtually every rock genre.
2. Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin, formed in London in 1968, is known for pioneering hard rock and heavy metal. Their powerful riffs, epic compositions, and iconic performances have left an enduring legacy.
Trivia: Their song “Stairway to Heaven” is often cited as one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
Did You Know? Led Zeppelin’s album IV (1971) has sold over 37 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums in history.
3. Queen
Queen, formed in London in 1970, is a legendary rock band known for theatrical performances, operatic vocals, and iconic hits.
Fun Fact: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975) became a cultural phenomenon, blending rock, opera, and ballad in one epic track.
Did You Know? Freddie Mercury’s dynamic stage presence and vocal range made Queen’s concerts legendary worldwide.
4. The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones, formed in London in 1962, are one of the longest-running and most influential rock bands in history. Known for blues-rock and hard rock hits, they continue to tour internationally.
Trivia: Their album Sticky Fingers (1971) featured classics like “Brown Sugar” and is considered a rock milestone.
Did You Know? The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and remain active, over 60 years after forming.
5. Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys, formed in Sheffield in 2002, are a modern alternative/indie rock band known for sharp lyrics, catchy riffs, and international success.
Fun Fact: Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006) became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history at the time.
Did You Know? Arctic Monkeys helped define the 2000s British indie rock scene, influencing countless new bands.
The United Kingdom’s rock scene spans decades, from classic legends like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin to contemporary innovators like Arctic Monkeys. UK rock has profoundly influenced global music, making it a cornerstone of rock history.
10cc (11)
801 (Phil Manzanera/801) (1)
Adam and the Ants (3)
Alaska (4)
Anathema (11)
Andrew Lloyd Webber (21)
Angelic Upstarts (24)
Annie Lennox (7)
Archive (11)
Argent (12)
Asia (13)
Arctic Monkeys (6)
Armageddon (British Band) (1)
Atomic Rooster (7)
Babe Ruth (6)
Bad Company (12)
Badfinger (10)
Barclay James Harvest (23)
Beatles the (65)
Big Big Train (15)
Billy Idol (10)
Black (13)
Black Sabbath (27)
Black Widow (10)
Blackfield (5)
Blackmore's Night (13)
Blood Red Shoes (8)
Blur (9)
Bonnie Tyler (21)
Bram Stoker (4)
Brian May (3)
Bruce Dickinson (6)
Bury Tomorrow (7)
Buzzcocks (9)
Camel (14)
Caravan (14)
Cat Stevens (16)
Chris De Burgh (21)
Climax Blues Band (22)
Coldplay (9)
Colin Blunstone (12)
Colosseum (6)
Comus (3)
Cream (4)
Creeper (3)
Curved Air (7)
Cutting Crew (5)
David Bowie (29)
David Coverdale (5)
David Gilmour (4)
Deep Purple (92) (Top Albums Ranked by Sales)
Def Leppard (21)
Del Amitri (12) (Scotland)
Depeche Mode (16)
Diamond Head (14)
Dire Straits (10)
Duran Duran (15)
Elbow (9)
Electric Light Orchestra (15)
Elton John (34)
Elvis Costello (26)
Emerson Lake & Palmer (10)
Eric Burdon (18)
Eric Clapton (23)
Eurythmics (9)
Faces (4)
Fairport Convention (29)
Fleetwood Mac (17)
Florence and the Machine (5)
Foghat (22)
Freddie Mercury (9)
Genesis (15)
Gentle Giant (11)
Geordie (6)
George Harrison (11)
Girlschool (13)
Glenn Hughes (14)
Graham Nash (6)
Gryphon (7)
Hawkwind (33)
Head Machine (1)
Hellripper (3)
Herman's Hermits (7)
Hughes Turner Project (4)
Humble Pie (11)
Ian Gillan (22)
Iron Maiden (20)
James (16)
Jeff Beck (17)
Jerusalem (2)
Jethro Tull (22)
Jimmy Page (8)
Joe Cocker (22)
Joe Jackson (21)
John Cale (26)
John Lawton (3)
John Lennon (33)
John Miles (16)
John Parr (6)
John Wetton (6)
Jon Anderson (15)
Joy Division (6)
Judas Priest (18)
Juicy Lucy (12)
Justin Hayward (11)
Kasabian (6)
Kate Bush (10)
Keith Emerson (14)
Keith Richards (5)
Ken Hensley (19)
Ken Hensley & Live Fire (4)
King Crimson (13)
Led Zeppelin (20)
Liam Gallagher (3)
Lita Ford (9)
Manic Street Preachers (14)
Marianne Faithfull (18)
Marillion (19)
May Blitz (3)
Michael Schenker Group (11)
Mick Jagger (5)
Mick Ronson (6)
Mike Oldfield (26)
Mogwai (10)
Mostly Autumn (13)
Motorhead (22)
Mott the Hoople (9)
Muse (12)
Nazareth (24)
Nick Mason (1)
Noel Gallagher (3)
Nova Twins (2)
Oasis (7)
Ozric Tentacles (24)
Pallas (8)
Paul McCartney (38)
Paul Weller (16)
Pendragon (19)
Peter Frampton (21)
Peter Gabriel (13)
Phil Collins (8)
Pink Fairies (10)
Pink Floyd (24) (Top Albums Ranked by Sales)
Placebo (8)
Porcupine Tree (10)
Portishead (3)
Procol Harum (12)
Prodigy, the (9)
Pulp (7)
Quartz (5)
Queen (25)
Radiohead (9)
Rainbow (8)
Rare Bird (8)
Ray Davies (7)
Renaissance (13)
Richard Wright (2)
Rick Wakeman (93)
Ringo Starr (20)
Robert Plant (14)
Rod Stewart (32)
Roger Glover (6)
Roger Hodgson (3)
Roger Taylor (5)
Roger Waters (5)
Rolling Stones (37)
Roxy Music (8)
Roy Wood (5)
Sad Cafe (8)
Samson (2)
Saxon (24)
Sex Pistols (13)
Sharks (5)
Simple Minds (19) (Scotland)
Siouxsie and the Banshees (11)
Slash (9)
Snowy White (22)
Solstice (4)
Spooky Tooth (8)
Status Quo (35)
Stealer's Wheel (6)
Steamhammer (4)
Stereophonics (12)
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (6)
Steven Wilson (6)
Sting (15)
Strawbs (27)
Supertramp (21)
Sweet (11)
Syd Barrett (2)
Tears of Fears (7)
Ten Years After (23)
The Alan Parsons Project (15)
The Animals (11)
The Clash (6)
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (8)
The Cross (3)
The Cult (10)
The Cure (13)
The Damned (11)
The Dave Clark Five (14)
The Fixx (9)
The Gods (3)
The Groundhogs (17)
The Hensley / Lawton Band (2)
The Hollies (12)
The Horrors (5)
The Idle Race (3)
The Jam (8)
The Jesus and Mary Chain (7)
The Kinks (24)
The Moody Blues (17)
The Moody Marsden Band (4)
The Police (7)
The Pretenders (12)
The Pretty Things (13)
The Quireboys (12)
The Rubettes (10)
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (18)
The Sisters of Mercy (3)
The Slits (3)
The Snakes (4)
The Soft Machine (11)
The Stone Roses (2)
The Stranglers (17)
The Tangent (16)
The Tornados (4)
The Troggs (9)
The Verve (4)
The Waterboys (16)
The Who (10)
The Yardbirds (6)
Tindersticks (13)
Toe Fat (1)
Trapeze (14)
Travis (11)
Twelfth Night (8)
Tyrannosaurus Rex (13)
UB40 (20)
UFO (22)
Uriah Heep (26)
Van Der Graaf Generator (13)
Venom (15)
Weed (1)
Whitesnake (13)
Widomaker (2)
Wire (18)
Wishbone Ash (27)
Wolf Alice (3)
Yes (25)
