hard rock artists

At a glance

441 published hard rock artists; 3,228 studio albums have verified cover art.

When they started

Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 1970s (111 artists).

Where they come from

Countries with the most hard rock artists. United States leads with 179.

• United States 179
• United Kingdom 116
• Canada 42
• Sweden 17
• Japan 11
• Australia 7
• Argentina 6
• Germany 6

Often paired with

Genres that share artists with hard rock. The most shared is rock music, with 93 artists in both.

• rock music 93
• heavy metal music 88
• blues rock 63
• progressive rock 51
• alternative rock 41
• alternative metal 40
• traditional heavy metal 40
• pop rock 36

Covers from hard rock

3,228 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.

Leaders

Queen has the most release groups (400); The Allman Brothers Band the longest career (74 years); Bryan Adams the most awards (46).

More hard rock artists

Showing 1–108 of 108 artists

Bryan Adams

Canada · Person · born 1959

rock music, pop music, hard rock, pop rock, adult contemporary music, soft rock, alternative rock, roots rock, heartland rock

31M listeners · 91 wikis · Tier 2

Kiss

United States · Group · 1973–present

hard rock, glam rock, heavy metal music, glam metal, shock rock

19.3M listeners · 86 wikis · Tier 1

Pearl Jam

United States · Group · 1990–present

hard rock, grunge

18.6M listeners · 76 wikis · Tier 1

Jimi Hendrix

United States · Person · born 1942

hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, acid rock, electric blues

6.7M listeners · 136 wikis · Tier 2

Journey

United States · Group · 1973–present

hard rock, progressive rock, arena rock

28.5M listeners · 44 wikis · Tier 1

Ozzy Osbourne

United Kingdom · Person · born 1948

hard rock, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music, glam metal, shock rock, doom metal

15.3M listeners · 106 wikis · Tier 2

Def Leppard

United Kingdom · Group · 1977–present

hard rock

10.8M listeners · 59 wikis · Tier 2

Van Halen

United States · Group · 1972–2020

hard rock, classic rock

12.6M listeners · 61 wikis · Tier 2

Foreigner

United States · Group · 1976–present

rock music, hard rock

20.8M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 1

Duran Duran

United Kingdom · Group · 1978–present

hard rock, pop rock, progressive rock, heavy metal music, alternative rock, art pop, synth-pop, electropop, new wave, electronic rock, New Romantic

16.4M listeners · 92 wikis · Tier 1

Creedence Clearwater Revival

United States · Group · 1968–1972

rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, country rock, roots rock, swamp rock

33.5M listeners · 62 wikis · Tier 2

System of a Down

United States · Group · 1994–present

hard rock, heavy metal music, alternative metal, nu metal

26.7M listeners · 79 wikis · Tier 1

Muse

United Kingdom · Group · 1994–present

rock music, hard rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, space rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, symphonic rock

21.9M listeners · 82 wikis · Tier 1

Nickelback

Canada · Group · 1995–present

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

29M listeners · 66 wikis · Tier 1

Evanescence

United States · Group · 1994–present

hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, industrial rock, gothic metal, symphonic metal

28.4M listeners · 73 wikis · Tier 1

The Who

United Kingdom · Group · 1964–present

rock music, hard rock, classic rock, rhythm and blues, progressive rock, art rock

8M listeners · 92 wikis · Tier 2

Lynyrd Skynyrd

United States · Group · 1964–present

hard rock, blues rock, Southern rock

20.1M listeners · 62 wikis · Tier 1

Scorpions

Germany · Group · 1965–present

hard rock, heavy metal music

20.7M listeners · 79 wikis · Tier 1

Neil Young

Canada · Person · born 1945

rock music, hard rock, folk rock, experimental rock, rockabilly, country music, blues, country rock, jazz, alternative rock, grunge, Southern rock

12.7M listeners · 80 wikis · Tier 1

Foo Fighters

United States · Group · 1995–present

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

23M listeners · 66 wikis · Tier 1

Marilyn Manson

United States · Person · born 1969

rock music, hard rock, glam rock, alternative metal, shock rock, industrial metal, industrial rock, gothic metal

7.7M listeners · 96 wikis · Tier 2

Group

Deep Purple

United Kingdom · Group · 1968–present

hard rock, psychedelic rock, classic rock, progressive rock, traditional heavy metal

7M listeners · 88 wikis · Tier 2

My Chemical Romance

United States · Group · 2001–2013

hard rock, alternative rock, Q3071, alternative metal, pop-punk, emo, gothic rock, post-hardcore

19.1M listeners · 70 wikis · Tier 2

Freddie Mercury

United Kingdom · Person · born 1946

hard rock, rock and roll, classic rock, disco, pop rock, glam rock, progressive rock, traditional heavy metal, classical crossover, neoclassicism

176 wikis · Tier 2

Billy Idol

United Kingdom · Person · born 1955

hard rock, dance-rock, Q3071, new wave

22.5M listeners · 54 wikis · Tier 1

Soundgarden

United States · Group · 1984–2017

hard rock, heavy metal music, alternative rock, alternative metal, grunge, stoner metal

12M listeners · 65 wikis · Tier 2

ZZ Top

United States · Group · 1969–present

rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, Southern rock, boogie rock

11.1M listeners · 57 wikis · Tier 2

Toto

United States · Group · 1977–2019

hard rock, pop rock, soft rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion, arena rock, yacht rock

26.9M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 2

Disturbed

United States · Group · 1994–present

hard rock, heavy metal music, alternative metal, nu metal

19.9M listeners · 54 wikis · Tier 1

Three Days Grace

Canada · Group · 1992–present

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

20.4M listeners · 52 wikis · Tier 1

The Animals

United Kingdom · Group · 1962–1969

hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues, British blues

13M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 2

Creed

United States · Group · 1994–2012

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

17.1M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 2

Boston

United States · Group · 1976–present

hard rock

10.7M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 2

3 Doors Down

United States · Group · 1996–present

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

17.8M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 1

Europe

Sweden · Group · 1978–present

hard rock, heavy metal music, glam metal, speed metal

7.9M listeners · 60 wikis · Tier 2

Rob Zombie

United States · Person · born 1965

rock music, hard rock, heavy metal music, alternative metal, nu metal, shock rock, industrial metal, noise rock, groove metal, horror punk

7.5M listeners · 50 wikis · Tier 2

Pat Benatar

United States · Person · born 1953

rock music, hard rock, pop rock

6.6M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 2

Skillet

United States · Group · 1996–present

hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, nu metal, Christian rock, post-grunge, industrial metal, symphonic metal

12.3M listeners · 42 wikis · Tier 1

Motörhead

United Kingdom · Group · 1975–2015

hard rock, heavy metal music, speed metal

139 wikis · Tier 2

Survivor

United States · Group · 1978–present

rock music, hard rock, pop rock, arena rock, album-oriented rock

15.2M listeners · 35 wikis · Tier 1

Kansas

United States · Group · 1970–present

hard rock, progressive rock, art rock, album-oriented rock

12.6M listeners · 38 wikis · Tier 1

Bullet for My Valentine

United Kingdom · Group · 1998–present

hard rock, heavy metal music, emo, post-hardcore, screamo, melodic metalcore

6M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 3

Whitesnake

United Kingdom · Group · 1978–2025

hard rock, blues rock

6.8M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 2

Lordi

Finland · Group · 1992–present

hard rock, heavy metal music, shock rock, pop metal

143 wikis · Tier 2

Ghost

Sweden · Group · 2006–present

hard rock, pop rock, progressive rock, heavy metal music, arena rock

9M listeners · 41 wikis · Tier 3

Seether

South Africa · Group · 1999–present

hard rock, alternative metal, post-grunge

10M listeners · 38 wikis · Tier 3

Rascal Flatts

United States · Group · 1999–present

rock music, hard rock, pop rock, country rock, country pop

11.3M listeners · 27 wikis · Tier 1

Drowning Pool

United States · Group · 1996–present

hard rock, nu metal

7.9M listeners · 32 wikis · Tier 3

Shinedown

United States · Group · 2001–present

hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, post-grunge

8.4M listeners · 30 wikis · Tier 3

Chevelle

United States · Group · 1995–present

hard rock, alternative metal, nu metal, post-grunge

8.8M listeners · 25 wikis · Tier 3

Omega

Hungary · Group · 1962–2021

rock music, hard rock, progressive rock, space rock

7.2M listeners · 29 wikis · Tier 3

Huey Lewis and the News

United States · Group · 1978–present

hard rock, doo-wop

8M listeners · 20 wikis · Tier 3

James Young

United States · Person · born 1949

hard rock

9.6M listeners · 13 wikis · Tier 3

Finger Eleven

Canada · Group · 1990–present

hard rock, funk, pop rock, dance-pop, alternative rock, funk rock, funk metal, alternative metal, nu metal, grunge, post-punk revival, post-grunge, dance-punk, acoustic music

6.2M listeners · 22 wikis · Tier 3

Meat Loaf

United States · Person · born 1947

rock music, hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal music

60 wikis · Tier 2

Janis Joplin

United States · Person · born 1943

hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, soul, country music, folk music, acid rock

100 wikis · Tier 2

Phoenix

Romania · Group · 1962–present

hard rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, art rock, heavy metal music, world music

6.2M listeners · 11 wikis · Tier 3

Brian May

United Kingdom · Person · born 1947

rock music, hard rock, pop rock, glam rock, progressive rock

90 wikis · Tier 2

James Hetfield

United States · Person · born 1963

rock music, hard rock, traditional heavy metal, thrash metal

90 wikis · Tier 2

Alice Cooper

United States · Person · born 1948

rock music, hard rock, classic rock, glam rock, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music, glam metal, shock rock, garage rock

83 wikis · Tier 2

Iggy Pop

United States · Person · born 1947

rock music, hard rock, glam rock, alternative rock, post-punk, Q3071, garage rock, proto-punk

73 wikis · Tier 2

Jack Black

United States · Person · born 1969

rock music, hard rock, pop rock, heavy metal music, comedy rock

82 wikis · Tier 2

Jared Leto

United States · Person · born 1971

hard rock, pop rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

89 wikis · Tier 2

Jimmy Page

United Kingdom · Person · born 1944

rock music, hard rock, blues rock, folk rock, blues, progressive rock

78 wikis · Tier 2

Robert Plant

United Kingdom · Person · born 1948

hard rock, blues rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, heavy metal music

74 wikis · Tier 2

Roger Taylor

United Kingdom · Person · born 1949

rock music, hard rock, pop rock, progressive rock, dance-rock

70 wikis · Tier 2

Nikolai Noskov

Russia · Person · born 1956

pop music, hard rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, traditional folk music, funk, rhythm and blues, glam rock, progressive rock, art rock, alternative rock, dance-rock, electro, synth-pop, new wave, funk rock, blue-eyed soul, glam metal, folk-pop, trip hop, symphonic rock, romance, bard song

78 wikis · Tier 2

Jefferson Airplane

United States · Group · 1965–1972

rock music, hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, acid rock, psychedelic folk, garage rock

60 wikis · Tier 2

Angus Young

Australia · Person · born 1955

hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock

69 wikis · Tier 2

Axl Rose

United States · Person · born 1962

rock music, hard rock, heavy metal music

66 wikis · Tier 2

Slash

United Kingdom · Person · born 1965

hard rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal, glam metal

66 wikis · Tier 2

Ronnie James Dio

United States · Person · born 1942

hard rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music

74 wikis · Tier 2

B'z

Japan · Group · 1988–present

rock music, hard rock, pop rock

26 wikis · Tier 3

Eddie Van Halen

Kingdom of the Netherlands · Person · born 1955

hard rock, traditional heavy metal

62 wikis · Tier 2

Rush

Canada · Group · 1968–2018

hard rock, progressive rock

52 wikis · Tier 2

Cream

United Kingdom · Group · 1966–1968

rock music, hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, heavy metal music, acid rock, jam band music

52 wikis · Tier 2

Chris Cornell

United States · Person · born 1964

rock music, hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, grunge

61 wikis · Tier 2

Lemmy

United Kingdom · Person · born 1945

rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music, space rock, speed metal

69 wikis · Tier 2

Jon Lord

United Kingdom · Person · born 1941

rock music, hard rock, progressive rock, concerto, symphonic music

59 wikis · Tier 2

Joan Jett

United States · Person · born 1958

rock music, hard rock, Q3071

58 wikis · Tier 3

John Bonham

United Kingdom · Person · born 1948

rock music, hard rock, blues rock, folk rock

57 wikis · Tier 2

Ritchie Blackmore

United Kingdom · Person · born 1945

rock music, hard rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music, new age music, Celtic music, medieval folk rock, neo-classical metal

56 wikis · Tier 3

Charlie Watts

United Kingdom · Person · born 1941

rock music, hard rock, blues rock, jazz, reggae

55 wikis · Tier 2

Ian Gillan

United Kingdom · Person · born 1945

rock music, hard rock, blues rock, progressive rock, traditional heavy metal

55 wikis · Tier 3

Uriah Heep

United Kingdom · Group · 1969–present

hard rock, progressive rock

62 wikis · Tier 2

Gary Moore

United Kingdom · Person · born 1952

rock music, hard rock, blues rock, blues, progressive rock, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music, jazz fusion

61 wikis · Tier 2

Goran Bregović

Bosnia and Herzegovina · Person · born 1950

hard rock, folk rock, folk music

59 wikis · Tier 3

Bon Scott

United Kingdom · Person · born 1946

rock music, hard rock, blues rock

50 wikis · Tier 2

Brian Johnson

United Kingdom · Person · born 1947

rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, Q3071

47 wikis · Tier 3

Malcolm Young

Australia · Person · born 1953

hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock

47 wikis · Tier 2

Jethro Tull

United Kingdom · Group · 1967–present

hard rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, electronic music, progressive rock, art rock, electronic rock

56 wikis · Tier 3

Ronnie Wood

United Kingdom · Person · born 1947

rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues, blues

46 wikis · Tier 3

Jason Newsted

United States · Person · born 1963

hard rock, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music, thrash metal, progressive metal

46 wikis · Tier 3

Geezer Butler

United Kingdom · Person · born 1949

hard rock, heavy metal music

45 wikis · Tier 3

The Allman Brothers Band

United States · Group · 1969–2014

hard rock, blues rock, classic rock, blues, Southern rock

45 wikis · Tier 2

Tom Morello

United States · Person · born 1964

hard rock, folk music, traditional heavy metal, electronic dance music, funk metal, alternative metal, nu metal, rap metal, hardcore punk, crossover

44 wikis · Tier 3

Thin Lizzy

Ireland · Group · 1969–1984

hard rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal

44 wikis · Tier 2

Keith Moon

United Kingdom · Person · born 1946

rock music, hard rock, art rock, power pop

43 wikis · Tier 2

Joe Perry

United States · Person · born 1950

hard rock, blues rock, blues, traditional heavy metal

43 wikis · Tier 3

Roger Glover

United Kingdom · Person · born 1945

hard rock, progressive rock

43 wikis · Tier 3

Duff McKagan

United States · Person · born 1964

hard rock

42 wikis · Tier 3

Ginger Baker

United Kingdom · Person · born 1939

hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, funk, jazz fusion

41 wikis · Tier 2

Eric Burdon

United Kingdom · Person · born 1941

rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues, blues, traditional heavy metal, jazz fusion, funk rock, Latin rock

41 wikis · Tier 3

Ian Paice

United Kingdom · Person · born 1948

hard rock, blues rock, progressive rock

41 wikis · Tier 3

Nicko McBrain

United Kingdom · Person · born 1952

hard rock, blues rock

41 wikis · Tier 2

David Lee Roth

United States · Person · born 1954

rock music, hard rock

40 wikis · Tier 3

Paul Stanley

United States · Person · born 1952

hard rock

40 wikis · Tier 3

John Entwistle

United Kingdom · Person · born 1944

rock music, hard rock, art rock, power pop

39 wikis · Tier 2