Black Sabbath
Original four-piece Black Sabbath Members
Free
Free, formed in 1968, became one of the leading British four-piece rock bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s. With their powerful blues-rock sound, they achieved massive success with hits like "All Right Now" and albums such as "Fire and Water”. Despite internal tensions and struggles, particularly surrounding guitarist Paul Kossoff, Free's influence on rock music remains significant. Their short but impactful career produced some of the most memorable rock anthems. They were one of my favorite bands and lead guitarist Paul Kossoff influenced me imeasurably. He taught me everything I needed to know about vibrato!
The Kinks
The Kinks, formed in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in London, are one of the most influential four-piece rock bands of the British Invasion era. Known for their distinctive sound, combining rock with elements of British music hall, their clever, often satirical lyrics, and their pioneering role in the development of hard rock and punk rock, The Kinks have left an indelible mark on popular music.
Coldplay
Coldplay is a British four-piece rock band formed in London in 1996. The band comprises Chris Martin (lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass guitar), and Will Champion (drums, backing vocals). Known for their melodic sound, poignant lyrics, and anthemic live performances, Coldplay has become one of the world's best-selling music artists.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin, formed in 1968, is one of the most iconic four-piece rock bands in history. Consisting of Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass/keyboard), and John Bonham (drums), the band is known for their powerful sound, complex compositions, and profound influence on the rock genre. Amazingly they had all that success without ever releasing a single!
The Beatles
The Beatles are the most influential four-piece band in the history of popular music. The statistics are impressive, the Beatles have sold more records than any other musical artist in history, one billion albums sold worldwide. "Yesterday" alone has been covered more than 3,000 times. They also hold the record for most #1 singles in the U.S. with twenty.
