The Greatest American Rock Band Bracket!
First Round, Classic Rock Division

The Beach Boys (1) vs. Chicago (16)

The Endless Summer versus those big Windy City horns
The Beach Boys:
"Beginning their career as the most popular surf band in the nation, the Beach Boys finally emerged by 1966 as America's preeminent pop group, the only act able to challenge (for a brief time) the overarching success of the Beatles with both mainstream listeners and the critical community. [The Beach Boys] constructed the most intricate, gorgeous harmonies ever heard from a pop band. " --AllMusic.com

Popularity
  • Sold over 100 million records worldwide
  • Eight Gold, two Platinum albums
  • 15 top-ten singles
  • Four #1 singles

Influence:
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1988
  • #12 on Rolling Stone's "Greatest Artists" lists
  • Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 2001
Chicago:
"Chicago was one of the most successful bands of the rock era, racking up 21 Billboard Top Ten hits between 1970 and 1990… Chicago initially specialized in jazz-inflected prog-rock, using the sides of a vinyl record as canvasses for sprawling, adventurous rock. Chicago quickly learned how to channel this expansive sound into concise pop songs, scoring hits in the early 1970s with punchy tunes while also showing facility with sweeter melodies."
" --AllMusic.com

Popularity
  • Sold over 100 million records worldwide
  • Two Gold, 12 Platinum albums
  • 21 top-ten singles
  • One Grammy Award

Influence:
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2016
  • Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 2020

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