GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- December 8 marks the 20th anniversary of the death of founding Beatles member John Lennon, and Beatles fans everywhere will gather for vigils, watch televised tributes, and purchase memorabilia. Gallup polling from last year confirms that the American public believes that the Beatles, a British band, was indeed the greatest rock-and-roll band or group of all time. In the March 1999 survey, 29% of the public cited the Beatles as the greatest rock-and-roll band. The next highest response was the Rolling Stones with 9%. Led Zeppelin was third with 3% of the rock-and-roll vote.On another rock-and-roll related note, Americans overwhelming believe that Elvis Presley was the greatest individual rock-and-roll star of all time. Over a third of the public (35%) mention Elvis when asked, while just 5% say Mick Jagger and 3% say Elton John.
Survey Methods
The results below are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,021 adults, 18 years and older, conducted March 5-7, 1999. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 4 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
What do you think is the greatest Rock and Roll band or group of all time?
| 99 Mar 5-7 | 95 Aug 28-30** | |
| % | % | |
| 29 | 26 | The Beatles |
| 9 | 9 | The Rolling Stones |
| 3 | 4 | Led Zeppelin |
| 2 | 3 | The Eagles |
| 2 | -- | Aerosmith |
| 2 | -- | The Beach Boys |
| 1 | 3 | The Grateful Dead |
| 1 | -- | U2 |
| 1 | 1 | The Who |
| 1 | -- | Pink Floyd |
| 1 | -- | Elvis |
| 1 | -- | Fleetwood Mac |
| 1 | -- | Creedence Clearwater Revival |
| 1 | -- | Bill Haley and the Comets |
| 1 | -- | AC/DC |
| 1 | -- | Bob Seger |
| 1 | -- | Lynard Skynyrd |
| 1 | -- | The Doors |
| 1 | -- | The Bee Gees |
| 1 | -- | Metallica |
| 13 | 23 | Other (all less than 1%) |
| 4 | 5 | NONE (VOL.) |
| 22 100% |
26 100% |
No opinion |
** Based on half sample
Thinking of individual singers or band members, who do you think
is the greatest Rock and Roll star of all time?
| 99 Mar 5-7 | 95 Aug 28-30** | |
| % | % | |
| 33 | 35 | Elvis Presley |
| 5 | 4 | Mick Jagger |
| 3 | -- | Elton John |
| 2 | 1 | Bruce Springsteen |
| 2 | 3 | Jimi Hendrix |
| 2 | 2 | Paul McCartney |
| 2 | 5 | Michael Jackson |
| 2 | 2 | Eric Clapton |
| 1 | 2 | John Lennon |
| 1 | -- | Ozzy Osborne |
| 1 | -- | Steven Tyler |
| 1 | -- | Robert Plant |
| 1 | -- | Fats Domino |
| 1 | -- | Bob Seger |
| 1 | -- | Prince |
| 1 | -- | Billy Joel |
| 1 | -- | Garth Brooks |
| 1 | 1 | Rod Stewart |
| -- | 1 | Bob Dylan |
| * | 2 | Jerry Garcia |
| 15 | 13 | Other (all less than 1%) |
| 2 | 3 | NONE (VOL.) |
| 22 100% |
26 100% |
No opinion |
** Based on half sample