80 Best Rock Music Videos of All Time

A countdown of the 80 best rock music videos of all time, from Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Foo Fighters’ “Everlong.”

Introduction

It’s said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. So it goes with many things in life, including our taste in music. While one person may enjoy the elevator music-esque vibes of top 40 hits, another person may find themselves preferring the hard-hitting sounds of rock ‘n’ roll.

Rock music has often been a controversial genre. It’s celebrated by some as the ultimate form of self-expression, while others decry it as nothing more than noise. But love it or hate it, there’s no denying that rock music has had a lasting impact on popular culture.

One of the most visually appealing aspects of rock music is the accompanying music video. Although they’re often low budget and amateurish, the best rock music videos are masterpieces of creativity and artistry. They can be funny, bizarre, or even shocking, but always memorable.

In no particular order, here are 80 of the best rock music videos of all time:

The 80s

The 1980s was a transitional decade for rock music. The genre was in the midst of a major evolution, as it slowly began to move away from the traditional sound that had defined it for so many years. This process was hastened by the advent of new technologies, which allowed bands to experiment with new sounds and production techniques. As a result, the 1980s saw the birth of many different subgenres, each with its own unique sound and style.

One of the most influential subgenres to emerge during this period was post-punk. Post-punk bands like Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Cure blended elements of punk rock with arty sensibilities and atmospheric textures. This combination created a dark and often unsettling sound that was perfect for conveying the sense of alienation and disconnection that many people felt during this decade.

Another important subgenre that emerged during the 1980s was hair metal. Hair metal bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Guns N’ Roses rose to prominence in the early part of the decade with their over-the-top stage shows and catchy, hook-laden songs. This style of rock quickly became synonymous with excess, and it wasn’t long before hair metal bands began to fall out of favor with critics and fans alike.

Despite the rise of these new subgenres, traditional forms of rock music still remained popular throughout the 1980s. Bands like Journey, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard continued to churn out arena-ready anthems, while groups like U2 and R.E.M. achieved critical acclaim for their more introspective brand of songwriting. In short, there was something for everyone in rock music during the 1980s. Here are 80 of the best rock music videos from this iconic decade.

The 90s

In the 1990s, rock music enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. Grunge and alternative rock bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam rose to prominence, while older rockers such as Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan remained popular. Music videos also became an important part of the rock music experience, with many artists releasing innovative and stylish videos to accompany their songs.

Here are 80 of the best rock music videos of the 1990s:

-Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
-Pearl Jam, ” Jeremy”
-R.E.M., “Losing My Religion”
-U2, “One”
-Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Give It Away”
– Metallica, “Enter Sandman”
-Guns N’ Roses, “Don’t Cry”
-Aerosmith, “Cryin'”
-Foo Fighters, “Everlong”
-Oasis, “Wonderwall”
-The Smashing Pumpkins, “Tonight, Tonight”
– Radiohead, “Paranoid Android”

The 2000s

The 2000s were an interesting time for rock music. The genre was evolving and branching out, with new subgenres and subcultures forming. This decade saw the rise of emo and post-hardcore, the fall of nu-metal, and the rise of indie rock. It was a decade of change, and it was reflected in the music videos that were released.

Here are the 80 best rock music videos of the 2000s:

1) Foo Fighters – “All My Life”
2) Queens of the Stone Age – “No One Knows”
3) Weezer – “Hash Pipe”
4) Green Day – “American Idiot”
5) System of a Down – “Chop Suey!”
6) Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Dani California”
7) Nine Inch Nails – “Only”
8) Tool – “Parabola”
9) A Perfect Circle – “Judith”
10) Foo Fighters – “Best of You”
11) Muse – “Knights of Cydonia”
12) Rage Against the Machine – “Testify”
13) System of a Down – “Toxicity”
14) White Stripes – Seven Nation Army”
15 )Linkin Park – In the End

The 2010s

The 2010s saw a resurgence in rock music, with a new generation of bands taking influence from the classic sounds of the genre. This decade also saw the rise of digital technologies, which allowed for a wider range of creativity in music videos. Here are our picks for the 80 best rock music videos of the 2010s.

Honorable Mentions

AFi’s 100 Greatest Music Videos – Honorable Mentions
Including videos that just missed the top 100, in alphabetical order.

AC/DC – “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” (1981)
Alice Cooper – “School’s Out” (1972)
Bad Brains – “Banned in D.C.” (1982)
Beastie Boys – “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” (1987)
Beastie Boys – “Sabotage” (1994)
Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” (1970)
Bod Dylan – “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1965)
David Bowie – “Ashes to Ashes” (1980)
David Bowie – “Fame” (1975)
Deep Purple – “Smoke on the Water” (1972)
Devo – “Whip It! f/performed by Devo 2.0″ live action/CGI hybrid music video, directed by Davy Force & Robert Weakley (2010) Devo – Jocko Homo Dire Straits – Money for Nothing Faith No More – Epic Foo Fighters with Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie – Pretender George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic in 3-D Historical Reenactment Music Video: AC/DC Back in Black featuring METALLICA as Angus Young and Lars Ulrich as Cliff Williams Iggy Pop with Kate Pierson of The B-52s – Candy Jane’s Addiction – Been Caught Stealing Jethro Tull – Aqualung Jimi Hendrix Experience – All Along the Watchtower Joan Jett and The Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘n Roll Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin’ You Korn feat. Skrillex – Get Up! Led Zeppelin – Kashmir NFL Super Bowl 2015 Ad: Avenged Sevenfold – Shepherd Of Fire Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit Pantera Cowboys From Hell Pearl Jam Jeremy Pink Floyd Another Brick In The Wall Pt 2 Queen Bohemian Rhapsody Rage Against The Machine Killin In The Name Red Hot Chili Peppers Give It Away Run DMC Walk This Way Rush Tom Sawyer Sex Pistols God Save The Queen Slipknot Wait And Bleed Soundgarden Rusty Cage Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song System Of A Down Chop Suey Third Eye Blind Semi Charded Life Tool Parabola Weezer Buddy Holly White Zombie Thunder Kiss ’65 Yes Roundabout

Conclusion

To wrap up, here are the 80 best rock music videos of all time. We hope you enjoyed our list and found some new favorites!