The Top 10 Rock Music Duos of All Time
Contents
Here are the top 10 rock music duos of all time, according to experts.
Introduction
Rock music has always been about teamwork. From the clash of guitars in the early days of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley to the tight harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel, rock has always been a collaborative art form.
In the spirit of celebrating rock’s best team-ups, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 rock music duos of all time. These are the partnerships that have stood the test of time, that have produced Some of the greatest music ever recorded, and that have inspired countless other musicians to start their own bands.
Simon & Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel were an American rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the most popular recording artists of the 1960s and became counterculture icons of the decade. Their biggest hits—including “The Sound of Silence,” “Bridge over Troubled Water,” and “Mrs. Robinson”—were mainstays on radio stations across the world.
The White Stripes
The White Stripes are a rock music duo formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. Consisting of only a drums and a guitar, the group achieved widespread success with their 2001 album, White Blood Cells, and have since released six more studio albums, the most recent being 2013’s Lazaretto. The group is well known for their energetic live shows and eclectic musical style, which blends elements of punk rock, garage rock, blues, and country.
Queens of the Stone Age
Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri, together known as Queens of the Stone Age, are a hard rock duo from Palm Desert, California, United States. Formed in 1997, the band has released seven studio albums and have sold over three million albums worldwide. They have been nominated for five Grammy Awards and have won one.
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock band formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. The group consists of Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (). The Black Keys have released eight studio albums, two EPs and a live album. Their eighth album, Turn Blue, was released on May 13, 2014. Their ninth album, titled Let’s Rock, is scheduled to be released on June 28, 2019.
The band’s raw blues rock sound draws heavily from Auerbach’s Midwestern roots and Carney’s blues influences. The duo are also noted for their minimalistic approach to songwriting and recording. The Black Keys have been nominated for fourteen Grammy Awards, winning seven. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.
Air
Air is a French musical duo consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. Formed in 1995, they have released five studio albums to date and have won two Grammy Awards. Their first album, The Virgin Suicides, was voted Album of the Year by Melody Maker in 2000.
The duo is known for their atmospheric, down-tempo music, often with a hypnotic or dream-like quality. They have been credited as one of the influences on the nu-gaze and chillwave genres of music.
The Kills
The Kills is an American rock music duo that was formed in 2000. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Alison Mosshart and guitarist and bassist Jamie Hince. The Kills have released five studio albums and have been hailed by critics as one of the best rock music duos of all time.
The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs are an American rock duo, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 2005. The band consists of Jack White (vocals, guitar) and Brendan Benson (vocals, guitar). The Raconteurs released their debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, in 2006 to critical acclaim. The album peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in the United States. The band’s second album, Consolers of the Lonely, was released in 2008 to similar success.
The Raconteurs are considered one of the best rock music duos of all time. Jack White is a highly respected musician and Brendan Benson is a talented songwriter and performer. The Raconteurs have achieved commercial and critical success with their unique brand of rock music.
The Postal Service
The Postal Service was an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, consisting of songwriter and producer Ben Gibbard as well as producer Jimmy Tamborello. The band released their only album, Give Up, in 2003 on Sub Pop Records to critical acclaim. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2013.
She & Him
Indie folk-rock duo She & Him consists of singer-songwriter and musician Zooey Deschanel on vocals and guitar and M. Ward on guitar, banjo, ukulele, keyboards, piano and bass. The pair met in 2006 after Deschanel watched Ward perform at a club in Los Angeles. They began collaborating soon after, with Ward writing the music for Deschanel to sing. The duo’s first album, Volume One, was released in March 2008 to critical acclaim. Their follow-up album, Volume Two, was released in March 2010 and also received critical acclaim. In addition to their work as a duo, they have both pursued successful solo careers.
