Two Generations Define Rock’s Top 20 Jam Bands

There was a time, believe it or not, when jam bands were out of style. Sure, they were everywhere from the late-'60s into the '70s. But like their outsized cousins in progressive rock, the sound had largely vanished by the dawn of the '80s.

At that point, the Allman Brothers Band hadn't had a million-seller since 1973's Brothers and Sisters became their third platinum album in a row. Their gold-certified 1979 album, Enlightened Rogues, preceded a long period in the wilderness. Santana, who could be just as musically adventurous, was in disarray.

Similarly, the Grateful Dead had scored eight gold or platinum-selling albums in the '60s and '70s – but none since 1978. Their most recent Top 20 album dated to 1975. Other leading groups from the initial era were long gone, including Traffic, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Derek and the Dominoes, among others.

How Jam Bands Mounted an Impressive Comeback

Something began to happen, as the '80s wore on. The Grateful Dead returned to the Top 10 with 1987's multi-platinum In the Dark. Phish released their platinum-selling first album, 1989's Junta. The Black Crowes burst onto the scene with 1990's Shake Your Money Maker, followed Widespread Panic's explorative self-titled 1991 debut.

Nascent groups like Moe and Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit began building their own loyal fanbases. By 1994, the Allman Brothers – who were once signed to Widespread Panic's Capricorn Records label – had notched another long-awaited gold-seller with Where It All Begins.

The Allman Brothers Band were part of the '90s resurgence before launching two celebrated offshoot groups. (Cory Schwartz, Getty Images)

Jam bands were suddenly everywhere, and they never really left. This resurgence even withstood Jerry Garcia's unexpected death in 1995, as offshoot bands like the Other Ones, Ratdog and Dead and Company filled the void. The Allman Brothers Band eventually spawned Gov't Mule and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

READ MORE: Why Phish Was Such a Huge Hall of Fame Snub

From there, acts like the String Cheese Incident and Umphrey's McGee picked up the mantel in the late-'90s. Jam bands became mainstream again: Phish was suddenly one of the 10 highest-grossing acts in the U.S. Even Santana roared back. The result was two generational waves of popular and influential acts – one with roots in the '60s and another some three decades later.

Which ones were the best? As expected, the following look back at the Top 20 Jam Bands includes the biggest names from both eras, but also a few others who played key roles in the development of this ever inventive, still resonant genre.

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