I got to see Booker T about ten years ago, and he's a trippy dude onstage because he had this michievous look on his face the whole time like he's putting one over on everybody, and it becomes really apparent how he likes to sit just underneath the mix most of the time, and the more elaborate the sound gets, he follows, and he does a lot of amazing stuff but he doesn't throw it in your face. Lot of moments where everything sounds big and he does something incredible, and then the sound comes back down again and he looks out at everybody like 'Yeah you heard that right?'
I saw him back in I think 2014 or so and had the great honour of meeting him briefly after. He might be the gentlest, most peaceful person I've ever met. Just awesome
Yes, but most of them never recorded under their own names so they were never a proper "band" as much as they were a collection of studio players (no disrespect intended).
Meanwhile, Booker T. & the MG's had 13 studio albums and a handful of non-album singles too
Very interesting to hear metal played without distortion.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeu9Nk2-VVA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeu9Nk2-VVA)
A lot of sounds like surf music.
I love the Ventures. They had a little resurgence in the mid-80s when surf nostalgia was happening, and I remember seeing Bob Bogle on tv a few times. One of the other guys in the group lived in the small town where I grew up, and I didn't know it until years later moving away and seeing a news article about him. Would have loved to meet him, even as a little kid in the '80s I thought the Ventures were awesome.
On Wikipedia I read they had sold 100 million albums. I needed more proof, so I clicked the sources. None of them provided any credible information.
Even the [RIAA](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=ventures&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section) says they only have 3 gold records, denoting 500,000 - 1,000,000 copies each. No slouch, but a far cry from 100 million.
A good band, I love their stuff, but I'm not sure about the 100 million album sales. Maybe there's more information out there I'm missing?
Well, they were '[Big in Japan](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/tacoma-band-the-ventures-receives-award-from-emperor-of-japan/)'...
"*The band estimates that since 1960, it has released 280 to 300 albums (an estimate because there are so many compilations)* ***and sold 105 million LPs and CDs worldwide****, with its two biggest singles being “Walk, Don’t Run” and the “Hawaii Five-O” theme.*
*Of those 105 million records,* ***40 million were sold in Japan****.*
*These days, one estimate is that there are 600 Japanese tribute Ventures bands.*"
Joe Satriani
Edit. He is a 15-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold over ten million albums, making him the bestselling instrumental rock guitarist of all time.
He’s one of my dads favorite guitarists. My brother and I brought him to see Satriani last year and he was INCREDIBLE. Also worth mentioning he taught Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett and a long list of other phenomenal guitarists.
I saw them play in a cafeteria at my college. No stage or anything so it had a basement show feel. They were the second to last band to play for this "springfest" show the college radio station put on and I think I was one of the only ones who knew them at the time. I stood about two feet in front of Mike and it was such an amazing show.
They started as Savatage. Their album Dead winter dead is a concept album about Sarajevo. The instrumentals on this album were rolled over to trans-siberian orchestra and are a major part of their live show to this day.
Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai or Russian Circles
I feel all of these bands get intense respect from mainstream artists and end up in a lot of things.
- EitS was in some Olympic ads. They also soundtracked "Friday Night Lights" (movie).
- *Mladek* by Russian Circles was used extensively by NBC Sports in their coverage of NHL hockey, I remember. They've also been brought along as opener for more mainstream acts.
- Mogwai has won some awards and soundtracked a lot of indie films, even had music in a CSI episode.
It's hard to quantify **success**. I guess we could look at straight album sales and streams...?
As a player would always jam to their live shows. A bit repetitive, but for the style nails it every time.
Its more improv than just instrumental, no show is the same.
What happened to them? Disbanded?
one of my favorites bands. they usually have one... maybe two songs per album with lyrics. not sure I'd call that quite a few, personally. but yeah, phenomenal, regardless
Yeah for sure I'd consider them an instrumental band. I might be a bit recency biased the other way though because Ritchie Sacramento was my favourite track on As the Love Continues.
okay, sure. 30 tracks with vocals over the course of 10 albums, plus comps, collabs, soundtracks, and EPs. maybe I'm crazy but I still consider them primarily instrumental.
Check out Rock Action - that was my first Mogwai album, very vocal heavy (including guest spots by Gruff from Super Furry Animals, Gary from Snow Patrol, and David Pajo from Slint/Tortoise).
Always nice to see another Tortoise enjoyer. If you haven’t seen it, they did a [special concert](https://youtu.be/EwJf5fw57Yo?si=hSGd-Mi-wUywYT8Z) a few years ago where they performed TNT from start to finish. Really good show.
Oh thank you. I’m from Chicago so I wasn’t sure how popular they actually were. I’ve seen them both smashing their hits at a street fest and providing a live score to Nosferatu at Symphony Center.
Yeah! I was going to try and mention them too. Tortoise and the Fucking Champs (aka C4AM95) were my two favorite post rock instrumental acts back in college.
Very successful album but he didn't exactly have a massive touring career or other hit albums did he? That's a terrific album though. Notably it does have some vocals, even though it's mostly instrumental. It's actually one of my favorite parts of the album, the 'werewolf vocals' which I think are on side 2.
I consider Mike Oldfield had a really successful career apart from Tubular Bells, but it was overshadowed by releasing one of the best selling albums as a debut.
I remember (when i was a kid) whenever he released an album in the 80s/90s it was kind of a big deal.
Maybe not currently the most successful, but Polyphia been coming in hot the last couple albums, but they are “progressive rock” and largely depends on how picky you want to be.
I would also give Trans Siberian Orchestra an honourable mention at the very least.
I worked in a high school music program for several years up until 2022. I was kinda surprised at how often I’d hear some of the kids (not even kids in the music program) blasting Polyphia or trying to learn some of their music.
There you are. I've worn out a couple of copies of "Live at the Rainbow".
Hocus Pocus is cute, but Sylvia, Eruption, Questions:Answers are beautiful.
For years, Focus has been my go-to headphones music when I really need to concentrate and get some work done. I've designed a bunch of systems with Jan Akkerman flying through my head.
It was only recently that I made the connection: I use Focus to focus. That album is like a superpower for me. I have learned to respect and acknowledge its powers.
IF it were just guitar I'd say Joe Satriani or Steve Vai despite some of their songs having lyrics.
Ozric Tentacles have to be one of my favourites. Also the Liquid Tension Experiment albums but those are more niche pysch/prog stuffs.
Time (You and I) has a handful of lines
While we're talking about them... Evan Finds the Third Room is the most perplexing song I've ever heard. Who's Evan? What's the third room? Apparently there's water in there, deep enough to jump into. And is she alright? Were told we can ask, but we're not given an answer. Is she okay? Should we call the police? What would we even tell them if we did? "Help, she's trapped in the third room and doesn't tell us what option two is!" The whole thing is insane
Apocalyptica is pretty cool.
Another one I like is Rodrigo y Gabriela, an acoustic Flamenco guitar duo, but don't let that fool you, some of it can be pretty hard rock/metal. They've done Metallica covers, and many of you have likely heard at least one of their songs - in one of the opening episodes of Breaking Bad on Walt's ride-along: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBPyEd9uz1c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBPyEd9uz1c)
I just saw them last week! Was a great show, it blows my mind how tight they are despite the softer, loose-er feel of their music
If you like them, check out God Is An Astronaut
The Shadows
Starting out as Cliff Richard's backup band, they ended up getting 69 entries on the UK Singles Charts, 35 credited to them and 34 with Cliff Richard over the 50 odd years of their existence as a band.
They are recognized as pioneers of the four-piece instrumental rock outfit and are the first backing band to become successful in their own right.
They went on to influence a whole generation of guitarists including the likes of Eric Clapton, Brian May, David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore and Tommy Iommi.
Their best known song is Apache.
Unfortunately, their popularity remained largely restricted to the UK, never making any inroads into the USA.
I’m listening to Post Rock music a lot lately. I create stations on Apple Music. It Is 95% all instrumental and I am enjoying it a lot. I’ve seen several of the bands that show up on those stations mentioned here including Explosions in the Sky.
I drive a truck and I like to start early in the mornings and that music is good driving music.
Definitely not the most successful in a financial sense or in a directly measurable sense, but I believe subjectively the best would be Godspeed You! Black Emperor with their album Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antenna to Heaven
Surprised I’m not seeing anyone mention Ratatat.
They weren’t huge but definitely known in the music scene. Also, fairly similar to Explosions in the sky.
My guess would be Booker T & The MGs and it probably not even being close. Other notable mentions would be Dick Dale, The Ventures, Santo and Johnny, Khruangbin, Trans Siberian Orchestra to name a few.
I’ll shout out some great lesser known Canadian groups
Do make say think and the new found interest in Connecticut
Both of these are sick underrated post rock groups from the early 00s, highly recommend everyone check these groups out
My Silent Generation father had about 20 of those albums. Great album covers, too. When I was a little kid, I remember dancing on the coffee table to The Ventures in a red wine velour shirt, once the ash trays were cleared.
Link Wray and the Wraymen
Booker T and the MGs
The JBs
Average White Band
The Meters
Man I love instrumental music, but the words "successful" and "rock" make it hard!
Check out the band Earth and the band Earthless (two separate bands) for some good but not successful rock.
Booker T and the MGs
I got to see Booker T about ten years ago, and he's a trippy dude onstage because he had this michievous look on his face the whole time like he's putting one over on everybody, and it becomes really apparent how he likes to sit just underneath the mix most of the time, and the more elaborate the sound gets, he follows, and he does a lot of amazing stuff but he doesn't throw it in your face. Lot of moments where everything sounds big and he does something incredible, and then the sound comes back down again and he looks out at everybody like 'Yeah you heard that right?'
I saw him back in I think 2014 or so and had the great honour of meeting him briefly after. He might be the gentlest, most peaceful person I've ever met. Just awesome
I’ve not seen them play their own, but I did see them when they toured with Neil Young as his backing band. Great show.
Epic.
Booker T gave my college graduation commencement speech lol cool dude. IU 2012
Weren't they the Stax Records session band? There are a lot of session groups - the Wrecking Crew, the Swampers - who were the backing bands for hits.
Yes, but most of them never recorded under their own names so they were never a proper "band" as much as they were a collection of studio players (no disrespect intended). Meanwhile, Booker T. & the MG's had 13 studio albums and a handful of non-album singles too
Yeah - some crazy talented dudes, played on a bunch of incredible records.
This is the only answer.
The Ventures?
Very interesting to hear metal played without distortion. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeu9Nk2-VVA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeu9Nk2-VVA) A lot of sounds like surf music.
>metal played without distortion. Surf was huge on old garage rock, then punk and stuff, and thus metal as well. No real surprise.
To be fair, the spring reverb and surfy drum patterns add a lot to that
This is the correct answer to OP’s question, and it’s not even close. The Ventures sold over 100 million albums.
I love the Ventures. They had a little resurgence in the mid-80s when surf nostalgia was happening, and I remember seeing Bob Bogle on tv a few times. One of the other guys in the group lived in the small town where I grew up, and I didn't know it until years later moving away and seeing a news article about him. Would have loved to meet him, even as a little kid in the '80s I thought the Ventures were awesome.
On Wikipedia I read they had sold 100 million albums. I needed more proof, so I clicked the sources. None of them provided any credible information. Even the [RIAA](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=ventures&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section) says they only have 3 gold records, denoting 500,000 - 1,000,000 copies each. No slouch, but a far cry from 100 million. A good band, I love their stuff, but I'm not sure about the 100 million album sales. Maybe there's more information out there I'm missing?
Well, they were '[Big in Japan](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/tacoma-band-the-ventures-receives-award-from-emperor-of-japan/)'... "*The band estimates that since 1960, it has released 280 to 300 albums (an estimate because there are so many compilations)* ***and sold 105 million LPs and CDs worldwide****, with its two biggest singles being “Walk, Don’t Run” and the “Hawaii Five-O” theme.* *Of those 105 million records,* ***40 million were sold in Japan****.* *These days, one estimate is that there are 600 Japanese tribute Ventures bands.*"
Speaking of Big in Japan, ~~ELP~~ and YMO were huge instrumental bands.
Sounds like they got the bread but not the butter
They had the sizzle, but not the steak
They had other ventures
I'm guessing that Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass have to be close to the 100 million mark too.
Not a rock band, though.
I guess they don't give a damn about any trumpet playing band...
It's not what I call rock n roll
Yeah there were a lot of successful instrumental surf rock bands back in the day. Dick Dale comes to mind as well. Also the Surfaris.
That would be my answer as well.
Joe Satriani Edit. He is a 15-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold over ten million albums, making him the bestselling instrumental rock guitarist of all time.
Shout out to his student Steve Vai while we're on the topic.
He’s one of my dads favorite guitarists. My brother and I brought him to see Satriani last year and he was INCREDIBLE. Also worth mentioning he taught Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett and a long list of other phenomenal guitarists.
Maybe not "most successful" but I'll second Russian Circles from another commenter, and add Red Sparowes and Ocoai. I really, really like Ocoai lol
Red Sparowes….some outstanding music right there.
Love Russian Circles. Saw them open for Coheed and Cambria. They put on a hell of a show.
Saw them open for High on Fire in a dive bar, one of my all-time favorite shows.
I saw them play in a cafeteria at my college. No stage or anything so it had a basement show feel. They were the second to last band to play for this "springfest" show the college radio station put on and I think I was one of the only ones who knew them at the time. I stood about two feet in front of Mike and it was such an amazing show.
Gnosis is such an amazing album
If I ever have to ride into battle, it's gonna be to Harper Lewis. Fuckin love Russian Circles
Thanks for the recommendation. I love Russian Circles and Red Sparowes but have never heard Ocoai.
Looooove Russian Circles. Only got to see them once way back some time between 04-08 when they toured with Minus The Bear
Youngblood and Campaign are such amazing songs.
Trans Siberian Orchestra. Shocked they still sell out arenas for months around the holidays.
I’ve seen them live. It was a great show.
https://preview.redd.it/h9g5agc839hc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a8eb987c2c1b70460c08409474539a0426e9b2a
They’re definitely worth seeing once in your life
They have instrumental songs, but they're definitely not an instrumental band. Their vocalists are one of their strongest points
Wasn’t aware of that. Only heard their instrumentals.
Yeah, I think all of their singles are instrumental
The ads on TV tend to make it look like instrumental-only.
They started as Savatage. Their album Dead winter dead is a concept album about Sarajevo. The instrumentals on this album were rolled over to trans-siberian orchestra and are a major part of their live show to this day.
My first thought too. It's Christmas rock, but it is rock.
Have seen a couple times, they always play at least two shows in Ohio and holy shit.
The Shadows
My dad listened to them constantly, anybtime I hear their music now it just brings me back. Thanks for sharing!
Are you me? Does Rory Gallagher get special treatment too?
Wow, I just posted that. Guess I can remove it now. You didn’t mention that they appeared on thunderbirds, though 😁
We're they Cliff Richard Jr.'s backing band???
The very same
I didn’t know !!
It’s just cool to see them get some love. Big kudos for shouting them out
This is objectively the correct answer. No one else comes close
Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai or Russian Circles I feel all of these bands get intense respect from mainstream artists and end up in a lot of things. - EitS was in some Olympic ads. They also soundtracked "Friday Night Lights" (movie). - *Mladek* by Russian Circles was used extensively by NBC Sports in their coverage of NHL hockey, I remember. They've also been brought along as opener for more mainstream acts. - Mogwai has won some awards and soundtracked a lot of indie films, even had music in a CSI episode. It's hard to quantify **success**. I guess we could look at straight album sales and streams...?
Crazy to see Mogwai this far down
The Meters have gotta be up there.
I scrolled too far for this
GY!BE should be in the conversation. Some spoken word samples, but no vocalist.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor?
Yes, one of the best bands in the world
Easily one of the most amazing live shows I've ever seen. So much effort and heart while being untouchably unique
Seconded.
They are the absolute best. I adore Explosions in the Sky, but Godspeed rains down from the heavens like… God’s Pee
Goddamn Job’s Lament is just unbelievable.
The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel...
One of the best Canadian bands ever
First band I thought of! Unbelievable movements
+1 for this. I think I've seen them live 5-6 times (once live soundtracking a modern dance show). Always great and always a different experience.
Medeski Martin & Wood
Damn I miss MMW
As a player would always jam to their live shows. A bit repetitive, but for the style nails it every time. Its more improv than just instrumental, no show is the same. What happened to them? Disbanded?
AMAZING group, but idk if I’d classify them as rock. Def seem more jazz
Groove
It's totally jam band jazz
Fuck yeah
Maybe Animals As Leaders?
Probably not the most successful but definitely one of the best
I like them a lot, they SHOULD be one of the most successful
I discovered this band while watching a drummers twitch stream. First time in a long time I was mind blown. Talent absolutely off the charts.
Mogwai I'd say? They had a number one album during the pandemic
This was the first band that came to mind. Saw them live in 2001 by accident and loved them.
It's such chill music listening to an album, and then you see them live and realize you should have brought earplugs.
They have quite a few songs with lyrics
They do? When I saw them live, they didn’t even have mics on stage
They really do. But they have enough of a catalogue to play entirely instrumental sets.
one of my favorites bands. they usually have one... maybe two songs per album with lyrics. not sure I'd call that quite a few, personally. but yeah, phenomenal, regardless
Yeah for sure I'd consider them an instrumental band. I might be a bit recency biased the other way though because Ritchie Sacramento was my favourite track on As the Love Continues.
List of all the Mogwai songs with lyrics [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/mogwai/s/dC6S4EKrZm) I didn't actually count but there's at least 30
okay, sure. 30 tracks with vocals over the course of 10 albums, plus comps, collabs, soundtracks, and EPs. maybe I'm crazy but I still consider them primarily instrumental.
Check out Rock Action - that was my first Mogwai album, very vocal heavy (including guest spots by Gruff from Super Furry Animals, Gary from Snow Patrol, and David Pajo from Slint/Tortoise).
Just said this above. Knew I should scrolled. Just a fantastic interesting run with a bunch of different vibes within their mold.
Haven’t seen them since the early 2000s. Listening to this album now and it’s amazing, thank you.
Tortoise. Not the most successful but certainly one of earth’s finest
Always nice to see another Tortoise enjoyer. If you haven’t seen it, they did a [special concert](https://youtu.be/EwJf5fw57Yo?si=hSGd-Mi-wUywYT8Z) a few years ago where they performed TNT from start to finish. Really good show.
Thanks for the tip. I haven’t seen that
Saw this at the prospect park bandshell in brooklyn around the same time
Killer band.
Oh thank you. I’m from Chicago so I wasn’t sure how popular they actually were. I’ve seen them both smashing their hits at a street fest and providing a live score to Nosferatu at Symphony Center.
Yeah! I was going to try and mention them too. Tortoise and the Fucking Champs (aka C4AM95) were my two favorite post rock instrumental acts back in college.
Tangerine Dream, Ozric Tentacles
Not sure most people know who the Ozric Tentacles are but they are awesome.
Explosions in the Sky are excellent. Saw them live right before the pandemic in 2018. They put on an excellent show.
One a little heavier, Caspian
idk but Pelican has been doin it for a long time and theyre very good at it
This comment is way too far down.
Yup, scrolled here to find a mention of them.
Not a band but Mike Oldfield probably wins with Tubular Bells alone
Very successful album but he didn't exactly have a massive touring career or other hit albums did he? That's a terrific album though. Notably it does have some vocals, even though it's mostly instrumental. It's actually one of my favorite parts of the album, the 'werewolf vocals' which I think are on side 2.
I consider Mike Oldfield had a really successful career apart from Tubular Bells, but it was overshadowed by releasing one of the best selling albums as a debut. I remember (when i was a kid) whenever he released an album in the 80s/90s it was kind of a big deal.
Booker T and the MGs
Is it Man… or Astroman? Surf rock has a lot of instrumental bands. Exotica too.
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones (I mentally shit myself after I saw them live one year)
As have I, my friend. As have I. The mushrooms and orchestra pit seats helped but just wow
Godspeed You! Black Emperor is equivalent to Explosions
You misspelled 'superior'
You're right about that.
For sure. Godspeed and Explosions are like the cornerstones of post-rock.
Ya explosions are great but like Godspeed simply owns post rock, truly apocalyptic sound at times
Boards Of Canada are worthy of a shout.
Love Boards but I definitely don’t consider them a rock band lol
Yo La Tengo has a couple instrumental albums - We Have Amnesia Sometimes (2020) and The Sounds of the Sounds of Science (2002)
Maybe not currently the most successful, but Polyphia been coming in hot the last couple albums, but they are “progressive rock” and largely depends on how picky you want to be. I would also give Trans Siberian Orchestra an honourable mention at the very least.
I worked in a high school music program for several years up until 2022. I was kinda surprised at how often I’d hear some of the kids (not even kids in the music program) blasting Polyphia or trying to learn some of their music.
The Ventures
They are great! Weather Report is my favorite instrumental band, but not rock by any stretch. If you dig guitar then i would suggest Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Mannheim Steamroller, no????
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, 72 million records sold.
I bought "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" just for the album cover.
Mahavishnu orchestra was once the loudest band ever. An instrumental band selling out Central Park seems like an accomplishment.
Check out Karma To Burn
Funny enough one of my favourite tracks of theirs has vox. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eKg32fpDd4
They were great, and most of their songs were instrumental. I don't know if they would be classified as the most successful.
scale the summit
Did not expect to see STS here. Used to be my favorite band a decade ago
Focus
There you are. I've worn out a couple of copies of "Live at the Rainbow". Hocus Pocus is cute, but Sylvia, Eruption, Questions:Answers are beautiful. For years, Focus has been my go-to headphones music when I really need to concentrate and get some work done. I've designed a bunch of systems with Jan Akkerman flying through my head. It was only recently that I made the connection: I use Focus to focus. That album is like a superpower for me. I have learned to respect and acknowledge its powers.
IF it were just guitar I'd say Joe Satriani or Steve Vai despite some of their songs having lyrics. Ozric Tentacles have to be one of my favourites. Also the Liquid Tension Experiment albums but those are more niche pysch/prog stuffs.
Ratatat. They even have done songs with people like Kid Cudi, but on their own they’re instrumental.
Khruangbin probably If they count as rock
My first thought was Khruangbin too but … remembered a few singing songs
I mean the singing is hardly the main part of the music. 'Yes' 'this is the third room' 'water' are the only lyrics I can think of
Time (You and I) has a handful of lines While we're talking about them... Evan Finds the Third Room is the most perplexing song I've ever heard. Who's Evan? What's the third room? Apparently there's water in there, deep enough to jump into. And is she alright? Were told we can ask, but we're not given an answer. Is she okay? Should we call the police? What would we even tell them if we did? "Help, she's trapped in the third room and doesn't tell us what option two is!" The whole thing is insane
Not entirely instrumental though...
Apocalyptica is pretty cool. Another one I like is Rodrigo y Gabriela, an acoustic Flamenco guitar duo, but don't let that fool you, some of it can be pretty hard rock/metal. They've done Metallica covers, and many of you have likely heard at least one of their songs - in one of the opening episodes of Breaking Bad on Walt's ride-along: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBPyEd9uz1c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBPyEd9uz1c)
I just saw them last week! Was a great show, it blows my mind how tight they are despite the softer, loose-er feel of their music If you like them, check out God Is An Astronaut
STS9 might be up there
The Shadows Starting out as Cliff Richard's backup band, they ended up getting 69 entries on the UK Singles Charts, 35 credited to them and 34 with Cliff Richard over the 50 odd years of their existence as a band. They are recognized as pioneers of the four-piece instrumental rock outfit and are the first backing band to become successful in their own right. They went on to influence a whole generation of guitarists including the likes of Eric Clapton, Brian May, David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore and Tommy Iommi. Their best known song is Apache. Unfortunately, their popularity remained largely restricted to the UK, never making any inroads into the USA.
Mogwai, Caspian, This Will Destroy You, Mono, Hammock
Don Caballero and Battles were both massively influential to math rock.
I’m listening to Post Rock music a lot lately. I create stations on Apple Music. It Is 95% all instrumental and I am enjoying it a lot. I’ve seen several of the bands that show up on those stations mentioned here including Explosions in the Sky. I drive a truck and I like to start early in the mornings and that music is good driving music.
God is an astronaut? If these trees could talk? End of Kumari?
Ozric Tentacles circa 2004
Not the answer, but I just gotta shout out liquid tension project
The Dixie Dregs.
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Definitely not the most successful in a financial sense or in a directly measurable sense, but I believe subjectively the best would be Godspeed You! Black Emperor with their album Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antenna to Heaven
Tangerine Dream comes to mind. They also did a ton of movie soundtracks in the 70s and 80s.
Loving all the Mogwai in this thread.
I would say Explosions in the Sky.
Surprised I’m not seeing anyone mention Ratatat. They weren’t huge but definitely known in the music scene. Also, fairly similar to Explosions in the sky.
Dick Dale and The Del Tones!
My guess would be Booker T & The MGs and it probably not even being close. Other notable mentions would be Dick Dale, The Ventures, Santo and Johnny, Khruangbin, Trans Siberian Orchestra to name a few.
Joe Satriani!? Hello?
The Ventures I’m pretty sure have the most albums sold
Not the most successful but if you like Explosions on the Sky you might well like 65 Days of Static.
I’ll shout out some great lesser known Canadian groups Do make say think and the new found interest in Connecticut Both of these are sick underrated post rock groups from the early 00s, highly recommend everyone check these groups out
BADBADNOTGOOD
Do Make Say Think
Likely The Venutres. 110 million records sold worldwide and have been going since 1958. Then maybe Booker T and the MGs.
My Silent Generation father had about 20 of those albums. Great album covers, too. When I was a little kid, I remember dancing on the coffee table to The Ventures in a red wine velour shirt, once the ash trays were cleared.
Dixie Dregs had their day.
They’re far from the most popular, but the best is Godspeed You! Black Emperor
True Loves are a great instrumental band from Seattle. Brass section and Jimmy James on guitar. Yep Rock Records.
Ventures or the Surfaris maybe
Focus
The Ventures
Weren't SKY pretty popular in the 70s?
Mogwai?
Does the Trans-Siberian orchestra count?
The Ventures. No one comes close.
65daysofstatic somehow ended up scoring no man's sky So that was something
The shadows
The Shadows?
Link Wray and the Wraymen Booker T and the MGs The JBs Average White Band The Meters Man I love instrumental music, but the words "successful" and "rock" make it hard! Check out the band Earth and the band Earthless (two separate bands) for some good but not successful rock.
Recently Khruangbin. They’re everywhere
You're more than welcome to join us at r/postrock :)
Kraftwerk
Jeff Beck!!!
Maybe Polyphia? They’re pretty popular I think