The best family bands of all time

While animated guitarist Angus Young was the true showman of this legendary rock outfit, brother Malcolm might have been the backbone of AC/DC. The two brothers were the prominent songwriters in the group, with Malcolm known for creating some of the band’s many memorable riffs — like those found on “Hell’s Bells” or “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Malcolm also played a vital role in the business aspect of the band, while a third brother, George Young, produced some of its early efforts.

Brothers Duane and Gregg Allman didn’t have the chance to spend significant time playing together in one of the great Southern rock bands of all time. Just two studio albums and the widely celebrated At Fillmore East live record from 1971. With Duane’s death as result of a motorcycle accident in October 1971, it was a matter of just how big a success the brothers could have been together. Though Gregg and the group continued on to influence many rockers that were to come. 

Scott and Seth Avett were born into a musical family that included their guitar-playing father and a grandmother who was a professional pianist. They played in separate bands for a time before coming together for The Avett Brothers, with guitarist John Twomey and stand-up bassist Bob Crawford. Delivering their blend of indie rock, folk and bluegrass, the Avetts have been nominated for three Grammy Awards since 2013. They remain one of the most innovative bands around — regardless of genre.

Pushed by their rather overbearing father, Murry, Wilson brothers Carl, Brian and Dennis were groomed for musical stardom — whether they liked it or not. Add in cousin Mike Love and his versatile vocal stylings, and The Beach Boys were kings of the surf rock scene during the early and middle 1960s. They then took on a more progressive and experimental sound with 1966 classic Pet Sounds, considered one of the greatest albums of all time. The Beach Boys have had more 30 songs crack the Top 40 and totaled four No. 1 records on Billboard‘s Hot 100.

When it came to belting out brilliant three-part harmonies, not many did it better than Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. Better known as the Bee Gees, the trio went from crooning passionate love songs and ballads during the 1960s and much of the ’70s to becoming stars of the disco era. The latter, thanks to their work on the massively successful Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers recorded nine songs that reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Simply put, the brother-sister duo of Richard and Karen Carpenter were freaking talented. Their beloved lyrical brilliance was present in such songs as “Superstar,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” and “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” and superb musicianship was always on display. The Carpenters were staples of adult contemporary radio for three decades, starting during the late 1960s, and often appeared on television specials. The pair sold more than 90 million records and maintains a legacy that’s still celebrated. 

Though CCR is by far the most recognized and celebrated band the Fogerty brothers were part of, guitarists John and Tom along with bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford had been playing together professionally since the late 1950s. Though the band officially called it quits in 1972, its musical legacy remains strong. Thanks to classic rock hits like “Fortunate Son,” “Proud Mary,” and “Down on the Corner,” CCR was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

For a longer-than-brief spell during the 1980s, the pop music world could not get enough of DeBarge. As many as seven members of the DeBarge family were part of the band — best known for the 1985 smash “Rhythm of the Night,” which No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Though El DeBarge, the most prominent member of the group, left for a solo career and personal issues limited the band’s stay to roughly a decade, DeBarge remains a memorable pop force of the 1980s.

Two is often better than one. That’s certainly the case with Devo, which was led by two sets of brothers — Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh and Gerald and Bob Casale. Devo’s blend of post-punk, new wave and electronica was captivating, especially during the late 1970s and into the ’80s. And more than just “Whip It.” Their quirky on-stage antics, kitschy costumes and conceptually creative and live shows made Devo a can’t-miss outfit back in the day. The group is still touring, even after the 2014 death of Bob Casale.

Music has always filled the Haim household. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana have certainly made a name for themselves since busting on to the indie/pop rock scene with their stellar debut Days Gone By from 2013. However, before they reached stardom as a three-piece while opening for the likes of Mumford and Sons, The Killers and Taylor Swift, they really had the family-band vibe going while playing their parents as little kids.

Once we got past “MMMBop” from 1996, we realized that Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson are truly talented musicians. And quite versatile, too, when considering they play roughly seven different instruments between them. The brothers have put out 11 studio albums (as of 2018) and been nominated for five Billboard Music Awards and taken home hardware from MTV international and two Kids’ Choice Awards.

While countless members have come and gone over the decades, Heart has always been solidified and run by the legendary sister duo of Ann and Nancy Wilson. Anne’s operatic yet gritty vocals combined with Nancy’s ability to shred on the guitar made Heart one of the most successful hard rock acts of the 1970s. When the ’80s rolled around, the band polished its sound even further to find more radio success and a new generation of fans through MTV. In 2013, Heart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Late frontman Michael Hutchence was the face of this massively popular Australian band. However, brothers Andrew (keyboards), Jon (drums) and Tim Farriss (lead guitar) founded the band and were obviously central to the group’s overall success. Andrew, along with Hutchence, did most of the writing in the band and helped pen such classics as “What You Need,” “New Sensation,” and “Never Tear Us Apart.

What more can be said about the Jacksons? Created by family patriarch Joe Jackson, the group initially featured brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine. Younger brothers Marlon and, of course, Michael joined soon after inception. During the late 1960s, The Jacksons were kings of Motown records and first group to debut with four straight singles to top Billboard‘s Hot 100 — “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.” Years later, following the massive success of Michael’s solo success with Thriller, the brothers reunited for the hotly anticipated Victory Tour.

Comprised of brothers Caleb (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jared (bass, keyboards), Matthew (lead guitar), and Nathan (drum) Followill. Kings of Leon, armed with a taste for alternative and southern rock, got things going in the late 1990s and released its first studio album in 2003. They cut their collective teeth while touring with heavyweights like U2 and Pearl Jam. Since then, they put out seven more studio records (as of 2021) and won four Grammy Awards — including three for 2010’s “Use Somebody” single. 

Formed by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in London during the early 1960s, The Kinks offered the perfect blend of rock and pop. The Kinks offered something edgier and grittier than what the Beatles were doing. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968) is considered by rock critics far and wide to be one of the great concept albums of all time. Van Halen, The Clash, and Oasis are just a few of the many bands who considered The Kinks to be a major influence on their overall sound.

The relationship between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher is almost as entertaining as the music they’ve created with Oasis. However, just getting the two on the same stage at the same time has been a chore over the years. Oasis was one of the world’s biggest bands during the 1990s into the 2000s, but the volatility between the brothers was a major reason why the band split prior to 2010. Both still make music and perform individually. Die-hards are holding out hope that an Oasis reunion, with the brothers Gallagher, will still happen.

The pride of Oakland, Calif., the Pointer Sisters started in 1969 and blossomed as a trio with June, Anita and Ruth as the mainstays. The sisters churned out hits spanning just about every genre from pop to country to disco to rock. The three-time Grammy-winning artists really hit it big in the 1980s with radio-friendly hits and MTV favorites like “Jump (For My Love),” “I’m So Excited” and “Neutron Dance.” 

Identical Canadian twins Tegan and Sara Quin have been going strong since the mid-1990s. The popular indie/pop sister act has put out nine studio albums (as of 2019), been nominated for a Grammy, and released a memoir (High School). However, Tegan and Sara might be best known for the Academy Award-nominated single “Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie (2014), which introduced the sisters to a more mainstream — and younger — audience.

Brothers Alex and Eddie Van Halen were born in Amsterdam within a musical family. The boys then set out to make music their profession when the family moved to Pasadena, Calif., in the early 1960s. They eventually hooked up with blue-collar bassist Michael Anthony and charismatic frontman David Lee Roth. The rest was rock and roll history. With a legacy still celebrated. Thanks to Alex’s steady, often thundering drumming, and Eddie’s legendary, virtuosic guitar work, Van Halen grew to become one of the biggest bands in the world in the 1980s and into the early 1990s.