Top 10 Musical Siblings

When it comes to bands of brothers, there’s often one brother that ends up standing out and stealing all the limelight. Luckily, in the case of the Allman Brothers, both Gregg and Duane played equally important roles in the band’s success. With Gregg on vocals, organ and songwriting duty, Duane was able to show off his amazing talent on guitar. Their 1971 live release, At Fillmore East, is probably one of the best live albums ever, and cemented the band’s success. Despite Duane’s untimely death, the band continued to record and was eventually inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

When the insanely catchy and deeply profound lyrics of “Mmmbop” hit airwaves in 1997, it was pretty clear that brothers Zac, Isaac and Taylor would become teen heartthrobs. While we’re not really sure what the song is about, it earned these Oklahoma brothers three Grammy nominations. Fast-forward to 2014, and the brothers are still recording together. They have eight top 40 albums, eleven children between the three of them, and even have their own beer—MMMHops. Best. Name. Ever.

Lead vocalist and guitarist John Fogerty might have been a tad too controlling for brother Tom, who would eventually leave the band in 1971. John’s songwriting along with Tom’s rhythm guitar gave CCR its highly original sound and made them the voice of a generation. Singing about catfish, the Bayou, and the Mississippi River, CCR embraced the Southern rock style. Despite only being active for 5 years, CCR managed to score numerous hits and even headlined Woodstock.

Brothers Alex and Eddie Van Halen grew up in a musical household. Their dad Jan was also a musician and passed on his passion for music to his sons. Alex eventually took up the drums while Eddie chose the guitar. Luckily, the two lads get along just fine with each other, while everyone else, well…not so much. The band has gone through three lead singers and a bassist. While the Van Halen name has been cursed with lineup changes, the original brothers still enjoyed enormous success.

As far as sibling rivalries go, it doesn't get much more entertaining than the Gallagher brothers. Amidst the fistfights, public name-callings, breaking of guitars and the like, these two Manchester born lads still managed to have a rather long and lucrative run. But alas, after threatening to quit the band time and time again—like when Liam questioned the legitimacy of Noel’s daughter, which resulted in physical violence—Noel finally said goodbye for good in 2009.

At number five on our list are brothers who really know how to rock. With Angus on lead guitar and Malcolm on rhythm guitar, the Young brothers formed AC/DC in 1973. Pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal, AC/DC would become one of the most iconic bands of all time, selling over 200 million albums worldwide. While band members came and went—some fired, others passed—the Young brothers never abandoned ship, until 2014, when Malcolm was forced into retirement due to severe illness.

Known for their catchy tunes that make you want to get up and dance, the Pointer Sister sit at number four on our list. Going from a duo of just June and Bonnie in the late 1960s, to a trio that would include Anita, then to a quartet with Ruth, and back to a trio with the departure of Bonnie, the Pointer Sisters proved that sometimes music really is a family affair. The R&B legends have multiple Grammy’s under their belts, and would later go on to welcome their daughters into the group.

After years of jamming with younger brothers Dennis and Carl, Brian formed the Beach Boys, one of the most iconic boy bands of all time. Joined by cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, the Beach Boys sang about the California sun and surf. With beautiful harmonies and musical arrangements, their songs featured a distinct sound and even influenced other musical greats like the Beatles. Sadly, the only remaining living brother in the band is Brian, who continues to please fans with reunion tours and the occasional new album.

Disco would not be disco without the funky tunes of the Gibb brothers. Starting off as a rock act in the 1960s, their early hits showcased the distinct vibrato lead vocals of Robin. By the 1970s and 80s, their disco sound was full of Barry’s R&B falsetto, which can be heard on the iconic Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Writing all their own hits, the Gibb brothers would go on to become one of the world’s best-selling artists, with over 220 million albums sold worldwide. Sadly, only Barry is still alive today.

And before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Aaron and Bryce Dessner, and Bryan and Scott Devendorfs
The National

Win and Will Butler
Arcade Fire

Ann and Nancy Wilson
Heart

Don and Phil Everly
The Everly Brothers

Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill
Kings of Leon

Dave and Ray Davies
The Kinks

At number one on our list is a group that needs no introduction. Founded by brothers Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie and Michael, and later joined by Randy, the Jackson 5 were one of the most popular and successful Motown acts ever. The first group to have their first four singles hit number one on the charts, the Jacksons took the world by storm with their amazing talent, cool Afros and lovable personalities. Oh yeah, and they launched the career of the King of Pop . . . not bad for five brothers from Gary, Indiana.

Do you agree with our list? Who are your favorite musical siblings? For more rockin’ top 10s published daily, join Watchmojo.com.