Top 40 South African Rock Legends

The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Rock Lists > Top Artists > Top 40 South African Rock Legends

A list of South Africa’s Rock Legends compiled in July 2001, updated June 2008. I’ve also listed representative songs for each artist; either their most well-known song / biggest hit and / or a personal favourite.

Brian Currin

1. The A-Cads – Hungry For Love, Roadrunner
2. Asylum Kids – Fight It With Your Mind, Schoolboy*, No No No No
3. Robin Auld – Baby You’ve Been Good To Me, Perfect Day
4. Ballyhoo – Man On The Moon
5. Baxtop – Jo Bangles
6. Big Sky – Waiting For The Dawn, Slow Dancing
7. Piet Botha – Goeienag Generaal, Sien Jou Weer
8. Bright Blue – Weeping, Window On The World*
9. Circus – Conquistador
10. Johnny Clegg – Kilimanjaro (with Juluka), Scatterlings of Africa (with Savuka)
11. Dog Detachment – Waiting For A Miracle*
12. Lesley Rae Dowling – Grips Of Emotion, The Spaniard
13. Ella Mental – See Yourself (Clowns)*
14. éVoid – Shadows, Taximan*
15. Falling Mirror – Johnny Calls The Chemist, Making Out With Granny
16. Freedoms Children – 1999
17. Crocodile Harris – Give Me The Good News, Miss Eva Goodnight
18. Hawk – Here Comes The Sun
19. Hotline – You’re So Good To Me, So Cold
20. John Ireland – You’re Living Inside My Head
21. Jack Hammer – Street of Love, Sarajevo
22. Just Jinger – Sugar Man
23. Koos Kombuis – Who Killed Kurt Cobain
24. Julian Laxton – Celebrate
25. Little Sister – No Man Shall Fall, Dear Abbie
26. Mauritz Lotz – Six String Razor
27. McCully Workshop – Buccaneer
28. Morocko – Bowtie Boogaloo
29. Otis Waygood Blues Band – Fever
30. Peach – Nightmare, Complicated Game*
31. Rabbitt – Hold On To Love, Charlie, Hard Ride
32. Radio Rats – ZX Dan
33. Margaret Singana – Tribal Fence
34. Neill Solomon – Roxy Lady
35. Stingray – Better The Devil You Know
36. Suck – Aimless Lady
37. Sweatband – This Boy*
38. The Spectres – Be Bop Pop, Teddy Bear*
39. Tribe After Tribe – Damsel (As I Went Out One Morning)*
40. Via Afrika – Hey Boy*

Honourable mentions

• Abstract Truth – Blue Wednesday Speaks, Silver Trees
• Clout – Substitute, You Got All Of Me
• Finch And Henson – Playgrounds In Paradise, Kokstad (On The Road)
• Brian Finch – I Remember You

* Tracks released on Rocking Against The System CD in March 2002.