Are there any great american bands left?   

your not the only one my brother that was my era, saw them all live on stage plus the doors, joplin, pink floyd, grace slick, there's nothin like the rif hendrix plays on "are you experienced" still gives me chills. you keep rocking my young friend and dont let anyone stop ya. you would have loved woodstock. keep the peace brother put on stairway to heaven sit back and relax.

Chickenfoot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYwAGCyrio

You've got to be open to new rock, and I'm not talking screamo or emo crud that is only sweet sounding to 14 year old girls. Listen to Metric (a combination of two Canadians and two Americans), and they've got an awesome sound and some great lyrics. Female vocalist who knows what rock music is. The White Stripes (and Jack White solo) are also pretty good new rock, same with System of a Down who are no longer together but had a VERY interesting sound and some wacky lyrics but are good for head banging.

Even Metallica has lost it's original metal touch. You should have more resources to know more of a few good bands nowadays designer.

Great American bands is a fairly subjective description. First of all, great is a matter of one's own opinion, and what do you mean by American? I know that seems silly, but some people have different perceptions. Anyway, there is still tons of music from every genre. Certainly everything is not "emo" or heavy metal. You are just experiencing the same thing that happens with every generation. When you grow up listening to a particular genre of music and it's famous artists, when they fade to the background as music evolves you are going to wonder what happened. The same thing will happen to people in my generation when today's modern rock and hip-hop turn into something new and entirely different. Music changes with time, while people's preferences are not so transferrable.

i dont like bands nowaday. nothing special. easy forgotten songs. they cant create something long lasting.