Most influential musicians/bands?

[BankShot]

Originally Posted by NoName22

I give up.

You're way more bland & generic than I thought.

....and you are equally as worthless as I thought. Congrats.

[andgar923]

Beatles.

They've influenced more artists directly and indirectly in the history of music, and have continued to do so.

Sure.... many of the artists mentioned here influenced others indirectly and directly, but how many have continued to influence throughout the years?

Not as much as the Beatles have.

How many artists are still strongly and directly influenced by The Byrds? or Dylan? or Beach Boys? or Funk Brothers? or even James Brown?

We might find an artist here and there that say they have, but then those same artists will say their 'major' influence was the Beatles. Artists are usually influenced by an array of other artists, but The Beatles are usually the artist's main influence and they continue to be so.

[Randy]

The Beatles wouldn't exist if it wasn't for



and

[heyhey]

Originally Posted by Randy

The Beatles wouldn't exist if it wasn't for



and

love them both that's what's up.

I remember my grandfather uses to go on rants about how much better Berry was than elvis.

[Dasher]

Parliament/Funkadelic
OutKast
Isaac Hayes
Siouxsie Sue and The Banshees
Joy Division
Kraftwerk
David Bowie
Muddy Waters
Prince

[JtotheIzzo]

Depends on the genre.

Hip Hop:
James Brown

Punk:
The Ramones

Rock and Roll:
Chuck Berry

Country:
Merle Haggard

Grunge:
Neil Young

Boy Bands:
New Edition

Crooning:
Frank Sinatra

[andgar923]

Originally Posted by Randy

The Beatles wouldn't exist if it wasn't for



and

True, they wouldn't exist but it doesn't mean that they were the most influential.

The Beatles influenced not only artists in their generation, but generations afterward unlike any artist (modern music) since.

And.... we still see and hear their influence TODAY.

[JtotheIzzo]

Originally Posted by andgar923

True, they wouldn't exist but it doesn't mean that they were the most influential.

The Beatles influenced not only artists in their generation, but generations afterward unlike any artist (modern music) since.

And.... we still see and hear their influence TODAY.

influence is like a pyramid scheme.

everyone the Beatles influenced further enhances the influence of those who influenced the Beatles.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by pete's montreux

No, they're not. The Beach Boys, Motown and James Brown have just as good as an argument than the Beatles.

No, they really don't.

The Beach Boys...or at least Brian Wilson... are personal favorites. But they readily admit that they chased the Beatles as the measuring stick all throughout the 60's. Their international appeal lasted a very short period of time, mostly because of the Beatles stranglehold on the charts and the public.

Motown isn't a musician or a band.

James Brown had nowhere near the commercial success, nor the longevity at the top of the game, that the Beatles had.

All were influential. None were remotely close to having the influence that the Beatles did.

People like to be contrarian and interject personal preference. The Beatles changed fashion, hairstyles, attitudes, social mores. Spoke about relevant topics in an era before musicians were afforded that luxury. Owned their own music and publishing rights, again when that wasn't the norm. Wrote, sold and are played more than any other two artists combined.

Everyone was influenced by someone. Nobody's influence was as far reaching or long lasting.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by ProfessorMurder

Really?! Onto the second page without the one, the only:

Frank Zappa

Likely the only composer of the rock era whose work will be studied decades from now. But intellectual interest doesn't equal influence.

I saw FZ live more than any other band or performer in my lifetime. But he's not close to the most influential.

[crisoner]

This is what I think...

Modern Rock.....

The Beatles

Heavy Metal...

Led Zeppelin

Modern Country...

Elvis

Hip Hop...

Run DMC

Rap Music...

NWA

[TennesseeFan]

The Mars Volta



King Crimson



Jethro Tull



Yes



Chicago (Before Terry Kath died)

[JMT]

Originally Posted by TennesseeFan

=
Yes

Chicago (Before Terry Kath died)



]

You go to the trouble of qualifying Chicago "before Terry Kath died", but show Yes when they became the Buggles?!?

Not that either has any place in the discussion (though more so than Jethro Tull, I suppose), but at least strive for some level of credibility.

[pete's montreux]

I couldn't disagree with anyone more on the Beatles and I don't really care enough to argue.

[B-Low]

Haven't seen her mentioned but even if you don't like her music Madonna's hugely influential with most modern female artists. All the wild/risque outfits, the sexual styles and lyrics etc.