Most influential band ever

[flatearth]

What is the most influential band ever, and why? I want to hear what do you think.

My choice is Elvis. He brought rock'n'roll to the masses. He defied the moral censorship of the era, and made the society much more open to other ways of entertainment than the established norm.

 

[Labyrinth]

Beatles. Elvis. Pink Floyd for this era.

 

[flatearth]

Beatles. Elvis. Pink Floyd for this era.

Care to elaborate and tell why?

 

[Labyrinth]

Beatles. Elvis. Pink Floyd for this era.

Care to elaborate and tell why?

The Beatles were the first to really spread the idea of band fandom internationally, especially to places like NZ and Australia. They had massive support for tours and the like, and even to this day their music is loved, played and idolised. It will remain immortal, I predict, for many years to come.

Elvis didn't get the title "The King" without being one of the most recognisable icons for both the era and the early movement of rock'n'roll. He is known and revered worldwide. Who else has entire towns dressing up and mimicking his actions?

Pink Floyd I put down because I genuinely believe they brought great change to music. Dark Side Of The Moon and The Wall are two obvious examples to put up. The former remains one of the most popular albums ever made, along with wide critical acclaim of being one of the best. Pink Floyd is another band who will continue for generations to come.

 

[rossatdi]

I wouldn't say they were the most influential but I think the following are pretty damn important:

The Animals because you can hear their style in every vaguely rock edged indie band with a bit of blues in them.
The Sex Pistols (for the attitude) and The Clash (for the politics) because without them punk would have just been another poser scene for the kids. These guys turned the vaguely interesting music of the Ramones to actually stand for something (okay it didn't last long and a lot of people were scenesters but not all of them).

PS
God help me, anyone notice the Guitar Hero version of Pretty Vacant by the Pistols has had guitar solos added? Wtf? Seriously what the fuck. Sex Pistols could barely play their instruments, they were not about fucking guitar solos.

 

[Altorin]

I wouldn't say they were the most influential but I think the following are pretty damn important:

The Animals because you can hear their style in every vaguely rock edged indie band with a bit of blues in them.
The Sex Pistols (for the attitude) and The Clash (for the politics) because without them punk would have just been another poser scene for the kids. These guys turned the vaguely interesting music of the Ramones to actually stand for something (okay it didn't last long and a lot of people were scenesters but not all of them).

PS
God help me, anyone notice the Guitar Hero version of Pretty Vacant by the Pistols has had guitar solos added? Wtf? Seriously what the fuck. Sex Pistols could barely play their instruments, they were not about fucking guitar solos.

Guitar Hero is about guitar solos though, and the sex pistols that are still alive supported the song. I wouldn't cry foul too loudly.

 

[rossatdi]

Guitar Hero is about guitar solos though, and the sex pistols that are still alive supported the song. I wouldn't cry foul too loudly.

If the song doesn't have guitar solos why is it being crammed into a game about them? It's not like all punk bands didn't. The Clash and Gang of Four have some fantastic riffs, but, oh wait, they're not as famous!

No, the Sex Pistols did not support the song. Sid Vicious is dead. The remaining Sex Pistols, now old and worried about their pensions are selling out masterfully, supported it - big deal. Lucas supported the raping of his own franchise, it's essentially the same thing. I don't begrudge them for it, they're not the idealists of the punk bands. However to pick a song that isn't guitar lead and change it seems unbelievably pointless.

 

[Jaythulhu]

Geez, there's so many. Hell, look back to motzart, or bach, then go beyond them. Music has evolved and changed, but it's been a constant through human development. If you really wanted to look for the most influential "band" ever, you'd probably have to look at the first humans to bang rocks together with a rythm.

That said... the band that's had the most influence on me has to be the Doug-Anthony All-Stars.

 

[mkb07a]

Hmm... Most influential? I'll go ahead and repeat The Beatles and Elvis, for the reasons already stated.

And, just to open up another side of this, because it's looking like it's heading for straight rock and the OT doesn't specify rock... Johnny Cash. His style, his storytelling, and his personality (once he put down the bottle) have influenced, IMO, every generation of country music in the United States.

Also, Bob Dylan. I shouldn't have to explain that one. He just is.

EDIT: And Leadbelly! Damn! He's one of the markers of an entire genre of music! I hate myself now for forgetting him.

 

[Killerbunny001]

Beatles. Elvis. Pink Floyd for this era.

I would add The Rolling Stones.

I don`t think influential is what you originally wanted to say, because clearly the ones mentioned above were the lucky ones because they performed in the communication era thus they had the best coverage, thus they influenced most people. But as it can easily be seen formulating the question like this clearly leaves the great classics out of the equation.

 

[Slycne]

Surprised no one has mentioned Buddy Holly. While his influence on music was tragically cut short you can still see it today.

 

[mkb07a]

Surprised no one has mentioned Buddy Holly. While his influence on music was tragically cut short you can still see it today.

Fun Fact: Buddy Holly recorded his first album in my hometown. The record studio still stands to this day, and gives daily tours.

 

[CoziestPigeon]

The Clash was pretty stinkin important to music.

 

[Fanboy]

The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Who... That's a few I can think of off the top of my head.

If you only want one, I'll vote Beatles.

 

[Lukeje]

A toss up between Iggy and the Stooges, and the Velvet Underground... they invented punk music... and inspired basically everyone who saw them to pick up a guitar and form a band...

 

[searanox]

Hmm... I'd say Bloodbath.

Okay so it's probably the Beatles for bands, Elvis for solo artists. But that's no fun.

 

[Jaythulhu]

I know he's not a band, but Jimi Hendrix has been highly influential to music.

Michael Jackson has had a big impact on pop groups/solo performers. Not one of them can give a performance or do a video clip without "borrowing" his moves.

 

[Lukeje]

I know he's not a band, but Jimi Hendrix has been highly influential to music.

You mean 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience'?

 

[Jaythulhu]

He did have an actual band? Amazing. I thought it was just him with some backup players, not bandmates. Groovy. The day's only 5 minutes old and already I've learnt something.

 

[r4ndom]

Elvis wasn't a band.

Most influential... Robert Johnson, the blues magician.

Without a doubt, more influential than the Beatles. (without him there wouldn't be a beatles)