In your opinion, who is it? Try to look beyond commercial success alone. Think influence and how they shaped the genre. Personally, i would say Alice Cooper. Not the greatest rock music out there but he/they entirely transformed rock. Before AC it was hippy, social protest, political type stuff. Then suddenly a band who broke all the rules, and didnt really have a message other than pissing people off and challenging the status quo. It was dark, edgy, and way ahead of its time. Alice Cooper's bizarre image also opened the door for Kiss, Marilyn Manson, (perhaps even Lady Gaga much later) and many other imitators... the whole culture of rock shifted from "peace and love" to "badass". Enormously significant for the development of Rock, and honestly for all music. Would be interested to hear yalls' take on the subject
The Beatles. They occupied "the center" of Rock music. They pushed technology, social trends, stylistic changes, they pioneered Merchandising, etc.
I figured this would be at least half the responses! Difficult to argue with though. Mine is kind of a stretch.
Definitely The Beatles. I have a hard time seeing any sort of particularly transformational value in Alice Cooper; there were plenty of other bands of that era doing edgy, "bad boy" stuff... Ozzy Osbourne, and the Rolling Stones, just off the top of my head, and dozens of others if I sat and thought about it. Not to say that Alice Cooper wasn't an interesting band of its era, just... not one I'd describe as particularly influential compared to, say, Beatles or the Stones or, arguably, Jefferson Airplane or the Byrds (though the latter two certainly fall more into the "hippie/psychedelic" category).
Led Zeppelin and Hendrix were very influential too. As was Van Halen. Not just for tapping but really pushing guitar and amp technology.
Fair enough, but i think youre downplaying Alice Cooper. The bad boy image may not have been unique to him but look at alice's stage performances. Dressing in drag, first to do it. Guillotines on stage, straight jackets. This was groundbreaking showmanship. The stones may have been bad boys, but they didnt touch the sheer weirdness of Alice Cooper. Also i may be wrong but i believe he pre-dated Black Sabbath (also extremely imporant and arguably the founders of metal). Clearly the Beatles are gonna win out on this one, but i was hoping for some other options haha! They are such an easy choice! I tried to steer the prompt toward lesser known bands but no success, too many beatles fans are gonna represent. Lol
Throw in my second for the Beatles. I'm sure a lot of those wouldn't have happened it if weren't for them. There's a line in a Bad Company song that goes "Johnny was a schoolboy, when he heard his first Beatles song." That's what inspired the protagonist to be a musician, a milestone in his life. I imagine they did not choose that band on a whim.
If I am to follow the "objective" line here, I'll say Black Sabbath. Their dark vibrations can be heard so clearly to this day in rock and metal music. Plus they featured Ronnie James Dio for a period (or well, two periods). He popularized the Sign of the Horns in rock music and has been a major contributor to the genre. So has Ozzy and the rest of Black Sabbath, of course.
I cannot give one band, I am unable to do so. I have a list. All are influential, important, awesome and their music is awesome. The Beatles, Black Sabbath, The Rolling Stones. Many people would argue about who's more important or great. I love music personally, it is impossible for me to name one band although I am a bit partial to the Beatles.
I'd go as far as to say Sabbath are almost certianly the most important Heavy Metal band if not the most important rock band.
The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley. Honourable mention because I'm from Liverpool which means I'm obliged to mention them: The Beatles.
I think many have influenced great bands over the years. One I haven't seen posted yet, left an impression, is still loved, and playing is Bob Dylan
