Without sounding elitist, you forgot Robert Johnson.. and here endeth the thread.

With all due respect Robert Johnson is not a Rock artist or a Rock n roll artist. Man there is even a difference between 50's Rock & roll and what a lot of people just call Rock music that came out in the 60's. I know some oldtimers will disagree with me on that point.

Sorry, but I'm voting The Kinks with 2nd Being VU and 3rd being The Beatles

Robert Johnson was THE original Rock star. He sold his soul to the devil. You can't get more Rock n Roll than that. My post was more of a reminder of Robert Johnson's utmost importance to music and to me he is the most influential.

Just curious: How many blatant rip offs of Beatles songs have been made?

I dunno, Oasis alone have a pretty good sized discography.

The Chemical Brothers 'Setting Sun', a psychedelic techno-rocker which cleverly builds upon the legacy of the Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows' (heck, in a way, it is 'Tomorrow Never Knows' - just listen to that Ringo beat!

Radiohead song "Karma Police" is based on "Sexy Sadie" and "Paraniod Andriod" is based on "Happiness is a Warm Gun". The most blatant is Jet "Look What you Have Done".

Dylan is basically the reason the term "musical influence" was coined. Him or the true king, Buddy Holly.

The Beatles, of course ! :D

The Kinks>VU>Bob Dylan>The Beatles
In order of influence, The Beatles really shouldn't be getting as many votes.