Had to go with the Beatles. Not my fav either, but as far as influence, it runs wiiiiiiiide

I voted Velvet Underground. I don't appreciate them that much anymore, but there's no doubt "Velvet Underground & Nico" was decades in the future compared to other 1967's albums. Avant-garde rock, punk, post-punk and so everything that came after that until now, including non-Rock music, owe that album a lot.

Led Zeppelin hands down.

Hard Rock?


Soft Rock?


Punk?


Grunge? (light verse heavy chorus)


90's alt rock? (Janes Addiction anyone?)

Good examples, nearly every rock-genre post Led Zeppelin was influenced by them in some way or another.

Meh, I'd definitely say that song is more of a proto-metal one than Punk. Also, punkier songs had been released years before. I can't really see any of the bands of the original punk scene (or many later, really) listing Led Zep among their main influences.

I love Led Zeppelin to my very soul. But no way they belong in the most influential category. They didn't really change rock music like some of the others mentioned. Bands like the Jeff Beck group, Free, deep Purple, etc... were doing similar things, just not as well.

Although I do think Robert Plant's vocals were very influential, maybe more than the band.

This is just influence, right? Not who's the best?

I'd have to say The Beatles for widespread influence, not only from a songwriting standpoint (1963 became the year when people realized you better write your own stuff if you wanna be successful -- I know Buddy Holly did it first, but he died yo), but also the way they approached music with songs like Tomorrow Never Knows, trying to recreate the drug experience in the studio, and I Am the Walrus, a deconstruction of meaning blah blah blah.

Not reading through this. I'm sure this was said a thousand times already but, uh, Chuck Berry?

^The architect of rock n roll.

Rockin' around with Ollie Vee by Buddy Holly defines rock and roll and using the Fender Stratocaster.