These wold have been in a particular order, but I’m an indecisive little boy. And to be clear, this is not a list of my favorite bands or a list of people that were influential to me, but rather a list of artists that once popular, inspired other people to become musicians.
Without further ado,
1.) The Ramones
2.) The Cure
3.) NOFX
4.) NWA
5.) Eminem
6.) Bad Religion
7.) The Ataris
8.) Green Day
9.) Blink 182
10.) Bon Jovi
drchaotica on August 22nd, 2007 at 5:55 am says:
I think you are missing a few key bands…. metallica for instance….
Ams on October 20th, 2007 at 1:50 pm says:
Are you fucking serious? What are you, 12? That has got to be the lamest list of “influnetial bands of my generation”. You must be pretty fucking lame, kid.
music on January 9th, 2008 at 1:37 am says:
very interesting.
i’m adding in RSS Reader
music on January 31st, 2008 at 9:50 pm says:
What do you mean ?
Mike Cohen on April 4th, 2008 at 10:03 pm says:
How can you leave out The Clash?
Ross on April 4th, 2008 at 10:39 pm says:
I’m certainly not going to be as rude as some of the other folks, but Bon Jovi?
Austin on April 4th, 2008 at 11:09 pm says:
and you totally missed the pixies. the pixies were known for rolling through a town and leaving a handful of new bands behind when they left.
and i’m pretty sure nirvana inspired more bands than nofx, blink 182, and bad religion combined.
green day i might give you… however, guns n roses inspired more people than bon jovi. and metallica inspired even more.
moserw on April 4th, 2008 at 11:32 pm says:
Can agree only with Bon Jovi on the list myself. A lot of my favorites like Dire Straits, The Eagles, Pink Floyd are missing, but then again music is a personal choice. Shall try to catch up on the artists mentioned on this list.
moserw
http://www.nela.in
Guillaume Theoret on April 4th, 2008 at 11:53 pm says:
I would’ve swapped NWA for Metallica but other than that I pretty much agree.
As for The Clash, I have no idea how old Jake is but looking at his list he’s probably about the same age as I am (24) and he said his generation. The Clash was the previous generation. Same goes for Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, etc.
BRCrossman on April 5th, 2008 at 4:56 am says:
BAD RELIGION!
Steve on April 5th, 2008 at 7:15 am says:
All of those artists aren’t even in the same generation…so how can they be the most influential of your generation?
@ndry on April 5th, 2008 at 7:15 am says:
and what about Kurt’s band - Nirvana - the Foo’s are also missing
Melissa Donovan on April 5th, 2008 at 5:13 pm says:
You may not like her, but you left out Madonna, who I’m pretty sure has way more influence than just about anyone else on this list. She inspired an entire generation of early millennium popsters. I am not naming them, however. Actually, this list is missing female artists altogether, though I’m not familiar with the Ataris.
For the record, the Cure is my fave!
You could also add U2, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Prince, MICHAEL JACKSON (hello!). Take out Bon Jovi (they’re lame) and Blink 182 (still too new).
I don’t agree with your list but it’s definitely interesting.
drfindley on April 6th, 2008 at 11:06 pm says:
This is all subject so so much opinion, but frankly Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, REM, The Pixies, Pavement, U2, Neil Young, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan have individually done more to influence music than your entire list combined. I guess if you’re saying what music has influenced you, you’ve got something. These are the artists (and I’m sure several others I’m leaving out) are the raw talent that so many artists have drawn upon to make make their unique style of music.
4fthawaiian on April 7th, 2008 at 5:43 am says:
Three little letters.. So important.. R.E.M.
Also, you totally forgot the VU. Seriously.
Prentiss Riddle on April 7th, 2008 at 8:28 am says:
I don’t disagree that these are influential artists, but they don’t sound like a generation to me. From the Ramones to Eminem and Green Day? That’s quite a span. I’m pushing 50: the Ramones predate me, and I’d lost all interest in the top 40 long before Eminem and Green Day.
I’ve heard it said that in pop music, a generation is four years. Makes sense to me.
davienne on April 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am says:
dude. we belong to different generations!
Jason on April 7th, 2008 at 3:44 pm says:
I have to say/agree that The Pixies, Janes Addiction, Nirvana, The Smiths, and U2 are missing on this list.
keif on April 7th, 2008 at 10:56 pm says:
Are you immortal, or what?
I’d have to toss in Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Rage Against The Machine, Pearl Jam, Motorhead, Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, amongst others…
I don’t know if I could really justify “just” ten.
Marv on April 8th, 2008 at 9:06 am says:
Dude you’re younger than me and that list is terrible. The Ramones and The Cure did their “best” (both completely overrated) work before our generation.
You must have been a baby when NWA were around the individuals from NWA yes have been very influential but them to you no way and come on if you were 7 do you think you had any idea of what they were on about! I think not
Blink 182 what the hell have they influenced? Bad taste in dress and some pathetic bands.
Bon Jovi you kinding right!
The only one you got right was Eminem!
West on April 8th, 2008 at 11:12 am says:
I’m old (37) and I am completely befuddled when you say The Ramones. They were washed up by the time I was a kid.
While attending Musician’s Institute, I witnessed that whole Seattle thing blow up. 1991, was the tail end (thank God) of the Hair Band era and Southern California was just lost. We were confused and didn’t know what to play and it took a while before bands were actually good again. Soundgarden, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nirvana, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Suicidal Tendancies, dare I say “Ministry” were all the bands that are influencing the bands that are out today.
I was playing in clubs the same time Korn and those bands were coming up……they all took off from the grunge/raprock/industrial sound…..oh…you left out Trent Reznor and his freakish style…..I think your list might be a little off……by the way, these are not my favorite bands, just the bands that I saw influence a loto of what you’re hearing on KROQ even today.
krystyn on April 8th, 2008 at 11:30 am says:
Just reading this post and comments makes me giggle at the huge difference between generations. One could argue that The Ramones influenced Green Day, Bad Religion and Blink 182. If anything they weren’t original… Dead Milkmen, Black Flagg, Minutemen, Minor Threat (later Fugazi), and countless other late 80’s hardcore bands crafted sounds similar to Green Day, Bad Religion and Blink 182 long before they hit the scene.
I’d credit Ice Cube, Beastie Boys or Public Enemy over Eminem. Or at least Dr. Dre.
Ataris and NOFX, while newer, I agree with. They created new sounds, and while I’m sure influenced by previous generations, helped create a new genre of music.
I’d definitely lose Bon Jovi on this list. All he did was make 80’s hair metal accessible to the masses.
Missing: Interpol. If I hear another “up and coming” band with an ethereal slide guitar or Carlos D. bass line I’m gonna lose it.
Uncut magazine recently had a great issue where they asked other artists what their favorite Smiths songs were, and why. Cool to see how many different generations and genres were influenced by them.
I also agree with Jason regarding Nirvana, although ironically he also lists Pixies, who both Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl have confessed to ripping off in their early songs.
Chuck on April 8th, 2008 at 12:27 pm says:
I realize I’m an old fart, but c’mon! No ‘Mats???????
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Replacements
Mr Lady on April 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm says:
I have no idea who you are, but I think I love you.
ReTodd on April 9th, 2008 at 9:46 am says:
Jane’s Addiction - that is all
Bucio on April 11th, 2008 at 3:43 pm says:
The Ramones, so cool, is my fav, god music
Xytrex on April 12th, 2008 at 4:51 pm says:
If you were born in the 80’s this list isn’t too bad, although I’d add Radiohead and some of the Grunge bands (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc…)
gerard on April 13th, 2008 at 4:12 am says:
which generation is yours?
James on April 13th, 2008 at 7:05 am says:
You need English lessons. You should have titled it “Top 10 All Time Artitsts Most Influential of My Generation”
But this proves a valid point. as a Millenial, as they call you, you have the tendency of stealing culture from other generations and calling it your own and acting as if it is
I’m 32, and when I take my family out to the mall or such for a fun day, I see kids like you. You’re wearing clothes that we retired 20 years ago for not being cool. It always starts with the black skinny jeans. And perhaps the vans checkerboards. Then there’s a t-shirt of a band who broke up or died when you were 2 years old.
Melle on April 14th, 2008 at 12:11 am says:
I agree with the entire list–in terms of influencing others.
Of course, my list has one major person: Regina Spektor. Not sure if you know her, but she inspires the hell out of me. I’ll add The Ramones to my list, too. I LOVE The Ramones.
Alex on April 15th, 2008 at 6:19 am says:
Yeah man you need to add Metallica to that list
adrock on April 16th, 2008 at 5:03 pm says:
Pixies, Janes Addiction, check and mate.
Kokong on April 29th, 2008 at 10:34 am says:
The Skatalites and Bob Marley. nuff said!
QuinnTheAspie on April 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm says:
you have two bands on there I LOVE!
green day
the ramones
if only you listed the sex pistols or the clash
i like blink 182 but not as much as the others
emerywebster on April 29th, 2008 at 6:09 pm says:
I know you were expecting a lot of criticism, so here’s mine:
Where is RHCP??? I hope to God more people were influenced to become musicians throughout the years than The Ataris…
AHO on May 10th, 2008 at 8:22 pm says:
Judging by the list you need to rethink what your generation is. Regardless of your generation I thinks it’s quite clear that Blink-182 and Bon Jovi need to be axed. And yes, Pixies need to be added to that list. Time for some reflection.
Malcolm Kass on May 12th, 2008 at 9:02 am says:
AC/DC, no band has had a bigger reach, more than just us techies. Are they WT, yeah, but far more influential than almost any other band.
Flashpoint77 on June 9th, 2008 at 12:14 pm says:
Obviously, you have never studied music appreciation, if
you did, you would have included classical influences,
R&B influences (which include a great deal of African
Americans). Hispanic influences even Asian and West
Indian influences. Where have you been? What planet are
you from? It’s almost condescending for you to highlight
that ridiculous list, and pass it off as some credo of
musical insight. I would seriously suggest that you put the
knob back on your radio and surf “all” frequencies, before you surface again with another list.
Mike Kavis on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 pm says:
Dang, some mean folks here. That’s the guys list so deal with it. My list is different but I am 43 and a metal head. No need to insult an entire generation and throw stones at Jake. And what example is Mr. 31 yr old setting for his generation? Geez!
Justin Viger on July 4th, 2008 at 8:29 am says:
I only agree with the Ramones. Bon Jovi?
Rich on July 20th, 2008 at 7:36 am says:
Eminem was most influential how?