Quote: vastman "Sorry but some of your choices are ludicrous and I say that despite liking most of them. I think you clearly miss the point of the book which was historical and not just musical.
For instance the Clash were IMO vastly better and long term more successful than the Pistols I agree but in historic terms the Pistols launched Punk in the UK and without them no Clash.
Velvet Underground perhaps but to be honest IMO and it's just my opinion they are a trendy elitist band the bulk of who's work was no more worthy than Graig David or the Nolans.
Black Sabbath and the Stooges shouldn't be anywhere near the list let alone above the Kinks or the Beach Boys. There has to be an element of popularism in this like it or not, this is a history of Rock n Roll not a look how hip I am list -how many people have even heard of Tool or Nine inch nails and at what point did the Stone Roses fame get any further than these shores - lets be serious it's a history of the genre and being well known, worldwide and genuinely successful has to be part of it - we have already done our favourite bands list.'"
I based my list on acts whom broke new ground or influenced bands to start bands. Which is why I included the Ramones and the Clash above the Pistols. I included The Stooges based on the fact that they're probably the first punk band.
I'm not a massive fan of the velvet underground but he the amount of bands that site them as a huge inspiration is very significant.
Black Sabbath pretty much invented the heavy metal, I'd bet almost every rock band since has been influenced by them. They've sold 80 million albums to if you want to brink sales into it. Also, it could be argued that every (heavy) rock band in the last 45 years has either followed the Led Zepp model of HM or the Sabbath model
I included Stone Roses and Oasis in the list, and The Libertines in the list because they were incredibly important for rock music here even though they never cracked the US.
Tool and Nine Inch Nails are extremely popular, granted you won't see them in the singles chart but both have sold 20 million albums and I'm petty sure Nine inch nails had a number 1 album her in the last year or 2.
