13 - Led Zeppelin

We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow

At number 13 is Led Zeppelin. So they've had way more influence than probably the next 12 bands combined (ehhhhhh), but on this list they are 13.

Wiki - Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in 1968 and consisting of Jimmy Page (guitar),[1] Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica), John Paul Jones (bass guitar, keyboards, mandolin), and John Bonham (drums). With their heavy, guitar-driven blues-rock sound, Led Zeppelin are regularly cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal[2] and hard rock music.[3][4] However, the band's individualistic style drew from many sources and transcends any one genre.[5] Led Zeppelin did not release songs from their albums as singles in the UK, as they preferred to develop the concept of "album-oriented rock".[6]

Thirty years after disbanding following Bonham's death in 1980, the band continues to be held in high regard for their artistic achievements, commercial success, and broad influence. The band have sold over 200 million albums worldwide,[7][8] including 111.5 million certified units in the United States,[9] making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. They have had all of their original studio albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard album chart in the US, with six reaching the number one spot.[10] Led Zeppelin are ranked #1 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock[11] and Classic Rock's 50 Best Live Acts of All Time.[12] Rolling Stone magazine has described Led Zeppelin as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the '70s" and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history".[2][13] Similarly, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes the band being "as influential in that decade (70s) as the Beatles were in the prior one".[14]

In 2007, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited (along with deceased drummer John Bonham's son, Jason) for the Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert at The O2 Arena in London. The band was honoured with the "Best Live Act" prize for their one-off reunion at MOJO Awards 2008,[15] where they were declared the "greatest rock n' roll band of all time".[16]

Discography -

Led Zeppelin (1969)*
Led Zeppelin II (1969)*
Led Zeppelin III (1970)
Led Zeppelin IV (1971)*
Houses of the Holy (1973)
Physical Graffiti (1975)
Presence (1976)
In Through the Out Door (1979)
Coda (1982)
*-best albums

Top 20 LedZep songs (do you think they don't deserve to have 20?)

20 Misty Mountain Hop
19 Trampled Under Foot
18 What Is and Should Never Be
17 Four Sticks
16 The Wanton Song
15 Rock and Roll
14 Houses of the Holy
13 The Ocean
12 Nobody's Fault But Mine
11 Going to California
10 Ten Years Gone
9 Stairway to Heaven
8 Whole Lotta Love
7 Over the Hills and Far Away
6 Dazed and Confused
5 The Lemon Song
4 How Many More Times
3 Black Dog
2 Heartbreaker/Livin' Lovin' Maid
1 Ramble On





next up: The group that had best concert I've ever been to

14 - nine inch nails

And all we ever were. Just zeros and ones.

At number 14 is nine inch nails. I have seen NIN 3 times, the first when they headlined Virgin Mobile Festival along with Kanye West in 2008 and the last time when they toured with Jane's Addiction.


This Wiki post is pretty much a crapjob, jsyk I didn't write it.
Wiki - Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction. NIN's music straddles a wide range of genres, while retaining a characteristic sound using electronic instruments and processing. After recording a new album, Reznor usually assembles a live band to perform with him. The touring band features a revolving lineup that often rearranges songs to fit a live setting. On stage, NIN often employs visual elements to accompany performances, which frequently include light shows.

Underground music audiences warmly received Nine Inch Nails in its early years. Reznor produced several highly influential records in the 1990s that achieved widespread popularity; many Nine Inch Nails songs became radio hits, two NIN recordings won Grammy Awards, and the band has sold over 20 million albums worldwide, with 10.5 million sales certified in the US alone. In 1997, Reznor appeared in Time magazine's list of the year's most influential people, and Spin magazine described him as "the most vital artist in music." In 2004, Rolling Stone placed Nine Inch Nails at 94 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. Despite this acclaim, the band has had several feuds with the corporate side of the recording industry. In 2007, these corporate entanglements resulted in Reznor announcing that Nine Inch Nails would split from its label and release future material independently.

Since 1989, Nine Inch Nails has made eight major studio releases. The most recent releases, Ghosts I–IV and The Slip, both released in 2008, were released under Creative Commons licenses. Both were initially released digitally, with physical releases coming later. The digital release of The Slip was made available completely free of charge. NIN has been nominated for twelve Grammy Awards and won twice for the songs "Wish" and "Happiness in Slavery", in 1992 and 1995 respectively.


Discography -

Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
Broken (1992)
The Downward Spiral (1994)*
The Fragile (1999)
With Teeth (2005)
Year Zero (2007)
Ghosts I–IV (2008)
The Slip (2008)
*-best album


top 10 NIN songs

10 Into the Void
9 The Hand That Feeds
8 Terrible Lie
7 Closer
6 Wish
5 Right Where It Belongs
4 March of the Pigs
3 Down In It
2 The Perfect Drug
1 Hurt


"this world rejects me
this world threw me away
this world never gave me a chance
this world's gonna have to pay" - burn

"Bow down before the one you serve. You're going to get what you deserve." - Head Like a Hole

Trent Reznor is without a doubt one of the most creative people in music. The way that he can convey frustration, aggression, hate, passion, regret, concern, jealousy, and solitude into the words and music as well as he does is utterly incredible. He can write a beautiful song on a piano and a fast-paced song with thundering instruments, and it will be close as to which is more gut-wrenching with aggression. Nobody does passive aggressiveness like Trent.








If you don't think this is the most hauntingly beautiful song or at least top 3 there is something truly wrong with you.


I just watched like 13 of live videos on youtube from that concert and I thought how the hell do I only have these guys at 14? but then I looked at the list and, as usual, couldn't find a place to move them up.


next up: a band that was together for 12 years, until tragedy struck

15 - Muse

No one's gonna take me alive


At number 15 is Muse. I saw Muse during this past spring break. And it was epic.

Wiki - Muse are an English rock band from Teignmouth, Devon. Since their inception in 1994, the band has been composed of Matthew Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Christopher Wolstenholme (bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion, synthesisers). After the release of Black Holes and Revelations, Morgan Nicholls (Keyboards, Percussion, Bass guitar) has performed live full time with the band. Muse are known for their energetic and extravagant live performances and their fusion of many music genres, including progressive rock, classical music, heavy metal and electronica with recurring themes of revolution.

Muse have released five studio albums – Showbiz (1999); Origin of Symmetry (2001); Absolution (2003); Black Holes and Revelations (2006); and The Resistance (2009) – one live album, HAARP (2008), and a compilation of B-Sides, Hullabaloo Soundtrack (2002).


Discography -

Showbiz (1999)
Origin of Symmetry (2001)*
Absolution (2003)
Black Holes and Revelations (2006)
The Resistance (2009)
*-best album

Top 10 Muse songs -

10 Starlight
9 Exo-politics
8 Time is Running Out
7 Cave
6 Plug In Baby
5 Map of the Problematique
4 Citizen Erased
3 New Born
2 Butterflies & Hurricanes
1 Hysteria

Check out the first of 2 live vids for a search to find Romo (front right, close to the stage) as well as a hint to band #6.




next up: a band tied with 2 others for band that I have seen the most live

16 - Kings of Leon

In the black of the night, til the red morning light

At numero 16 is Kings of Leon. They are made of three brothers and a cousin from Tennessee. Nathan, the drummer, used to have one of the best beards in rock, but in 2007 he shaved it. Might have been #15 or 14 if he would have left it. Not really. But maybe.



Wiki - Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, United States in 1999, consisting of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ivan Nathan Followill (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Michael Jared Followill (bass, backing vocals), with their cousin Cameron Matthew Followill (lead guitar, backing vocals). Each member of the family group is known by his middle name (second given name) as opposed to his first given name.

The band's early music was an upbeat blend of southern rock and blues influences but the band has gradually expanded their sound to include a variety of genres and a more alternative rock or arena rock sound. Kings of Leon achieved initial success in the United Kingdom with nine Top 40 singles, two BRIT Awards in 2008, and all three of the band's albums at the time peaking in the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Their third album Because of the Times also reached the #1 spot. After the release of Only by the Night in September 2008 they finally achieved chart success in their native United States. The singles "Sex on Fire", "Use Somebody" and "Notion" all peaked at #1 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks. The album itself was their first ever platinum-selling album in the United States.


Discogrpahy -

Youth and Young Manhood (2003)
Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)*
Because of the Times (2007)
Only by the Night (2008)*
TBD (expected fall/winter 2010)
*-best albums


Favorite KOL songs -

10 Holy Roller Novocaine
9 Revelry
8 Use Somebody
7 The Bucket
6 Fans
5 Four Kicks
4 Slow Night, So Long
3 Red Morning Light
2 Genius
1 Knocked Up


In an interview, Caleb admitted to "kidnapping" their cousin Matthew from his hometown in Mississippi in order for him to join the band. They told his mother that he was just staying for a week, but they consequently never allowed him to return home. Drummer Nathan added, "When we signed the deal with RCA, it was just me and Caleb. The label told us they were going to put a band together, but we said, 'We're going to buy our little brother a bass, he's a freshman in high school. Caleb will teach himself the guitar. Our cousin Matthew played guitar when he was 10 and I'll play drums.' The record label agreed,".







next up: continuing the theme of every other band being from Britain

17 - Coldplay

Confusion never stops
Closing walls, and ticking clocks

At number 17 is British alternative rock band, Coldplay. They are, despite a popular overused movie reference, not just for gays.

Wiki - Coldplay are an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1997, the group comprises Chris Martin (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass guitar), and Will Champion (drums, backing vocals, other instruments).

Coldplay's early material was compared to acts such as Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, U2, and Travis. They achieved worldwide fame with the release of the single "Yellow", followed by their debut album, Parachutes (2000), which was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The band's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won multiple awards, including NME's Album of the Year. Their next release, X&Y (2005), received a slightly less enthusiastic yet still generally positive reception. The band's fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), was produced by Brian Eno and released again to largely favourable reviews, earning several Grammy nominations and wins. Coldplay have sold over 50 million records worldwide.

Since the release of Parachutes, Coldplay have drawn influence from other sources, including Echo & the Bunnymen, Kate Bush, George Harrison and Muse on A Rush of Blood to the Head, Johnny Cash and Kraftwerk for X&Y and Blur, Arcade Fire and My Bloody Valentine on Viva la Vida. Coldplay have been an active supporter of various social and political causes, such as Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign and Amnesty International. The group have also performed at various charity projects such as Band Aid 20, Live 8, Sound Relief, Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief, and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Discography -

Parachutes (2000)
A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)*
X&Y (2005)
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)
*-best album


top 10 Coldplay songs:

10 Everything's Not Lost
9 The Scientist
8 Amsterdam
7 Talk
6 Strawberry Swing
5 In My Place
4 High Speed
3 Trouble
2 Don't Panic
1 Clocks





next up: a band that wants to have intercourse on a blaze

18 - Silversun Pickups

I'm waiting, fading, floating away

At number 18 are the Silversun Pickups. SP opened for Muse when I saw them on March 2, 2010.

Wiki - Silversun Pickups is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Brian Aubert, vocalist and bassist Nikki Monninger, drummer Christopher Guanlao and keyboardist Joe Lester.

The band released their debut EP, Pikul, in July 2005, and their debut full-length album, Carnavas, on July 26, 2006. Their second full length album, Swoon, was released on April 14, 2009.

Discography -

Albums
2006: Carnavas (Dangerbird) #80 US [15]
2009: Swoon (Dangerbird) #7 US [15]

EPs
2005: Pikul (Dangerbird)
2007: Remixes (Dangerbird)
2007: Live Session (iTunes Exclusive)
2007: The Tripwire Session: Live in Chicago

Top 10 songs

10 Sci-Fi Lullaby
9 Kissing Families
8 Future Foe Scenarios
7 Three Seed
6 Well Thought Out Twinkles
5 Comeback Kid
4 Panic Switch
3 Catch & Release
2 The Royal We
1 Dream at Tempo 119

The band's sound, often encompassing multiple overdubs of distorted guitars, is frequently compared to that of The Smashing Pumpkins, while the band members have said they are heavily influenced by artists such as My Bloody Valentine, The Pixies, the Velvet Underground, Elliott Smith, Sonic Youth, Sweet, Modest Mouse, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Secret Machines as well as numerous other artists with lesser publicity.





next up: know how I this list is gay?

19 - Arctic Monkeys

The next time that I caught my own reflection
It was on it's way to meet you

At number 19 is Britain's, Arctic Monkeys. There are a lot of bands on this countdown that I know not everyone will like, but I really find it hard for someone to not like this band if they give them a chance.

Wiki - Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. They come from High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. Formed in 2002, the band currently consists of Alex Turner (lead vocals, guitar), Jamie Cook (guitar), Nick O'Malley (bass guitar, backing vocals), Matt Helders (drums, backing vocals) and John Ashton as a touring member (keyboard, guitar, backing vocals). Former members include Andy Nicholson (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Glyn Jones (lead vocals, guitar).

Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, released in early 2006, became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history, surpassing Oasis's Definitely Maybe and remains the fastest-selling debut album for a band in the UK. Since then the band have released two more albums: Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007) and Humbug (2009). The band is currently in the studio, recording their fourth album, expected to be released in 2011.




Discography -

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)*
Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)
Humbug (2009)
*-best album


Top Arctic Monkeys songs

10 Mardy Bum
9 Fake Tales of San Francisco
8 Brianstorm
7 The View from the Afternoon
6 Crying Lightning
5 Cornerstone
4 Still Take You Home
3 I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor
2 Flourescent Adolescent
1 A Certain Romance

Arctic Monkeys are heralded as one of the first acts to come to the public attention via the Internet (fan-based sites rather than from the band), with commentators suggesting they represented the possibility of a change in the way in which new bands are promoted and marketed.


Quotes:

"It's ever so funny, I don't think you're special I don't think you're cool
You're just probably alrite, but under these lights you look beautiful" - Still Take You Home





next up: a band I saw (very briefly) this past spring break