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The Most Influential Artists Of All Time

© Robert Whillans

In honour of this being the last year of the millennium (for all of you who say it starts in 2001, tough bananas), History of Rock is looking at the true crème de la crème, that is the most influential, important and relevant artists and works in rock and roll. We start this week with the most influential bands of all time. Often when lists such as these are made, there is a great amount of dispute as to who belongs and who doesn't, and I'm sure that will occur with a few of these articles. In this one, however, I don't think that there can be much dispute. Each of these artists are recognized as having been a great influence (not necessarily better artists) on rock and roll, from the mid-fifties to present, and truly belong on the "top of all time" list. They are not just responsible for just one movement (which is why you don't see the Grateful Dead or Sex Pistols on this list), but for many that shaped rock's history. Some of them were extremely successful, others less so. In any case, they will remain in rock's history forever, because no one could deny what they have contributed. They are, from lowest to highest:

5. Led Zeppelin: Through Jimmy Page's beginnings as a session guitarists and lead guitar for the Yardbirds, the group that also produced Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, he grew to be a fantastic composer, able to combine several different tracks and instruments to produce works of art (I wonder where "Stairway to Heaven" will be on the top songs of all time...). His enormous talent combined with Robert Plant's incredible lyrics created album after album of consistently new and creative material. Zeppelin spawned a whole new generation of rock, with many of the artists who followed them still playing today. Led Zeppelin I, II and IV are recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as three of the best albums ever in rock history. Led Zeppelin was new, fresh and talented, exactly what was needed during the seventies.

4. Bob Dylan: what is there to say about this lonely boy from Minnesota? What can you say about someone who brought a political conscious to rock and to al those who followed it. What can you say about someone who brought folk, that wonderfully misunderstood music of the Village coffee houses, out into the open. Most importantly, what can you say about someone who wrote about life, about what was wrong and what needed to be changed; who wrote about Civil Rights, nuclear war, world peace; about someone who's concept of music was not success, but spreading the message that needed to be heard? What can you say, but thanks.

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