-The Cure (if they hadn't existed it would be like a chain reaction of bands not being around because they influenced a lot of the bands that influenced today's Emo scene)

-Iron Maiden (pretty much every really metal band credits them to some degree. I don't think metal would be as good as it is had they not existed)

-Led Zepplin (same as the two above. Infact these three I think are the most noticable influences in today's rock/metal scene)

-REM (A big influence for some of my personal favorite bands. I didn't care for them much when I was little but I've grown to really appriciate them now)

-The Beatles (Come on, there is no explination needed here. I'm not a real fan of there early work but once they got into the Sgt. Pepper sound I really admired. Especially John Lennon's work on the later songs by the band)

-2Pac (Since he's died countless people have tried to do it like him, not 1 has done it yet. I think Biggie was just as good, but there are more people today would still sample a lot of Pac which is why I'm giving him the credit)

-This one is going to be a combination :Metallica, Pantera and Slayer (set the standard as to what metal should be at the time. Pantera is no longer around, Metallica has long lost their edge, but Slayer is still alive and kicking. I truly beleave there won't be a period in time for metal again like the one when they just dominated.)

-Kiss (Moreso Ace Frehley. I'm going to give him the most credit since he's the reason a lot of the "metal gods" even picked up a guitar)

-Black Sabbath (Wow, just wow. I can't see metal being the same at all with out Sabbath. Also the only time I really like Ozzy)

-The Who (I can't believe I didn't think of them first. Just as big of an influence as Zepplin. Townshend is,was, and will forever be the man)

Some of today's bands that I see being big influences in the future are:
Pearl Jam
Dream Theater
Iced Earth
311
Evergrey
Fear Factory (already happening)

I Would say Michael Jackson (He created the Pop music and influenced so many artists)
Madonna, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Kraftwerk, Grandmaster Flesh, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, The Cure, Björk... Oh God there are simply too many

Well, looking from my corner... speaking about the last two decades...

- Kraftwerk (development of electronica)
- The Art of Noise (development of electronica)
- Aphex Twin (further development of electronica)
- Deftones (development of nu metal)
- Nirvana (grunge and its offspring)
- 2Pac (definitely one of the most influential in his genre)
- The Prodigy (giving techno a different attitude)
- Marc Moulin, LTJ Bukem and others (beginning of the lounge trend)
- Jam & Spoon (mainstream eurodance, foundations of European trance)
- Mayhem (development of death metal)
- Metallica (probably most influential metal band of all time)

There are probably many more influential artists and bands.

VQ

Madonna (You can do what you want and still sell records)

Cher & Tina Turner: Paved the way for most of todays women including Madonna. Also showed staying power that you can still rock at a mature age.

Nirvana: Only because Kobain killed himself otherwise I think that Pearl Jam would have this vote.

Vanilla Ice: Showed other white rappers what NOT to do. Without his mess ups Eminem would probably have made them.

Britney Spears: In the last 5 years has brought up a new "Madonna" generation.

Incubus: Etherial rock

Usher and Justin Timberlake: Male Pop Is Not Dead

Aerosmith: Classic Rockers can adjust to the times and have the best hits of their carrer. They also prove, unlike their peers that you must change with the times.

PDiddy: Multi-task and make many friends.

There's others but my brain is shutting down.

Strangely enough, I don't mention them very much on this site, but Bon Jovi. I know their success story sure damn well did influence me to want success in a Rock Band. I've always liked that 80s Rock type music, but watching their story on VH1 really pushed me. Eddie Van Halen, my favorite artist, inspired me along with just about everyone else in the 80s to start adding speedy solos to their songs, and blasted off a great decade of rock. His solo in the Michael Jackson song "Beat It" made it a HIT even on the rock stations, and I must say "it really kicks ass".

well that's just about what I got to say. Peace out

Hello, were missing someone very important here. MARIAH CAREY!! Just to name only a fraction of her achievements.

-She has had a song reach #1 on the billboard charts and stay there the longest.

-The most requested artist on radio in the '90s.

-Has achieved diamond status for the 'Music Box' LP.

-Had a #1 song for every year of the '90s.

-Has sold over 150 million albums worldwide.

-Has been recognized for achieving more than 100 gold, platinum, and multiplatinum certifications.

-Won ARTIST OF THE DECADE for the '90s.

-Won an Oscar for 'When You Believe'.

-Won Grammies for best female pop performance, and best new artist.

-Most #1 songs by ANY female artist ever!

-World's best selling female performer of the '90s

-World's best selling overall performer of the '90s

-Was given the award for ARTIST OF THE MILLENNIUM!!!!

Kitana4ever Wrote: Hello, were missing someone very important here. MARIAH CAREY!! Just to name only a fraction of her achievements. -She has had a song reach #1 on the billboard charts and stay there the longest. -The most requested artist on radio in the '90s. -Has achieved diamond status for the 'Music Box' LP. -Had a #1 song for every year of the '90s. -Has sold over 150 million albums worldwide. -Has been recognized for achieving more than 100 gold, platinum, and multiplatinum certifications. -Won ARTIST OF THE DECADE for the '90s. -Won an Oscar for 'When You Believe'. -Won Grammies for best female pop performance, and best new artist. -Most #1 songs by ANY female artist ever! -World's best selling female performer of the '90s -World's best selling overall performer of the '90s -Was given the award for ARTIST OF THE MILLENNIUM!!!!

Now, I'm gonna tread lightly here K4E, but I think the subject has to with influence. Now I know MARIAH CAREY is inspirational for you, but was she an ispiration for other musicians? Perhaps she is, I don't know, but you're the Mariah expert here, not me.

Onyx=They created the in your face screaming rap style.Many rappers like Busta Rhymes has this style.You may remember their song "SLAM".

Run-DMC=1st rappers to be on SNL,1st rappers to make an album,1st rappers to endorse Sneakers,1st rappers to do almost everything.

Mobb Deep=There street raps were more reality based than other rappers.

There are more people in other genres but I think everyone has posted them.

Of course she is an influence Skeleton. Artists like Ashanti, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Aaliyah (may she rest in peace), Jessica Simpson, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Milian, and countless others have sighted Mariah Carey as an influence on their own careers. And she has influenced and inspired my own music career as well.

Kitana4ever Wrote: Of course she is an influence Skeleton. Artists like Ashanti, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Aaliyah (may she rest in peace), Jessica Simpson, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Milian, and countless others have sighted Mariah Carey as an influence on their own careers. And she has influenced and inspired my own music career as well.

You see, I knew you'd know that.

Metallica- One of the forefathers of heavy metal that helped get the genre into the lime light.

Pink Floyd- Mixed experimental progressive acid rock with mind blowing solos by David Gilmour.

The Who- Helped set the rock standard with symbolic lyrics and awesome leads.

Black Sabbath- One of the main forefathers of Metal.

Deep Purple- Helped move the soon to be metal genre forward.

Lynard Skynard- Im not a big fan of theirs but u cant deny their mark on the industry.

Iron Maiden- Another band like Metallica that helped push the metal frontier forward.

King Crimson- Pink Floyd like band that just plain out rocked and help push the progressive rock forward.

Neil Young- Amazing muscian that helped move a lot of genres along.

Van Halen- Cant deny Eddies skills that have brushed off on a lot of guitarists.

as for the future:

Evergrey
Black Label Society
a lot more that im to lazy to type :P

just refer to SOS's post for the rest, were on the same page here.lol

skeletonofsociety Wrote: Kitana4ever Wrote: Of course she is an influence Skeleton. Artists like Ashanti, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Aaliyah (may she rest in peace), Jessica Simpson, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Milian, and countless others have sighted Mariah Carey as an influence on their own careers. And she has influenced and inspired my own music career as well. You see, I knew you'd know that.

Of course. They'd revoke my Mariah Card if I didn't. Lol

Ghaleon Wrote: Neil Young- Amazing muscian that helped move a lot of genres along.

**Puts self in corner**

I can't believe I forgot Neil Young!!! And I'm listening to Rockin in the Free World of all songs right now!

I'm really surprised people haven't mentioned the obvious yet. People like Bob Marley, Elvis, James Brown, Barry White, etc.

I guess this is an opinion thing though, so everybody mentioned is just as legit.