The Rolling Stones.
Period.
People. The answer is right there in the thread title, but I’ll spell it out anyway: The Band.
Duh… Tenacious D.
It says so on the album cover, doesn’t it?
Depends on the mood, sometimes it’s The Ventures, sometimes it’s Prince and the Revolution, sometimes it’s Stereolab…
Velvet Underground says I. The fact that they released VU & Nico when the rest of the world was listening to Sgt. Pepper’s (not to say that it isn’t a great album). It’s the perfect blend of avantgarde noise and rock 'n roll.
And that they only made two really great albums before they burned out is irrelevant.
Amazing that two of the bands that most make me want to claw off my own ears and feed them to rabid rodents have already appeared on this thread.
Gotta throw my vote behind the Beatles.
Beatles. Next topic?
Morris Day and the Time, man!!!
hehe
I’d have to say it is the Beatles.
They changed music forever after. If it hadn’t been for them, any other bands that have been mentioned (except Peyote Coyote’s choice) most likely would not have existed in any form that you could appreciate.
If not for the Beatles, most bands would probably have been clones of the Mitch Miller Band.
seriously though…The Beatles
Pink Floyd (after their weird Animals period) runner up
the motherfucking rolling stones
Beatles, Pink Floyd or The Pixies. Yes, I know that last choice seems out of place, but they were simply amazing from start to finish.
And I agree that Radiohead may warrant serious consideration in years ahead. Their last three albums have been pretty damn amazing, and OK Computer may be the best pomp rock album ever.
Another vote for the Beatles. The innovations on Sgt Pepper alone changed rock and roll.
Excuse me, but everyone knows that The Bends is the best Radiohead album.
I’ll say The Beatles
But to show that this isn’t about favorite bands, my favorite band is actually The Who.
ok, acceptable answers (my opinion): doors, beatles, stones, u2, pink floyd, Velvet Underground, grateful dead. not aerosmith, they turned pop (Jaded?) i may have missed a few, its 1 am, im tired, and i quickly read through the posts.
ps.: grateful dead are the best live band.
Los Angeles Philharmonic.
No, really. That’s the closest to a “band” that I’ll ever get.
I can’t make up my mind between Otis Day and the Nights, or Murph and the Magictones.
Good runners up would be the Rutles, or possibly even Spinal Tap.
Actually, The Bends was just not as haunting as OK Computer, which I think is was Radiohead at their best. They do the spooky sound like nobody I’ve ever heard. My Iron Lung was a great song, Bones was great, and the rest were kinda Pablo Honey poppish. OK Computer was anything but pop. It was just plain freaky. I loved it. 
Can’t go wrong with that pick, even if it isn’t the Doors.
Oh geez, talk about a band that defines the word overrated…name me one song, just one song that wasn’t played to the hilt 30 years ago. They are pure, unadulterated pop. Tommy was interesting, but that and My Generation were the only things they ever did. And people love them for it.
If it’s that easy, I just might have to try to put out an album myself. It couldn’t be any worse than the Who.
Oh, and you will note that despite my aversion to pop music, I still think the Doors are the best ever. I think The End and When The Music’s Over make up for their little transgressions.
ah yes. but influential is not the same as greatest.
first of all Aro, damm right Strats rule !
Two best bands are, joint first ~
the jimi hendrix experience, and Pink Floyd.
How am i the only jimi fan in here?
and i agree the greatful dead are the best live band, but i’d say Lynyrd Skynyrd werent far behind.