Your List of the Top 10 Musicians who Matter Most in Rock History?

slow typer ;.)

Musicians

Jimi Hendrix - Went further than any other electric guitar player. (Some would say J Beck )

Paul McCartney - Most melodic bass player in rock music. (understatement )

Keith Moon - Charismatic flamboyant rock drummer.
(There's is also Ginger Baker, but he used 2 bass drums in his kit )

Eric Clapton - Ground breaking blues lead guitar(gibson),not a fan of his later Fender period

George Harrison - If he only just had played lead gtr on "Something" that would been enough for me, but he also inspired the later folk-rock sound with his A Hard Day's Night ringing Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar chord.

Nick Drake - Unusal accoustic guitar (Martin/Guild) player, tuning (Brazilian) with perfect timing.

Johnny Marr- Smiths man layered guitar constructionist, good stage mover.

Ringo Starr - Any doubts about this man drumming abilit, check out Abbey Road.

Brian Jones - Multi-instrumentalist, who put his stamp on the Stones sound.

Keith Richards - Who shined more brightly in the sucking seventies.

Singers

John Lennon-
Paul McCartney-

Lou Reed-
David Bowie-

Morrissey-
Mick Jagger-

Bob Dylan-

John Lydon - Thee singer of the late 70's with original vocal style that inspired a new generation of filth and fury fans.

Neil Young - Like his vocal whine and one note solo lead guitar Gretsch twang.

Frank Zappa - Never a great fan of his lead gtr playing, much preferred his vocal delivery

 

OK, I am biased towards guitar players - but the question was ROCK history.

Elvis Presley
Chuck Berry
Dick Dale
Brian Wilson
Bob Dylan
John Lennon
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Eddie Van Halen
The Edge

Take any of these 10 away, and the sound of ROCK music would've evolved much differently.

 

In no particular order:

Jimi Hendrix
Prince (during the 1980s)
Miles Davis (he rocked harder than anybody during the 70s)
John Lennon
Paul McCartney (Beatles-era)
Tom Waits
Bob Dylan
Pete Townshend

I am stuck on two more . . .

 

and Keith Richards and jimmy Page

there . . back to work.

 

Steve, Joe, Brad, Tom and Joey
also Phil, Pete, Michael, Andy and Paul

 

I know...I keep reading the same 10-15 names on most of the posts.!

Something as influential as kraftwerk probably has had more OVERALL influence world wise on music than several of the names combined on most of the posts....


Kraftwerk
Buddy holly
Bob Marley
Chuck Berry
Bob Dylan
The stooges
Black sabbath
Led zeppelin
Beatles
Frank sinatra

 

But the topic was musicians who matter most in ROCK history. Sinatra, a rock musician?

 

Kind of sets the stage for the "pop idol." I'd allow it... esp since some of my guys were from the '30s and '40s...

 

Sinatra would have punched you out if you called him a rock singer to his face.

 

Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
Brian Wilson
John Lennon
George Harrison
Eric Clapton
Jimi Hendrix
Jeff Beck
Jimmy Page
Mick Jagger
Steve Winwood

 

Bob Dylan
Paul McCartney
John Lennon
Mick Jagger
Keith Richards
Chuck Berry
Brian Wilson
Bob Marley
Robert Johnson
Buddy Holly

 

Muddy Waters
Howling Wolf
Chuck Berry
Paul McCartney
John Lennon
Mick Jagger
Keith Richard
John Fogerty
Jimi Hendrix
Iggy Pop

Ten is not enough.

 

Agreed.

And that makes Elvis one of the top 10 musicians (at the very least) who matter most in rock history.

 

That was Bing Crosby IMO.

 

I am not a big fan of Elvis but I can't believe how many people are utterly dismissive about Elvis. Ok he was not in the same league musically as say uh a Hendrix or a Lennon/McCartney but let's not pretend he was not important.

 

With all due respect to the thread starter. To limit the choices to 10 requires one to brutally chop the list down. If it was top 20, I'd have included Elvis.

 

Elvis Presley
Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Pete Townshend
Jimi Hendrix
Bob Dylan
Mick Jagger
Eric Clapton

Evan

 

Well to me the Beatles are number one because their influence extends beyond rock music especially pop music. Ok Elvis did not write his music but the Beatles might have never existed without Elvis inspiration to both Lennon/McCartney. It's true the Beatles blueprint was Buddy Holly but the Beatles were not John Lennon and the Beatles.

 

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Just did a quick unofficial tabulation. And three names appear to show up most frequently.

John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Pete Townshend

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With all due respect, IMO The Beatles would have exsisted without Elvis, they were very much influenced by the more obscure American acts like Arthur Alexander etc, I don't think they ever covered an Elvis Presley inclusive song either (BBC Sessions they may have done an Elvis song that was not originally sung by Elvis) - I really don't hear the Elvis influence with The Beatles, I hear Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Music Hall (McCartney) and most definatly Chuck Berry but I don't hear no Elvis in there early song writing??

 

I only said might have not existed. I only said by inspiration that Elvis was important to them. Musically their roots are really skiffle and mixing it with an rock and roll energy.

David Crosby – Goldmine 1995
So I was in a high old state of affairs, and Clem walked in one afternoon with that first Beatles album, Meet the Beatles. He put it on, and I just didn't know what to think. It absolutely floored me- "Those are folk-music changes, but it's got rock and roll backbeat. You can't do that, but they did! Holy yikes

 

Of course,

 

1) Little Richard
2) Chuck Berry
3) Muddy Waters
4) Howlin' Wolf
5) Carl Perkins
6) The Everly Brothers
7) The Beatles
8) The Who
9) Cream
10) Led Zepplin