I remember an interview with Ozzy one time, and he was asked about his musical beginnings. He said that he was listening to the radio one day, and heard the Beatles… after which, his whole outlook on music was changed forever, and he was quoted as saying, "Thank fuc*ing God for the Beatles"

IMO, the Beatles were hands-down the most influential band of all-time; as musicians, as songwriters, and as producers (George Martin getting a lot of credit here, too). As a band, they were the best all-around complete package.

Kurt Cobain admitted that he stole half his stuff from Pixies, so don't act like the Nirvana/Pixies comparison is unheard of.

I freakin' love Frank Black - I wish that I could have seen one of their reunion shows last year. His solo stuff can be hit-and-miss (especially with the Catholics), but I dig pretty much all the Pixies' stuff; However, I'd have to say my favorites are "Surfer Rosa", and "Troupe le Monde"… damn that band was good.

On this list I pick.............................................. ....THE RAMONES

Theres no direct quotes on that...The Pixies arent even the biggest influence on Nirvana overall, they really share more similarities with The Melvins and Black Flag than they do with The Pixies.

I dont really hear any real similarities between the two myself, the vocals and the guitar are not at all similar...And the songs are not quiet as agressive as Nirvanas.

I dont consider Nirvana a ripoff of The Pixies, they barely sound alike at all, and if Kurt Cobain didnt go on about how he loved The Pixies i doubt anyone would be making such a comparison, to me its just a bunch of elitist douchebags making a excuse to bring Nirvana down.

The only real similarities is the soft/loud dynamic, and Nirvana took this format form from The Pixies and took it to a whole new level, by making the music much louder and harder...And they made this style much more popular.

Either way, its NOT like The Pixies were the first band to do the soft/loud thing, Led Zeppelin have done it with several of their songs...King Crimson and Jethro Tull have done it too.

Back on topic, The Beatles had the most impact of any rock OR pop band.

Yeah but those statements are just affection viewed through hyperbole. TOOL once said "our fans would be pissed if they knew how much we stole from King Crimson".

I've heard both bands, I'd never say there was a direct rip. Bands with skill don't directly hi-jack other sounds.

Like him or not, I'd say Dylan. This guy gave people anything and everything. Anyone who can't sing worth **** that does anyway, trace that back to Dylan.

I hear a bit of John Wetton influence in Justin Chanellor's playing, and some Robert Fripp in Adam Jones...Even so, the bands two styles are still completely different.

Nirvana have many influences other than Pixies....In fact the only album with any significent Pixies influence is Nevermind, and even so theres a lot of Beatles and Sabbath influence on that record as well...Bleach is more Black Flag and Melvins influenced and In Utero is more Pavement and Jesus And Mary Chain influenced.

Out of that list...I would say the Beatles.

Motley Crue?

I accredit the Beatles with changing the face of Pop-Rock forever.
I'm suprised like others that The VU aren't on the list. They laid the foundation for what we call alternative music.

David bowie..

he made it ok for men to dress like women.. thus hair metal.. they all looked like chicks... THANKS BOWIE!!.. jk

Led Zeppelin.. they were the FIRST band to be considered metal.. (even if now there just called classic rock, back in 69, on into the 70's they were called metal.. and hardcore Rock N' Roll.)

:D

a friend once put it like this..
lep zeppelin were like the hottest underground band of the 70's....

well he said it something like that..but thats the point i think..