King Crimson is among the most influential bands in the world that no one has heard of. Listen to how much Pink Floyd and Yes changed after ITCOTCK. Hell, they are still acting muse to bands like The Mars Volta, Muse, and Dream Theater.A Gunslinger wrote:Issac Hayes clearly doesn't belong, but I'd argue the rest contributed alot to the Pantheon of R & R in very maningful ways.
Deep Purple gave us "the riff", BOC and JP are clear omissions...maybe Rush too... but as to the rest of your list, feh.
Van Halen especially was kind of liteweight in a creative sense. Eddies guitar style was gimmicky and none of 'em could write a song that was worth more than the vinyl it was printed on. Iron maiden...yawn.
*flees*
And their still making viable, vital progressive rock. Anyone else pick up Thrack? It might be my favorite KC almbum that isnt ITCOTCK. (yes, even better than Red)
And don't you dare disrespect Iron Maiden. It's so easy to lump them up with all the other super shitty metal bands from the 80s who wrote nothing but shitty power balleds, but IM ROCKS. I don't see how anyone can listen to Number of the Beast and not bang their head (at least a little).