Which band or artist presented you to rock?

The English greats: Pink Floyd and the Beatles.

When I heard Rainbow's Rising album the first time, that's was it. I been a huge Ritchie Blackmore fan ever since.

Jimi Hendrix - Crosstown Traffic (Eletric Ladyland). Recorded on a four track recorder with an awesome mic placement. I was played loud, you can hear it in your headphones. Best!

wow what a great story. i love it. i myself the first time i heard nirvana, (smells like teen spirit) on the radio basically changed my life with regards to music and wanting to play the guitar. why would you be ashamed to say you like nirvana? is that the punchline to a lot of jokes these days or something? i have always liked music but i honestly dont think i will ever forget the first time i heard nirvana on the radio. i remember staring at the speakers thinking what the heck is this? at the time it was 1000 times better than anything else the radio was playing.

For me, it was initially Elvis, (my mother got me into him when I was a kid) but then I got a Jimi Hendrix album (my father hated that stuff...lol) After that, I really got into learning the guitar

Mine was the Beatles ,they took America by storm an every girl's heart. I wanted so badly to learn the guitar an I'am still learning,Thanks Guitar Tricks. If we had had this site or computers alone ,I would have been a rock star. Now in my mid 60's I'm still trying to rock out to them an many others. GT is making that possible........lindap

The Pixies and also Radiohead was definitely a big influence on me for rock music!

System of a Down's Toxicity album! I checked out samples in F.Y.E. a long time ago and that was the first time I truly got into all different branches of rock

I will ALWAYS be a fan of System of a Down. "Chop Suey!" is certainly memorable to say the least.

Originally Posted by: Guitar Tricks AdminI will ALWAYS be a fan of System of a Down. "Chop Suey!" is certainly memorable to say the least.

I think even people that didn't listen to rock, metal, or anything similar loved this song! It was definitely great, just got overplayed haha.

I don't know about listening, but as far as playing guitar goes, it's Mark Knophler.

I really want to play "Sultans of Swing" and " Single Handed Sailor". The lead parts. One day. I started 5 days ago.

Eric Clapton, Lynard Skynard, and Stevie Ray Vaughn will play big parts in my upbringing.


Jeff

Originally Posted by: JeremyRodriguezI think even people that didn't listen to rock, metal, or anything similar loved this song! It was definitely great, just got overplayed haha.

Agreed Jeremy! In fact, I am going to listen to this song now!

The Beatles, I was 14 years old. I just remember the screaming. I was way in the back, but after that, I knew I wanted in. The weather had been windy,
could not hear good, but it was magic, a life changing event.

Later, I discovered Cream, Hendrix and the Young Rascals. Rolling Stones
and the whole British invasion. Add in the Beach Boys.

I had joined the Capitol record club and was introduced to many acts. The beat goes on.

Nice Thomas! Seeing the Beatles live must have been incredible. That is an experience many people wish they had!

Originally Posted by: thomasprincejrThe Beatles, I was 14 years old. I just remember the screaming. I was way in the back, but after that, I knew I wanted in. The weather had been windy,
could not hear good, but it was magic, a life changing event.

Later, I discovered Cream, Hendrix and the Young Rascals. Rolling Stones
and the whole British invasion. Add in the Beach Boys.

I had joined the Capitol record club and was introduced to many acts. The beat goes on.

SO COOL that you got to see the Beatles live! I just got ahold of my Dad's #1's CD by the Beatles and pretty much converted away from Boy bands and into more rock!

Also influenced early by my sisters listening to Queen and Boston. Good memories :)

Actually I'm a tiny newbie. Nirvana introduced me to rock but I didn't like what I was hearing. So later on linkin Park did the trick and I fell in love with rock. Now I listen to basically anything i can find here or youtube

Originally Posted by: bomt1999Actually I'm a tiny newbie. Nirvana introduced me to rock but I didn't like what I was hearing. So later on linkin Park did the trick and I fell in love with rock. Now I listen to basically anything i can find here or youtube

Linkin Park is awesome. What is your favorite track by them?

In my humble opinion, the 60's and 70's were the formative years of modern rock music. Sure, it can be argued that Eddy Van Halen and Mark Knophler raised the bar, but the greatest transition seemed to be in the 60's and 70's. Many would point to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Animals, Creme, Turtles, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Beach Boys, Procol Harum, Zombies, Hollies, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Mama's and Papa's, Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash, Buffaloe Springfield, The Moody Blues, The Bee Gee's, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Santana, The Who, The Guess Who, Rush, and the list could go on and on. Pick any modern song and I could go back to this time and find that tone and sound.

So much is lost to time from this innovative period. But it is still there somewhere in the annuls of time. And those innovations still were inspired from the greater transition from Blues to the mainstream in the 50's, with Elvis Presley likely as the most popular, if not the most influential. Then with Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, BB King, Johnny "guitar Watson, among so many others. Both Rock and Country was spun off from Blues and likely a part Celtic. Many bands in the 70's experimented with a fusion of middle eastern origins.

This time just seems to me to be one of the most transcendental periods in the history of American music. How anyone could choose just one band or artist that has been inspired from so much history seems really ludicrous.

Had to have been a combination of Kiss and Head East.
However, not long after that REO took the top seat for me. been a huge fan ever since. It's timeless rock and roll

First record I ever owned was
Buddy Holly Lives it was at the end of the eighties vinyl was well on its way out, but Buddy Holly still hits home for me, and Leadbelly. Of course more modern stuff from my teenage years Rancids first album and second, then life won't wait (heavy ska influence) opened my eyes to a ton of others. Always had a place for Metallica and GnR...I've always had a wide range of taste but it all goes back to Buddy Holly.