Billy Joel　

Although Billy Joel never was a critic’s favorite, the pianist emerged as one of the most popular singer/songwriters of the latter half of the ’70s. Joel’s music consistently demonstrates an aff ..more

Metallica　

American quartet Metallica were one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the ’80s and ’90s, inspiring generations of rockers with their early thrash and later hard rock sounds before settli ..more

Uriah Heep　

Taking their name from the scheming, parasitic lawyer in Charles Dickens’ 1850 novel David Copperfield, Uriah Heep is a progressive rock institution who, alongside bands like Deep Purpl ..more

Peter Gabriel　

As the leader of Genesis in the early ’70s, Peter Gabriel helped move progressive rock to new levels of theatricality. He was no less ambitious as a solo artist, but he was more subtle in his me ..more

Frank Zappa　

Composer, guitarist, singer, and bandleader Frank Zappa was a singular musical figure during a performing and recording career that lasted from the 1960s to the ’90s. His disparate influences inclu ..more

Bryan Adams　

Bryan Adams negotiated the shifting tides of the ’80s so well that it never seemed as if he were changing to fit the times. A veteran of the ’70s studio arena rock game, Adams struck out on his ..more

Bob Dylan　

Bob Dylan’s influence on popular music is incalculable. As a songwriter, he pioneered several different schools of pop songwriting, from confessional singer/songwriter to winding, hallucinatory, st ..more

Donovan　

Upon his emergence during the mid-’60s, Donovan was anointed Britain’s answer to Bob Dylan, a facile but largely unfounded comparison which compromised the Scottish folk-pop troubadour’s own uniq ..more

John Lennon　

Out of all the Beatles, John Lennon had the most interesting -- and frustrating -- solo career. Lennon was capable of inspired, brutally honest confessional songwriting and melodic songcraft; ..more

Olivia Dean　

Sting　

The Who　

Few rock ＆ roll bands were riddled with as many contradictions as the Who. All four members had wildly different personalities, as their notorious live performances demonstrated： Keith Moon fell ..more

Charlie Puth　

Genesis　

Genesis started life as a progressive rock band, in the manner of Yes and King Crimson, before a series of membership changes brought about a transformation in their sound, into one of the mo ..more

Duran Duran　

Duran Duran personified new wave for much of the mainstream audience. And for good reason, too. Duran Duran’s reputation was built through music videos, which accentuated their fashion-model ..more

Ed Sheeran　

Flame-haired singer/songwriter, beatboxer, and guitarist Ed Sheeran’s eclectic blend of acoustic pop, folk, and hip-hop has been championed by everyone from the underground grime scene to American ..more

Geese　

Steely Dan　

Most rock ＆ roll bands are a tightly wound unit that developed their music through years of playing in garages and clubs around their hometown. Steely Dan never subscribed to that aesthetic. As the ..more

Flea　

Best known as an integral member of one of the ’80s and ’90s most popular rock bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea (real name Michael Balzary) is widely regarded as one of rock’s most t ..more

Beach Boys　

Beginning their career as the most popular surf band in the nation, the Beach Boys finally emerged by 1966 as America’s preeminent pop group, the only act able to challenge (for a brief time) the o ..more