The Most Influential Rock Artists
Based on Record Sales, The amount of cover versions of songs, innovation, songwriting, albums and overall influence on the genre.
1. The Beatles- Songwriting, British Invasion, Folk Rock, Power Pop, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Britpop/Indie Pop, Classic Rock, World Fusion and Recording Techniques
2. Bob Dylan- Songwriting, Country Rock, Classic Rock and Folk Rock
3. The Rolling Stones- British Invasion, Psychedlelic Rock, Classic Rock, Songwriting, Hard Rock and Blues Rock
4. Chuck Berry- Songwriting, Rock and Roll and guitar rock
5. Jimi Hendrix- Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Classic Rock, Psychedelic Rock and guitar rock
6. Led Zeppelin- Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Heavy Metal, Classic Rock, Arena Rock, and guitar rock
7. The Kinks- Punk Rock, Garage Rock, Classic Rock, Songwriting, Hard Rock and Britpop/Indie Pop
8. The Velvet Underground- Noise Rock, Experimental Rock, Punk Rock and Art Rock
9. The Beach Boys- Power Pop, Baroque Pop, Songwriting, Indie Pop and Surf Rock
10. The Who- Power Pop, Hard Rock, Punk Rock, Classic Rock, Songwriting, British Invasion and Progressive Rock
11. The Byrds- Folk Rock, Jangle Pop, Psychedelic Rock, Power Pop, Indie Pop and Country Rock
Honorable mentions King Crimson, Black Sabbath, Pixies, Radiohead, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley
In terms of influence it's the Beatles. I would put the Beatles ahead of the Stones by a long mile and I like the Stones. Songs like "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "Helter Skelter" are insanely ahead of it's time. "Ticket To Ride" with it's slow droning dissonant song was even before the Kinks "See My Friends" in that aspect. The Beatles knew of Indian music before they even heard of the Byrds. "Rain" has nothing to do with the Byrds it's more like it's sister track of " Ticket To Ride" with it's slow droning pace. Where in the Byrds catalog is that drum and bass style of "Rain"
The Rolling Stones were influenced by The Beatles to write their songs. The Beatles influenced really Brian Wilson to record Pet Sounds. The Byrds and Dylan to go electric. I like the Rolling Stones but the Stones never recorded anything as hard as "Helter Skelter" or musically innovative as "Tomorrow Never Knows" or "A Day in the Life". Paul McCartney came up with the idea of tape loops and the Beatles created the sound of the tape loops which the Beatles and the studio people mixed live in the studio. "A Day in the Life" the orchestral freakout was actually co-conducted by McCartney and Martin.
If I had to add all the acts the Beatles influenced or their songs were copied it would it would take a long time. Even the Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" was influenced partly by Revolver.