I am fairly new to rock music...I have been listeniing to it for less than a year. I am ashamed to admit that I used to be really into pop *blushing*. God, I am so embarrassed thinking about the crappy boy bands and solo artists I used to listen to! Then I don`t know why but I just got sick of how all pop songs sound the same and so I borrowed some CDs from a guy friend who is into punk and rock and metal and all that kinda stuff.

I am well and truly converted now! I love rock/punk music and I can`t stand to listen to pop at all, even artists I used to consider "good".

Anyway, I need your help...as I am so new to this area of music I feel like I am missing out on some really good bands because I have only heard music from a few. Can you tell me some decent bands that I should be checking out? I like most things in the rock/punk/grunge/metal/etc genre. I am willing to listen to anything and everything...I am not afraid of trying new things. Please help!

I can help you out in the metal genre

listen to Iron Maiden, some old Metallica, ill give you some Megadeth, Judas Priest, well i think thats enough to get you more interested in thes genre ill give some songs to start out:

Iron Maiden:
The Trooper
Hallowed be thy name
Wickerman
Wasting love
Run to the hills

Metallica:
Seek and destroy
Master of Puppets
Sanitarium
Fade to Black
One

Megadeth:
Symphony of Destruction
She Wolf
Hangar 18

Judas Priest:
Youve got another thing coming
Breakin the law
Painkiller
Reckless

Look man i gave you some classic and new sh*t for each one and remember these songs are some of the comercial and known songs of these bands so it should help you start up cause there all fukcing good songs.

Cool. Thanks.

Early Rock n` Roll:
Chuck Berry
Jerry Lee Lewis
Elvis
Buddy Holly

60`s
Beatles
Beach Boys
Incredible Sring Band
The Who

Psychedelic:
Grateful Dead
Jefferson Airplane
Jimi Hendrix
Mid-Late Beatles

Folk:
Woody Guthrie
Bob Dylan
Joan Baez
The Byrds

You have made the right choice! God forbid if you had gotten into gangster crap.

Rock is a music genre that spans a long timeline. The greatest of them all is the old school bands in my opinion. Give these bands a try,

Led Zeppelin, Pink FLoyd, Twisted sister (some consider metal), The Eagles, The Who, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Quiet Riot, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Deep Pyrple, The Doors, Guns N` Roses, Jethro Tull, Queen, Santana, Slade, Van Halen, Whitesnake.

There you have em`, My personal favorites. I highly recommend them all.

Listen to some:
Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin(my dads favand my fav), Black Sabbath, The Who, Aerosmith, The Band, Guns N` Roses, Nirvana, Metallica, and you HAVE to listen to PINK FLOYD(they`re my mom`s and my fav), Deep Purple(SMOKE ON THE WATER-one of the BEST songs), The Doors(my bros fav), Queen, Santana(amazing),and if I keep going I might take ALL day, so I`ll stop here.

Welcome to the club of rock fans! I know I used to listen to pop too in the late `90`s (I was just a kid, don`t blame me) but then I discovered ROCK!!! Truly the best sort of music. Now I`m really passionate about it. It`s so versatile and inspiring. I can reccomend you a lot of bands.
If you wanna be a true rock fan, you have to learn how to appreciate the history of rock. So, try listening to some of the bands that made rock music what it is today, such as Led Zeppelin, The Ramones, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Aerosmith,Janis Joplin... Then, moving on to the 80`s, listen to Guns`n`roses, Metallica, The Smiths... Then, to the 90`s: Nirvana, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, No Doubt, Garbage, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters... 2000`s: 3 doors down, Coldplay, Switchfoot, Jet... And don`t forget all the wonderful artists of Woodstock.