I`ve been thinking about this lately and I can`t really come up with a definite answer. U2? The Pixies, while I don`t really like their music, pioneered THE SOUND of the early 90s (soft loud for those not in the know). Maybe even Metallica. GNR?

I honestly don`t know.

Your thoughts?

I really hate to say it, because I despise this band... But it`s probably Metallica

the other big ones are the Cure, Van Halen, & the Smiths

GnR is real popular, but I`ve hardly ever seen them named-dropped as an influence from a recording artist.

U2 & the Pixies are big influences on a lot of people too

I`m really tempted to say that it was the Pixies, although they didn`t make the soft loud style popular (that would be Nirvana), but their style carried over into the early 90s. Metallica`s 80s style seemed to fade away with the coming of grunge, leading them to go with a different sound with the Black album. U2 really does seem to have carried over quite well, so I really think it`s U2 or the Pixies.

I think its Iron Maiden, because they influenced almost every new band that came out in the 90s and the 00s

They even influenced metallica

and Pearl Jam, and those to are one of the biggest rock legends of the 80s and 90s respectively.

Van Halen

Um, Cartman. Pearl Jam is my favorite band of all time, & I read dozens & dozens of interviews of theirs + heard dozens, never once did any member of Pearl Jam ever mention Iron Maiden as an influence in any regard. In fact the members of PJ usually wear band tshirts on stage representing bands that have influenced them, & they`ve never worn an Iron Maiden tshirt.

Lying will get you no where.

The Clash early 80s. Any band from the 70s that continued to play

well i heard that iron maiden was an influence by a Hunter, a dude that used to write on this forum and is a !***** die hard fan of pearl jam, you can check out his participations in many of these threads

and yes i did miss out the w on two, but are we talking music or spelling.

i got no interest in lying

lol.

Cartman... This gets better & better...

I *AM* Hunter - I changed my name... Notice similarities? Both our fav. bands are Pearl Jam? we write the same way?

I NEVER told you that. Please find the thread in which I did, because Ill be more surprised than anyone.

Lying will get you nowhere =).

well then you should know better

Oh c`mon now, don`t be shy.. go find that thread where I said it.

Judas Priest, which influenced all the metal bands of the 80`s, pioneering the sub-genre of "Speed Metal" with the release of "Exciter" from their 4th studio album "Stained Class". Download it, preferably the live version. 1978... If you wanna hear some good music i`ll hook you up.