Mount Rockmore

Robert Johnson -- after all, he started it all, right?
Bo Diddley -- Bridge between blues and rock
Elvis
Lennon
Cobain

 

1. Elvis (gotta start with the King)
2. Lennon
3. Hendrix
4. Bo Diddley

If they don't get the big heads, at least give 'em a plaque at the base of the mountain:

1. Dylan
2. Springsteen
3. Johnny Cash
4. Jerry Lee Lewis
5. Buddy Holly
6. Axl Rose
7. Bono
8. Eddie Van Halen
9. Mick Jagger
10. Eddie Vedder
*Ranked in no particular order

 

Berry
Lennon
Springsteen
Presley

- McCartney's off due to stuff like Ebony&Ivory and Say,Say,Say

- I'm tempted to bump Presley in favor of Dylan because of his lame movies and songs in most of those movies... if McCartney can get bumped for his solo dreck, then Presley might get bumped for his Hollywood dreck

- Cash was more country than rock; Ray Charles more r&b than rock, so they don't make my list.

Other contenders for the monument:
- Dylan (as previously mentioned)
- Buddy Holly
- John Fogerty
- Ray Davies
- Mick Jagger/Keith Richards (their solo stuff both sucks, so I can't choose one over the other)
- Jimmy Page/Robert Plant (both impressive away from Zep, so can't choose one over the other)
- Pete Townsend (better solo stuff than Roger Waters, so he gets the nod)
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Fats Domino
- James Brown (although he might qualify more as r&b/soul than rock)
- Janis Joplin
- Jimi Hendrix

 

Virtually everything that followed Chuck Berry copied Chuck Berry. If this is a straight vote for greatness and influence and not just playing favorites, Chuck Berry is absolutely the first head that goes up.

 

I'll do it this way...

50s - Elvis
60s - Lennon
70s - Plant
80s - Rose
90s - Vedder
00s - Bono (who could also be 80s or 90s)

 

If you put Axl Rose or Eddie Vedder up there, I'm blowing the damned thing up.

 

Y'all can continue the discourse on whose heads go on the mountain, but the bar at the base has got to be named, Keith Moon's Saloon.

 

And of course, they'll all be singing the Def Leppard fav, Rock of Ages...

 

Chuck Berry copied himself.

Dude had two riffs.

Riding along in my automobile (dana, dana, dana - NUNT!)

Now listen:

Ring, ring goes the bell (dana, dana, dana - NUNT!)

I've heard the opening riff to Roll Over Beethoven and thought it was Johnny B. Goode countless times.

 

You, sir are an idiot.

Vedder will be regarded as one of the most influential front men of a rock band ever by the time they're done.
Not just by grunge fans or Pearl Jam fans, but everyone. Name another grunge-era band that's been getting it done for 20 plus years now across the world.
You can't.
They not only get it done, they've done it with a certain sense of modesty. Yeah they're rock stars with egos, but you don't see them out there doing whatever they can to be a mainstay on the Billboard top 100.
Additionally,
Vedder deserves to be up there over Presley. All Elvis did was copy Robert Johnson and Chuck Berry.
He just happened to be white and fortunate enough to meet Sam Phillips. I understand that he's the "King of Rock", but I've never been a fan.
If imitation is considered the highest form of flattery, why is it that you rarely see anyone cover Elvis songs?
Meanwhile Bob Dylan's songs have been covered by a long list of rock artists/bands like Neil Young, Hendrix, U2, Rage against the Machine, Pearl Jam, and others who I can't think of off the top of my head.

 

Someone mentioned Ray Charles earlier....

here's what he had to say about Elvis
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n12_v86/ai_15656700

 

(talking in a hushed tone) Can I ask about the other "Mount" threads that seemed to have caused some ruckus or another? Or will I be banned simply for asking? Sorry. Thanks.