Music is an ever-changing art form. It ebbs and flows through peaks and valleys, and is passed on from generations to allow a reinterpretation of what has been done before. Each generation has its own identity, and even more so through music. From the smooth, velvety jazz of the Renaissance era, to the cool, raspy blues of the three Kings and co., which would eventually drop us off at the door of the heart throbbing, ear piercing rock 'n roll that dominated the majority of the 20th, we have been provided some of the best music that the planet will ever hear.
However, like anything in this world, everything must come to an end. Throughout the past two decades, the music industry has slowly become overly saturated with R&B and Hip-Hop, leaving little room for the genre to gain traction once more. As the Hip-Hop scene has slowly taken over the music industry, fewer and fewer rock groups have hit the mainstream, or any stream for that matter. There is a small handful of rock groups today, with an even smaller pool of artists who have the ability to create beautiful, inspiring music. This list is compiled of, who we think, are The Top 5 Most Important People In Rock Today. The list is comprised of artists who, we believe, have created a unique sound, or reinterpreted the genre from what was left behind decades ago. They show their creative abilities in ways many do not, and have not, throughout the years. They have influenced artists in not only their own genre, but have crossed over to others to give inspiration elsewhere. They innovate and inspire, which is why we have found these artists worthy of making it in out top five. 5. Brittany Howard/Alabama Shakes With only two LPs to date (Boys & Girls-2012, Sound & Color-2015), the Alabama Shakes have taken the industry by storm. Brittany Howard & co. hail from Athens Alabama, and you can hear it in the music. Two albums and a handful of Grammy Award wins later, they continue to make noise and have won the hearts of critics everywhere. They have successfully brought the Delta Blues back into the mainstream, and have added their own twist of rock. The Shakes have received credit for their influences on artists such as Drake, Childish Gambino, Nathaniel Ratliff & The Nightsweats, and Leon Bridges. They are one of only a few groups in recent years to bring about their own interpretation of the blues in an appealing way. Their stage presence and ability to captivate their audience is second to none. For these reasons, we put Brittany Howard and the Alabama Shakes at No. 3 on our Top 5 Most Important People In Rock. 4. Dan Auerbach An innovator at heart, a musician by trade. Most known for his work with The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach has also been involved in other projects; on being The Arcs, whose only album came in 2014 (Yours, Dreamly,), and the other being his two solo LPs (Keep It Hid-2009, Waiting On A Song-2017). Auerbach is a special talent, and one major reason is due to his unique sound. His southern rock mixed with blues, accompanied with his raspy voice and use of keys gives off such a unique sound you couldn't miss it. He is the motor behind The Keys and The Arcs, and obviously himself, which very few musicians can say about themselves. Since the formation of The Black Keys in 1996, Dan Auerbach has provided us with hit after hit, whether we know it or not, and has time and again proven to be one of the best in the business, and keeps a level head through it all. For these reasons, we put Dan Auerbach at No. 2 on our Top 5 Most Important People In Rock Today. 3. Jack White Most recognize him with his involvement in The White Stripes, but that is only one of his many projects throughout his illustrious career. Aside from the White Stripes, White was a member of The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and a few more side projects. He is also the founder of Third Man Records, which was launched in Detroit, MI in 2001. Most recently, White has released 3 solo projects: Blunderbuss (2012), Lazaretto (2014), and his most recent LP Boarding House Reach (2018). He is unmatched in terms of his guitar playing abilities by anyone in the modern era, and is dubbed by many as a certified axe-wielder. He is a genius, and innovator, and a true musician (the last of a dying breed some might add). Countless times he has spoken out against the use of technology that makes playing easier, and even goes as far as saying he enjoys making playing a challenge. Nothing is given to him, and he certainly does not take the east way out. For these reasons, we put Jack White at No. 4 of our Top 5 Most Important People In Rock. 2. Dave Grohl Since his days with one of the most influential groups in recent memory, Nirvana, Dave Grohl has still managed to be relevant in the music industry. Since being formed in 1994, Grohl and the Foo Fighters have released 9 studio albums, with their latest being Concrete and Gold that was released in 2017 and sold roughly 127,00 equivalent album units according to Billboard. What's remarkable is that even after 24 years, Dave Grohl has managed to not only keep the Foos alive, but among some of the best in the business. He has provided countless hits such as Everlong, Best of You, Run, Times Like These, and The Pretender to name a few. The passion he brings to the stage, his commitment to his fans, and his ability to whack a drum set or shred a guitar on command is unparalleled in today's industry. For these reasons, we put Dave Grohl at No. 5 of our Top 5 Most Important People In Rock Today. 1. Greta Van Fleet Vintage classic rock. This Teenage rock phenomena came out of nowhere last November with the release of their debut LP From The Fires. Since then, Josh Kiszka, along with his brothers Jake and Sam, and childhood friend Danny Wagner, have swept the industry off their feet with their vintage rock vibes. Not even a year in the spotlight, they have already been compared to all-time greats such as Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Aerosmith. Most remarkably, lead vocalist Josh has received praise for Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant himself on how incredible his voice is. Keep in mind that this is a teenage group from Frankenmuth, Michigan. Check out our feature of Greta Van Fleet in the Artist Spotlight section for more information. For these reasons, we put Greta Van Fleet at No. 1 on our Top 5 Most Important People In Rock Today. -L.C.
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