Since that previously posted Digital Dream Door list was so awful, I
decided to take a shot at the task myself. I know the original list
specified "rock" artists, but simply reading the list (Robbie Williams,
Depeche Mode, Phil Collins, Eurythmics, Herman's Hermits, Massive
Attack, Cat Stevens, etc.) showed that this limitation was not truly
followed.

I hasten to point out that these are *not* just my personal favorites.
In fact, I own albums by a mere 47 of these 100 names. I even sharply
dislike several of them (Billy Idol and Happy Mondays, for
instance...BLECCH). I also tried to give some respectful love to acts
such as Cliff Richard, Pulp, the Jam, Massive Attack and Manic Street
Preachers which were hugely important in the UK but had lesser US
success.

I also moaned to omit many personal favorites such as Wire, Robyn
Hitchcock/Soft Boys, Brian Eno, Richard Thompson, the Fall, Syd Barrett,
Spiritualized, the Move and Magazine, but just felt they were too
"cultish" to warrant a rank.

I did not refer to the DDD site while compiling the below, but I now see
that I repeated 64 names from that list. Which is actually a few more
than expected (I originally estimated that the DDD list was about "half"
accurate). And that's not even taking into account that I ruled out Jimi
Hendrix Experience and Rod Stewart on sheer nationality grounds (I did
decide to grudgingly allow Fleetwood Mac).

Final note: Given the other list's heavy '70s-rawker orientation, I'm
very surprised it did not include Bad Company or Mott the Hoople.
Someone at DDD must really hate Mick Ralphs!

So, dissect this list if you like. But please, try to have some
perspective which goes beyond your own emotional, fannish preferences.
And be aware that nationality quibbles are the dullest possible route
which the discussion could take. And I don't pretend that these names
are in absolute, perfect order, so if you merely want someone moved up
or down a few slots....

And Raja, if you MUST reply (and I really don't care if you do), see if
you can base your argument on something beyond sheer attitude and
"loudness."

1. The Beatles
2. The Rolling Stones
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Pink Floyd
5. Elton John
6. The Who
7. David Bowie
8. The Clash
9. Queen
10. Paul McCartney
11. The Kinks
12. John Lennon
13. Eric Clapton
14. Sting
15. Elvis Costello
16. The Sex Pistols
17. The Police
18. The Smiths
19. Radiohead
20. Fleetwood Mac
21. Cream
22. The Yardbirds
23. Oasis
24. Genesis
25. Depeche Mode
26. Morrissey
27. The Cure
28. Duran Duran
29. Peter Gabriel
30. Black Sabbath
31. The Animals
32. Yes
33. Roxy Music
34. Eurythmics
35. New Order
36. Siouxsie & the Banshees
37. The Jam
38. Jethro Tull
39. The Moody Blues
40. T. Rex
41. Coldplay
42. Echo & the Bunnymen
43. Deep Purple
44. Iron Maiden
45. Dusty Springfield
46. Cliff Richard
47. Bauhaus
48. The Buzzcocks
49. Cat Stevens
50. Def Leppard
51. Ozzy Osbourne
52. Petula Clark
53. Robbie Williams
54. Frankie Goes to Hollywood
55. The Hollies
56. Traffic
57. Electric Light Orchestra
58. The Dave Clark Five
59. George Michael
60. Blur
61. Joy Division
62. Public Image Ltd.
63. Phil Collins
64. Bad Company
65. Joe Cocker
66. The Zombies
67. Motorhead
68. XTC
69. The Stone Roses
70. Massive Attack
71. Jeff Beck
72. P J Harvey
73. The Faces
74. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
75. Kate Bush
76. Pulp
77. King Crimson
78. Procol Harum
79. Judas Priest
80. Fairport Convention
81. Dire Straits
82. Pet Shop Boys
83. George Harrison
84. Happy Mondays
85. The Human League
86. The Style Council
87. The Verve
88. UB40
89. Billy Idol
90. Madness
91. Supertramp
92. Squeeze
93. Gang of Four
94. The Damned
95. Mott the Hoople
96. Graham Parker
97. The Specials
98. The (English) Beat
99. Manic Street Preachers
100. Joe Jackson

The top names which I just couldn't find room for:
Bryan Ferry, the Fall, the Spencer Davis Group, the Sweet, Primal Scream