1. Fugazi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=looSwGHulFI "The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Fugazi." Or, "John Lennon, Jimmy Page, Ian MacKaye." In a perfect world, I wouldn't have to clarify this entry any further, but here we are regardless. Fugazi represent a musical peak that is hard to describe. A genre? They used them like clay, simply molding and combing where they saw fit. Even without their music, the story of the band is worth telling, simply for the astounding moments that the band experienced. The band took a strict ethical stand, and never signed to a major label. They refused to do interviews with any magazine that had alcohol or tobacco advertisements; despite Rolling Stone giving their 3rd album 5 stars, and declaring them to be the "Only band that matters", Fugazi refused to do an interview. They kept their ticket prices at $5, with refunds for those who were kicked out for being violent or bothersome. I could go on and on. However, at the end of the day, the music speaks for itself. Before Nevermind broke the barrier between indie and mainstream, Fugazi's first album, Repeater (1990), was selling 300 000 copies in a year. In an 11 year span, they played hundreds of shows, and only ended by mutual agreement, as each member went on to pursue other projects, claiming the band was on "indefinite hiatus". Many of you may know who Fugazi are, and wonder why they are on this list. If you don't know who Fugazi are, then you are the reason they are. Because it is impossible to know who they are, and their music, without at least respecting how much they changed music. If you have anything to add or think I missed, let me know in the comments. Or if you think I left somebody out or are just bothered by something I wrote, then let me know!