10 Rock Bands EVERYONE Tried To Copy

10. Rage Against the Machine

Rap and rock have always been known as the harsher side of the musical spectrum. While anyone can get behind a catchy pop tune, if you wanted something more intense, you either had to pick up a guitar or get behind a turntable to make your point. These genres may have been inclusive in the '80s, but Rage Against the Machine were one of the first bands to make beautiful music from both sides of the fence.

While rap-rock collaborations had been more of a novelty up until then, Rage's defiant attitude and political messages put them one notch above the rest of their competition. Even when everyone was going grunge in the '90s, no one could deny the venom that was coming from Zack da la Rocha's mic and Tom Morello's guitar. It was an unprecedented sound, but pretty soon the big labels came calling.

Though they sit outside the category, Rage could get the credit (or the blame) for starting what became known as nu metal, with everyone from Limp Bizkit to Linkin Park pairing the heavy crunch of guitars with intricate rap flows.

Rage may have sought to change the world around them, but none could have anticipated the new wave they birthed.