8. Elvis Costello, Elvis Costello & The Attractions (Est. 1978)
Elvis Costello was a very angry young man. He didnt play his guitar so much as swat notes out of it. His contempt-filled songs, not to mention his acidic barroom arguments, put off many listeners and critics. Costello truly bared his teeth. So what sets him apart from the punks, from The Sex Pistols Johnny Rotten? The guy was a geek. He was an egghead with huge glasses and a gap who sang through his nose. His trademark move was turning in his knees and stomping around. He was the wont-get-the-girl kind of guy, but he was a rock star anyway. With his lack of embarrassment, he proved that being a nerd didnt require an apology. If thats not enough to make him a sort of hero, using the word tenterhooks in a song clinches it.