10 Rock Bands EVERYONE Tried To Copy

Every band worth their salt will try to make a sound all their own. For as much fun as it is to play in cover bands, the earth tends to move once you hit upon a sound you've never heard before. Then again, it's also just as easy to copy what came before you.

Even though rock has branched out beyond its initial sound in the '60s, many bands have come to the forefront with a sound that felt almost too perfect. No one could be these bands at doing what they do best, but that didn't stop millions of people trying to ride the coattails of that initial magic.

Whether it's the way they tune their guitars or the way they look at their career, these bands had a distinct way of playing that ended up rubbing off on many different generations of rock fans.

This can often be a testament to just how great these acts were, but sometimes it goes too far the other way and ends up falling into involuntary mockery rather than overt praise. You can call these bands trendsetters for the ground they covered, but when a band does its job too well, you also get the wannabes looking for a piece of the action.

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.