What the hell, lets throw a few out there (in no particular order). BANDS ONLY!
DEVO - The pioneers who got scalped. Most of us don't realize the contributions they made to music as we know it today. Mark Mothersbaugh is a bonafide genius. True innovators. If you only know "Whip It" do yourself a favor and get any of their first 5 albums. All masterpieces.
RUSH - Greatest musicians of all time. You suck UB
FAITH NO MORE - The most underrated band of all time. Amazing stuff. "Angel Dust" may still be the greatest album of all time.
The Godfathers of Metal:
METALLICA (although i hate what they did to Napster)
MEGADETH - Rust In Peace, a masterpiece
SLAYER - If you love metal then you own a copy of Reign in Blood
ANTHRAX - The creators of thrash
PANTERA - pure aggression. No one does it better.
The Hard Stuff (lol):
CARCASS - Not the originators of death metal, but simply the best there ever was.
DEATH - Rest in peace Chuck S.
AMORPHIS - The best death metal band to ever come out of Finland...lol
FEAR FACTORY - neo-industrial metal. Scarey stuff...and icredibly good.
Others:
STEELY DAN, ALICE IN CHAINS, SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS, DRIVIN' N CRYIN', DAG, DAYROOM, BLACK SABBATH, FOO FIGHTERS, ZEPPELIN, DOORS, CRYSTAL METHOD, AC/DC, GUNS N ROSES, ROBERT CRAY BAND, THE CULT, RAGE, STEREO MC'S, PUBLIC ENEMY, POLICE.
There's a few for you to digest...lol
gl