The Beatles
Only the most influential band of all time. I latched onto The Beatles pretty early in life; I was five-years-old when my mother and I watched Anthology together on TV. Even at that age I became hooked. I recognized their songs on the radio, I could name the members. I even went around telling people The Beatles were my favorite band (remember, this was all before age ten). I got my first Beatles CD for Christmas 2001 (1) and since it was my only CD, I listened to it constantly. After about a year I bought Rubber Soul (purchased on my father's endorsement) and it was all downhill from there. I'd called them my favorite band for so long, and now I finally had the music to back it up. People used to tell me I'd "play them out" by listening to The Beatles so much; after thirteen years, I'm still not sick of them. Until the day I die, they will be my favorite band. That's the one thing in life of which I'm sure.

Album: Abbey Road
Member: Ringo
Songs: "Dear Prudence", "Love You To", "Oh! Darling", "I Should Have Known Better", "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away"

The Who
My dad introduced me to The Who when I was twelve, saying that anyone who loved The Beatles as much as I did would probably like this band by default. Why do parents have to be right so much? So I picked up Tommy at a used-record store, and fell in love. After giving that album a few thousand spins, my dad gave me The Ultimate Collection for my 13th birthday, and it was over. I snapped up all their albums (well, all their albums up till 1978) within a six month period and listened to them constantly. The Who were all I really listened to during my freshman year of high school; it was a really bad time for me, and as lame as this sounds, their music got me through it. On some days I felt like Pete Townshend's lyrics were the only thing getting me through to the next day. I don't know what else to say but...I owe The Who my soul. Seriously.

Album: Who's Next. No question about it.
Member: Do you need to ask? Have you not seen the fansite? Keith
Songs: "Baba O'Riley", "Love Ain't For Keeping" (electric version w/ Pete on vocals), "Our Love Was", "So Sad About Us", "I Can't Explain"

Pink Floyd
Okay, so my Floyd love wasn't nearly as immediate as my Beatles or Who love. In fact, I owned Wish You Were Here for almost a year before I actually sat and listened to the entire album. Maybe that was the problem; I started with the wrong album. But it doesn't matter now. 'Bout three years ago, I bought The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn on someone or other's recommendation, and I fell head over heels for Syd Barrett's version of Floyd. Which led me to giving the band's other albums a second chance. I'm so glad I did. Over the course of a single summer I'd bought up all their albums and listened to them like a religion. Pink Floyd has the kind of musical sound, you actually feel like it would be big enough for you to climb inside and walk around in. Their songs seem so visual sometimes; I can close my eyes and actually see what a song like "Echoes" looks like. It sounds insane, but if you listened to as much Floyd as I do now, you'd understand.

Album: Atom Heart Mother
Member: Syd. Then, since Syd left the band so early, Rick.
Songs: "Summer '68", "Wish You Were Here", "Lucifer Sam", "Echoes", "The Great Gig In The Sky"

The Police
The newest members to my favorite bands family, but God, the obsession struck me pretty hard. I guess it's been about a year since I started listening to these guys in heavy rotation (though I owned the greatest hits compilation for awhile). I discovered that their early songs made for some awesome driving music, and that was it for me. I bought Outlandos d'Amour on a Friday; by the following Thursday I had bought their entire discography (don't be too amazed or appalled. They only released five albums, and I bought them all at Wal-Mart for under $12). Every single one of their songs is catchy, melodic, and above all, well played. These three guys were all fucking awesome on their respective instruments; not a weak link to be found. I'd even go so far as to say that Stewart Copeland is the second-best rock drummer ever, right behind my Keith. Anyway, bottom line: everyone needs to listen to The Police. You will not be sorry. And catch them on their reunion tour, if they're passing through your town.

Album: Reggatta de Blanc
Member: Andy
Songs: "So Lonely" (what's the name of this site again?), "Man In A Suitcase", "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", "The Bed's Too Big Without You", "Peanuts"

U2
I almost feel like I'm making a political statement, standing up and calling U2 one of my favorite bands and all. But ignoring Bono's occasional pretentiousness and whatever else, this band is amazing. Their songs are so beautiful and...majestic. I feel like my soul gets a tune-up whenever a U2 song pops up on my iPod. I've been a fan since 10th grade, which was the year I first saw them in concert. Seeing them live gave me a spiritual feeling, the sort of feeling I should have gotten while going to church. A lot of people hate them, and I guess I can understand why. Sometimes Bono can be a pompous a-hole, but I really do believe in his passion for both his causes and his music. Maybe that makes me a sucker. But moving on, this band has put out a lot of quality music in their almost thirty (!) year career, and I love them for it. I would feel empty if I didn't have U2's music in my life.

Album: Boy
Member: Don't really have one, come to think of it.
Songs: "Out Of Control", "Bad", "With Or Without You", "Running To Stand Still", "Mysterious Ways"

Van Halen
I always love telling people my list of favorite bands, mostly to see the looks on their faces when I get around to mentioning Van Halen. Apparently someone who worships Pink Floyd can't also be a fan of shallow-but-fun rock and roll. I always love to defy conventionality. Anyhoo, I discovered Van Halen the summer before 10th grade, via my dad (again). I usually hate '80s hair metal, but this band was different. Eddie Van Halen is actually talented, for one thing. For another, David Lee Roth is fucking hilarious. The songs are bouncy and well-played, with catchy melodies and words you can sing along to. Speaking of which, I discovered that lyrics don't always have to be deep or meaningful in any way; sometimes it's fun to hear something that's really just about sex and partying.

Just so's you know, I don't like much of the band's output after DLR quit.

Album: Van Halen (The debut)
Member: Eddie. But I have a soft spot for the band's newest bassist, Wolfgang. Loooong story....
Songs: "Little Guitars", "I'm The One", "Panama", "Dance The Night Away", "Secrets"

The Monkees
The Pre-Fab Four arrived in my life at the perfect time: I was twelve-years-old, and a Beatles addict who had just finished buying all their albums. Where to turn? For no real reason, I requested The Monkees' Greatest Hits for Christmas, which "Santa" willingly supplied. And holy crap, I was hooked. I'd seen the show on TVLand as a young kid, and I'd heard most of their songs on oldies radio for years. I started listening to The Monkees just as often as I listened to The Beatles (I managed to buy almost all of their albums, but they were so hard to find. Why is that?) Their songs are snappy, poppy fun that never fail to put me in a great mood. And the show is hilarious to boot. Anybody who criticizes The Monkees for being a manufactured band who didn't play their own instruments or write their own songs, I have two things to say to you. First of all, eventually they did play their own instruments and write their own songs. And secondly...who gives a crap if they didn't?

Album: Headquarters
Member: Micky
Songs: "Randy Scouse Git", "Tapioca Tundra", "Star Collector", "As We Go Along", "Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

Peter Gabriel
It felt wrong not including my all-time favorite solo artist on this tribute page; I love the man's entire catalog and decided he had to be mentioned here. Anyway, I'd owned his biggest album, So, for years before I decided to go deeper into his music. My cousin pointed me in the direction of PG's third self-titled album, and I fell absolutely in love. Peter has the best singing voice...ever. I'd listen to him sing entries from the phone book. His lyrics are so deep, his music has so much texture and depth, and his fusion of world and pop music is unmatched by any other artist. And it helps that back in the day he was totally gorgeous. I worship the ground the man walks on.

Album: Peter Gabriel 3 (Melt)
Songs: "Solsbury Hill", "Secret World", "And Through The Wire", "In Your Eyes", "I Don't Remember"

Honorable Mentions
Led Zeppelin
The Rolling Stones
The Doors

I absolutely adore these three bands as well (collect their albums, listen to them constantly, etc), but the only reason I didn't include them in my overall, absolute top favorites ever is mostly because, I've never actually obsessed over any of them at a given time. Like, I can't remember the exact time each entered my life, and I can't pinpoint any moments where all I wanted was to listen to their songs. It's a fine distinction to make, but I made it, so just bugger off.