#1 Iron Maiden (influenced me the most)
#2 Kiss (shoulda been #1 for me since they were my first love)
#3 Nevermore (fresh and new and different)
#4 Raven (the energy was astounding)
#5 Judas Priest (huge influence)
#6 AC/DC (straight ahead rock that was easily accepted to my young ears)
#7 Evergrey (just plain great songs... Tom's voice is metal)
#8 Rush (Yes 3 guys can do that... how could you not be mesmerized by a guy who sounded like a chick?)
#9 Van Halen (the playing! every metal guitarist's goal)
#10 Helloween (opened my eyes and ears to my favorite type of music)
#11 Armored Saint (one of the faves but I can't seem to knock anything else off the top 10)
#12 Queensryche (up to Promised Land)
#13 Jackal (I love this band)
#14 Cheap Trick
#15 Accept
Ok, that was actually 15 bands. Sorry. After taking a day or two, I made a change or two.
These would be the bands that have influenced my listening the most and they would also be the good old stand-bys that will always have a spot in the play list...
Man that was hard to limit to only 10!