I had a professor in college, Crispin Sartwell, who later came to some notoriety when he claimed that he could mathematically prove the Stones were better than the Beatles. It was all a big epistemological joke, but it did get him some radio time on NPR.

Anyway, as much as I love The Who and The Kinks and The Stones from their heydays (my relationship with the Beatles is too complex to call it love), the greatest rock band ever is pretty clearly Boris. Wait, no. It's the Minutemen. Hold it. It's The Mekons. Guided By Voices. Maybe Can. Or The Fall. Or The Feelies. Or Love. No, it's definitely Television. Or perhaps...

eta: I hate to use phrases like "The best rock band in history," but really, who else comes close?

I nominate (Buddy Holly and) the Crickets. Even without knowing what they might have done if Holly had lived. And while I don't think they qualify as "best" or "greatest," rock bands would have been very different if there had been no Duane Eddy and the Rebels.

John Lennon would agree with you, and he knew a lot. Except to duck. Lost art, ducking.

For impact and influence only the Stooges

I met the son of one of the Stooges last week. He's a medical writer. True story.

Last name Benjamin, by any chance?

Dr. Howard? Dr. Fine? Dr. Howard?

Seriously, which Stooge?

Hm. I don't remember his name! Lemme check the list. There weren't that many guys at the conference anyway; this shouldn't be too hard to narrow down.

Ah, here he is. Last name Williamson. Oh, and he's totally named after his dad.

Dr. Jim Williamson, I assume? His dad was in the Raw Power era Stooges, as well as the scraggly-ass "I Got A Right" and "My Girl Hates My Heroin" stuff.*

* by "scraggly-ass" I don't mean to insult it at all.

That's the one, Corwood. Except the James Williamson I met is not a Dr. Just a poor old MS, like me. He was around my age.

you people are making me all "le sigh, Iggy, le sigh" stoopidheaded swoony girl. enough stooges talk.

eta - I can't spell whilst swooning.