It's really hard to pick just one. Being a teenager in the 80's big hair bands were huge for me: Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Tesla & Poison, are at the top of the list. Let's not forget the 70"s favorites like Foreigner, Kiss & Bad Company. My taste in music has not changed, still listen to classic rock and 80's pop, even like "Bob 95.FM" but the older I get, and the older he gets, Kid Rock now tops my list. His music has changed and maybe mellowed in the last few years. Almost has a "country" twang to some of it, which is not my type of music, so I'm surprised how much I like it.
So yes, if you know me, you will associate me with Kid Rock. But, in my car you will also find all the old favorites.

AHHH WLS. "Is the dog okay, Uncle Lar'?"
I just sold my 3 Animal Stories Albums a few weeks ago.

In high school, I had an assignment in public speaking to play a favorite song for the class and explain what it meant and why it was important to me. I cracked my piggy bank to buy an Aerosmith album. It wasn't my taste, but I was terrified of not being cool, so I gave a tortured little speech about one of the songs. A boy I had a serious crush on was really into the assignment - he brought in his own turntable and speakers! After a hushed delay, some minor wiring, and shutting off the lights, he put on 2112. They didn't exactly play Rush on WLS, so it was my first view outside the disco/pop world ruled by the Brothers Gibb. I was startled by this music - the forging of the bass line with the guitar, the thunderous drums, Geddy's odd, strangled voice, and the silence between the notes. By the end of the song, I had 'Rush' engraved on my spiral in pen, and a plan to buy all of their albums. It's been a long time since that day when my taste in music first diverged from the beaten path, but I realize that song's been a touchstone, something that always brings me back to myself.

Mine is Rush for the intelligence and professionalism and complexities of thier ever evolving and progressive music. As a drummer I idolized Neil Pert when I was in Drum Corps and the music has covered everything from Fear to the Space Shuttle. When I dabbled with magic the album Presto came about. The loss of my fiance' and her fave song "The Pass" and Neil himself also losing his significant other and daughter oddly coincided.. And what rocker wouldn't like "Tom Sawyer" or anyone the the message in "The Trees"? 30+ years of great stuff and they are ready to hit the road again with their "Clockwork Angels" tour. Going 'WindAtMyBack'?! :) ^5 Plus... they have one very kewl Dragon.

Maybe someone else remembers the band Firefall. Lots of good stuff from them while I was in the last year of high school.

I was in my 20's in the 60's. Then, and now, my musical north star is Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones. They have been in business since 1962. I have lots of other groups I like to listen to, but the Rolling Stones are, to me, iconic.

Neil Diamond! Loved his songs and concerts!

For me, Rage Against the Machine, Pink Floyd, and Bob Seger. But if I was forced to choose - my choice is Seger as my 'north star'.

Rush is who band released a lot of material that I relate to. Subdivisions from the Signals album is my life story...growing up in the Parkwood Hills subdivision on the far west edge of Madison in the 70s, getting bored and moving downtown and out east for 12 years living the fast life, coming back and meeting my wife (now former wife)on a fun visit, being tired of living in the NYC area, moving back and raising a family in a subdivision near Madison. Subdivisions is about my life going full circle.

I must post for my brother, who truly has one. "Grant" has struggled with being bi-polar/Schizophrenic for over a dozen years now. One of his idiosyncrasies is that he listens to the same band. All Day. Every Day.
That band is 311. Some days he will listen to the same song all day. I bet it has been 6-8 years since I have seen a different band in his cd discman. (no mp3 because he's not aloud around computers) As they say, whatever flips your trigger. Or in his case , prevents your trigger from being flipped.

The band "Tool" has always spoken in a way that I can't explain. It is like a hypnotic spell. They may not record very much, but I always purchase it on the first day. As far as lyrics the band "Rise Against" seems like they have direct line from my mind.

My wife would say that Hayes Carll is my musical North star. And while he is definitely my current musical "man crush" (her term), I would have to give my nod to John Prine. I remember receiving my first cassette of "Prime Prine" from my uncle Mark in about 1983. 12 songs that will make you laugh, cry, reflect, and dream, all at the same time. As I have collected his other works through the years, I find it comforting to know that nearly every tune, however produced, comes from the root of his soul. And makes me take a look at mine.

As a child of the fifties and sixties, the group that spoke to me and said the things I wanted to say was Peter, Paul and Mary. They aren't a band in the formal sense, but they're my choice. They have been given the label of "manufactured" group, but they sure got their message out there and reminded us of the problems and joys in this world. I identify with those ideals. Check out ITUNES postings around the passing of Mary Travers. Very moving, yet joyful as the people sing and remember her.