Three is tough, but here goes…

The Police
U2
Waylon Jennings

I had a hard time limiting to three on my first reply. I have since thought on it more, and have decided to do a round two.

Depeche Mode (not beyond Playing the Angel)
Green Day (not beyond Nimrod)
Eve6

Johnny Cash
Credence Clearwater Revival
ZZ Top

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Jimi Hendrix

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Led Zeppelin
AC/DC
Rush

almost impossible but I'd say
1) The Beatles. My dad was a Beatles addict and his love for music shaped my love for music. I love the band but I actually like late Beatles whereas he loved their earlier stuff. I was born in 1982 so well after they broke up.

2) The Black Crowes. My favorite band. They were the band during my youth that was making music like the older stuff I listened to with my dad like LZ, Stones, Faces, CCR, GFR, etc. This band is so much more than just their first record.

3) Ryan Adams (not Bryan.) I grew up listening to singer-songwriters like CSN, James Taylor, Elton, etc, and then I really got into alt-country and Americana music in college. No one had a bigger impact on me than Ryan Adams and his previous band Whiskeytown. Incredible songwriter who has a huge catalog and a diverse style from punk to classic country. Really underrated artist.

Willie Nelson
The Eagles
Bob Seger

1. Metallica
2. Johnny Cash
3. Loreena Mckennitt

Neil Young

Peter Gabriel

Jimmy Buffet

Starland Vocal Band
Captain and Tennille
Sonny and Cher

The Who
Jimmy Buffett
Johnny Cash

Merle Haggard
The Four Seasons
The Smithereens