New York, NY
nydolls.org

Thirty-six years and many, many tubes of lipstick in, the Dolls are still lighting loins aflame with all the gritty glamour their name implies. Never mind the tasty riffs and sugary licks that have become a bona fide pop archetype. It's that whole androgynous-sex-rock-swagger that truly changed the cultural landscape for the better. More simply put, and as Morrissey himself pointed out, "Mick Jagger stole everything from David Johansen!"

Essential (Legal) Downloads: "Looking for a Kiss," "Babylon," "Take a Good Look at My Good Looks"