[gonzo787]

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It's Stipe, and I can name three great bands saying that:

Radiohead
The Decemberists
Elf Power

Thom Yorke will tell you he owes everything to Stipe and REM -- both musically and psychologically.

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Like I said, I don't know if they're a big influence, but I really doubt citing bands like Decemberists and Elfs is helping your case. I had to look up both of them to even know who they are, and Decemberists didn't release their first album until 2002. Let's hold off on annointing them as The Next Great Thing.

Also, both of those band's bios on artistdirect.com mention Neutral Milk Hotel, as did you. 99.9% of the world has never heard a single thing by them, and in a "Greatest Bands Ever" discussion, popularity is definitely a top criteria. We know you love indie, ok? No need to list hopeless suggestions just to remind us.

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It's kind of already been said, but they influenced virtually every college rock band since, certainly from the mid 80's to the mid 90's. Who specially have they influenced? Lets start with the two biggest bands of the 90's that might surprise you- Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Do you need any more?

Nirvana- Kurt Cobain in interviews in the latter part of part of his life, detailed how much he admired REM's handling of success and their music. "Automatic for the People" inspired him so much that he wanted to go in a more acoustic direction with Nirvana's music.

Pearl Jam- Eddie Vedder recently inducted REM in the Rock and Roll HOF.

BTW, my list of the greatest American bands (in no particular order and not necessarily my taste)

REM (of course)
Metallica
Ramones
Aerosmith
Beach Boys