Top 10 Best Bands with an Animal in the Name

The wordplay that changed the world ('Beetles' with an 'a' from 'beat'). John, Paul, George and Ringo are the undisputed number 1 on any list. They started as a band named after insects (inspired by The Crickets of Buddy Holly) and ended as the greatest cultural force of the 20th century. Their influence is immeasurable. From early pop songs to psychedelic experimentation and bitter, yet beautiful endings; The Beatles invented modern music as we know it. The ultimate band, with or without an animal in the name.

The kings of West Coast country-rock. Their name stands for America, freedom and heights. They perfected the art of multi-part harmonies and wrote songs that form the DNA of American radio. Hotel California is their magnum opus, with that unforgettable guitar duel at the end. They combined the raw power of rock with the harmony of country. Musical craftsmanship at a solitary height.

The sensation from Sheffield that conquered the world via the Internet. Alex Turner is one of the sharpest lyricists of his generation. They evolved from fast, rambling rock to smooth, sexy desert rock. Whether it's the energy of 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor' or the swagger of 'Do I Wanna Know?'; they keep reinventing themselves. A band that honors the cool factor of the primates in their name.

They called themselves that because of their wild behavior on stage. Under the leadership of Eric Burdon and his mighty, raw throat, they made the roughest R&B of the British Invasion in the 1960s. Their version of 'The House of the Rising Sun' is iconic thanks to Alan Price's threatening organ playing. It's dark, brooding blues-rock that directly touches the soul of the listener.

The world's most successful virtual band, devised by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The four animated apes (2-D, Murdoc, Noodle and Russel) represent a mix of styles: hip-hop, dub, pop and electronica. It's an art project that got out of hand and became a world act. Songs like 'Clint Eastwood' and 'Feel Good Inc.' are innovative and cool. They prove you don't need 'real' people to be a real band.

Germany's greatest export. Named after the poisonous creature, they started as a hard rock band but became world famous thanks to their power ballads. 'Wind of Change' became the anthem of the fall of the Wall. The voice of Klaus Meine is directly recognizable, as is their whistling. They combine melodious rock with sharp guitar riffs. A band that survives for fifty years in the jungle of the music industry.

The pioneers of folk-rock. With their misspelled bird name (a tribute to The Beatles), they created an entirely new sound in the 1960s, driven by Roger McGuinn's ringing 12-string guitar. Their version of Dylan's 'Mr. Tambourine Man' is legendary. They brought the poetry of folk together with the beat of the British Invasion. Ethereal, harmonious and timeless.

Named after a 'Deaf Leopard' (deaf leopard), but with an intentional misspelling in the style of Led Zeppelin. These Brits perfected arena rock in the 1980s. Their sound is grand, polished and irresistibly catchy. With the song 'Animal' they delivered not just a world hit, but also the perfect soundtrack for this list. It's bombastic rock made to scream along to in a full stadium, driven by legendary one-armed drummer Rick Allen.

Named after Hermann Hesse's novel. This band defined the sound of the motorcyclist and the freedom of the open road. In their lyrics for 'Born to be Wild' came the term "Heavy Metal" for the first time. The organ and shredding guitars provide raw, psychedelic hard rock sound. It's the ultimate soundtrack for everyone who hasn't lost their wild hair yet.

The band name is derived from an old English nursery rhyme about counting crows ("One for sorrow, two for mirth..."). It fits perfectly with the melancholic, narrative rock of singer Adam Duritz. With 'Mr. Jones' they scored a 1990s world hit that still sounds fresh. Their sound is a mix of folk, rock and blues, always delivered with deep emotional weight and poetic lyrics.