Led Zeppelin has influenced way more then the friggin beatles.....I really can not stand the beatles they are an insult to good music.
the beatles were a horrible band, lame bellybutton music for the pop culture. they were "trained" by the studio so parents would like them also 
(something most people don't know and wont believe)
Zeppelin-floyd-not even close bro....Zeppelin is... was...will always be the greatest rock and roll band ever.
three most over rated bands of all time
the beatles
ac/dc
aerosmith
some of the worst bands that people think are great
stones
kiss
motorhead
greatfull dead
I should have been more specific.
When I think of the Beatles as being an influential band, I speak more of their later years (post discovery of drugs), as opposed to, their "pop" years.
In many ways they blazed a path for a lot of other bands to follow. I also consider their "techie" cadre as part of that (mostly George Martin)
In a lot of ways, they made it easier for the acts that followed them to do what they did. I call it a case of "right place, right time". It could have been any number of bands, but it happened to be them.
I personally, can't deny the fact that some of their songwriting was groundbreaking (for the time, of course)
Again, they are not my favorite band, but to deny their influence on pop-culture and rock n roll in general, would be as silly as saying that they are the greatest band in the world. Something which the Stones (in my opinion) are certainly not.
I would also agree that AC/DC is a bit overrated, but I have to give them some respect. As a drummer, I would kill to have a rhythm guitarist with the timing of Malcolm Young. The man is a freaking machine.
Aerosmith, I can take them or leave them. I like their early stuff.
I'm not a member of the KISS army. There is something to be said about their theatricality, but not necessarily their musical prowess. Something I would pay to see live, but not buy the albums.
Motorhead never did it for me.
The Dead on the other hand, are probably the most mis-understood band. I would not claim to be a Deadhead, but I have a deep respect for their collective musical abilities and their penchant for playing what is essentially, American folk music, for the most part.
To put an even finer pinpoint on it. Most bands, including the Beatles and everything afterwards were influenced by and owe some homage to early American blues musicians.
