It has to be Queen.
I was immersed in such a wide range of music as a kid. My family always had music playing I think. My cousins would put on all sorts of cool music when I was tiny. everything from The Damned to Jeff Wayne, Jean-Michel Jarre to Neil Diamond. But there was always one band that stood out, Queen. I learned so much about song writing and music theory from absorbing myself in their music. I expected that I'd play guitar first of all as Brian May was such a standalone character at the time.. The story behind the Red Special, the hair, the guitar solos etc.. but then I discovered this rather quiet chap at the back with an instrument that looked..and sounded very, very cool indeed. I was smitten with it and like a terrier with a bone... it's been about 30 years now ha ha.. I'd like to shake John's hand and say a little thank you.