1 When I was in the first grade, I won a class spelling bee. There was a prize. I got to choose between two 24"x36" posters, one selected (presumably) for girls and the other for boys. I chose the wall-sized poster of Benji the dog because the poster of Kiss scared the living pee out of me. I attended the same school with the same kids through the end of the fifth grade, and they never stopped giving me shit about that. I think it goes a long way toward explaining why I didn't kiss a girl until I was sixteen years old. Thus: AC/DC. Because they didn't fuck up my life.

2 AC/DC in honour of the many, many, many, nights of drunken stupidity perpetuated in their name. Also my mom complained about "that noisy song" I was playing on the radio so I went out and bought Back in Black - my first record purchase back in 1980-something...

3 Other than that they're both ALL CAPS, why is this even a question? No one in KISS ever choked on his own vomit... or anyone else's.

4 Well, KISS has been accused of being stylized--with, I think, a lot less justification than AC/DC. In terms of what's gotten airplay over the years, AC/DC's songs all sound precisely alike. Fortunately, I like that sound. I mean, who can help but like "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"? Now. Is it art? Discuss.

5 AC/DC did what Van Halen couldn't do, replace the lead singer and not piss off their fans. They also taught a valuble lesson about how not to pass out drunk.

6 So there is, as in so many rock 'n' roll biographies, a morality tale . . .

7 AC/DC, for laying down better grooves, and for not being ashamed of showing their faces in public, and for not making up silly-assed stuff like "KISS Army."

8 AC/DC because they're not a parody of themselves. And it's really fun to play air guitar to "Shook Me All Night Long" when you're drunk at your sister's wedding.

9 Who can help but like "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"? Anyone so unfortunate as to have not heard Joan Jett's infinitely better cover version.

10 Sounds like I'm in for a treat.