Hmm. My younger self and my older self - so I could ask me a few questions, and make sure I'm right.
My musical tastes are extremely broad, and we're mainly shaped between '85 and '00. First favorite band was Queensryche, and shortly thereafter fell in love with Zep and Rush. The obvious bands from high-school (Pearl Jam, NIN, Soundgarden, Tool). Picked up a Bowie thing somewhere along the way, as well as King Crimson, I Mother Earth, Mother Love Bone, King's X (I'm from Houston), Living Colour, Live. Add a little Midnight Oil, At the Drive-In, School of Fish, Edie Brickell, Black Crows, Seal, Zappa, Madonna, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Joan Jet, Bjork, Radio Head, Pink Floyd, Blue Oyster Cult, Iron Maiden, Buddy Guy, Thelonious Monk, Liz Phair. And fill it out with the other 200 CDs I haven't mentioned yet.
The Gap Cycle by Stephen R. Donnelson. The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton. Anything by Card or Heinlein. The Gods Themselves and Nemesis by Asimov.
Great db Album. Truthfully, just about anyone who remembers the ideas of personal responsibiliy, caring, rational thought, and joy all at the same time - they are heros, and hard to find these days.