Top 3 Most Overrated Artists contest in R&R.

I'll make the argument for The Stones and acknowledge the argument against them.

FOR:
Rock music is simple, primitive, reductionist, sexualized, and aggressive right-brain music. It requires a back beat and a compelling lead guitarist who understands the anarchic role of a guitar in that formula. And it requires nothing else - indeed adding more (eg, harmony) dilutes the product.

The Stones are masters at the art. They make very simple music that many (including me) find compelling.

Note: While technical proficiency has very little to do with this, The Velvet Underground is a curious choice to hold against The Stones on this front. Keith is an outstanding rhythm player, Charlie Watts is a fine drummer and Ron Woods is a monster lead player. By comparison, The Velvet Underground is hardly head turning. Lou Reed and Mo Tucker aren't exactly virtuoso players.

AGAINST:
The argument against The Stones is the argument against pure rock n roll. It's simple, primitive, reductionist, sexualized, and aggressive right-brain music. Some people find that vulgar.

No argument from me.

BTW, I'd argue that Exile is revered because it is fantastically right-brain. It's stumbling, drunken blues run amok and IMHO might be as perfect an execution of that aesthetic as has ever been tracked.

Sorry, that should have read: Ronnie WOOD is a monster lead player.

Czarivey: Your grammar and taste are very questionable. Let's forget about all the great (and timeless) songs for a moment. Let's talk "musicianship", since you're chosen to attack the RS on that level. Watts and Wyman are one of the greatest rhythm sections in rock history. Keith is second only to Chuck Berry as a masterful licks player. Mick Taylor is one of the finest guitarists I've ever heard. As for Woody, I named my son after him. Jagger is not a great singer...really? They say you can't argue taste. In this case I'll make an exception.

Lindisfarne, as you may know, the site has technical problems and amateur crew supporting it. As I was typing some letters did go wrong or didn't go to the screen at all no matter how many times i tried to type them. We ain't talkin'bout gramma here dood after all.
If you haven't heard better guitarist than Mick Taylor, Good 4U, coz I did and plenT and not only rokk. Can any of them match the skill of Jimi or FZ I'd highly highly doubt it.
After all they're all celebrities so let them b and let me b 2
U R also free to specify any other band or performer you think is ovegreated instead of accusing me atcacking Drolling stones.
Excuse my wrong spelling dorn.

While I can agree with your first two picks, Kiss and John Bon Jovi (despite his millions of fans, mostly women), including the Stones in a list of most "overrated" is just wrong. Yes, the Stones of the last twenty years or so are not the same as the Stones of the 60's and 70's but, even at their worst, they are better than the majority of what's out there today. Look, the Stones have been phoning it in for the last several years but you can expect a backlash by calling them overrated. Just put Elvis in there next time and see what happens.