This week, Sports Editor Eric Taylor presents his top five music groups. Next week, look for Staff Writer Jason Glenn’s top five things about spending the Fourth of July in the country.

5) The Cult
 This English band hit the scene on the tail end of the Punk craze in the 1980s. They hit it big with songs like “Love Removal Machine” and “Firewoman” later in the decade before fading away in the early 1990s. Got a chance to see them live on one of their reunion tours and was impressed by how sharp they sounded.

4) Van Halen
 I have to preface this by saying this only counts with David Lee Roth as the front man. Their self-titled debut album in 1978 is one of my favorite albums of all time and this group personified hard rock in the 1970s. Even though Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Marc Anthony were core members, David Lee Roth gave the band an edge it never had with Sammy Hagar.

3) Rolling Stones
 Amazing these guys are still rockin’ after nearly 50 years together. They haven’t always been great years, but Mick, Keith and whoever filled in around them have built up quite a collection of great songs during their time together. The Stones of the late ’60s are still my favorites, but they still managed to keep things rolling over the next four decades.

2) The Beatles
 How could this list be complete without the Fab Four? During their run in the ’60s, no group has ever made a bigger impact on the musical scene. I prefer their music after they all started hitting the acid later in the decade, but it’s hard to find many Beatles songs I don’t like.

1) The Doors
 Jim Morrison and company had a short run (1966-1971) but made the most of their time together. Their 1967 debut album is a must-have for any music collection and their final album, “LA Woman,” has several great tracks. I’m not a big fan of Morrison when he goes off on his long poetry kicks, but he was a great songwriter and Robbie Kreiger, John Densmore and Ray Manzarek helped make this band an all-time great.

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