No, I listen to REM, U2, Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine, The Doors, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, AC/DC, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pink Floyd, the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Van Halen, Coldplay, and many others.
I don't think tastes be considered cliched. You don't really choose them (in the traditional sense of the word choose). You just like what you like. Granted it depenRAB on what you expose yourself to, but maybe he's listened to tons of other stuff and doesn't care for it. Liking popular stuff isn't wrong just because it's not hip.
If Back in Black is a classic hard rock album, than I could write a classic hard rock album. All I need is one good rift that I can use over and over again and i'll be as good as them.
You said you were considering putting King Crimson, Yes and ELP on, but put Asia on instead. Hence why I said King Crimson shouldn't be anywhere near that list - not on that list... Tool Belt.