How far would you go personally and where would you draw the line? Some music you can't help but be inspired by it.

I'll give an example .. New Order >> LCD Soundsystem >> Arcade Fire

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All art builds on past art, it's inescapable. I think that people should use that inspiration but the end goal should be to not just imitate but make the music uniquely yours. Of course to do so successfully takes much trial and error. If you can accomplish that then you're set.

 

in most cases you're right. Any music is inspired by another ones work but at least good music is a evolutionary, not just imitary thing. But there are some examples, where there was even a revolution. If you compare verdi vs. wagner f.e., verdi acted evolutionary while wagner went some steps further, just think about the tristan chord. Well, wagner succeeded (not over verdi but besides him), but that is rare. Schoenberg's tweleve tone method f.e. was a complete fail (famous but a clear fail). I think his intention was just vanity. "The chief thing is to create something completely different". The idea of having succes with something completely different is foolish in my eyes, but always worth a try

 

I think we are all inspired by everything around us. In fact I think we are all "more or less" empty barrels on arrival.

If we like something, it becomes a part of us, if we hate something, we try to prevent it becoming a part of us, thus it also becomes a part of us.

I've written over 500 songs in my time, and every song reminds me of another song. I't doesn't bother me if someone comes and says "that sounds like Pink Floyd".
There are two Albums by Pink Floyd that I love and have listened to for 40 years. In fact, "Dark side of the moon" was really the record that made me start making music.

Of course,now there are many albums that I love from A to Z, from classic to Jazz. I think the greatest respect I can show to any composer/musician is to say that their music influenced me.

I've even been inspired by my own songs. Trying to do something that sounds different to everything else has never worked out for me. If I can't hear myself in my song, then I can't associate with it. It's probably almost impossible to do something that doesn't sound like something else. There is so much music in this world (Wonderful), and we are all using the methods and instruments that are available.

What I do despise, is when people steal the works of others, and claim it to be their own.
(I told a story in a different thread about that)

Anyone who is spending his/her time being creative is enrichening our lives, and it is just as well. 'cause we've got to balance out the people who are being destructive!!