Bodycast and Riverblues are both right. You have to be able to bond in some way other than musically. There has to be a friendship there.
Another thing is that, it is great to use pieces from your influences. It is not great to use nothing but pieces from your influences.
You have to create your own sound. People are not fooled to easily. If people want to hear Disturbed, than they'll listen to Disturbed.
What I'm saying is, it's OK to put in a stolen finger roll from your fav guitarist, or a piece of a signature drum run, but you are not those people. Don't try to be them.
Bands that last, are the bands that, sound like themselves.
Good Luck in all you do,
SMI Productions, Inc.
smiproductionsinc@comcast.net