[Don W]

Objectively, it is true that perhaps no rock or pop band was ever more exacting and selective about their studio musicians.

One name to utterly refute that tripe:

Frank Zappa

If you were less than perfect in studio or onstage, you were GONE. That fast. If dope was around, you were gone. A more exacting taskmaster I have never heard mentioned.

[Lurker]

“One name to utterly refute that tripe:

Frank Zappa”

Yep. Saw him 5 times. As close to flawless live performances as they got.

L

[golux]

I once heard a garbage truck skid down a road, strike a yelping dog, slam into a glazier’s truck, and catch fire as a grand piano landed on the maelstrom from above and a (beautiful, really) 1974 Sedan de Ville hit the mess head-on.

Whilst watching the hubcaps roll away I realized it all sounded like a Zappa track but, of course, I knew that to try and understand such transcendent music would be utterly above my lowly abilities.