Posted on 02/26/2025 12:43:50 PM PST by Red Badger
Throw early Alice Cooper in there.
You know, like pre-“Only Women Bleed.”
Hunter and Wagner, together they made one of the greatest live albums ever, Lou Reed’s “Rock and Roll Animal”
It wasn’t their choice. The record companies forced them to use session players, it was cheaper.
Drummer Bruce Gary of The Knack said, “One of my biggest disappointments was finding out my twelve favorite drummers were Hal Blaine.”
The best popular-music band ever? The Beatles, no ands, ifs, or buts.
And anyone that suggests otherwise is just trying to be a contrarian.
In the 80s, a lot of those heavy metal songs were played by studio guitarists.
And just look at list of songs Steve Lukather, of Toto, played on in the 80s.
LOL...not only are you wrong but it lacks a modicum of logic.
Session players were paid and were light years beyond the BB's skill set. Even Brian Wilson acknowledged the difference in quality.
It’s true that they went through multiple iterations over the years, but they were still coming out with new material in the early 1990s, and doing 25-30 nights at the Beacon Theater in NYC every March for years. I think their last NYC show was in 2014.
Replace Queen with The Ramones and this is an okay list.
Exactly right. For me, the criteria should be overall longevity, number of hits and body of work. For those reasons the Stones should be #1. The Beatles WERE a rock band and I call them the most influential rock band of all time.
If we’re going to talk best American rock bands things get complicated.
Saw Alice Cooper a couple of weeks ago. Still rockin!
I would say while Terry Kath was with them, Chicago was probably the best American rock band, before they started going sappy in the late 70s.
I know. Many honorable mentions. CCR, A Day to Remember. Lol. It’s like a fingerprint. We all gots stinky opinions, and butthole. Surfers.
But have The Stones really made a great album since “Exile On Main Street”, they’ve had some good songs since but the albums have all been kind of ‘meh’ since then.
The Beatles broke up just at the right time before The Law of Diminishing Returns set in.
Luv these articles. No matter what they’re always wrong.
#1- Zepplin.
After that it’s a good discussion over a bonfire and adult beverages, and almost every 70’s band is worthy.
However, The Beatles are always over rated.
Cheers!
:)
By 1969, they were way better than the Beatles.
And they did not have the Wrecking Crew play on their albums. In fact, if someone was lucky they had, say, Larry Graham or Greg Errico play on their records.
Unfortunately, Sly stopped using them so much.
I guess we couldn’t see the rockers behind all those screaming teeny-bobbers out front.
longevity should have some weight.
in the sf bay area, Led Zep and AC/DC still have much presence.
agree!
I loved Goats Head Soup. Steel Wheels was good, Tatoo You I think. Idk. I’ll have to do some reconnaissance on that question.
What about Sly & the Family Stone?
Hell, yeah! They started the whole funk movement, that bands like Parliament/Funkadelic in the 70s. You can definitely hear their influence on Prince as well.
And IMHO their set was the best one at Woodstock.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.