Posted on 11/12/2004 9:35:34 AM PST by itsamelman
Robbie Williams , Michael Jackson , Queen, The Rolling Stones and Cliff Richard have been chosen by the British public as the best music acts of the past five decades.
The musicians, each representing a decade in the last half of the 20th century, were inducted into Britain's first music hall of fame along with honorary members Madonna , Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, U2 and The Beatles at a ceremony in London.
The honorees were selected by a public vote by Channel 4 television, which invented the British hall of fame. So far, there's no building.
Williams, 30, won the popular vote to represent the 1990s, beating the likes of Blur, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Oasis and Nirvana, while Jackson was crowned music ambassador from the 1980s, ahead of Prince, REM, George Michael and The Smiths.
Queen was voted for the 1970s honor above Abba, The Bee Gees, The Clash and David Bowie .
The Rolling Stones were voted most popular from the 1960s and Richards the 1950s' most popular musical performer.
Madonna, U2 frontman Bono, The Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood , and Williams were among those to accept their awards in person at a ceremony Thursday.
The Beatles' award was collected Thursday night by their producer, Sir George Martin.
"After 42 years, the light of their genius still shines as bright as ever," Martin said.
Priscilla Presley said her former husband would have been proud.
"His dream, that of a world tour, was never realized. His fan base was so strong here and because of that he would have been proud to receive this," Presley said.
My favorite British band. While I love all of their albums, I think this one narrowly beats out Tormato.
Steve Howe, one of the greatest guitar players, ever.
My favorite British band << YES >>. While I love all of their albums, I think this one narrowly beats out Tormato.
Funny that you mention that... IIRC, Yes was the opening act for Creme's final concert at Royal Albert Hall.
BTW, they're my all-time favorite band as well. And I seem to go through different stages as to which is my favorite album. Currently, it's "Going for the One," with CttE being a close second.
Mark
I cannot believe nobody has mentioned the band, Dire Straits. IMO they ruled the 80's. Mark Knopfler is just amazing. A lot more to them than the "money for nothing" lick.
Furthermore, I dunno if these guys count but what about the canadians, Rush and Neil Young? Were they even nominated?? Shakey and Getty may not have been as influential as LZ, or the Clash. However, had they not come a long a large music void would be present.
Long live the Horse...
Yep. Floyd's simply the best band ever.
End of discussion.
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/10/music.cream.reut/
Cream reunion in the works?
Legendary Clapton-Bruce-Baker trio broke up in 1968
NEW YORK (Billboard) -- Vintage rock trio Cream will reunite for a string of shows next year at London's Royal Albert Hall, sources tell Billboard.
The group -- guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce -- played its final shows at Albert Hall before splintering in November 1968. Cream has not performed together since its 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Billboard understands that the trio will begin rehearsals after the first of the year, with an eye on a weeklong run of gigs at Albert Hall. It is unknown if plans call for additional shows in other parts of the world. A spokesperson for Clapton had no comment.
In just two years, Cream achieved legendary status on the strength of the albums "Fresh Cream," "Disraeli Gears" (recently reissued in a deluxe edition by Polydor) and the half-live/half-studio "Wheels of Fire," expertly blending blues, rock and the burgeoning strains of psychedelia. The group's final album, "Goodbye Cream," came out in January 1969 after the split.
"Disraeli Gears" is a particular landmark, sporting such signature tracks as "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love," which features one of the most distinctive riffs in rock history.
"Live, Cream was a great, hardworking band -- Eric was supreme and Ginger the most musical drummer alive -- and those original live albums were very good, probably the best records of their kind up to that point," Bruce told Billboard in 1997, prior to the release of the boxed set "Those Were the Days." "But our studio recordings were probably more important, although there you can tell that each one of us had a different idea of what Cream should be."
After Cream's split, Clapton and Baker joined another supergroup, Blind Faith, with Traffic's Steve Winwood and Family bassist Rick Grech. But the combo issued only one album before Clapton set off on an enduring solo career. Baker and Bruce have continued to record and tour in a variety of incarnations.
Clapton will release a new CD/DVD, "Sessions for Robert J," on December 7 via Duck/Reprise.
Don't forget the David Bowie/Queen composition "Under Pressure" launched Vanilla Ice's career too when he ripped off the main bass lick (they later sued and got a nice settlement) for "IceIceBaby". I file that under 'bad Queen accomplishments'.
Inuendo was a terrific album (could not remember the name as I was typing the post).
To my mind nothing compares to the first five albums....Queen II is an amazing compilation and the more commercial they got the worse thier music became.
Oh yeah, any list is a big load of crap if this guy isn't listed as King of the 70s:
Next up: the British Dentistry Hall of Fame.
Led Zepplin at their peak
when was Zeppelin not at their peak?? The band was amazing from start-to-finish.
First I've head. Great news. Today's punks are pathetic compared to Cream.... lucky enough to see them twice. I hope Ginger Baker is in good enough to pound it out. He was a monster when I saw him on stage.
I think I've got retinal damage from viewing that photo!
As I look back at the shows I've seen, the standouts are Rod Stewart and Small Faces, Joplin, Jethro Tull....Hendrix just wasn't that much of a showman, but he played the guitar very well as I recall.
I'm not an expert on them. Saw them about 1971 at Flushing, the old New York World's Fair and perhaps another time. You are probably right. The local classics station has a "Get the Led Out" show each night. I don't see the Stones with such a show
Man, that chick on the right sure is flat-chested.
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.