Greatest ROCK Band and Rock Stars?

[JBZ]

What, no Night Ranger?

As for me, I tend toward the Prog Rock side of things, so I'm a big fan of early Genesis, Marillion (while Fish was still the lead singer), some Yes, some Pink Floyd, and some ELP. However, I do recognize that prog rockers have the tendency to be incredibly self-indulgent and arrogant.

I love the Stones and The Who. For some reason, though I respect their musical talent, I've never been a big Led Zeppelin fan. I really respect the Beatles as musicians and for what they did for rock, but, for me, they've always just been sort of there, but not a band I listen to over and over again. I've also always been a big Billy Joel fan, which I think just shows I have pretty eclectic tastes.

I also like REM (although not as much since Bill Barry left), U2 (when they're not being incredibly full of themselves - when exactly is that, you might ask

), Blues Traveler, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Dave Matthews (who seems incredibly devisive).

I've never been a big Bruce Springsteen fan, although I think The Rising is a terrific album. I think this has to do with the fact that whenever you mention him to anyone from New Jersey, they instantly fall to their knees, look up toward the heavens, and proclaim his greatness.

 

[shoreman1782]

Notes on
"Sweet Child O' Mine,"
as Delivered to Axl Rose
by His Editor.
- - - -

Hi, Axl,

Just got your manuscript and demo for the song "Sweet Child O' (sic) Mine." I think we need to talk. As your editor, I am responsible for making your songs as cogent as possible, for helping them reach the high editorial standards your public has come to expect. With this one, I am certainly earning my keep. After several attempts to reach you by phone, I am sending along my notes. Please make appropriate fixes as soon as possible, at which point I can send them to copyediting and proofreading in time for your upcoming studio session.

She's got a smile that, it seems to me"”Why equivocate? You weaken your point by framing this as a mere personal observation instead of a fact.

Reminds me of childhood memories"”Redundant. You either have a memory or you're reminded of something. You're not reminded of a memory. Heavy-metal fans won't stand for such writing, my friend.

Where everything was as fresh as a bright blue sky"”I asked around the office and no one is sure a blue sky is "fresh." You could have a blue sky at the end of a long, sweaty day and there would be nothing fresh about it. And she reminds you of a time when things were fresh? Fond reminiscences of freshness are no foundation for love. Fix.

Now and then when I see her face it takes me away to that special place"”Again, you're weakening your own argument. Why does the sight of her face transport you only periodically? And is it just her smile or her entire face that does this to you? Because you've already said both. Consistency, Axl!

And if I stared too long, I'd probably break down and cry"”Why would you do that? Because you miss the freshness you described earlier? I think the whole "fresh" thing is really tripping you up. Also, crying? Wimpy.

OK, on to the second verse.

She's got eyes of the bluest skies"”See, this is just getting worse. Now her eyes are made of sky? Nice imagery, but you just got done saying her smile reminded you of memories of sky. Is this verse actually supposed to be a second draft of the first verse? Am I just confused on formatting? Help!

As if they thought of rain"”Axl, eyes can't think of rain. And even if they could, which they can't, why would bluest skies think of rain? Perhaps less imagery of thinking eyes made of sky and more direct exploration of your feelings?

I hate to look into those eyes and see an ounce of pain"”Well, hell. I guess in your special Axl World anything is possible. Eyes can be made of sky, ponder the weather, and exhibit pain in amounts that can be weighed.

Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place where as a child I'd hide"”Delete. Fix. Do something. You'd hide in a place that reminded you of hair? Never show me such phrases again.

And pray for the thunder and the rain to quietly pass me by"”Whew. OK, listen to me now: Thunder can't quietly do anything. It's thunder. And, more importantly, do you really want to come across as a wuss who's constantly on the verge of weeping and skittering into hair caves to escape from rain? Is this a song about love or climatic anxiety? You need to work these things out.

Finally, Axl, I think we might have had a misunderstanding regarding my previous notes. When I wrote in colored pencil "Where do we go now?" I wasn't offering that as a lyric. I was simply observing that, in narrative terms, the song needed to progress in some way. You love the girl, she's helping you work through some issues, whatever. So where do we go now? But instead of providing a satisfactory conclusion, you simply took my note and repeated it over and over again before ultimately just stating the title of the song. This is unacceptable. Don't ask us, the listeners, where we go. That's up to you as the writer! Tell us where we go now!

Again, let's try to fix these things soon and get "Sweet Child of Mine" ("My Sweet Child"?) into your fans' hands as quickly as possible. Because, frankly, if it should ever hit the street in its current form, the song would be a colossal failure.

Talk soon!

Your Editor

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2006/7/11moe.html

 

[Aristocrat]

Hard-fi, The Kooks, Queen.

 

[rdawson808]

You're all wrong.

NEW ORDER.


And I'll give a nod to VersaceMan's vote for David Bowie as best solo. The Thin White Duke cannot be beaten.


bob

 

[Dakota rube]

And Ziggy Stardust doesn't suck too bad either.

 

[rnoldh]

I'm an old fart! At least relative to the age of others on this Forum. But that allowed me to go to the Fillmore East on 2nd Ave. in NYC, in the late 60's and early 70's. I saw legends such as the Dead(with Pigpen), Jim Morrison, Janis, Jimi, and many others.

And now, The best(live at least) The Jimi Hendrix Experience!!!! I still remember him doing "All Along the Watchtower"! And it's been 36 years. I also saw Hendrix at Woodstock. Perhaps more important historically, but the music wasn't as good.

 

[Dakota rube]

Originally Posted by rnoldh

I'm an old fart!
No kidding!!!!!!!!!!!

(From one to another.)

 

[denimdestroyedmylife]

Led Zep.

 

[rnoldh]

Originally Posted by denimdestroyedmylife

Led Zep.

I saw them too, at the Fillmore East.

 

[countdemoney]

Originally Posted by rdawson808

You're all wrong.

NEW ORDER.


And I'll give a nod to VersaceMan's vote for David Bowie as best solo. The Thin White Duke cannot be beaten.


bob

"three ways, four ways, anyways . . . hit the floor!"

The kids from Manchester did know how to party. For rock, I think I'll take Joy Division's live version of Disorder. Sex Pistols and The Clash cannot be underestimated.

If you're talking arena style rock, I really do respect the stones. "Shattered", "undercover of the night", "Tumbling Dice", "Gimme Shelter".

The Who and "you better, you bet" is a fantastic track. Also, "Why don't you all just f-f-f-f-faaade away", "substitute", "Baba O'Riley"

A controversial one, but can be backed up -- Fleetwood Mac. Dynamite Rythm section who could really drive it. Just listen to a live version of "go your own way". Power.

Foreigner 4.

Last, Any group that has a story about them sodomizing a groupie with a fish - and everyone believes it! -- has got to be rock-n-roll.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Originally Posted by countdemoney

Last, Any group that has a story about them sodomizing a groupie with a fish - and everyone believes it! -- has got to be rock-n-roll.

Edgewater Hotel, Seattle WA -

You can fish out the window of your hotel room. Ask for the Led Zepplin suite.

 

[EL72]

They invented rock and roll as we know it today.

 

[Violinist]

about U2 being full of themselves.. don't say that. Give credit where credit is due. Bono is full of himself. Edge is just so ******* happy to have all those rack effects in front of him, Adam Clayton just liked staring at the crowd, and Mullen is a drummer, so he's just happy anyone called him for a gig (and he looks 20 somehow).

 

[Vintage Gent]

 

[mrpologuy]

Gene Simmoms created a band with only 2 goals in mind and has done quite well at both:make lots of money and get loads of foxy tail. Now that is a true rock star.