Who is or was the greatest Rock band of all time?

[Fungus]

best concert I ever saw was Emmylou Harris( its was just brilliant) closely followed by Yes.

Love Emmylou, and saw her once, but got a bit pissed off that she had to change guitar for almost every song!

 

[aolstudios]

The things that spoil Led Zep are their adaptations of other original tunes that they then called their own. The wet flowery musings of the overly affected hippy singer, fronting a band of session musicians re-interpreting Willie Dixon tunes. At least if you are going to respect the bluesmen Jimmy, then CREDIT them so that other people can!The Rolling Stones did, and it stood them in good stead when they then wrote their own non-bluesy music. The band that took over The Stones' club residency also shared a manager in Giorgio Gomelsky, and they are at the root of Led Zeppelin, Cream and The Jeff Beck Group - The YARDBIRDS


The WHO are the definition of 'ROCK' as a genre. Townshend was a strange genius.
Looking back I occasionally cringe at all the miming, because it looks awkward when any bands do that.
I had to respect G'n R when I worked on their 'November Rain' video and they did every take live, and played the resy of their set during the camera-set-ups while the director looked at the rushes (what they'd just filmed).

The WHO set out their own stage from 1965 to 1975, all from the writing pad of one bloke. The Beatles better for pop music, Pink Floyd more psychedelic, but for all aspects of Rock - The WHO

Who is or was the greatest Rock band of all time - no question Mark.

are you accessing my thoughts, direct from my head? (although I would've been less polite) I've had so much stick from the zep worshippers over the years - a few good songs but all the soul of an x factor winner, in my less than humble opinion. Something about them just leaves a bad taste in the mouth & most of the time, as I said before, I just find them a bit silly. And as I also said before - obviously, if it's a rock band, it's the Who
ps - and regarding the Who, I far as I remember Townsend barely ever went down the interminable, guitar wanking, endless solo route - which, considering the era raises them even further above their peers. What he did with some chords, aggression, intelligence and unrivalled feel beats just about any solo out there - doesn't it?

 

[Brightonfan1983]

I would have loved to have seen Queen with Freddie in his pomp. I'm not particularly a fan but his voice on their live albums is fantastic.

 

[NMH]

are you accessing my thoughts, direct from my head? (although I would've been less polite) I've had so much stick from the zep worshippers over the years - a few good songs but all the soul of an x factor winner, in my less than humble opinion. Something about them just leaves a bad taste in the mouth & most of the time, as I said before, I just find them a bit silly. And as I also said before - obviously, if it's a rock band, it's the Who
ps - and regarding the Who, I far as I remember Townsend barely ever went down the interminable, guitar wanking, endless solo route - which, considering the era raises them even further above their peers. What he did with some chords, aggression, intelligence and unrivalled feel beats just about any solo out there - doesn't it?

Hmm, I have found myself agreeing with some things you've said on here too, but being a no-mates I haven't said anything
My opinion of Zep doesn't come down on the music as scathingly as it could do, because I have had the first 6 albums and enjoyed the power-blues in a 'British Blues' respect. However, they are overblown. I have always been a huge fan of The Yardbirds, and the Page era (he was their longest serving guitarslinger) was cathartic too.
He nicked from backing artists ('Dazed and Confused) and respected folk guitar-players like Bert Jansch. Jimmy was previously 'Little Jim' as a session guy, defining him apart from 'Big Jim' Sullivan. He was actually a member of the band The Mickey Finn, when The Yardbirds came calling to him a second time (first was after Clapton left, then when Paul Samwell-Smith left he was invited in on bass) when he accepted.
If you look at every band, there is a manner of songwriting 'technique' applied, but for such a seasoned and immersed young musician Page clearly lacked conceptualising imagination for inseminating original songs. Thus, everything he heard became grist for his mill. With the airy-fairy kaftan-wearing crooner Plant as a sideman, the new group had the means to be nausiating...and often that ugly beak peeked through their ouvre in my opinion.

For plain "silly" though, I think bands like Guns'n Roses took the biscuit.

What motivated The WHO was the gathering 'garage' raw edge that was epitomised by The Kinks, with their thick chordal attack. 'Can't Explain' was very much influenced by 'You Really Got Me'. The soul edge came from Daltry's influences, and with the wicked rumble and grunt of Entwistle's bass and the crashing irreverence of Moon's flails, they were off the scales for power to draw from. They got The Kinks American record-producer in to give them that great in-yer-face sound, but then morphed quickly towards their own style and jumped that ship rather convincingly with Substitute, Happy Jack, I Can See For Miles and so on.

Their sympathetic brotherhood with The Small Faces, and mod bands like Creation and The Poets saw them leading the mod movement, and they alone stood strong enough to carry it into the mid-70's

From the 1960's on, we have seen bands rise and fall on the back of that period's influence. oasis is an obvious one in that respect, and Supergrass got a lot better when they let the glam influence of Bolan and Bowie flow through their records.

 

[NMH]

I would have loved to have seen Queen with Freddie in his pomp. I'm not particularly a fan but his voice on their live albums is fantastic.

They were impressive live. Their early period of powerful rock was the best, for me.
The operas and mincing was incredibly wank in comparison

 

[honey boy zimba]

The Who ,Led ZEP, Stones,Sabbath,Mettalica,Pistols ,New york dolls,Ramones.Pixies,Doors all up there but led zep does it for me

 

[aolstudios]

Hmm, I have found myself agreeing with some things you've said on here too, but being a no-mates I haven't said anything
My opinion of Zep doesn't come down on the music as scathingly as it could do, because I have had the first 6 albums and enjoyed the power-blues in a 'British Blues' respect. However, they are overblown. I have always been a huge fan of The Yardbirds, and the Page era (he was their longest serving guitarslinger) was cathartic too.
He nicked from backing artists ('Dazed and Confused) and respected folk guitar-players like Bert Jansch. Jimmy was previously 'Little Jim' as a session guy, defining him apart from 'Big Jim' Sullivan. He was actually a member of the band The Mickey Finn, when The Yardbirds came calling to him a second time (first was after Clapton left, then when Paul Samwell-Smith left he was invited in on bass) when he accepted.
If you look at every band, there is a manner of songwriting 'technique' applied, but for such a seasoned and immersed young musician Page clearly lacked conceptualising imagination for inseminating original songs. Thus, everything he heard became grist for his mill. With the airy-fairy kaftan-wearing crooner Plant as a sideman, the new group had the means to be nausiating...and often that ugly beak peeked through their ouvre in my opinion.

For plain "silly" though, I think bands like Guns'n Roses took the biscuit.

What motivated The WHO was the gathering 'garage' raw edge that was epitomised by The Kinks, with their thick chordal attack. 'Can't Explain' was very much influenced by 'You Really Got Me'. The soul edge came from Daltry's influences, and with the wicked rumble and grunt of Entwistle's bass and the crashing irreverence of Moon's flails, they were off the scales for power to draw from. They got The Kinks American record-producer in to give them that great in-yer-face sound, but then morphed quickly towards their own style and jumped that ship rather convincingly with Substitute, Happy Jack, I Can See For Miles and so on.

Their sympathetic brotherhood with The Small Faces, and mod bands like Creation and The Poets saw them leading the mod movement, and they alone stood strong enough to carry it into the mid-70's

From the 1960's on, we have seen bands rise and fall on the back of that period's influence. oasis is an obvious one in that respect, and Supergrass got a lot better when they let the glam influence of Bolan and Bowie flow through their records.

can't disagree with any of this and eloquently put I'm a contrary bugger & my zep disdain (& I'm well aware they were good players & had a few good songs, some of which they even wrote) has always been fired by the near religious reverence in which they're held - I can't help it, the emperor is naked, even when he's rune clad & singing like pinky & perky :guitar:

 

[Dave the OAP]

I would have loved to have seen Queen with Freddie in his pomp. I'm not particularly a fan but his voice on their live albums is fantastic.

I saw him twice ...Brighton center and birmingham

Bit overindulgent...brian may faffing with syncro lights and his guitar...clever but you just wanted to say..." Play seven seas of rye you curly haired twatt"

 

[bustersdad]

Quite simply the Greatest Rock Band in the World EVER.........The Rolling Stones !!!

 

[Brightonfan1983]

They were impressive live. Their early period of powerful rock was the best, for me.
The operas and mincing was incredibly wank in comparison

Their early albums are exceedingly hit and miss to say the least.

I saw him twice ...Brighton center and birmingham

Bit overindulgent...brian may faffing with syncro lights and his guitar...clever but you just wanted to say..." Play seven seas of rye you curly haired twatt"

Ha ha yes I can imagine!

 

[NMH]

Their early albums are exceedingly hit and miss to say the least.

Maybe yes, but still better imo than the twaddle operas!

 

[Brightonfan1983]

...

 

[Brightonfan1983]

Maybe yes, but still better imo than the twaddle operas!

Oh, that's what I meant. Aren't the operas the early albums then? Songs about elves and fairy queens and the like?

 

[NMH]

Oh, that's what I meant. Aren't the operas the early albums then? Songs about elves and fairy queens and the like?

I think I have basically ignored them after Night at the Opera. No doubt some will rave about such stuff, or even extol the virtues of I Want to Break Free And Mince, Radio Poo Poo, and the likes. So I believe that leaves the first 3 and no more.

 

[terryberry1]

Busted

 

[xenophon]

 

[Icy Gull]

I saw him twice ...Brighton center and birmingham

Bit overindulgent...brian may faffing with syncro lights and his guitar...clever but you just wanted to say..." Play seven seas of rye you curly haired twatt"

I thought Queen were very self indulgent at the Brighton gig I saw and quite disappointing, but they more than made up for it on Live Aid

 

[GT49er]

obviously, if it's a rock band, it's the Who
ps - and regarding the Who, I far as I remember Townsend barely ever went down the interminable, guitar wanking, endless solo route - which, considering the era raises them even further above their peers. What he did with some chords, aggression, intelligence and unrivalled feel beats just about any solo out there - doesn't it?

Absolutely; and although the Stones had an aura about them, live they were a million miles behind The Who

 

[00snook]

Guns'n'Roses

Simples

 

[aolstudios]

Absolutely; and although the Stones had an aura about them, live they were a million miles behind The Who

True. Live they were frankly shite