best band of all time

[iggy plop]

who do u guys rate as the best band of all time.....
theres many that come to mine like acdc,kiss,queen etc.
but i would have to say someone that is more recent.....
GREENDAY!!!

Greenday - nursery rhymes with distortion. It's the most mainstream junk punk you could ever hear.

I'd much prefer Bros.

 

[HevyDevy]

Has to be The Beatles. The question isn't "your favourite band", it is "best band of all time". While The Beatles aren't my favourite band, you can't ignore their success and influence over just about every artist since.

No, the Beatles were just the most popular band of their time but were far from the 'best'. By that reckoning do we consider the likes of Britney, or whoever has sold the most records over the past few years, to be the best of recent times.

Success has got nothing to do with being good, so to proclaim a band as the best because they were the most successful is ridiculous.

I would also suggest there have been a number of bands as influential as The Beatles over the years but in different genres. Because The Beatles were essentially a pop band they're always going to receive more publicity in the mainstream media than, say, Steve Vai for example.

 

[hrundi99]

No, the Beatles were just the most popular band of their time but were far from the 'best'. By that reckoning do we consider the likes of Britney, or whoever has sold the most records over the past few years, to be the best of recent times.

Success has got nothing to do with being good, so to proclaim a band as the best because they were the most successful is ridiculous.

I would also suggest there have been a number of bands as influential as The Beatles over the years but in different genres. Because The Beatles were essentially a pop band they're always going to receive more publicity in the mainstream media than, say, Steve Vai for example.

You are deluded my good man, and the fact that you bring Steve Vai's name into the conversation just proves it.

The Beatles are the best because:

• they wrote and performed some of the most memorable music of all time,
• they were popular with consumers and critics alike,
• they were and still are very influential musically,
• they had a wide-ranging influence on popular culture
• they were amongst the most cutting edge bands in the 60s
• they were cutting edge when it came to their films
• they were popular amongst the avant garde art scene in the 60s
• they greatly influenced music promotion (clips etc)
• they were quality musicians, without dealing in musical wankery
• etc

Only Elvis, Sinatra and maybe Dylan can compete with them on a cultural importance level, and they're not "bands".

I'd like to know which bands you think were so much better than them in the 60s.

Their albums don't consistently appear in Top 10 best ever album lists for no reason.

If you don't like them yourself, deal with it.

 

[carcharias]

The Beatles..

They changed the world .

They wrote the songs that make the whole world sing.

Lennon and McCartney the best ever.

The Beatles...
Norwegian Wood
Lucy in the sky
Help
Eleanor Rigby
Mean Mr Mustard
Here comes the sun
Please please me
she's leaving home
Hey jude
"fuggen" Yesterday!

do I need to go on? ok I will

A day in the life
Good day sunshine
I saw her standing there
I'm looking through you
In my Life
Paperback Writer
Taxman
Yellow submarine
With a little help from my friends
Back in the USSR
Dear Prudence
Happines is a warm gun
The long and winding road
Helter Skelter
Birthday
Oh Darling
Come together
Something
While my guitar gently weeps
etc
etc
etc
etc

Let it be

No other band comes close....




Oh and for the record Stevie Vai isn't a band .

 

[Alex28]

No, the Beatles were just the most popular band of their time but were far from the 'best'. By that reckoning do we consider the likes of Britney, or whoever has sold the most records over the past few years, to be the best of recent times.

Success has got nothing to do with being good, so to proclaim a band as the best because they were the most successful is ridiculous.

I would also suggest there have been a number of bands as influential as The Beatles over the years but in different genres. Because The Beatles were essentially a pop band they're always going to receive more publicity in the mainstream media than, say, Steve Vai for example.

What the others said. Britney has influenced a generation of artists? Your points are daft at best.

 

[HevyDevy]

You are deluded my good man, and the fact that you bring Steve Vai's name into the conversation just proves it.

The Beatles are the best because:

• they wrote and performed some of the most memorable music of all time,
• they were popular with consumers and critics alike,
• they were and still are very influential musically,
• they had a wide-ranging influence on popular culture
• they were amongst the most cutting edge bands in the 60s
• they were cutting edge when it came to their films
• they were popular amongst the avant garde art scene in the 60s
• they greatly influenced music promotion (clips etc)
• they were quality musicians, without dealing in musical wankery
• etc

Only Elvis, Sinatra and maybe Dylan can compete with them on a cultural importance level, and they're not "bands".

I'd like to know which bands you think were so much better than them in the 60s.

Their albums don't consistently appear in Top 10 best ever album lists for no reason.

If you don't like them yourself, deal with it.

You're points are all valid, bar two.

- Who cares about the avante garde art scene?
- They were not quality musicians. They weren't 'bad' musicians, Ringo excepted, but they weren't quality.

I mentioned Vai because he has had a significant influence on modern guitarists and has written textbooks still used in a number of colleges and music schools to this day. Perhaps I should have mentioned EVH as well who changed the face of modern guitar and has been credited with saving rock (although that's going a bit far IMO).

Now, I never said there were better bands in the 60s but there have certainly been many better bands since. Led Zeppelin were certainly as influential as the Beatles but because they drift slightly away from pop are generally idolised by lovers of slightly darker music than those who enjoy generic radio crap (I'm not calling The Beatles that, just saying they're far more mainstream).

And really, my primary point was that the word 'best' can be misleading. If the word influential was used then I would happily cop The Beatles being mentioned as a leading contender, but best? Depends on what that is supposed to mean. I'm not sure it's possible to name a 'best' band but personally I would do so based on techical ability which immediately rules The Beatles out.

Oh, and I don't believe I ever said that Britney influenced a generation of artists. I merely made the point that chart success had nothing whatsoever to do with ability - thus anyone who uses the argument that a band is great because they are popular should be shot on sight.

If what I've said here doesn't make sense then I would suggest that you are indeed the daft ones. You don't have to agree with me but I know my points are valid.

 

[carcharias]

You're points are all valid, bar two.

- Who cares about the avante garde art scene?
- They were not quality musicians. They weren't 'bad' musicians, Ringo excepted, but they weren't quality.

I mentioned Vai because he has had a significant influence on modern guitarists and has written textbooks still used in a number of colleges and music schools to this day. Perhaps I should have mentioned EVH as well who changed the face of modern guitar and has been credited with saving rock (although that's going a bit far IMO).

Now, I never said there were better bands in the 60s but there have certainly been many better bands since. Led Zeppelin were certainly as influential as the Beatles but because they drift slightly away from pop are generally idolised by lovers of slightly darker music than those who enjoy generic radio crap (I'm not calling The Beatles that, just saying they're far more mainstream).

And really, my primary point was that the word 'best' can be misleading. If the word influential was used then I would happily cop The Beatles being mentioned as a leading contender, but best? Depends on what that is supposed to mean. I'm not sure it's possible to name a 'best' band but personally I would do so based on techical ability which immediately rules The Beatles out.

Oh, and I don't believe I ever said that Britney influenced a generation of artists. I merely made the point that chart success had nothing whatsoever to do with ability - thus anyone who uses the argument that a band is great because they are popular should be shot on sight.

If what I've said here doesn't make sense then I would suggest that you are indeed the daft ones. You don't have to agree with me but I know my points are valid.

Good god stop while your behind.

Stevei Vai ????? This thread is called "Best band of all time"

There is another guitarists thread.

Comparing in some fugged up way The Beatles and Britney "fuggen puppet " Spears is sacrilige.

 

[hrundi99]

You're points are all valid, bar two.

- Who cares about the avante garde art scene?

This was an indication of the depth of their influence.

- They were not quality musicians. They weren't 'bad' musicians, Ringo excepted, but they weren't quality.

George was a highly respected slide guitarist. Paul is a very under-rated bass player. Just because your Guitar-Wankery magazines don't say so doesn't mean it's not true.

I mentioned Vai because he has had a significant influence on modern guitarists and has written textbooks still used in a number of colleges and music schools to this day. Perhaps I should have mentioned EVH as well who changed the face of modern guitar and has been credited with saving rock (although that's going a bit far IMO).

Your infatuation with Vai is amusing and nauseating at the same time.

Here's a tip. Go to a karaoke bar and count the number of songs by The Beatles being sung by people young and old, and then count the number of Vai songs. This is a simple indication of the esteem with which the Beatles songs are held by the majority of the population. They are great songs. End of story.

EVH saved rock? Bugger off. It didn't need saving, let alone by hm.

Now, I never said there were better bands in the 60s but there have certainly been many better bands since. Led Zeppelin were certainly as influential as the Beatles but because they drift slightly away from pop are generally idolised by lovers of slightly darker music than those who enjoy generic radio crap (I'm not calling The Beatles that, just saying they're far more mainstream).

Led Zep were good but they still don't rate in comparison. Being best of all time means (amongt other things) that you blend into society in a fundamental way (eg long lost tribes in Africa can sing "Yesterday"), and Zep simply haven't done that.

And really, my primary point was that the word 'best' can be misleading. If the word influential was used then I would happily cop The Beatles being mentioned as a leading contender, but best? Depends on what that is supposed to mean. I'm not sure it's possible to name a 'best' band but personally I would do so based on techical ability which immediately rules The Beatles out.

Technical ability means virtually nothing at the end of the day. Great songs are remembered for the tunes themselves, not the guitar solos.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It doesn't matter how technically proficient you are if you're playing sh*t, and that's something the average reader of guitar magazines doesn't understand.

Oh, and I don't believe I ever said that Britney influenced a generation of artists. I merely made the point that chart success had nothing whatsoever to do with ability - thus anyone who uses the argument that a band is great because they are popular should be shot on sight.

Another example of your delusion. No-one is suggesting the Beatles were great JUST because they sold plenty of records.

If what I've said here doesn't make sense then I would suggest that you are indeed the daft ones. You don't have to agree with me but I know my points are valid.

No they're not.

 

[c_eagle]

LoL. Karaoke is now the official measuring stick of music. Congrats to the greatest song of all time - Love Shack.

 

[hrundi99]

LoL. Karaoke is now the official measuring stick of music. Congrats to the greatest song of all time - Love Shack.

Way to miss my point.

 

[HevyDevy]

LoL. Karaoke is now the official measuring stick of music. Congrats to the greatest song of all time - Love Shack.

hehe

Hrundi, you've misread almost everything I've said. Poor, poor effort.

 

[HevyDevy]

The irony is that I've only done Karaoke once and I did Hey Jude.

However, I would like to point out too, Hrundi, that I and a few other people said that naming the best band of all time was impossible because it depended upon your interpretation yet all you've done is insist that your interpretation is the correct one.

I made two simple points that seem to have ruffled your feathers:

1) If best means most influential then The Beatles deserve to be mentioned.
2) If it means something else, such as technical ability, then they do not.

 

[carcharias]

oh

my

god

you are delusional.

1) If best means most influential then The Beatles deserve to be mentioned.
2) If it means something else, such as technical ability, then they do not.

So your saying despite the fact that they wrote the most memorable songs by any band in history means they dont have technical ability?


Well I beg to differ, it takes a genius to craft a bunch of chords and melodies into a song like "Here comes the sun" .
It's not all about finger tapping and speed soloing.
Music is mean't move people not confuse them.
As a band The Beatles did more for modern music than all of your guitar axemen did put together.

I'm saying this with18 years experience of guitar playing and playing in bands.

 

[HevyDevy]

Hey I'm not denying that but if you give me a choice of listening to The Beatles or, let's say, Sting's bands on Ten Summoner's Tales with Sting singing and on bass, Vinnie Colauita on drums and Dominic Miller on guitar then I know who is going to hold my interest longer.

I agree when you say it's not all speed. Hell, some of the fastest guitarists of all time are also the most boring. Malmsteen springs to mind ...

 

[Nuke]

It's been said a couple of times here, but 'the best band of all all time' is purely an individual preference.

Personally, I can't go past Queen.
All 4 members wrote number 1's (no other band in history can claim that), so their song-writing ability is top notch.

Both Freddie Mercury and Brian May are universally recognised as being in the top echelon of their craft (they may not always win the polls of the greatest singer & guitarist respectively, but they're always up there). John Deacon and Roger Taylor were hardly duds at their instruments.

Queen started recording in 1971, and people young and old still love singing along to their songs. Some of their songs include Bohemian Rhapsody (frequently rated the greatest song of all time), We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, Another One Bites The Dust, Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, A Kind Of Magic, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Somebody To Love, Under Pressure, ect.

While Freddie was alive and Queen were touring, it was generally accepted that they were one of the best live bands ever, and were the best at the time. Their record sales were always through the roof. Today, still, Queen's Greatest Hits album is in the top 2 or 3 biggest selling albums of all time world-wide.

I could go on about how they've crossed musical genres in their time (rock, mock-opera, pop, funk, rock-a-billy, soft lovey-dovey music, movie soundtracks, ect), but I won't bore you with that!

PS: 'Queen' (in their new form of just Brian May and Roger Taylor) have been touring again in 2005 for the first time since 1986. They enlisted the help of former Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers to sing with them. Officially, it's billed as Queen+Paul Rodgers. Every concert has been sold out, so they obviously still appeal to people as a live act. The recent release of one of their shows on cd (and soon to be on dvd) called 'Return Of The Champions' is awesome. As Molly Meldrum often says, "Do yourself a favour ..."!

 

[carcharias]

Queen didn't have the sheer volume of classic songs as the Beatles .
Queen had some classics that everyone knows but as a band the Beatles had more.

as for Sting well the Police were good but I bet he'd be the first to tell you the Beatles were the best ever.

They all mention The Beatles from Hendrix to Cobain.

 

[HevyDevy]

Cobain was woeful, as were his shocking band.

However Queen - well Freddie Mercury had one of the all time great voices.

As for The Beatles, well they certainly improved over the years and evolved from the simple, catchy crap that made them famous to far more interesting, sophisticated and layered tracks such as I am The Walrus, A Day in the Life and Magical Mystery Tour. I really enjoy later Beatles.

However, it seems a number of people here can't seem to handle the fact that, personally, I don't believe they hold a flame to Zeppelin or Black Sabbath in terms of greatness and about 50,000 bands in terms of ability.

 

[Balmain_Boy]

However, it seems a number of people here can't seem to handle the fact that, personally, I don't believe they hold a flame to Zeppelin or Black Sabbath in terms of greatness and about 50,000 bands in terms of ability.

You're right, we can't. Reason being? That is possibly the most stupid thing i've ever read.

Personally, I don't think it can be argued that the Beatles aren't the greatest band of all time. They are so far ahead of everyone else it's not funny.

By the way mate, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison have all been inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame twice. As part of the Beatles and as individual performers. The only other I can think of is Eric Clapton who's inducted three times. And you think there are 50 000 more talented bands. More fool you.

 

[HevyDevy]

Hmmm - next you'll be telling me which bands are great based on the number of Grammys or MTV music awards they've won ...

 

[hrundi99]

Hey I'm not denying that but if you give me a choice of listening to The Beatles or, let's say, Sting's bands on Ten Summoner's Tales with Sting singing and on bass, Vinnie Colauita on drums and Dominic Miller on guitar then I know who is going to hold my interest longer.

I agree when you say it's not all speed. Hell, some of the fastest guitarists of all time are also the most boring. Malmsteen springs to mind ...

Well I don't think Sting's done anything interesting in 20 years, but there you go...