Van Halen is the greatest band of all time

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by creekster

If you neeed a score card to keeop up with who the olead singer is, it isn't the greatest band.

Ways to know Van Halen is NOT the greatest band:

1. Your song prominently appears in the movie "Better off Dead"
2. You employ 4 lead singers over 20 years...an average of one every 5 years.
3. Your son grows up and joins your band
4. You are currently doing a "reunion" show, after "reuniting" multiple times over the years
5. The USAF adopts one of your songs for use in its commercials
6. Gene Simmons was bossing you around and wanted to change your band's name to "Daddy Longlegs"
7. You guest solo on a Michael Jackson song
8. You write a song about a tequila bar in Mexico...then start branding and selling tequila by the same name.
9. You wear white denim overalls. Ever.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

After all these years, I have to say it's between the Stones and the Beatles, neck and neck.

I must have grown up in the nadir of rock and roll. None of my old favorite bands have aged well. The Doobie Bros., The Eagles, Elton John, America, Loggins & Messina, Jethro Tull. Bleck! I can't bear to listen to any of them. I like Neil Young and still could enjoy him, but someone told me he's really, like Dylan, a '60's phenomenon.

WHen is the last time you bought a Stones album? The Stones WERE rgeat, no doubt, but after the last 372 albums, all issued in support fo the steel wheel chair tour or somesuch, I can't say they do much for me now. SO you still like to hear Jagger bellow about sex but can't listen to the Eagles and tequila sunrise? Different strokes (Classic Stones is still great, IMO)

I think choosing the greatest band ever is very hard unless you define the criteria. Are we talking live perfromances? Beatles lose and Springsteen vaults very high. Are we tlakign recorded perfromances? Beatles leap back up and other groups like Steely Dan suddenly show well. SO it all depends on what we are talkign about. Eiother way, and I do admire Eddy's gyuitar work, Van Halen does not make my perosnla top 5 (and this is coming from a guy who was in a band that covered almost every song from their first two albums, so I know early VH pretty well).

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by creekster

WHen is the last time you bought a Stones album? The Stones WERE rgeat, no doubt, but after the last 372 albums, all issued in support fo the steel wheel chair tour or somesuch, I can't say they do much for me now. SO you still like to hear Jagger bellow about sex but can't listen to the Eagles and tequila sunrise? Different strokes (Classic Stones is still great, IMO)

I think choosing the greatest band ever is very hard unless you define the criteria. Are we talking live perfromances? Beatles lose and Springsteen vaults very high. Are we tlakign recorded perfromances? Beatles leap back up and other groups like Steely Dan suddenly show well. SO it all depends on what we are talkign about. Eiother way, and I do admire Eddy's gyuitar work, Van Halen does not make my perosnla top 5 (and this is coming from a guy who was in a band that covered almost every song from their first two albums, so I know early VH pretty well).

I'm talking about Classic Stones. I haven't bought a Stones album since I was a teenager.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by creekster

SO you still like to hear Jagger bellow about sex but can't listen to the Eagles and tequila sunrise? Different strokes (Classic Stones is still great, IMO)

I hope you don't listen to any of this stuff including the Eagles for the poetry. But in my opinion, on that criterion the Beatles win easily, even over Dylan or Young.

I read Richard Dawkins the other day saying Imagine was "brilliant." I was a little surprised, but it made me think about the song differently when I happened to hear it the next day in a coffee shop.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

I'm talking about Classic Stones. I haven't bought a Stones album since I was a teenager.

Agreed. Classic stones is great stuff.

[jay santos]

U2 (why can't I type a two character reply?)

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by creekster

WHen is the last time you bought a Stones album? The Stones WERE rgeat, no doubt, but after the last 372 albums, all issued in support fo the steel wheel chair tour or somesuch, I can't say they do much for me now. SO you still like to hear Jagger bellow about sex but can't listen to the Eagles and tequila sunrise? Different strokes (Classic Stones is still great, IMO)

I think choosing the greatest band ever is very hard unless you define the criteria. Are we talking live perfromances? Beatles lose and Springsteen vaults very high. Are we tlakign recorded perfromances? Beatles leap back up and other groups like Steely Dan suddenly show well. SO it all depends on what we are talkign about. Eiother way, and I do admire Eddy's gyuitar work, Van Halen does not make my perosnla top 5 (and this is coming from a guy who was in a band that covered almost every song from their first two albums, so I know early VH pretty well).

First criteria is that you must be familiar with more contemporary artists, as well...say the last 10 or 15 so years. And, no, this does not mean tossing out an obligatory U2 reference.

Younger music aficionados can surely appreciate and recognize the place the Stones, Beatles, and Elvis have in the pantheon of rock because we all grew up listening to it with our parents (and it truly is masterful), but I wonder if older people have followed popular contemporary music enough to discuss more current bands, trends, etc..

Not saying you are not able to discuss such (I don't know anyone's age here, mind you), but just wondering out loud.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

First criteria is that you must be familiar with more contemporary artists, as well...say the last 10 or 15 so years. And, no, this does not mean tossing out an obligatory U2 reference.

Younger music aficionados can surely appreciate and recognize the place the Stones, Beatles, and Elvis have in the pantheon of rock because we all grew up listening to it with our parents (and it truly is masterful), but I wonder if older people have followed popular contemporary music enough to discuss more current bands, trends, etc..

Not saying you are not able to discuss such (I don't know anyone's age here, mind you), but just wondering out loud.

I am an oold fart. 15 years ago, maybe. 10 years? not much. Last five years? turn that damn subwoofer OFF!

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

First criteria is that you must be familiar with more contemporary artists, as well...say the last 10 or 15 so years. And, no, this does not mean tossing out an obligatory U2 reference.

Younger music aficionados can surely appreciate and recognize the place the Stones, Beatles, and Elvis have in the pantheon of rock because we all grew up listening to it with our parents (and it truly is masterful), but I wonder if older people have followed popular contemporary music enough to discuss more current bands, trends, etc..

Not saying you are not able to discuss such (I don't know anyone's age here, mind you), but just wondering out loud.

There is truth in this. But you need to give art at least 15 years before you can tell how well it ages, whether it is derivative or truly ground breaking and influential, and hence its true place in the pantheon. For example, when I was in HS there was not a cooler band than the Doobie Brothers. Now it should be clear they were not masterful. If I knew what I know now I'd have spent more time listening to the Beatles and the Stones than the Doobies.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by creekster

I am an oold fart. 15 years ago, maybe. 10 years? not much. Last five years? turn that damn subwoofer OFF!

Do you prefer the soothing sounds of Jack Benny coming from your Victrola?

Ha, no worries. I love The Beatles. My farts are younger than yours, but I still that given overall music catalogue, longevity, and influence on pretty much everyone (musically, politically, and socially), nobody even comes close to the Beatles.

EVERYONE listens to, knows, or has a Beatles memory--for good or bad. The same likely cannot be said about the Stones. I think the drama and intrigue surrounding Chapman's assassination of John also vaulted them into mythic status.