HELLLOOOOO, TALKING TIME! We're about to launch on a 50-group tour of rock bands, but we need your input before the bus can hit the road. So send in your ranked lists of your own personal top 25 rock bands OF ALL TIME.
Two points to address:
1. What is Rock?
You know what Rock is when you hear it. I won't be enforcing any limits or disqualifying entries based on whether or not I personally feel something is Rock or not. Classic rock, punk rock, alternative rock, pop-rock, the blues (Ur-rock), butt rock, metal, emo, prog, Fraggle, Schoolhouse, whatever--it's still rock 'n roll to me.
2. What is a Band?
This, however, I am going to be a stickler on. A band is a group of musicians that has a collective name. Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, and Elvis Presley are rockers, but they are not bands and I will not count votes for them. Often times, an individual is famous alongside a band, such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, or Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. In cases like these, I'll accept nominations for only the band. If you believe the New Power Generation, sans Prince, was one of the greatest groups in rock, more power to you and I will count that vote. But I would not count a vote for "Prince and the New Power Generation," because I feel it's getting in on the strength of the individual and not the band, which is what we're celebrating here.
Are there weird edge cases here? ABSOLUTELY. Bon Jovi is a band, but it's also its frontman's last name, and the frontman released two albums also under his own name later on? It might seem pretty borderline, but I'd count 'em. They Might Be Giants later added the "Band of Dans" to augment their sound--so under the Tom Petty Rule, does only the Band of Dans count? Nah, because even at the outset, TMBG was multiple people operating under a group name. When in doubt, go back to the ruling up top: is it a group of musicians with a collective name? Then you're probably good. If you have questions about other borderline cases (one of which will be fairly high on my own list), I'd be happy to answer them over PM.
I'll be using the now-standard scoring system of 11 points for #25 on a list and 35 for #1. PM me your lists by 11:59 PM on March 8th for inclusion. See you in the pit! (That is a joke about rock shows. Actual list will not be conducted in The Pit.)
Two points to address:
1. What is Rock?
You know what Rock is when you hear it. I won't be enforcing any limits or disqualifying entries based on whether or not I personally feel something is Rock or not. Classic rock, punk rock, alternative rock, pop-rock, the blues (Ur-rock), butt rock, metal, emo, prog, Fraggle, Schoolhouse, whatever--it's still rock 'n roll to me.
2. What is a Band?
This, however, I am going to be a stickler on. A band is a group of musicians that has a collective name. Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, and Elvis Presley are rockers, but they are not bands and I will not count votes for them. Often times, an individual is famous alongside a band, such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, or Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. In cases like these, I'll accept nominations for only the band. If you believe the New Power Generation, sans Prince, was one of the greatest groups in rock, more power to you and I will count that vote. But I would not count a vote for "Prince and the New Power Generation," because I feel it's getting in on the strength of the individual and not the band, which is what we're celebrating here.
Are there weird edge cases here? ABSOLUTELY. Bon Jovi is a band, but it's also its frontman's last name, and the frontman released two albums also under his own name later on? It might seem pretty borderline, but I'd count 'em. They Might Be Giants later added the "Band of Dans" to augment their sound--so under the Tom Petty Rule, does only the Band of Dans count? Nah, because even at the outset, TMBG was multiple people operating under a group name. When in doubt, go back to the ruling up top: is it a group of musicians with a collective name? Then you're probably good. If you have questions about other borderline cases (one of which will be fairly high on my own list), I'd be happy to answer them over PM.
I'll be using the now-standard scoring system of 11 points for #25 on a list and 35 for #1. PM me your lists by 11:59 PM on March 8th for inclusion. See you in the pit! (That is a joke about rock shows. Actual list will not be conducted in The Pit.)