Moderators Lee Knight Posted February 11, 2011 Moderators Share Posted February 11, 2011 Aerosmith. And I'm a HUGE ZZ Top fan. But Aerosmith embodies a lot of what made all those great English bands so good. Blues swagger. Kick ass rhythm section. Great songs with attitude, riffs, and hooks. Guitars based on an emerging rock tradition without resorting to cheese and hyperbole. Image that rang true. A team camaraderie. Great BAND. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alex_SF Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 had stopped releasing albums 20 or so years ago.... More like 30-35 years ago, after Terry Kath died and before they became an elevator music act. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dparr Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodclement Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 Since taste is a matter of preference, shouldn't this be decided by measurable success and longevity? In that case Bon Jovi is the winner from sales, to original line-up longevity, number of albums released, awards won, and touring success. As far as musical influence, Beach Boys with Pet Sounds is most likely cited as an influence in more bands than any other American act...makes on think doesn't it? Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bozak Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 The Doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flemtone Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SunRaFan Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 Since the OP said "AMERICAN BAND" and not rock band, or whatever I submit that Duke Ellington...was the greatest American Band. They were playing a style of SPECIFICALLY American music, they had HUGE cultural significance in the way they related to their culture (Post WWII Black America) and the rest of the American population. They broke down TONS of barriers for black musicians that came after. Not to mention that they were the foremost ambassadors of jazz internationally of their time. And don't forget that they sold LOTS of records for their day and had huge hits that are now just part of the American cultural lanscape; ie "Take the A Train" and "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" are just 2 of many examples. Not to mention that their arrangements were groundbreaking and helped to change music. Hell, Duke was the first to use a FEMALE arranger (Mary Lou Williams, who is an insanely brilliant and unheralded musician) And they were on the road for 40 years solid ....nonstop.... {censored}, he was nominated for a Pulitzer, won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and his last words are said to be "Music is how I live, why I live, and how I will be remembered". He headed up the greatest AMERICAN BAND ever. No one will ever have the impact he did. And he did it with class and style and giant heaps of musical integrity.IMHO of {censored}ing course..... Duke Ellington is a great choice. Miles Davis would be another. If we're restricting it to rock CCR would probably be my choice. Metallica probably also deserves a mention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members triton76 Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 I'm changing my answer to KISS. Ultimate style not substance capitalist band. All American as you can get. Though for the American experience I still think it's the Grateful Dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 I'm changing my answer to KISS. Ultimate style not substance capitalist band. All American as you can get. Though for the American experience I still think it's the Grateful Dead. Kiss is not a bad choice at all. One of the best promoted bands in the world and for sure their big style is all american. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members walrus1 Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 Does Jimi Hendrix count? Otherwise I'd have to say Allman Bros., early Aerosmith, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I think REM deserves a shout, and the Ramones of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wades_keys Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 No love for Santana? He played at WoodStock. He pretty much invented "Latin Rock" - if you want to call it that. His band also branched out into fusion. He was one of the first modern era rock musicians to understand that playing to women is important. And he has been in the public eye with his music for almost 50 years now, having re-invented himself for the new generation. You'd be hard pressed to find another musician in any genre that has the staying power of Carlos Santana. Oh, and if you like Journey: thank Carlos for that too. I think it would be a toss up between Santana and Duke Ellington. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted February 11, 2011 Moderators Share Posted February 11, 2011 If were talking jazz too... I'd go with Miles band circa Kind of Blue. Bill Evans, Coltrane, Adderly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pickinatit Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 I only read to post 10 so far so I'm sorry if this is repetitive. My first thought was Lynrd Skynyrd My Second thought was Eagles BUT, is any band nay more American then The Beach Boys ? (They're not lacking in the great department either IMO). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 BUT, is any band nay more American then The Beach Boys ? (They're not lacking in the great department either IMO). The problem for me with calling some of these bands the "greatest American band" is what do you do with a band like the Beach Boys who far outlived their "great" output. Yeah, had the Beach Boys broke up sometime in the late 60s, there's no DOUBT they'd be at or near the very top. But how do you factor in all the swill they released since then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pickinatit Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 The problem for me with calling some of these bands the "greatest American band" is what do you do with a band like the Beach Boys who far outlived their "great" output. Yeah, had the Beach Boys broke up sometime in the late 60s, there's no DOUBT they'd be at or near the very top. But how do you factor in all the swill they released since then? You've got a point, but then look at how many active bands have been listed that quit trying to put anything new out there years and years ago. The Beach Boys are to be penalized because they at least kept trying ? They could be touring on their laurels just like a bunch of other bands named here and then you would maybe be ok with them ? Also, I think that you have to admit that many of the bands named in this thread were great partially because of the Beach Boys (influence). And really, when it comes down to it, I could say the same thing about Chicago because in my opinion they should have stopped after their first handful of albums, but I'm not inclined to penalize them for their later junk. But I accept you naming them as a great American Band because they were great long enough IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kramerguy Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 I'm in agreement with KISS. Steely Dan was awesome, but even assuming that they are a band, still not even in my top 20. Best canadian band: Rush ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 You've got a point, but then look at how many active bands have been listed that quit trying to put anything new out there years and years ago. The Beach Boys are to be penalized because they at least kept trying ? They could be touring on their laurels just like a bunch of other bands named here and then you would maybe be ok with them ? Also, I think that you have to admit that many of the bands named in this thread were great partially because of the Beach Boys (influence). And really, when it comes down to it, I could say the same thing about Chicago because in my opinion they should have stopped after their first handful of albums, but I'm not inclined to penalize them for their later junk. But I accept you naming them as a great American Band because they were great long enough IMO. Actually I DIDN'T name Chicago. I was the guy who suggested they should have stopped 20 years ago. So, yeah, I put them in the same catagory as the Beach Boys. And actually I'm just bringing up the question. SHOULD they be penalized because they keep trying? I dunno. But I think it's a valid question. Undeniably, the Beach Boys were one of the (if not THE) most influential American bands ever. The list of later musicians who list Brian Wilson as an influence is endless. But then that goes to the NEXT question: were the Beach Boys, at their peak, even really a BAND? Or just Brian Wilson's studio project? By the time of their best and most influential material, he was pretty much using all studio cats to play the musical parts while the band toured without him and would come later and lay down some vocal tracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pickinatit Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 Actually I DIDN'T name Chicago. I was the guy who suggested they should have stopped 20 years ago. So, yeah, I put them in the same catagory as the Beach Boys. And actually I'm just bringing up the question. SHOULD they be penalized because they keep trying? I dunno. But I think it's a valid question. Undeniably, the Beach Boys were one of the (if not THE) most influential American bands ever. The list of later musicians who list Brian Wilson as an influence is endless. But then that goes to the NEXT question: were the Beach Boys, at their peak, even really a BAND? Or just Brian Wilson's studio project? By the time of their best and most influential material, he was pretty much using all studio cats to play the musical parts while the band toured without him and would come later and lay down some vocal tracks. Then aside from it coming back to the question of "what defines whether or not a band is a band" we also need to debate "when did a given group peak" and also "once they peak how many stinkers are they allowed before they can no longer be considered ? And how many original members must remain before they are technically no longer the band that they are named? Of course most everything being put out there in this thread is strictly opinion so for me, it's kind of like the supreme court said about porno...Great American Band ? I don't know what defines it but I kind of know it when I hear it. As for the Chicago thing, that was my bad. I meant the you generically not personal but it didn't come out/across that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members playlikedanko Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 I'd go (and I'm going in strictly post-1963 for the sake of being arbitrary and lazy): 1. Beach Boys2. Allman Brothers3. Temptations and then some others ones, probably The ones I hate: 1. Velvet Underground -- I can somewhat appreciate Lou Reed's appeal, but whoever decided that "VU and Nico" is even listenable, much less good, is probably not very smart2. The Doors -- sure they did the whole gothic thing before anybody else, but that's not really a positive thing to me. Morrison is possibly the only lyricist I actively hate. Sorry, I meant "poet." 3. Aerosmith -- Just absolute schlocky boogie-woogie band. And I have no problem with boogie-woogie bands, but I feel Aerosmith ushered in a new terrible brand of American boogie-woogyin', good time-havin', extended harmonica-soloin' band. The American Led Zeppelin? I love America too much to believe that. They were a half, or even quarter-assed Zepellin ripoff that happened to be from America. Lynyrd Skynyrd was the American Zeppelin, for my money. They got it right in replacing Zeppelin's hobbit mythology with a hard-workin' Amuuuurican mythology. That's something I can get behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted February 11, 2011 Moderators Share Posted February 11, 2011 I'd go (and I'm going in strictly post-1963 for the sake of being arbitrary and lazy):1. Beach Boys2. Allman Brothers3. Temptationsand then some others ones, probably Once I saw your name... it hit me. play like danko? And yes, I'm aware that there a some cunucks in the group but, hey, they were American. The lived in America. They played Amercan rock and roll. THE BAND! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members playlikedanko Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 Once I saw your name... it hit me. play like danko? And yes, I'm aware that there a some cunucks in the group but, hey, they were American. The lived in America. They played Amercan rock and roll.THE BAND! No question. They are so American that, with "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" they taught the North and South to get along. If you've noticed, there have been no American Civil Wars since that song was released. Thanks Band!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scolfax Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 Creedence P L U S O N E ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BATCAT Posted February 11, 2011 Moderators Share Posted February 11, 2011 1. Velvet Underground -- I can somewhat appreciate Lou Reed's appeal, but whoever decided that "VU and Nico" is even listenable, much less good, is probably not very smart The VU wrote some phenomenal pop songs; I think it's hard to deny that even if you don't fancy the at-times-rough production and execution. And they had some truly great lyrics to boot. Yeah, they had some pretty unlistenable, interminable tracks too. But whether or not their nosier/dronier stuff is enjoyable to listen to (at least today, when it's been done so much better), still, it broke some ground in some directions that other bands would pursue with some pretty great results. I wouldn't call 'em the greatest American band, but I think they're one of them. I don't think inconsistency is a terrible sin for a band; lots of really important bands have this trait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 One of my all time favorite bands was the ides of march. One hit wonder band from 1970. vehicle is a classic standard on every horn bands set list. the thing that I found so interesting about the ides was that if you listned to their LP ,, you could hear a striking influence from a several other bands from the era. its so vivd i their songs that you can amost hear the other bands playing the songs. No way would they ever be americans greatest rock bands but they were amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrickyBoy Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 I guess my problem with this thread is I'm trying to define "greatness" in my head. My favorite American band of all time is DLR era Van Halen. But if you're going to define "greatness" by their influence on music as a whole, I think Nirvana's Nevermind had a much larger impact on music than VH's entire catalog. The Duke Ellington argument is a rather compelling one. And Kiss is another one. Other's that I'd consider: Bon Jovi - Huge in the 80's and really the only 80's "hair" band able to survive the early 90's grunge and still remains amazingly relevant todayGuns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction may very well be the greatest album ever releases IMOREM - The quintessential college bandMetallica - Another band that has remained relevant for almost 3 decades and has been amazingly influential throughout that entire time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.