**THE DEFINITIVE ANSWER - BEST ROCK ACT OF ALL TIME**

[Phillycat]

Oh, I don't have the answer. :D

But I think we should do a tournament. Blender magazine has been doing this for the past few months and they did the brackets and everything. I think we should do a DU version.

The first thing we would have to do is figure out the seeds. Please put your answer in the subject line of your reply, and if someone has already posted your answer, please reply to their post instead of posting it again. This is for the benefit of your tourney organizer. :D

For the purposes of this tournament, the term "rock" will be very, very broad. Blender included acts like Public Enemy, Prince, and Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin in there, so I would say hip hop and R&B are fair game, as well as folk and country-crossover. I would tend to exclude purely jazz artists like Miles Davis, and purely country artists like Johnny Cash. Otherwise, it's wide open!

I would like to get a good response to this first thread so our brackets are nice and full. So, go to it! Who is, in your opinion, the best rock act of all time? Live, recorded, musical virtuosity, entertainment factor, whatever criteria you'd like to use is just fine. Feel free to justify your choice in the body of your post, but remember to put the act's name in the subject line! Happy posting!

[guitar man]

1. The Band n/t

[taterguy]

2. No such thing

The beauty of rock is that it's a living breathing organism. At any given moment some band is doing something more rocking than any other band. But the next moment another band is rocking harder.

I'll stop channeling Jack Black now and ask how many bands we can nominate.

[Phillycat]

5. As many as you like.

The seeds will be determined by how many votes bands get.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

3. These guys will be the greatest act in history

http://www.theinternetband.net/index.html :sarcasm:

[RandomKoolzip]

4. "Act?"

I dunno about you, but the word "act" in conjunction with the word "rock" makes me think of "Godspell" or "Grease" or some other tin pan alley showbiz faux-rock shit. Blech. I prefer the term "artist(s)," because it's more pretentious.


Anyway, my vote goes to C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams.

[Phillycat]

6. Well, but you have to include both artists and bands.

You are a pain in the ass. Will you pick a real band, please?

[RandomKoolzip]

8. Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K!

"Pump Up The Jam" was like the "Stairway to Heaven" of the late spring of 1990.

[Phillycat]

9. I hate you.

:grr:

[datasuspect]

73. i usually agree with everything you say

but i have to go with Miami Sound Machine on this one.

[taterguy]

7. Snatches of Pink

[mitchum]

66. Naah, Clarissa smoked them

:)

[taterguy]

75. You're right. I'm changing my vote to Clarrissa

That's two votes for them. Finals here we come

[XNASA]

10. I saw this guy singing "Ace of Spades" at live karaoke once.

I'd have to say him.

He really had a great act. And a great ass too.

Can't remember his name though.

[Phillycat]

11. I give up.

*stalks off*

[RandomKoolzip]

21. I remember that!

I thought he bit the wang, frankly.

[XNASA]

25. He bit the frank, wangly.

:crazy:

[fudge stripe cookays]

76. You're just jealous,

Mr. Cranky Pants.

:P

[Richard Steele]

23. Any good band on any given night. The end. nm

[ceile]

12. Pixies n/t

[RedStateShame]

13. The Who.

You can stop taking nominations.....now.

[Mz Pip]

31. Agree

Saw them 3 times way back when. Awesome.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Poiuyt]

62. The Who would have to be considered to be at least in the top 3

They didn't change the direction of music like the Beatles did, but their concerts were awesome

[johnnie]

14. The Beatles

In terms of songwriting, recording, harmonies, diversity, live concerts, personality and a few other things they set the bar at, there is no one even close.

[taterguy]

15. lol

[johnnie]

16. Brilliant comment

:shrug:

[taterguy]

51. Would a lengthy screed about the Beatles change your mind?

That's why I chose to be concise. They're a fine band but I don't think any entity is head and shoulders above others when subjective criteria is involved. I also think that they abandoned their rock roots around 1966 and made albums that had great artistic merit but reletively little rocking.

[WCGreen]

54. Helter Skelter wasn't a great rock song....

Nor Hey Bull Dog...
Or Revolution...

Come on....

[johnnie]

56. I don't think they ever lost their roots

They might have gotten into a lot of studio tricks, but they still produced a lot of "rock" records. I guess we would have to define "rock".

I would consider The Beatles roots as "Rock and Roll".

There are many great rock songs on "Sgt Peppers", "Magical Mystery Tour", "Yellow Submarine", "The White Album", "Let it Be" and "Abbey Road".

"Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band"
"Good Morning Good Morning"
"Back In The U.S.S.R."
"Why Don't We Do It In The Road"
"Yer Blues"
"Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey"
"Helter Skelter"
"Lady Madonna"
"Revolution"
"Get Back"

That's just a handful of tunes I would consider good rock records.
That's just my opinion though.

[bedpanartist]

17. Iggy and the Stooges

with a butthole full of peanut butter and glass!

[Beer Snob-50]

18. KISS

By act I assume you do not mean strictly musically talented, but you see them perform and you go WOW. that was KISS when I was but an impressionable teenager/

[jschurchin]

48. I was impressionable too.

By far the best live SHOW ever. They might not be the best musicians, but their show was second to none.

[taterguy]

19. Jerry Lee Lewis

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. Tiffany.

[RandomKoolzip]

22. Ooh! Oooh! I changed my vote!

I now have the definitive answer:

Senor Wences.

[Phillycat]

24. God, I wish we still had the block feature.

:eyes: :D

[XNASA]

28. S'all right.

[jobycom]

26. Can't think of anything snarky, so, Lynard Skynard (the original, not the reformed posers).

[taterguy]

29. Seconded

[jus_the_facts]

59. BLASPHEMER....IT'S LYNYRD SKYNYRD....

:spank:

[Efilroft Sul]

27. Garbage.

Accomplished musicians all fronted by the essence of raw sex that is Shirley Manson.

Just one look by Shirley says play with me or I'll devour you. She might devour you anyway if you do play with her, but at least you'll die happy.

[JackBeck]

30. I love Garbage.

Didn't they break-up? And then get back together?

[Efilroft Sul]

74. Garbage is on hiatus.

Although they did perform at a cancer benefit in LA at the end of last month.

[Phillycat]

32. Surprised you didn't pick Iggy.

What with your username and all. :)

[Efilroft Sul]

72. That is probably my favorite song.

It sums up my philosophy. But I still have to go with Garbage. They have the energy, the darkness, the sadness, and the Shirley.

No, I'm not Bartcop.

[SKKY]

44. Garbage = Cheap rip-off of Curve...

[Efilroft Sul]

71. Curve who?

__KNEEL__ before Shirley and beg for her forgiveness!

[EOTE]

33. The Rolling Stones.

A darker, cooler Beatles. Surprised they haven't been nominated yet.

[PassingFair]

34. ...and I've seen QUITE a few....

[Phillycat]

35. Can you please edit your post to put the band in your subject line?

Thanks! :hi:

[PassingFair]

37. Nope.

I like the element of surprise and mystery.

[Phillycat]

38. I understand, but I want other people to be able to see it, so they

can vote for them under your post.

[PassingFair]

42. Okay, Okay, QUEEN!

Best. Live. Band. Ever.

[Strawman]

36. Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, Maiden, Talking Heads, U2, VU, Clash, Sex Pistols, GG Allin

Thinking about "acts" I would imagine that theatrical performers like Kiss, Alice Cooper, would be in there. Iron Maiden for their big arena shows.

The Talking Heads put on a performance that might be the best concert film ever, so them too. U2. The Velvet Underground for their work with Andy Warhol.

The Clash should probably be in the tournament.

Maybe some punk and hardcore acts like the Sex Pistols, GG Allin.

[unsavedtrash]

69. Jimi Hendrix and Alice Cooper for me too n/t

[Phillycat]

39. My vote: Prince, of course.

No explanation needed. He is just the best of the best.

[SKKY]

43. I absolutely second that...

...I've argued for many years that Prince is the greatest musician of my generation.

[Phillycat]

45. I agree.

The only qualm I have is Stevie Wonder. Both musical geniuses, can pick up any instrument and play them, can write full orchestral arrangements for their songs, fantastic singers and brilliant songwriters, both sublime on their particular instrument (guitar or piano). I only give Prince the nod because he makes me dance just a LITTLE bit more. :D

[SKKY]

52. Here's something else to consider...

Prince has written several songs for others that turned out to be THEIR greatest hit:

The Bangles
Sinead O'Connor
Sheilia E
Tevin Campbell
Vanity 6
Sheena Easton

[Raffi Ella]

40. Led Zeppelin

For me they are THE greatest rock band ever to grace the planet B-)

Special mention for Jimi,Janis and Morrison though.

[Zavulon]

41. My favorite? Rush. The best? The Rolling Stones.

A killer catalogue and consistent excellence along with massive fan support for decades. They could sell out any stadium on Earth in a few hours and have been capable of doing so almost as long as I've been alive.

[greendog]

46. There's no better than this.....guaranteed

[anti-everything]

47. The Ramones

[Tikki]

78. For every reason that it is Rock ...it is The Ramones.

Tikki

[ronnykmarshall]

49. The Archies

That Jughead was a fucking killer drummer.

[WCGreen]

53. It's too bad that Betty shaved her head and took Don Kirsner as her

lord and savior....

I heard there is a bootleg cartoon of her eating at the V, if you get my drift...

[Phillycat]

50. Kickety.

[matcom]

55. think my copycat will win?

i'm REALLY late to the party :D

[billyskank]

57. I'm always wrong about these things

;)

[jus_the_facts]

58. Metallica.....The 7th biggest selling act in American history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iskyNSbS7k

...best muthafuckin' concert I ever saw...HANDS DOWN! :headbang:

Setlist The Night I saw 'em:

Enter Sandman
Creeping Death
Harvester of Sorrow
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Sad But True
Bass Solo
The Four Horsemen
The Unforgiven
Wherever I May Roam
Guitar Solo
Drum Solo
Nothing Else Matters
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Fade to Black
Whiplash
Master of Puppets
Seek & Destroy
One
Last Caress
Am I Evil?
Battery

[lizziegrace]

60. Queen

Freddie Mercury owned those stadiums.

[maveric]

63. Ding Ding Ding!! Best Rock Act EVER!

Freddie owned everyone who ever saw him or even listened to him.
Best Front Man Ever!

[av8rdave]

61. In the 70s, it was hard to top the Jethro Tull live

[ForrestGump]

64. I'd say Elvis but

I don't think of him as a 'rock' act, really. It's like '70s reviewers said of his concerts then, that they were more like a cultural celbration, or even a religious experience, than a typical rock concert. They called him the King of Rock 'n' Roll but he was more than that and didn't even get too excited about all that much rock music, his own least of all.

I think Ray Charles was the only other big name who so thoroughly mastered several different genres (and blended them, with resultant #1 hits on what were then the three Billboard charts, country, R&B, and the Hot 100), with people like Johnny Cash and Bobby Darin coming in a little way behind.

By a similar token, I can't really name the Beatles as the greatest rock act. They did some great rock music, but they were so much more and -- besides, when I think of 'act' I think of stage presence, and the Beatles after they finished their cover-band early phase were primarily a studio group and tended to play sloppily live (great atmosphere during the days of Beatlemania, but they were not live performers in the way that Elvis and Ray Charles were, among others, though Paul McCartney's live gigs since the '80s are the best live performances I've ever attended).

So I really don't know who I'd vote for as best 'rock' act. To me, phenomenal stage presence would be a prerequisite. And I haven't seen that many rock acts...my brother, with his heavy metal experience and contacts, would probably answer Iron Maiden or maybe Motorhead, but I've never especially been into metal.

I must say, though, that John Fogerty is amazing in that he still puts forth the same energy he did back in 1970 and is just great live. And, good as they are/were, people like Leon Russell, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison just don't quite fit. Van Halen, too, back in the days of Dave, were excellent, but they don't feel like the right choice.

Hmmm...maybe I'd pick Queen, with Freddie Mercury up front, as the best rock act. But I'd still go with Elvis as the best live performer (and most influential recording artist) who ever lived.

[lizziegrace]

65. I knew you'd agree with me

;)




How are you? :hug:

[mitchum]

67. Howlin' Wolf...

he may have been presented under a different genre than "rock" but he met ALL of the criteria of rock:
powerful unique voice
genius guitarplayer by his side
incredibly cool name
records that burst with electricity, menace, sex and abandon
master of the stage
and...
he did it harder AND before any of the above named acts

[flvegan]

68. Best Rock Act of All Time? Easy...Guns 'n Roses.

Sorry, I can't buy into the same ole same ole of folks clinging to Queen and The Beatles. Were they great? Hell, yeah. But put them, in their prime, on a stage before or after GnR, and they'd be...meh.

The music was good, the show was great.

[ornotna]

70. Funkadelic

You said act. So I'm going with them.

[AngryAmish]

77. AC/DC - this contest is closed

[Little Wing]

79. Pantera

[taterguy]

80. Otha Turner and the Afrossippi Allstars

Because that's what I'm listening to right now, a splendid fusion of tribal rhythms and hill country blues

[Magrittes Pipe]

81. Crime & the City Solution