5/10/2018 10:05:09 PM
Get serious.

8/1/2017 11:24:22 PM
My dad is AWOL again

7/16/2016 2:15:24 PM
Which one of these things are true about me? What's my baggage?

1/20/2016 9:01:20 PM
Who is the greatest American band?

9/17/2015 8:44:00 PM
I miss my dad

1/20/2016 9:01:20 PM

Who is the greatest American band?

I vote for nirvana.

1/20/2016 9:08:34 PM ---- Updated 1/20/2016 9:33:45 PM

The Band (they all had great voices, switched instruments which they played well and wrote great songs They were a true ensemble, not a star with a backup band.

With Nirvana, Kurt was the whole show. Without him there would be no band. He was the John Lennon
of his generation and genre. His voice was amazing and his song writing was genius. Dave Ghrol was just another drum banger pounding away with bombastic fury signifying not much. Without Kurt, Nirvana would have been the Foo Fighters. That being said, Nirvana made some of the best rock music ever made, regardless of who made the bigger contribution in the band. They changed everything or more precisely, Kurt changed everything. His death left a vacuum as big as Lennon's.

You mentioned the word "American" and The Band was so American in every way. Their songs were like American History 101. In some ways they were the "polished" version of Bob Dylan whose legacy was greatly enhanced by his collaborations with them. Seeing them in concert was always amazing.

Another great American band is the Beachboys.

How about Paul Revere and the Raiders? NOT! but kicks really are getting harder to find!

1/20/2016 9:41:29 PM

Way too many great ones. I can't choose just one.

1/20/2016 9:48:50 PM

I paraphrase this a bit, so the Band were not totally all American how did they originally start, well they began as the Hawks with back up rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins, a boisterous journeyman who found steady work in Canada. Four of the five Hawks - guitarist Robertson, bassist Rick Danko, organist Garth Hudson and pianist Richard Manuel - were Canadian. Drummer Levon Helm hailed from Arkansas. Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks toured the states and provinces until late 1963, at which point the backing musicians split from Hawkins to continue on their own as Levon and the Hawks.

1/20/2016 10:03:17 PM

You Canadians are always making trouble ;-)
But you are correct. They did however have a handle on creating music that was very Americana.

So let's go with the Beachboys. I know they ain't from outa town!

1/20/2016 10:22:09 PM

Some of the best bands and musicians ever, ever have been and are Canucks :)

1/21/2016 9:27:52 AM

Well BEATLESEX is the Best Band In The World
but we are two thirds of us English, so in answer to this question?

The Greatest American Band,

is obviously Negative Tendencies.

Glad to clear that up for ya.

~L

1/21/2016 9:51:43 AM

Okay. I have given it some thought. Interesting thing about American Rock is that it was so regional in nature. So there is such a wide variety to choose from. But at the end of the day there is only one American band that is above all others. IMHO, of course! :)

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention

1/21/2016 10:12:43 AM

Oohh.

Technically you're probably right, Larree....

however, I think they mean, bands in existence, still, in this here and now.

Dweezil's tried to carry on, but it's not the same.
No one could even imagine what Frank and his crew managed
to wangle out of the ethosphere unless they'd seen it for themselves.

So, that's still a win for Negative Tendencies....

though if you ever put a band together,
you'll sure give those boys a run for their money. That's a safe bet.

~L

1/21/2016 10:20:02 AM

Zappa and the mothers, yah Larree,right on, way top drawer, saw them in around '65 in Vancouver. it was crazy man. my girlfriend at the time was way more hip then I was in the music thing and said lets go see these guys. who I said,never heard of them,, what are they,. a guy with mothers. I dont get it, . so we went. man. my life and appreciation for music in that way changed forever, far freaking out , that was a Zappa genre of and by itself, because he was a genre all to himself , no one came close to what him and his mates did, he never had a rehearsed guitar lead,saw that on a recent interview from the 80's, he said he always improvised. genius, few like that around. except maybe Beethoven who i worked with back in the day, even Bach and Handel , those dreams of me back then always re-occur ,scary.all those pianos, violins,sheet music, scribbles, women, scary stuff

1/21/2016 10:31:03 AM

There was, one particular concert Frank Zappa did....

it was one of his fabled Halloween shows
at the Palladium in NYC....

on this particular evening,
he brought on an Indian Virtuoso Violinist, named L. Shankar.

Anyone, who had the privilege of attending that show, as did I,
saw God get out of his Godmobile and tool around town waving hi
to all the peeps. No kidding. That good. Shankar and Zappa
egged each other on, I've since that time seen both of 'em many times,

but that night, oh my goodness, those two were on fire....

I can only hope the Zappa Estate makes a DVD of it
and sells it, because It's Rock N Roll Gold Platinum History,
and as I recall they did in fact film it.

The whole world, should be able to see that show. It was Unreal. Nothing but.

1/21/2016 10:33:15 AM

Yeah, exactly. Zappa was a composer right up there with the masters, an improviser with mammoth skills, and an incredible musical humorist.

So as good as any other band may have been, or may be today, no one can touch that.

1/21/2016 11:07:54 AM

I have several nominees:

Yo La Tengo
35 years and still going strong, with a brand new album out just at the end of 2015, and no signs of stopping. Not a single album has been anything less than excellent. The hell with Bruce Springsteen, this is the true blue collar band from New Jersey. Just making a living of making timeless music.

Parliament/Funkadelic
Brilliant highs and always interesting and exciting. Restlessly inventive and innovative. Brilliant musicians that have inspired rock artists, funk artists, dance artists, hip-hop artists, performance artists, and so many more, not just in the US, but all over the world.

Los Lobos
Immigrants and sons of immigrants: brilliant musicians and songwriters, who are so much more than just what people expect them to be.

1/21/2016 11:29:29 AM

Of course all the greatest bands in America would be British judged on quality :)

But if greatness is measured by sales then I think both The Eagles and Aerosmith claim the title but Creedance CR and The Doors get the people's popularity vote along with Nirvana and The Beach boys.

Are The Carpenters a band, if so I'll pick them.

1/21/2016 11:42:23 AM ---- Updated 1/21/2016 11:49:54 AM

And we have to consider the Grateful Dead as a contender for the greatest American band because they encompassed so many different genres of pure Americana within their extensive repertoire. Everything from traditional country, folk, blues, jazz, soul, and R&B, and then mashing it all up within their own brand of psychedelic rock. Can't touch that. Another band that was miles above the average band.

And I would surely put Parliament/Funkadelic and The Doors on that short list. Along with Jimi Hendrix, of course.

I find that I consider the actual musical innovations and advancements contributed as opposed to simply hit songs and coolness.

1/21/2016 11:47:46 AM

Thanks Lesley, I agree with ya. :D

I like to put CSNY in that group even though Nash is from England and Neil was born in Canada.

I'm glad we didn't have an Eagles consensus.

1/21/2016 11:52:11 AM

Regarding CSNY: Any band that hooks up in L.A. is an American band no matter where the members are from!

1/21/2016 9:45:00 PM

I'm torn between NRBQ and the Monkees.

1/22/2016 12:53:11 AM

LOVE

Arthur Lee was a genius - and Forever Changes is in my top 5 albums ever..

1/22/2016 1:00:51 AM ---- Updated 1/22/2016 1:01:40 AM

Yeah Steve, I agree. LOVE was an amazing band. Highly underrated.

And another great (and underrated) band was Spirit.

2/16/2016 9:54:22 AM

For personal taste, I'd say maybe Steely Dan. But simply for their stature in the pantheon of greats in Rock History, I am leaning toward The Eagles. With the recent passing of Frey, I went on a Eagles Youtube binge, and found a bunch of videos from a '77± concert that show how - perfect- they could render their songs live. There's a "Hotel California" that is better than the recording... and they had such a large collection of great songs.

2/16/2016 10:44:11 AM

Id like to toss my vote to the guess who. yes I know they are Canadian but the last time I looked in an atlas Canada was still part of America.

2/16/2016 10:59:30 AM

Then I'll mention The Guess Who

2/16/2016 11:36:57 AM

The Guess Who for sure,Trooper (raise a little hell) and BTO(taking care of business)

2/16/2016 2:35:31 PM

Well I guess using a British band is cheating but Led Zepplin is a contender for the influence on America?
TSC,
Ken

2/16/2016 4:29:16 PM

Earth Wind & Fire ( My all time favorite)

2/16/2016 4:32:51 PM ---- Updated 2/16/2016 4:33:57 PM

Larree
12 Dreams of Dr Sardonicus is a GREAT LP!
"When I Touch You" is the most amazing song nobody knows.

About The Guess Who, Burton Cummings could rock or croon with the best of them.

2/16/2016 6:37:50 PM

I love 12 Dreams, Daniel. That album sits in my all-time top five albums list. I was listening to KPPC FM the night someone walked into the studio, unwrapped it, and dropped the needle and let it play. Epic.

2/16/2016 6:52:53 PM

Some of these may not be eligible but here's how I'd rate them.

Neil & Crazy Horse
Nirvana
Sonic Youth
Bruce & E St. Band
Jim Carroll Band
CCR

2/16/2016 6:59:52 PM

I would say that the entire North American continent is loaded with extreme talent. Telling Neil Young he is not eligible to be on the best American musician or band list would be like telling Sir Paul he can't come into the GRAMMY after-party at the Argyle Club.

2/17/2016 3:22:21 AM

Another vote for Zappa from me.

        �2015-16 IndieMusicPeople.com      All Rights Reserved