A while ago a friend asked me who I thought the best band of all time is/was. Naturally, I went to my favourite band, but mostly because of bias. I think my favourite band is the best band of all time, but that's why it is my favourite, but this is not really fair in an objective sense. And, really, this question is kind of subjective to begin with. Is the best band defined by record sales, popularity, influence, or true talent? Is musicianship considered, or technological advancements? Maybe the best band of all time existed before recording technology was available or perfected and the only people who ever heard that great band is now dead and gone.
As far as wide appeal, I'd have to nominate The Beatles or the Rolling Stones. These bands have proven their appeal to a huge audience base and, even though The Beatles were together for only about a decade, their music has continued to gain new fans and influence younger generations. The Rolling Stones have been together for what seems like forever, even after repeatedly declaring their intention to stop touring, and still sell tickets to their concerts. Is wide appeal the measure for best band of all time? Is longevity the mark of a great band? Or does it mean that the band just can't do anything else but play (this isn't a criticism, I think that it's a great reason to continue playing).
For influence on younger generations, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and, again, The Beatles are contenders. These bands tried new styles and sounds and were largely successful. Pete Townshend made it fashionable to introduce feedback into his guitar (Jimi Hendrix did this too) and Zeppelin and Pink Floyd made archaic lyrics and funny time signatures acceptable to rock musicians.
What about talent? Talent is really important, but in a rock music sense, showmanship is almost as important. Jim Morrison was more of a poet than a rock musician, but he knew how to sell his image. Is the defining factor innovation or creativity? The Doors had no bass player (only Ray Manzarek's left hand) and still managed to groove. The White Stripes is a duo of guitar and drums but still create a big, rock band sound. The Dave Matthews Band pulls from a variety of genres, including rock, jazz, funk, and world beat, and includes a violinist and a saxophonist as core (and founding) members, and has proven that this mix can appeal to a mainstream audience.
Furthermore, who says the best band has to be a rock band? Why can't the great big bands of the 1930s and 40s be considered? The bands of Ellington, Basie, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman did tremendous things to advance musicians and popular style long before the rock bands made the scene. Or, thinking further back, consider the Delta blues musicians who started the whole thing. Were it not for their creativity, we may still be singing parlor songs and Italian arias to each other.
What is the best band of all time? I can't really give an answer to this question. Not in good conscience, anyway. No matter which one I choose, I know I've left out someone who deserves the title too. There are a lot of facets to being the "best" and a lot of reasons for each choice. The best band is the one that makes the listener happy to hear it and makes their day a little brighter.
No comments:
Post a Comment