Battle of the Stars Part 2 – The Bands Part II
Mar 16, 2010 by Aaron
Part two of a 3 part Series – 2nd half of the Bands
Last Week I started compiling a list of artists that I would like to see on stage together playing and rocking under the nighttime sky…if only for one magical night. I put them in groups called super groups, to have a fictitious Battle of the Bands rock off; among the great rock musicians of all time. Last week I had the 1st 2 bands listed (see previous article) this week will be the final 2 bands to create the final 4 of the Ultimate Battle of the Bands for next week’s article. These are the individual musicians that I think bound together, would make up the most ultimate bands of all time.
The Green Team Super Group: (The Charisma-Flare Group, the group of artist that would put on the best stage show)
On Drums: Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee of Motley Crue fame is an amazing drummer. But what really sets him apart is his stage presence and showmanship. I remember seeing Motley Crue back in 1989 and Tommy Lee preformed one of the most amazing drum solos of all time. What made this drum solo so amazing is that he did it upside down. He was strapped into a roll cage with his drum set, which was lifted 30 to 40 feet off the ground then spun upside down, like he was hanging from a ceiling, at the same time, crushing the percussions. It was a sight to see, a true piece of stage spectacular and drummer showmanship, the best I have ever seen.
On Lead Guitar: Ace Frehley
Ace is one of the most underrated guitarists of all time. On lead he is a real monster; not to mention a mentor to many of the great guitarist of our generation. Ask any famous guitarist of the 80’s and 90’s and most of them will say Frehley was their inspiration and hero that they tried to emulate coming up and learning their trade. But not only is Ace an amazing guitarist, he is an amazing soloist too. And, Ace puts on one of the great solo-guitar spectacles of all time. During his solo’s, his guitar spits and hums smoke from his fret board, flashes sequenced lights from its body, and shoots out lasers and pyrotechnics from its neck. No guitarist really can pull off the smoking guitar like Ace, he invented it.
On Lead Guitar also: Jimi Hendrix
This group is a group that needs duel lead guitarist. And Jimi is the king of the guitar stage show. He was the original when it came to mesmerizing and audience through playing his instrument with flare and style. He would play his guitar with his tongue, light it on fire on stage, and smash his shit! But he is bigger than his antics; he is the greatest guitar player of all time because of his style and charisma. The stage might not be big enough for Ace and Jimi on it together blowing up their guitars, lighting them on fire, and playing some of the nastiest solos ever recorded…it might be bedlam, but I would still wade through the firehouse and smoke to watch that bad ass demolition!
On Bass: Gene Simmons
Let me start off by saying that Gene really is an underrated bassist. He may not be in the same league as Claypool, Flea or Entwistle, but he is as solid as they come. And again, this is a group based on showmanship, and there may not be a bigger bassist showman than Gene Simmons…the spiting of blood and the breathing of fire and just the icing of Gene Simmons’ on stage persona. He also gives a rock solid bass solo as he flies over the stage on cables. It’s pretty cool to witness live, I know because I have witnessed it well over 20 times.
On Lead Vocals: Steve Marriott
This was a really hard pick for me for a few reasons. Of course I am looking for stage presence and energy, but I also wanted a voice that is complementary to the musical stylings of the band. I had it narrowed down to David Lee Roth, Steve Marriott, Iggy Pop, and Zach De La Rocha. Iggy pop was out due to vocal styling, but man what a performer. I want someone who can rift vocally, so that put Zach and Steve in the lead for sure. But I went with Marriott for his unique voice and amazing talent as a singer. For those of you not familiar with him or Humble Pie, change that quickly…he is amazing!
The Orange Team (The poet/pure artist team)
On Drums: John Bonham
Of any drummer in the super group challenge, John may have the most emotional “feel” for his instrument. Don’t get me wrong, he can hammer the skins, but he also had a great touch and feel for the flow of music. His tempo was perfect on every song, fast or slow. Listen to Kashmir and then Whole Lotta Love then Dazed and Confused. Each song is so distinctive and different in its rhythmic approach. Very few drummers have the poetic feel to change styles and emotion the way John did from song to song. Case and point, Travis Baker…a solid drummer but not someone that can pull off such tempo and percussion-like emotional changes…John was the poet of drumming.
On Lead Guitar: Eric Clapton
Again, like John Bonham, Clapton is a true poet and artist with his weapon of choice. He got the name Slow Hand for a reason. It’s because he has a distinctive feel for the guitar in a way most artist don’t. When he plays it’s like he has a better understanding of the guitar than most people. He is not banging out chords, but moreover making love to his fret board like Casanova stroking the small of a woman’s back. He too has a natural feel that cannot be taught, but comes from the heavens and granted to the few…like Beethoven and Bach, the few kissed by God himself.
On Rhythm Guitar: Richie Blackmore
I just really want to see Blackmore and Clapton on Stage together. When I think of that great 60’s British Invasion rockers, these two are the guitarists that really pushed that style and feel of that movement. Granted, Richie was more hardcore than Clapton, but both hand that Chuck Berry bluesy feel nestled into that British transforming sound.
On Bass: John Entwistle
John was a true artist of the bass. I truly feel he is over looked in pop culture as one of the greats, but my friends, he truly is. The way his right hand could walk the bass strings is something of legend among bassist. In my opinion, he had the best right hand of all time. If playing the bass is writing poetry, than he is the E.E. Cummings of his time.
On Lead Vocals: Jim Morrison
This was too easy. When one thinks of the singer as artist and poet, the first flash of an image is, Jim Morrison. Often overlooked lately, I feel, the Doors lyrically are probably the great writers of songs of all time…ever! Jim was such an amazing front man and performer, that he could capture an audience without music, just him talking in rhyme was enough. He was a poet and truly mesmerizing on stage. I feel the Doors and Morrison have been forgotten in the last 10 years to a degree, and I don’t know why. But without a doubt, one of the greatest front men of all time!
-Aaron
Posted in Aaron's Musings from the Outhouse