Idea For Another Draft (Greatest Music Band)
 

Just throwing this out there. We have had some success with our big drafts (like the recently completed super draft).

The greatest female rock singer thread gave me an idea.

I know we have had a music draft, or pretty sure we have, where we had great bands and performers or something like that.

Well, what if the goal was "Build the Greatest Band"?

So you would pick a singer, a guitarist, a bass guitarist, a drummer, an "other" (piano, harmonica, whatever), maybe a second guitarsit, a backup vocals, a rapper, a DJ, a producer/composer, opera/play singer. What other categories?

And you were limited to selecting one from different genres, rock, alternative, pop, classic rock, disco, hardcore rap, hip/hop, R&B, country, jazz, etc. And you could only pick one member of a band or you could never pick two singers who worked together or a producer who never worked with the rest of the band?

Would there be any interest in that, assembling the greatest band? You could name your band, too, and say what kind of music they would aim for from the get-go.

If there is enough interest, I would run it and start a new thread.

In!

Has enough time passed since the last one?

;)

Do the people have to be living? Watching an old Mitch Hedberg clip makes me think The Duphraines would be a band name I would try to use if I had a band.

Haha...I don't know, is there an observed time limit? ;)

I was thinking open to all, living or dead (Keith Richards counts for both).

Good. Rock drummers open a lot when adding dead people.

I'm in.

Some potential categories:

Singer
Backing Singer
Lead Guitarist
Rhythm Guitarist
Bassist
Drummer
Keys (can be piano, keyboard, etc)
DJ
Rapper/Hip-Hop
Producer/Composer
Other (could be woodwinds, harmonica, etc)
Songwriter

I think most were covered above, but I can't think of anything else, really. Twelve categories seems to be a decent number though, it's what we had for the Super Hero draft.

Although I think pigeon-holing choices to certain genres might be tough. I personally don't know much about country artists, disco artists or hip-hop/r&b/hardcore-rap artists.

But that's just my own thought. I'll go along with whatever for the challenge.

Yeah, I was thinking about that while I was out on break.

I thought it would be better to go with the superhero draft model, with some very general genre choices, but the rest time-related.

So let's say, something like this:

Modern Rock/Alt Rock
Classic Rock/Country/Bluegrass/Jazz
R&B/Pop
Rap/Hip Hop
Orchestral/Opera/Classical

and

Current
21st Century
1990s
1980s
1970s
1950s & 60s
Pre-1950

I can dig this. I like the challenge of Classic Rock being lumped in with Country. I'd almost lump Blues into that category as well, since it doesn't seem to be anywhere in there.

I was also thinking of trying to find a way to get three "performers" in there, from a voice perspective. Maybe dropping the DJ or moving the DJ into producer/composer, and going with a "vocalist".

So, let's say, a backup singer would be the best "#2s" out there, the other singers in top bands with many strong voices (the Eagles, CSN&Y, the Beatles, etc). Or lead singers of bands where the lead singer is not the front man/woman or is not an audacious front man in the traditional form. Or strong duet pairs who by themselves aren't necessarily all that strong.

The backup singer should be an accompaniment to lead singer, who should also be a front man and the true lead of your band and all that goes with that.

For instance, David Lee Roth is definitely a lead. But you could have George Harrison as your backup singer (if you didn't put him at rhythm guitar).

And then the vocalist is your power voice. The ballad singer. The stand alone performer. The guy the lead introduces before he comes out in a break for the band. Elton John, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, etc.

Does that make sense? Would that be a way to go?

I like the other categories for the most part, although I may want to try to find some other way to categorize the "other" as well.

Yeah, Blues can go in there, too. I would probably drop the "Bluegrass" in there (as it would be presumed under country western) and just put in Blues.

There would need to be some kind of definition of Modern/Classic/Alt rock to make sure that bands were in clearly defined categories.

Could "other" be called "Accompanying Instruments" or something of that nature?

A great band only needs one singer, one guitarist, one bass player and one drummer. Everyone else on the stage is getting in the way. :)

That's the thing, I would throw out an intention, but it should be vague. It's up to the drafter to decide what fits where and to the voter to decide if the drafter made a good choice.

Take Carlos Santana for instance. You can put him in Classic Rock for sure, as part of the band Santana. Or you could note his more modern work and put him in Modern Rock.

Or how about Punk Rock? It's very much an alt rock format. Do you put Johnny Rotten in the alt rock category or stick him in classic?

Not sure I can browse around another one this quarter.

Haha I tend to agree, but we need more categories. :)

I wonder if you could get rid of current and mold it with 21st century and add a female category or something. I think we should be forced to draft at least one woman. I was planning on taking one anyway, but still.

Here's an idea for categories

Singer
Guitarist
Bass
Drummer
Keys
Songwriter
Manager
Label
Cover Song
Other Instrument

IF we want 12 then we could add a 2nd singer and guitarist.

Then the secondary categories can be the genre ones: Rock, Country, Hip Hop, etc.

I'm definitely in no matter what we do.

why so complicated? 4 member band. go.

Would the date indicate their first recording, their "golden age" or what?

I kinda love the manager idea.

I am taking all the brunette female pop stars, Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepson, Demi Lovato, etc...

I'm not sure how many genres is a good number for a draft, but I would break them out a bit more.

Rock
Pop
Punk/Alternative
Rap
Blues
Orchestral/opera/classical
Dance
Country/folk/traditional
Heavy Metal?

That's an interesting question. Because anyone from Led Zeppelin would have to be considered 60s if you took their first recording, but their golden age was definitely the 70s.

I'd be up for joining this draft!

Anyone got odds on Pick #1 not being Jimmy Hendrix-Guitarist?

I don't know what the experience has been in drafts in general, but I think you almost have to stick it to origin date or something, because too many bands have long careers and you could just stick them anywhere with some rationale.

I think splitting genres and eras just open you up for too much argument, since the majority of acts crossed over several of those dividers.

Okay, some good ideas here.

I will start up a thread shortly, once I think we have a pretty good consensus on things.

I like having a Female sub-category, we can do that.

As for the time era thing, what I was thinking of doing was when they first hit it big. So I would consider Zeppelin in the 70s, even though they started in the 60s. Just as an example.

Okay, I like a lot of the categories set out by larry and I also like his choices for #11 and #12. But I am concerned that we're shorting rap in not having a rapper spot and I also wonder if our set up will shortchange stand alone performers as well.

Also, there is a difference between manager and producer, right? Maybe we can combine those? Here is what I am thinking:

Lead Singer
Vocalist
Lead Guitarist
Bass Guitarist
Keys
Drummer
Other Instrument
Rapper
Songwriter
Manager/Producer
Label
Cover Song

So expand manager to be manager/producer, add a vocalist (for standalone performers) and rapper.

My only concern beyond that would be that having a Cover Song category may be too limiting on the disparate parts. Like having Eminem as your rapper and Jimi Morrison as your Lead, okay what Cover Song covers both? I don't want people to get trapped into that. But it feels like it would be either the Cover Song goes or the Rapper goes.

As much as I like the Cover Song, I would stick with Rapper. And then we would need a 12th category to replace Cover Song.

How about for sub-categories:

Rock
Pop
Hip Hop
Country
Jazz/Blues
Female
21st century
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
Pre-1960

How exactly does the cover song work?

Would it be say Foghorn Leghorn "Camptown Races" - Cover, Pre 1960?

i'd like to. but why's it gotta be so flippin complicated? can't you just say 5-7 pieces and a cover song?

Is it having to fit people into categories that's too much for you?

eh, idk. after some thought i don't have a good alternative. i'll let you guys hammer out the details.

I'm in if it's small-ish. What if we put together a touring act (opener/headliner) of two bands each? That would require us to draft 2 each of a smaller number of categories.

I'm also in if it doesn't get ridiculously complicated. I like the general idea a lot.

Okay, there seems to be a split between some wanting simpler and some wanting it complicated. So I am thinking we'll just go with 10 categories, back to the group larrymcg suggested, but with Manager being Manager/Producer.

Main Categories

Lead Singer
Lead Guitarist
Bass Guitarist
Keys
Drummer
Other Instrument
Songwriter
Manager/Producer
Label
Cover Song

That means cutting down the secondary category list as well, so I would go with this:

Secondary Categories

Rock
Pop
Hip Hop
Country
Female
21st century
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s & Earlier

I will leave this up for a bit, but if this works for everyone, later today, I will start up the actual draft thread. I'll put a list up of everyone here who professed interest and let you all confirm there if you want to stay in. You'll get first dibs.

I would guess 8-10 drafters or so at most.

This looks great to me. Can't wait to get going.

Just one female required? Maybe more, like 3 or something?

Actually the one contention I would have.. it seems as if Label would have to automatically be pigeon-holed to one of the year categories.

You don't have to necessarily approach it as a single band concept in your drafting. As in other drafts, voters will make up their own criteria. You can just go for the best at each position. And in fact, the latter approach is the strategy that seems to win more often than not.

Fixed. :D

You're welcome to pick 3 if you like. ;)

Not necessarily. What if you went with Death Row Records? They are primarily Hip Hop. I would certainly accept that judgment as a voter.

Thinking about this I came up with a really good band that would mesh well together, would be insanely easy to get them as picks because so few know of them, and would instantly lose out when comparing them to other bands with bigger names. :lol: