Vote For The Greatest FOFC Band!

[Chief Rum]

Hello everyone,

This is the voting thread for the just completed Greatest FOFC Band thread. If you have not been following along, here is the draft thread:

FOFC Draft--The Greatest Music Band

The idea was to pick ten elements of a band and fit them into ten separate categories, with the only real restriction being that band mates could not be picked for the same team.

The Main Categories were:

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

The sub-categories that could be used as "sources" for the band members were:

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

There were a lot of different interpretations on how to put a band together, and I recommend all of the drafters take advantage of this thread and put out a synopsis for your band strategy and how it all went with the draft. I am sure your individual concepts of how you built your band will help voters determine how to judge your choices.

VOTING

Everyone who wishes to vote here, please pick your top three bands and list them, in order. I will give out 5-3-1 points for first, second and third. You can post ties or what not, but only 9 points total will be given out for each vote entry.

Of course, one voter, one ballot.

Drafters are allowed to vote, but no voting for yourself.

I would welcome "All Star team" submissions, too, opinions on the best picks in each Main category, but that is purely for interesting reading. I will not be putting up an All Star team of band members or tracking those.

I will put up the bands in the next post.

[Chief Rum]

The Bands (in first round drafting order, by category)

BAND NAME: Porcelain Throne Avengers
Drafter: cartman

Lead Singer: Elvis Presley (1960's & Earlier--1.1)
Lead Guitarist: Mike McReady (1990s--8.10)
Bass Guitarist: Kim Gordon (Female--7.1)
Keys: Dave Stewart (1980s--9.1
Drummer: Keith Moon, (Rock--2.10)
Other Instrument: Ian Anderson--Flute (1970s--5.1)
Songwriter: Willie Nelson (Country--3.1)
Manager/Producer: Quincy Jones (Pop--6.10)
Label: iTunes (21st Century--10.10)
Cover Song: "Walk This Way" (Hip Hop--4.10)

***************************************

BAND NAME: The Karlifornia Band
Drafter: Karlifornia

Lead Singer: Michael Jackson (Pop--1.2)
Lead Guitarist: Prince (1980s--2.9)
Bass Guitarist: Kim Deal (Female--7.2)
Keys: Elton John (Keys--3.2)
Drummer: ?uestlove (21st Century--8.9)
Other Instrument: Ravi Shankar--Sitar (1960s & Earlier--5.2)
Songwriter: Roger Waters (Rock--6.9)
Manager/Producer: Rick Rubin (Hip Hop--4.9)
Label: MCA Nashville (Country--9.2)
Cover Song: "Under the Bridge" (1990s--10.9)

***************************************

BAND NAME: Crimson Fox
Drafter: Crimson Fox

Lead Singer: Robert Plant (Rock--2.8)
Lead Guitarist: David Gilmour (1970s--3.3)
Bass Guitarist: Tina Weymouth (Female--7.3)
Keys: Trent Reznor (Pop--10.8)
Drummer: Neil Peart (1980s--1.3)
Other Instrument: Alison Krauss--Fiddle (Country--9.3)
Songwriter: Pete Townshend (1960s & Earlier--4.8)
Manager/Producer: Dr. Dre (Hip Hop--5.3)
Label: Atlantic Records Group (21st Century--8.8)
Cover Song: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1990s--6.8)

***************************************

BAND NAME: Piranhaconda
Drafter: NorvTurnerOverDrive

Lead Singer: Mick Jagger (1970s--4.7)
Lead Guitarist: Jimi Hendrix (Rock--1.4)
Bass Guitarist: Les Claypool (1990s--2.7)
Keys: Stevie Wonder (Pop--8.7)
Drummer: John Bonham (Rock--3.4)
Other Instrument: Neil Young--Various (Country--6.7)
Songwriter: Joni Mitchell (Female--5.4)
Manager/Producer: Danger Mouse (Hip Hop--7.4)
Label: Sire Records (1980s--10.7)
Cover Song: "Icky Thump" (21st Century--9.4)

***************************************

BAND NAME: Blue Feltvet
Drafter: Grover

Lead Singer: Aretha Franklin (Female--3.5)
Lead Guitarist: Jimmy Page (1970s--2.6)
Bass Guitarist: Victor Wooten (1990s--9.5)
Keys: Ray Charles (Country--8.6)
Drummer: Ginger Baker (1960s & Earlier--4.6)
Other Instrument: Wynton Marsalis--Trumpet (1980s--7.5)
Songwriter: Bob Dylan (Rock--1.5)
Manager/Producer: Phil Spector (Pop--5.5)
Label: Death Row Records (Hip Hop--6.6)
Cover Song: "Rehab" (21st Century--10.6)

***************************************

BAND NAME: The Abe Sargent Band
Drafter: Abe Sargent

Lead Singer: Johnny Cash (Country, 1.6)
Lead Guitarist: Stevie Ray Vaughn (1980s--8.5)
Bass Guitarist: John Paul Jones (Pop--7.6)
Keys: Keith Emerson (1970s--5.6)
Drummer: Ringo Starr (Rock--4.5)
Other Instrument: Yoyo-Ma--Cello (21st Century--9.6)
Songwriter: Kurt Cobain (1990s--3.6)
Manager/Producer: Brian Epstein (1960s & Earlier--2.5)
Label: Sun Records (Hip Hop--6.5)
Cover Song: "Heartbreaker" (Female--10.5)

***************************************

BAND NAME: The Sicks Tease Icks
Drafter: Julio Riddols

Lead Singer: Freddy Mercury (1970s--1.7)
Lead Guitarist: John Frusciante (Pop--6.4)
Bass Guitarist: Geddy Lee (1980s--2.4)
Keys: Rick Wakeman (Rock--3.7)
Drummer: Dave Grohl (1990s--5.7)
Other Instrument: That 1 Guy--Magic Pipe (21st Century--10.4)
Songwriter: Grace Slick (Female--7.7)
Manager/Producer: Owen Bradley (Country--8.4)
Label: Capital Records (1960s & Earlier--4.4)
Cover Song: "The Message" (Hip Hop--9.7)

***************************************

BAND NAME: The larrymcg421 Band
Drafter: larrymcg421

Lead Singer: Dusty Springfield (Female--5.8)
Lead Guitarist: Chuck Berry (Rock--2.3)
Bass Guitarist: John Entwistle (1970s--3.8)
Keys: John Legend (Hip Hop--7.8)
Drummer: Stewart Copeland (1980s--6.3)
Other Instrument: Charlie Daniels--Fiddle (Country--4.3)
Songwriter: John Lennon (1960s & Earlier--1.8)
Manager/Producer: Babyface (Pop--8.3)
Label: Sony BMG (21st Century--9.8)
Cover Song: "One" (1990s--10.3)

***************************************

BAND NAME: Stallion
Drafter: Suicane75

Lead Singer: Janis Joplin (Female--5.9)
Lead Guitarist: Eddie Van Halen (1980s--6.2)
Bass Guitarist: Bootsy Collins (Hip Hop--7.9)
Keys: Jerry Lee Lewis (Rock--2.2)
Drummer: Roger Taylor (Pop--9.9)
Other Instrument: Bill Monroe--Mandolin (Country--4.2)
Songwriter: Bruce Springsteen (1970s--3.9)
Manager/Producer: T-Bone Burnett (21st Century--8.2)
Label: Motown Records (1960 & Earlier--1.9)
Cover Song: "November Rain" (1990s--10.2)

***************************************

BAND NAME: The Leeks
Drafter: britrock88

Lead Singer: Roy Orbison (Country--9.10)
Lead Guitarist: Jack White (21st Century--3.10)
Bass Guitarist: Flea (1990s--1.10)
Keys: Ray Manzarek (Rock--8.1)
Drummer: Carl Palmer (1970s--6.1)
Other Instrument: Afrika Bambaataa--DJ (Hip Hop--2.1)
Songwriter: Paul McCartney (1960s & Earlier--5.10)
Manager/Producer: Brian Wilson (Pop--7.10)
Label: Def Jam (1980s--4.1)
Cover Song: "I Feel the Earth Move" (Female--10.1)

[Buccaneer]

1 Cartman
2 Suicane75
3 Grover

[Chief Rum]

Okay, bands are loaded up. Drafters, please reiew the above post and let me know if I need to make any changes.

VOTING IS NOW OPEN!!!

[Chief Rum]

Bucc's will count, of couse.

[Marmel]

1) Crimson Fox (Crimson Fox)
2) Piranhaconda (NorvturnerOverdrive)
3) The Abe Sargent Band (Abe Sargent)

[CrimsonFox]

Forgive the indulgence as I introduce you my new act...

[CrimsonFox]

First there was Led Zeppelin, then there was Pink Floyd, now experience the sound of....Crimson Fox
The progressive sound that will shatter your soul...

When we were given the task of forming a band and choose a song for them to sing, I jumped at the chance. I take music very seriously and there was only direction I wanted to go, that of what I like....rock, more specifically progressive rock and hard rock, rock with a purpose. Music that takes you places, that lets you breathe it in and seeps into every pore of your body and words that have real meaning. Poetry. A complete experience. And above all there must be talent. Legitimate talent. Not just fame and looks and fancy dance moves. Fame doesn’t equal talent. But utter credibility at each instrument including voice. I didn’t actually remember about voting when we started. Just wanted to form a dreamband, or at least one of them. A cohesive unit.Not just a bunch of megastars forced together. A band, with members at the top of their game that would complement each other (and of course having to fill out all the categories including thevery challenging Hip Hop, Country, etc with people from those genres). An experience you could easily picture. A believable and once-in-a-lifetime band.

Lead Singer - Robert Plant (from Led Zeppelin)

For a front man, I picked Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin. There is no one else that sings like him. He rocks like no one else. Such immense power in his voice. Can blast high notes like no one’s business without even having to work up to them. Also sing with such raw emoition and charge. Even in slower quieter moments brings you into his world and takes you on a journey.



I just have to go with my gut, my first choice, and one of my definite favorites...

Soundscapes, imagery, aggression, stories, innovation, beautiful atmospheres, tons of technique, silence, ...

David Gilmour, Lead Guitarist (from Pink Floyd)

If he can teach guitar to the legendary bandmembers he plays with then he can lead my band. Guitar solos? It's hard to call what he does merely guitar solos. Guitar stories is more like.





For bass, I had my pick in mind early. After Lee and Entwistle there was only one other thought and it didn't even matter that it filled the challenging female category for me.

The female half of the husband-wife rhythm section of Talking Heads.


Tina Weymouth, Bass Guitarist, Female (from Talking Heads)

Tons of cred. In a group described as post-punk, white-funk, and new wave. Influenced by punk, R&B and funk. And one of the bands that frequently played the famous CBGB's with other punk pioneers like the Ramones. Listen to the driving, heartpumping bass on "Psycho Killer".



And when the band went on hiatus, she and her husband formed the rhythmic group The Tom Tom Club making grooving hits like "Genius of Love", which became one of the most sampled tracks ever in hiphop and pop.



Trent Reznor, Keys (Nine Inch Nails, Solo)

Stormed into the mainstream and pretty much invented his own music genre in sound on keyboards and other instruments. Very hard-edged and ecclectic. Changes from hard to soft to in between. Many sounds of techno,rock, somewhat dark dance music, and his own genre: industrial like making music by banging things around. Aside form nine inch nails has worked with many other stars contibuting to their hits (like one of his idols David Bowie). Most of his music sounds menacing or brooding. LIke Gilmore he can appreciate building music along its path and revelling in moments of silence. And not only a presence in the music industry, but also a presence in other popculture venues like video games and movie soundtracks, like that little score he made for The Social Network that he won a little oscar for.






Neal Peart, Drums (from Rush)

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Professor on the drumkit! When you want a rock band, you start with the best damn drummer you can find and there is none better. Drummers and rockers near and far call him the one and only rock god of drummers and he’s got the machismo to prove it. He invented a new vocabulary on the drums. A progressive power feast for the ears. He doesn’t just keep the rhythm (which he does perfectly) but he adds his own melodies into the songs he plays. And he often pays tribute to one of his idols Buddy Rich in his concert drum solos. Storming the 80s with two smash albums Permanent Waves (with songs like Sprit of Radio and Freewill) and Moving Pictures (Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, Limelight, and the ultimate instrumental YYZ) that definitely thrust them into the mainstream yet without compromise of vision or musicianship, Peart and Rush invented their own musical language continually mastering meter, time signature changes, and even adding in beats from other genres and making them rock...really hard. And he surrounds himself with any percussion instrument you can think of to add the sounds he need. To top it off he’s just brilliant, being an avid reader and writer, and (something that is rare in rock), he’s a darn nice guy.








Alison Krauss - Other Instrument (Violin/fiddle) (from Union Station/solo)

A multigrammy winner who brought bluegrass into the public both in the 90s and in the 00's, especially with the groundbreaking huge soundtrack for O Brother Where Art THou?, of which she was a huge contributor.

Very easy and thoughtful on the fiddle. Doesn't play it like a country howdown but as a beautiful soundscape that contributes to the music and the song. Can easily hear her blending with Gilmour on his slide or acoustic or even rocking out on electric.

Songwriter – Pete Townshend (from The Who)
For my songwriter choice, it's easy.

You want your hardrocking hits? He wrote a chain of top 10 hits from 65-69.
You want your punky-rocky anthems? Yeah he's got em (like My Generationand We’re Not Gonna Take It) and will smash his guitar in your face at the end.
You want long thoughtful progressive masterpieces? Yeah how about a double-album concept rock opera in Tommy in 1969.

Pete was so skilled (and a bit OCD) as a songwriter, While other songwriters would usually just strum demos on a guitar, he would produce complete very polished songs, playing every instrument, which he would play to the rest of the band as the "demo". (which they would then insert their own style to). He later actually released all of his demos on an album. And Pete’s got angst to burn thanks to a fairly screwed-up childhood so he can write for hard progressive rock for sure.

Dr Dre, Producer

I had to pick a hip-hop category so why not go for the best and most influential picks of the genre.
There probably isn't a bigger influence on hiphop ever. The cat has started sooo many megastars' careers (including Snoop Dogg, 50 cent, and Eminem to name a few). Without him, I don't think we'd still have hiphop today. It probably would have gone back to the streets and still be called "rap". Was a tough category for sure but I wanted to pick someone legitimately from the genre and not someone merely R&B and call it hiphop. I don’t think that’s the same. But this guy really is a genius of a producer and I really think he could produce anything. At least I know it will keep in line with the hard edge I want for this band.

Atlantic Records Group, Label

The House that Ahmet built! The icon Atlantic famed in Hard Rock, progressive, R&B, pop, and jazz merges with Elektra and others in 2004 to become Atlantic Records Group and continues to house stars of rock, pop, hiphop, jazz, and r&b

Major artists like The Darkness, Cee Lo Green, Jay-Z, PDiddy, Rush, Stone Temple Pilots and scores of others.

Sadly the great Ahmet Ertigan (cofounder and CEO) died in 2006 but oh what a sendoff they gave him.
This label takes care of artists, not just poppy bands, but bands that really want to put out work that means something.

For a Song which is to be the "first cover song our band releases" (as it was explained to us) it must blend power and emoition and give these great instrumentalists room to leave their mark on it...

For the category I had to fill, there is only one song, there is only one...

It would be a thing of beauty indeed to see Plant, Peart, Reznor, and Gilmore wailing and rocking out on...

Smells Like Teen Spirit, Cover Song

Obviously a megahit, but so much more. A song of raw power, angst, and raw emotion yet with a lot of meaning and room for lots of interpretation throughout. Cobain himself said he wasn’t much of a guitarist and couldn’t think of anything else to do for the guitar solo but the melody. Now give that guitar solo to the mindbending sounds of Gilmore and Krauss, with the keyboard powers of Reznor (not to mention amazing blending of vocals with Plant), all wrapping their sounds around each other. And add Weymouth’s funky pumping bass alongside the professor Neil Peart’s hard rocking multilayered drum sound. And overtop it all the wailing righteousness of Plant soaring on the chorus, brooding sexily on the verses, and adding his trademark heavy-breathing and slow wailing burn from the likes of “Whole Lotta Love”. This song just became a 9 minute progressive rock masterpiece and I can hear everyone of these fitting into it. Experience the Fox! The Crimson Fox!

And now listen to the sounds of the other bands! Can't wait to hear their intros!

[Subby]

1. Piranhaconda
2. The Leeks
3. The Sicks Tease Icks

[Young Drachma]

1. The Karlifornia Band
2. Blue Feltvet
3. Piranhaconda

[corbes]

1. Karlifornia
2. Blue Feltvet
3. Abe Sargent

[Autumn]

1. NorvTurnerOverdrive
2. Grover
3. Karlifornia

[Autumn]

I voted for three, but I loved looking over all the bands, this was a really fun draft, with a different feel than most. A lot of fantastic choices.

[tarcone]

1) The Abe Sargent Band
2) Piranhaconda
3) Crimson Fox

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

1. suicane
2. britrock
3. crimsonfox

suicane and brit were neck and neck but the sheer spectacle that is sui's team could not be ignored.

thx to all that participated. i had grown indifferent to music of late and this rekindled my interest.

[Grover]

1. NorvTurnerOverdrive
2. Julio Riddols
3. Suicane75

[Grover]

BAND NAME: Blue Feltvet
Drafter: Grover

Lead Singer: Aretha Franklin (Female--3.5)
Why Aretha? I wanted someone with a powerful singing voice that could fit into a number of ranges and styles. For this, I could think of no better singer than the Queen of Soul. It also helped that I was going for a jazzy/bluesy feel with the overall makeup of the group.

Lead Guitarist: Jimmy Page (1970s--2.6)
On the shortlist of greatest rock lead guitarists of all time. I thought he was a no-brainer at this position in the second round. Had other plans for guitarist, but Page was too good for me to pass up.

Bass Guitarist: Victor Wooten (1990s--9.5)
Virtuoso. Can play any style and is a pure technical genius. There are very few bassists alive or dead that can match the skill of Victor Wooten. Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller are two of maybe four or five that have Victor's talent.

Keys: Ray Charles (Country--8.6)
Continuing my blues/jazz vibe, Ray was shoehorned into the Country category because of his fantastic Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music album, generally considered not only his best studio work, but is often cited as one of the greatest country albums ever recorded. Outside of that, Ray's skills on the piano were exactly what I was looking for.

Drummer: Ginger Baker (1960s & Earlier--4.6)
Baker is best known for his drumming with 1960's psychedelic rock/blues supergroup Cream and for being one of the pioneers of the drum solo. He is part of the holy trinity of 60s and 70s drummers along with Keith Moon and John Bonham. Taking him one pick after Ringo Starr was an absolute steal. As a plus, Baker himself prefers to be considered a jazz percussionist.

Other Instrument: Wynton Marsalis--Trumpet (1980s--7.5)
Taking Marsalis is was another pick I was proud of because he fit the style I wanted and helped lend further credibility to what I would later pick as my cover song. Marsalis is a giant in the modern day jazz world and absolutely dominated the Grammy Awards for jazz in the 1980s.

Songwriter: Bob Dylan (Rock--1.5)
Has there ever been a more important or more influential songwriter in the history of modern music? A good number of Bob Dylan's songs are known better because they were major hits for bands that covered them. Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" is widely considered one of the best cover songs of all time. Do some research and you can even find a list of "The 40 best Bob Dylan covers" and it stretches across all mediums and genres of music. Dylan was a visionary. There were only two other songwriters on my list that I had to have if I didn't get Dylan.

Manager/Producer: Phil Spector (Pop--5.5)
Creator of the Wall of Sound. Number one singles and top 40 hits galore. Spector was a giant in the world of producing. This was an easy pick and an easy way to get past an otherwise tricky Pop category.

Label: Death Row Records (Hip Hop--6.6)
Dr. Dre, Tupac and Snoop Dogg. That's all I need to say about Death Row Records.

Cover Song: "Rehab" (21st Century--10.6)
Yes, the late Amy Winehouse hit, Rehab. I imagine a big re-working of this fantastic song. There's room for a bluesy Jimmy Page guitar solo, but the main reason for picking this song is I felt like Aretha Franklin would completely own it and make it her own. Amy's voice was a callback to the days of soul. This was the perfect song to fit Aretha's singing style. She would make it a true hit of her own.



I want to thank Chief for running the draft and the other nine participants for joining in. This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Seeing everyone's take on various bands, musicians and what categories they fit into was a ton of fun.

[Suicane75]

The case for Stallion.

Ok, so my first pick was Motown and it was a rather easy pick. There just isn't a more iconic label in history, it crosses races and genders, young and old. Say Motown to anyone and they'll know what you're talking about. At this point I was drafting for status, not for the band as a functioning unit.

Pick two was probably a mistake on my part. A mistake I don't mind, but a mistake none the less. In picking keys I took away my rock category and felt hamstringed. As far as rock keyboardists go he's a pioneer and a great one. I'm not unhappy with this pick but at the same time it was around here that I started to think of my band as a unit and wondered if I had pigeon holed myself.

Pick three was Springsteen as songwriter which didn't seem to get a lot of love. To me the span of albums he wrote between 75-82 stands up there with best stretch in music history and he hasn't been exactly shabby since. This pick was spurned more of personal love and figuring that if I'm gonna have all these great musicians playing together, they should be songs that give them all a chance to shine. Jerry Lee Lewis playing keys in some of those songs just gives me a boner.

Pick four I wavered again and went back to status. Bill Monroe invented Bluegrass. He invented an entire genre. I don't know where he fits into my bands songs but wherever it is I bet he makes it sound like it belongs there as much as any other instrument involved.

Round five is when I start rounding my band into shape and deciding that yes indeed, I'm doing this to form a cohesive unit more than to collect a band. Joplin is my lead singer. There's just no other choice for what I wanted to do, which was make an iconic song. At this point most of the drummers were gone and though Roger Taylor headed my list, it was deep enough that I could wait on picking one.

Round six was Eddie Van Halen who in this alternate universe is not afraid of keys. As the style and song I wanted the band to perform formed in my head I kept coming back to the image of Eddie in an early Van Halen video smiling into the camera while he riffed. I wanted that in my band, Janis belting out the blues while Eddie wailed away.

I watched a few bassists roll off the board in round 7 and smiled everytime one of them wasn't named Bootsy Collins, who fell into my lap at the end of the seventh round. I had Bootsy on my mind in the previous two rounds but shyed away as I scrambled to think how he would fit into my band, I even looked around for less known funk bassist who maybe weren't quite as funky as Bootsy. In the end though I had to take him of course and figured screw it, why wonder if he can accommodate the rest and just imagine the rest of the group accommodating him.

Round eight was T-Bone Burnett, my producer. I figured he'd be gone by the time it got back around to me. The records he produces tend not to match up with my label or music style but as a multiple Grammy winner I figure he can figure it out pretty well.

Round nine was an easy pick considering I would have made it 4 rounds earlier. I needed a drummer and I needed a harmony for Joplin. I considered a few but Taylor was heads and tails above as far as the group makeup and status. I had spent most of that day looking for songs that he could shine on and I eventually landed upon....

Pick ten. November Rain as my cover song. I probably settled on 8 different songs during this process. Agreeing they were the chosen one only to start my search anew "just in case" and settle on a completely different tune. In the end I went with a song that was already iconic and would lend itself easier to others hearing what I heard. To me it has everything. It's bombastic, every instrument shines, Eddie and Janis especially. Taylor gets to do his opus work and there is so much whine in the guitar work that you can practically hear an electric mandolin dancing right along with it. The keys don't rock the way you'd imagine Lewis doing it but in a reimagined world with a bluesier twinge and a little faster pace, who knows. Stripped down it's such a blues song that in this alternate universe you can almost picture the entire band, mirror balls over head, performing this song for the Motown label, with that Mandolin crying along.


So that's my draft, I think I have easily one of best bands based on talent and I think I have a song that incorporates the label and the other artist, 3 rockers and a funkmaster with enough soul to bridge the gap between Motown and a Mandolin.





Taken From Stallions Fake Wiki Page

Stallion formed in 1967 when American student Eddie Van Halen, while traveling abroad, hooked up with local drummer Roger Taylor. The duo released two experimental albums in the Spring and Summer of 1968 that featured only Van Halens guitar and Taylors drums. Very sparse vocals by Taylor on the 2nd album are the only singing on the two releases.

The 2 traveled to America during the summer of love to record their 3rd album. While not yet an official member of the band, bassist Bootsy Collins added to 3 of the albums 4 lengthy tracks. Making the record in Philadelphia opened Taylor and Van Halen to a new direction, one that would see them add Collins officialy, add piano virtuso Jerry Lee Lewis, a white man who grew up in the and emplow a lead singer for the first time, a woman, Janis Joplin. In the spring of 1971 the group released Swinglight, a tighter, more song driven record. Two more record would follow in 1972 and 1973, both focusing on a blusier fusion of their earlier, harder, experimental sound.

In the spring of 1974 the group was signed by the Motown label and embarked on their most ambitious album to date. Bill Monroe was added to the group and his mandolin was used to help soothe the power of Van Halens signature guitar work. 6 months of recording spawned the sparse yet tight, guitar driven blues record, Torch.

The record was greeted with strong reviews but what stood out to nearly all who listened to it was the whopping 9 minute final track. November Rain was a funky, ethereal song that all at once encompassed every musical realm. Lewis ushers in the song as if he's welcoming us to a really friendly version of hell. Joplins vocals soon follow with a pleading anger and from there the song just takes off in so many wonderful directions. At times it seems as if Van Halen and Monroes instruments are screaming at each other. Taylors drums and backing vocals come like a cry from back on earth and when it all starts to die down deep into minute 6 we take a breath, only to be knocked off our seats by the resounding crescendo of begging wails as Collins and Joplin go back and forth.

Following an extensive tour the band went on sabbatical and regrouped in 1978 to record Battleship, a more rock driven record. Joplins drug addiction and Monroe and Van Halens deteriorating health caused lengthy delays in recording and the album was released to modest praise in July of 1980.

Following a shortened tour in support of the record, Joplin entered rehab. Bill Monroe passed away in late 1981.

Collins left the band prior to the recording of their 1982 self titled album. During this time Joplins drug issue resurfaced and many feel the album suffered as a result. While on sabbatical, in March of 1984, Joplin would kill herself in a hotel room in Italy. 6 Months later Van Halen succumbed to throat cancer.

Taylor, Collins and Lewis have both recorded a number of solo albums, often playing on each others records.

During live shows the three are also prone to breaking out old Stallions songs.

No official reunion is planned.

[Pyser]

1-karlifornia
2-norvturneroverdrive
3-julioriddols

[britrock88]

It was a great draft, and we have ten pretty great bands at the end of it.

[Chief Rum]

So your band name is Stallion? I will change that in the post above.

[SteveMax58]

Man...really tough to choose between all of these. I thought about putting ties across the board but thought that would be lame. So...this was the best I could do to trim the list down for me.

1. suicane
T-2. crimson fox
T-2. cartman
3. NorvTurnerOverdrive

[lighthousekeeper]

1. Karlifornia
2. Grover
3. Cartman

Karlifornia's group is a real masterpiece.

[Lathum]

1. NorvTurner
2. Karlifornia
3. Neil Pert

Amazed at some of the drummers left off. Lars, Mike Portney, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, people missed out here IMO.

[lcjjdnh]

1.) Grover
2.) Norv
3.) Karl

[Swaggs]

1. Abe Sargent
2. Suicane
3. Cartman

[The Jackal]

1) Grover
2) Abe Sargent
3) Crimson Fox

[path12]

1) Karlifornia
2) Abe Sargent
3) larrymcg421

[EagleFan]

One wasn't 90's, it was 80's.

[EagleFan]

dola: Nevermind, was thinking different "One"; just found it in the other thread.

[JonInMiddleGA]

1- suicane
2- crimson fox
T3 - NorvTurnerOverDrive
T3 - grover


I thought suicane came close to lapping the field here, and crimson was never really threatened for second. A photo finish for third.

[thesloppy]

1. suicane
2. norvturneroverdrive
3. larrymcg421

[jbergey22]

1.Norvturneroverdrive
2.CrimsonFox
3.Suicane

Just wanted to give a shout to Abe as between him and Suicane it was a very tough choice. I think everyone did a fine job. The 4 that I noticed was more personal preference in music.

[sabotai]

1. The Leeks (britrock88)
2. The Sicks Tease Icks (Julio Riddols)
3. Blue Feltvet (Grover)

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

dola: Nevermind, was thinking different "One"; just found it in the other thread.

And i'm really not sure WHICH ROger Taylor drummer is being used. Queen's or Duran Duran's.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

britrock's not getting enough love if i was stranded on a desert island and could only have one album it would be britrock's

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

imo, karl would sell the most records by a large margin. brit would be the critical darling. suicane would be the show you can't miss because good or bad, all hell could break loose.

[BYU 14]

1-Piranhaconda

2-Crimson Fox

3-The Sicks

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by NorvTurnerOverdrive

imo, karl would sell the most records by a large margin. brit would be the critical darling. suicane would be the show you can't miss because good or bad, all hell could break loose.

I think youd be the critical darling. Neil Young is your "other instument" which makes it very clear that you have a loaded and diverse band. Not to mention the most talented guitar player in history.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

I think youd be the critical darling. Neil Young is your "other instument" which makes it very clear that you have a loaded and diverse band. Not to mention the most talented guitar player in history.

be good live. with mick chicken-walking all over the place during jimi's solos. i think britrock would make a better album though.

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by NorvTurnerOverdrive

britrock's not getting enough love if i was stranded on a desert island and could only have one album it would be britrock's

No worries, I feel it from the handful who have tipped their hats my way.

If I could win one award, I'd like it to be the value pick of the draft, with Macca at #50.

[britrock88]

Let me throw 3 points a piece at:

Norv
Grover
Abe

[britrock88]

And I'm still in for a second draft.

[Izulde]

1. Grover
2. Suicane
3. Karlifornia

Abe Sargent almost made the top 3, but I hate Kurt Cobain and find Nirvana's songs terrible.

[rowech]

1. Crimson Fox
2. NorvTurnerOverdrive
3. Suicane75

[Comey]

1. Grover
2. Crimson Fox
3. Suicane

[kcchief19]

1. Crimson Fox
2. Stallion
3. Bitrock88

[rockboy70]

1. Norvturneroverdrive
2. CrimsonFox
3. Grover

[Easy Mac]

1 Piranhaconda
2 The Leeks
3 The Karlifornia Band

[Julio Riddols]

I like the spread in the votes. Looking over past votes, it has been a lot less spread out. One could probably make an argument for any of these bands to be the best.

There were some wildcards in my band, I think they need an explanation.

First, our producer/manager, Owen Bradley - He was known for being very progressive and always trying to advance music.. Even though he was a country producer, I think his progressive attitude fits this band, mostly full of progressive musicians. His goal in this particular group is just to ensure the sound of each member complements the band as well as their own body of work.

Our "other" musician, That 1 Guy, is probably the biggest wildcard in the draft. However, it is his versatility as a musician, and his virtuosity in creating his own musical instrument to fit that versatile style makes him very valuable. His "Magic Pipe" can be played as a drum, a violin, a bass, and a keyboard of sorts with sounds patched through various parts of the instrument.

For illustrative purposes:


Needless to say, he adds to the band in various capacities.

Then you have the label and cover song. Capitol was the company that brought us the Beatles. To me that qualifies them, as the Beatles were one of the most progressive bands ever, and probably the most influential.

Add to all that the band covering "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash, reimagined as a 12-15 minute long proggy head trip of a song where the surreal meets harsh reality. Flash's universal and still relevant lyrics especially lend themselves to this band and the style of music. I imagine the voice of Freddie Mercury doing this song over the music this band can produce and I find myself really wishing that I could hear it. The chorus is so iconic it would be instantly recognizable even though it would sound completely different.

I don't think the rest of the band needs an introduction. Their styles all fit together nice and snug. Aside from Wakeman, they all sing and each has a very distinct vocal style. If the band were a reality, I'd be stoked.