Remember Build-A-Bear? Well this is the rock edition. I think this post may go under…” looked great on paper but…” but lets give it a try. Have you ever thought about if you could have a pick of any musicians living or dead and bring them together in their prime…what combinations would you come up with?
Who would you pick if you could pick anyone? We have a time machine so don’t worry…Jimi Hendrix is just a trip away. This is a discussion my friends and I have once in a while. I always wondered what a band with Keith Richards and John Lennon together would have sounded like…probably as raw as you could have sounded…a band with Big Star’s Alex Chilton and the Beatles Paul McCartney? It would be interesting.
There are many musicians I have left out…most likely they were here in previous editions that I’ve gone through in the past few weeks.
Now… I would want to make at least two or three different bands…a rock, hard rock, and a pop/rock band. Now I could go on and on…Soul, Blues, Funk, Country/Rock, and even Heavy Metal. Who would you pick? What would your “dream” band be? If I had time I would have listed around 10 different kind of bands…but these 3 will do for now.
Rock band.
- John Lennon – Rhythm Guitar/vocals
- Keith Richards – Rhythm guitar/vocals
- Duane Allman – Lead guitar
- John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) – Bass
- Charlie Watts – Drums
- Leon Russell – Keyboards
- Rod Stewart (early seventies version) – Lead Vocals
Hard Rock Band
- Jimi Hendrix – Lead guitar and vocals
- Eric Clapton – Lead guitar and vocals
- John Entwistle – Bass
- Keith Moon – Drums
- Steve Marriott (Small Faces and Humble Pie) – Lead Vocals
- Jon Lord (Deep Purple) – Keyboards
Pop/Rock Band
- Paul McCartney – Bass/Lead Vocals
- Alex Chilton (Big Star) – Guitar/Lead Vocals
- Elvis Costello – Rhythm guitar/Lead Vocals
- Clem Burke (Blondie) – Drums
- Brian Wilson – Keyboards/Vocals
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Interesting concept! So many possibilities. Without giving it much thought off the top of my head, I long figured Jeff Lynne would have been great in Wings , or with McCartney in the ’70s & 80s at least, and if we added in Gerry Rafferty, that could be something… (and if that was the late-’70s we’d have to have Michael McDonald doing backing vocals, as was the law at the time!)
It is a lot of fun to dream up possibilities. Lynne, McCartney, and Rafferty would have been interesting.
EVH/Peart/ Steve Harris/Bon Scott!
Cool dude! Thanks for playing along! That one would be cool.
Kinda out there lol
Those would be something
It’s fun to think of the possibilities.
Absolutely!
Like Dave said, an interesting concept to ponder.
You mentioned John Lennon and Keith Richards in a band together… how’s this, with Eric Clapton and Mich Mitchell, to boot? (Keith’s on bass.)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeFwaWFTGYU%5D
I’d hve to give this some thought…
I love the Dirty Mac…that is probably were I got the idea of more. That was a supergroup and they played the song perfectly. John’s singing on it was incredible.
No idea what this would sound like but choosing favourites in each position:
Jaki liebezeit – drums
Chris Squire – bass, harmonies
Richard Lloyd – lead guitar
Carl Wilson – lead vocals, guitar
Eno – keys, production
Stevie wonder – lead vocals, keyboards
That is an interesting mix. A Beach Boy and a Yes member among others.
Of all of mine I like the Pop/rock one the best.
Great idea! Of course when I read this I had to stop what I was doing and build my band. Here’s my first lineup, playing straight rock, unplugged and electric:
Dave Edmunds, guitar
Denny Laine, guitar
Phil Collins, drums
Paul McCartney, keyboards & bass
John Entwistle, bass
Alison Krauss, violin/fiddle
Everyone but Entwistle would be superb at lead vocals, so that job would need to be shared or rotated. I’d like to hear some of the duet and harmony combinations. I’m curious what a 2-bass lineup would sound like, and I think it could be a cool sound, with Entwistle playing his more like a guitar.
You brought up something close to what I was thinking. I kept trying to fit in Nick Lowe in the Pop/Rock band but I just couldn’t replace McCartney on bass and that is what Nick plays mostly I believe.
Your band would sound really good. I would like to hear a two bass concept. They would have to stay out of the other’s way like two drummers….it could be done.
Thanks! Nick Lowe would be great. I wanted to include him too, but with Edmunds, that would have been a lot of Rockpile. Likewise I wanted Keith Moon, but not with Entwistle. Maybe could have put Moon and Lowe together.
There were only three I knew for sure that was going to be one…Moon, Entwistle, and Lennon….the rest I built around. I hated to put Moon and Entwistle into one but since both are my favorite at their instrument…I just had to.
Moon and Lowe together…I would like to hear that.
I think that The Righteous Brothers covered this concept with their song Rock and Roll Heaven.
Yea I like that one
Ginger Baker in any of these ensembles will add some spice and unpredictability. I own one of his gongs, haha!
RIP
Oh yea…he brings an unpredictable energy to it…the only drummer I knew was going into one was Moon…
Yeah, Ginger is more a percussionist than a drummer. He adds color, nuance, and flare to the role. An odd duck but super talented!
That bio is something else. He was difficult at the best of times unless your name was Clapton.
He is a jazz guy that does add a lot….yea nuance was his thing. He drumming made Creams sound what it was.
Really? One of is own gongs?
About ten years ago, a student of mine said, “My mom used to date Ginger Baker, and when they split, he left a bunch of percussion instruments in the garage. Can I donate one of his gongs to the school?” Absofreakinglutely, I said. If you ever see the doc, Beware Mr. Baker, the mom is interviewed as one of his many female relationships 🙂
Man that is awesome!!!! I would have that framed on the wall with a plaque… That is rock and roll hall of fame worthy.
We take very good care of it, and it’s always a fun lesson when we use it. Of course, none of these kiddo have ever heard of Cream 🙁
Time to educate! Kids now know more about those bands than 20 years ago…at least with Bailey’s generation.
Fun exercise. Here are “my” bands:
Hard Rock Band
• Bon Scott – lead vocals
• Ritchie Blackmore – lead guitar
• Rudolf Schenker (Scorpions) – rhythm guitar
• Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) – bass, backing vocals
• John Bonham – drums
• Jon Lord – Hammond
Rock Band
• Roger Daltrey- lead vocals
• Duane Allman – lead guitar
• Eric Clapton – second lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Jon Entwistle – bass
• Steve Winwood – Hammond, backing vocals
• Cindy Blackman Santana – drums
• Clarence Clemmons – saxophone
Pop/Rock Band
• Paul McCartney – lead vocals, bass
• Steve Lukather – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Todd Rundgren – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Elton John – piano, keyboards, lead and backing vocals
• Ringo Starr – drums
You got Ringo into a group, and with two of his former band mates (Paul and Todd). I tried to put him in my rock group, but I couldn’t get the right mix.
For some reason, I struggled a bit with the pop rock band. The others came together pretty quickly.
And, as for Ringo, once I read the nice thing somewhere that every band deserves a Ringo. And I think it’s true. Ringo has real band spirit, plus he’s such a good-natured guy. You really want him in your band!
He plays for the song not for himself so that makes him great. I post the Anthology…and either one of you should looked up “Love Me Do with Pete Best” on youtube. You see why VERY quick why the Beatles got Ringo.
Those are great dude! I would love to see how one would sound! I thought about Winwood and Lynott myself…I had them in there at one point.
It’s a fun exercise to do to see what you come up with.
That is great Vic! I’ll take the Rock Band any day of the week. I would love to hear one of all of these configurations.
Ah. Ok. You responded to yourself instead of me. 😆
Dude. You need a vaca. 😎
LOL YES I do mam. The reason I haven’t emailed you is because work has been crazy because of Thanksgiving.
No worries, hoss. I KNOW you are busy, dude. I know what you do for a living. No issues… 😉
That is Hoss Cartwright…lol I’ve been watching Bonanza and Gunsmoke
Good shows. And, Gunsmoke ran, for what, 20 years?
Yes 20 years… I’m watching the Chester years… 30 minute black and white… extremely adult and violent
Dennis Weaver…
YEP! I’m watching it right now…those first 6 years were grim as hell…someone was going to die period.
I didn’t realize it was that rough.
Yes it is…If you want I’ll load you up a few select episodes…it’s not the nice family version we remember
Ok…😁
I’m off from Thursday to Monday
Yay! Some time off! Relax. Eat. Drink. Sleep. Play some music…
Nah…lol I’m still on call so to speak but after Thursday it should be alright
Indispensable man…
no indentured servant lol.
LOL! Poor baby…
LOL… hopefully there won’t be many problems
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving Vic!!!
😁
Kitty was hot also…she looked a lot like Scarlett Johansson when she was young…or really the other way around.
Wow. I love ScarJo. Not only is she pretty and can act, she is a smart chick. She doesn’t put up with the Hollyweird nonsense.
Oh I like her also. I read where at one time she was willing to play Amanda Blake in a remake
That would be cool.
E-gads. It will take me a while to work on this.
Yea this will take some work!
It will be different from the rest.
Take your time
Here it is. Took me all day. HARD to choose for the men. Women are a little easier since it is a narrow field (I had to add a girl group). I apologize for the length. I had trouble picking just one in each category:
Hard Rock Band
Drummer…Dave Grohl/Scott Rockenfield/Cozy Powell
Lead Guitar…Slash/Angus Young/Yngwie Malmsteen
Bass…Randy Sarzo/Gene Simmons/Duff McKagan
Rhythm…Rudolf Schenker/Dave Grohl/Izzy Stradlin
Lead Singer…Layne Staley/Gavin Rossdale/Kurt Cobain
Keyboards…EVH/Keith Emerson/Axl Rose
Rock Band
Drummer…Carl Palmer/Matt Cameron/Alex Van Halen
Lead Guitar…Phil Collen/Joe Perry/James Young
Bass…John Entwistle/Mike Inez/John Paul Jones
Rhythm…Malcom Young/David Bowie/Steve Clark
Lead Singer…Lou Gramm/Tommy Shaw/Roger Daltry
Keyboards…Benmont Tench/Ray Manzarek/Geoff Downes
Pop/Rock Band…
Drummer…Kelly Keagy/Clem Burke/Fred LeBlanc
Lead Guitar…Peter Buck/Billy Squier/Mike Campbell
Bass…John Taylor/Sting/Jack Blades
Rhythm…Nile Rodgers/Bob Casale/Buddy Holly
Lead Singer…Steve Perry/Darius Rucker/Kenny Loggins
Keyboards…Elton John/Daryl Hall/Jackson Browne
All Girl Pop/Rock Band…
Drummer…Roxy Petrucci/Debbi Peterson/Gina Schock (Honorable Mention: Karen Carpenter)
Lead Guitar…Wendy Melvoin/Nancy Wilson/K.T. Tunstall/Gretchen Menn
Bass…Suzi Quatro/Michael Steele/Tina Weymouth/Sheryl Crow
Rhythm…Jane Wiedlin/Joan Jett/Bonnie Raitt/Lissie
Lead Singer…Pat Benatar/Amy Lee/Delores O’Riordan/Ann Wilson
Great post and concept….got to say you absolutely nailed your selections mate! I’ll put some in later
Ok man…sorry to bug the hell out of you but…I especially want to see a pop band by you
Actually, a pretty creative idea! I’m not up-to-date with musicians, so I couldn’t possibly create my own. The possibilities I can see being endless, though. Stay stellar as always.
Thanks for reading! I didn’t know if it would bomb or not…it turned out better than I thought.
That makes sense. I post about some weird stuff sometimes but my readers turn out to really enjoy it.
I love taking the gambles because if you don’t you get boring.