For information about how to use this forum please check out forum help and policies.
Quote
mr_djaQuote
DandelionPowdermanQuote
keefriffhard4life
i don't count bands like the heartbreakers, the e street band and the silver bullet band because they are just backing bands for other artists. they don't rely on being successful as actual bands
Agreed.
I think it depends on the consistency of the members of the backing band as well. I the same guys make up the band on album and live, to me, that makes it "a band". Therefore, because Seger used studio musicians for the majority of his album work, even though the live line-up stayed pretty consistent for years, Silver Bullet was basically "a backing band".
On the other hand: bands like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Huey Lewis and the News were the same guys on record as they were live for years and years. I think TP&HBs had to replace their bass player after the first few albums and HLN lost their bass player after ~15 years and also now has a new guitarist as well (still four originals). In my mind, those are bands as opposed to artists with backing musicians.
Springsteen & E Street Band is a tough one to call as they were pretty consistent regarding membership in and out of studio. I think the fact that Bruce also has a clear solo career and is clearly "The Boss" of E Street, I'd lean towards artist with backing band although I wouldn't argue with anyone who claimed they are a band with a leader.
An interesting topic though. If we weren't in the middle of a thread in desperate need of hijacking, I'd contemplate starting a thread along the lines of: "Band or Artist? Who is what?"
Peace,
Mr DJA
Quote
Winning Ugly VXII
Maybe you could say that about the E-Street Band. Not the case for the Heartbreakers. Guitar,bass,and drums are all integral to their music regardless of the name of the band being "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers".
I saw them twice and saw the Stones 15 times and while the Stones are better,I was very impressed by both bands.
The two Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers set lists were too similar. They don't have the huge catalog of quality material that the Stones have but they have around 40 or 50 high caliber songs.
Quote
2000 LYFH
So is the Jimi Hendrix Experience a group or Jimi with 2 backing musicians?
How about Santana or even the Dave Clarke 5?
Quote
2000 LYFH
So is the Jimi Hendrix Experience a group or Jimi with 2 backing musicians?
How about Santana or even the Dave Clarke 5?
Quote
HairballQuote
2000 LYFH
So is the Jimi Hendrix Experience a group or Jimi with 2 backing musicians?
How about Santana or even the Dave Clarke 5?
And what about Herman's Hermits!
There's nobody in that band named Herman - who the heck is Herman?
Are they a band fronted by an imaginary leader?
I think what lifts a band over the hump is the whole writing angle. Take Tom Petty's band e.g.. A magnificent band. And made up of personalities too. Most, actually all of them are in demand in other people's albums and projects. yet, on their own they are direction less because there is no writer. That's the same with Bruce, Seger, Mellencamp, McCartny - all these guys who have very strong, regular bands.Quote
keefriffhard4lifeQuote
Winning Ugly VXII
Maybe you could say that about the E-Street Band. Not the case for the Heartbreakers. Guitar,bass,and drums are all integral to their music regardless of the name of the band being "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers".
I saw them twice and saw the Stones 15 times and while the Stones are better,I was very impressed by both bands.
The two Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers set lists were too similar. They don't have the huge catalog of quality material that the Stones have but they have around 40 or 50 high caliber songs.
i don't disagree with that but i can't go see just the heartbreakers or the e street band live or go buy an album by them when they aren't backing up bruce or tom petty or any other band like that. thats kind of the point being made. they may be great but they aren't a standalone entity