For information about how to use this forum please check out forum help and policies.
Quote
ChrisL
I’m not great at ranking anything, but I suppose the Beach Boys must be near the top of the list.
If the Jimi Hendrix Experience is allowed with two Brits, then that would be in the conversation obviously.
Quote
Big AlQuote
ChrisL
I’m not great at ranking anything, but I suppose the Beach Boys must be near the top of the list.
If the Jimi Hendrix Experience is allowed with two Brits, then that would be in the conversation obviously.
As two of the members are British and they formed in London, I would argue, correctly, that they were not an American band. They’re a London band, that counted an American as a member.
Quote
wonderboy
The best American bands tended to present themselves as X and the bandmates.
So I would say Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I have some reservations about Springsteen, but he's put out some brilliant albums, he's had amazing longevity, he's great live and he's captured a large part of the American experiences.
Springsteen lite would be Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The other great American bands -- Beach Boys, Doors, Nirvana, The Ramones, the Band, Steely Dan, Eagles (ugh), R.E.M., Van Halen -- had much shorter peaks and captured a smaller slice of Americana.
Springsteen had the widest appeal, the longest career, the most disciplined artistic stance.
....
A completely different way to look at this is to say the Stones were the best American band, since they basically gave American music of all types back to us through their stance as outsiders.
Quote
Big AlQuote
ChrisL
I’m not great at ranking anything, but I suppose the Beach Boys must be near the top of the list.
If the Jimi Hendrix Experience is allowed with two Brits, then that would be in the conversation obviously.
As two of the members are British and they formed in London, I would argue, correctly, that they were not an American band. They’re a London band, that counted an American as a member.
Quote
retired_dog
All long and poodlehaired posers from the 80's onwards simply don't count.
Quote
DandelionPowderman
The J. Geils Band