I don't think anyone would dispute they were one of the best, but are they the best ever? John Paul Jones and John Bonham were mighty fine, but I'd have to give Watts and Wyman the edge. Fleetwood and McVie would have to be up there as well, but again not quite on Charlie and Bill's level. Do you all think Watts/Wyman were the best ever, and if not who surpassed them, or even came close?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2005-11-05 06:03 by ohnonotyouagain.

John Entwistle and Keith Moon would be contenders.

Of all the names mentioned I don't know if I'd acall any a rhythm section except for Watts/Wyman. And they are most definetly one of the alltime greats. But they did it all ass backwards. Wyaman was always a little behind Charlie. Most puzzling chemistry they had.
But Bonham IMO was his own section. Jones wasn't really a true Bassist. With the Who it seems it was the other way around. Entwhistle held it down while Keith Moon was out there somewhere.
Bootsy Collins with Clyde Stubblefield/ Jabo Starks of James Brown's band was one of the greatest. Jerry Shirley and Greg Ridley of Humble Pie = great. Flea and Chad Smith of the Peppers. Berry Oakley thundering in front of TWO drummers with the old Alllman Bros was impressive.
Other cool ones : Simonon/ Topper Headon of the Clash; Glover/Paice of Deep Purple. I love the way the rhy sec was mixed on DP's 70 songs. You could always pick out Glover criss crossing notes with Lord, while pounding on the one with Paice.

I'd have to rate Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams of AC/DC up there, too. Nothing fancy, just keep a good rhythm/beat, stand back and let Angus do his thing.

They are the best of course with Keith on guitar!

Absolutely masters of minimalism. The straightest and the coolest. Unique guuys and team players. The foundation of The Stones.

Being personally as they are, that's one more thing that makes the Stones unique among the rock bands - their low profile persona and musicianship is in total contrast to the high profile showmanship, jetsetting, rock&roll life of Mick and Keith.

What goes them being the greatest, it's like asking do you think The Stones are the greatest band ever, or Mick the best frontman. They all go hand in hand.

But if you take any part of the whole picture away, it won't be so great anymore. Some magic is gone. Seperately none of them would make very big and dramatic career, not even Mick. I also felt the same when I saw Bill with his Rhythm Kings - as a player he seemed to come from a different world than the others, of whom most were sort of musical units of their own. Bill was a missing piece of some bigger, different unit. Once a Rolling Stone, always a Rolling Stone I quess. It's sort of stigma sometimes (but with extremely good incomes, being in a band or not). Mick knows that better than no one else.

- Doxa

DGA35 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd have to rate Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams of
> AC/DC up there, too. Nothing fancy, just keep a
> good rhythm/beat, stand back and let Angus do his
> thing.

I totally agree. Maybe not the best but definitely one of the tightest.

Watts and Wyman? Well, they had their good and their bad times.

For a Stones fan they are the greatest.They delivered outstanding job on some songs; on CD or onstage, and added high value to the real Stones sound. The greatest in the absolute: I do not know. Agree with the statement wrote before that Entwhistle and Moon, as well as Macca and Starr could be serious contenders.

Yeah theyre the best, a real natural swing!

1) Holland & Dejohnette

2) Bruce and Baker

3) Watts and Wyman

one of the best!

Yeah, I'd probably say Watts 'n' Wyman but what about:

Sting and Stewart Copeland from the Police?

Geddy Lee and Neil Peart from Rush?

I also agree with Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd being right up there too. Always did love the playing of those 2 guys however simplistic it may be.

The best in rock - no doubt about it.

Best rhytim section ever? Ron Carter and Tony Williams.

"got to be worked on
don't have no bark nor bite..."

yeah! richards-wyman-watts, they are the best rock rhythm section.

Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell when they were backing Hendrix were pretty fantastic at times.

farawayeyes2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> yeah! richards-wyman-watts, they are the best rock
> rhythm section.

Interesting post... honestly there's NO GUITARIST more involved in the core rhythm of his band than Keith Richards...

Other GREAT rhythm sections not mentioned in this thread:

Cosmo Clifford and Stu Cook of Creedence

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of the Beatles

Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding of the Hendrix Experience

Charlie Watts / Daryll Jones / Keith Richards

Phil Lesh and Hart/Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead...

Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (Double Trouble), played rhythm for both Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan... great under-stated blues rhythm team.

I always thought Jim Gordon and Karl Radle of Derek and the Dominoes had an awesome groove

and don't forget the INCREDIBLE DUO of Flea Balzary and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers... no greater combo anywhere.


"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

Watts, Wyman, Richards without a doubt are close to the best.

Other great teams:

Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams, Malcolm Young (AC/DC) - Not exactly demanding on a technical level, but goddamn, I dare you to find a drummer who plays more in the pocket than Phil Rudd, and Malcolm's rhythm guitar work is air-tight.

Keith Moon and John Entwistle (The Who) - 'Nuff said.

John Bonham and John Paul Jones (Zep)

Max Weinberg and Garry Talent (Springsteen and E-Street)

Steve Harris and Clive Burr (or Nicko McBrain) (Iron Maiden)

What about Sly (Dunbar) & Robbie (Shakespeare)?

"You have the sun, you have the moon, you have the air to breathe, you´ve got The Rolling Stones"

What a great topic! I'll add a couple of guys who didn't play together for very long, but were magnificent in taking the rhythm section into unexpected tangents:

Bill Bruford and Chris Squire (Yes). Their work on the "Close to the Edge" album was (IMHO) innovative and inspiring.

u got it ,,, next the who,, then zep,,, but how bout felix pappalardi & corky laing of mountain ,,felix was producing cream back in 60s ,,how the @#$%& could i 4get john McVie & nick fleetwood ,,,those guys top notch



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2005-11-06 03:09 by chippy.

Tommy & Dee Dee Ramone

Hey dont forget Duck Dunn & Al Jackson Jnr....!!!



ROCKMAN