# Bands that are actually "Johnny and his guys" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037 "2013-02-11T23:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/21 "2013-02-12T04:33:53Z")
Record companies really prefer dealing with either solo artists, or Johnny and his guys. Band politics are much more complicated, and from their POV, the sooner they only have to deal with Johnny, the better. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/22 "2013-02-12T04:55:05Z")
**The Fall** is Mark E. Smith and whoever is tolerating him ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/23 "2013-02-12T05:05:09Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/24 "2013-02-12T05:30:31Z")
Simon & Garfunkel. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/25 "2013-02-12T07:11:52Z")
The E Street Band. There’s a reason one guy is called the Boss. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/26 "2013-02-12T07:33:26Z")
Latter day Alice Cooper and that’s the way I like it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/27 "2013-02-12T08:37:02Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > The Black Keys are just two guys. And one of them is a drummer. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/28 "2013-02-12T08:43:19Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > eels-Mark Oliver Everett He certainly wrote all their autobiographies. I loved [Things the Grandchildren Should Know](http://www.amazon.com/Things-Grandchildren-Should-Oliver-Everett/dp/B002M3SP0U) and I’m no great fan of \* Eels\*. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/29 "2013-02-12T12:37:25Z")
I remember seeing a rockumentary about Bon Jovi, and that was pretty much Jon doing all the writing, scheduling, performance plannning etc. Sort of left the rest of the band waiting all the time for instructions, or trying to second gues ’ Do you think Jon wants us to do it like this’? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/30 "2013-02-12T12:49:56Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I remember seeing a rockumentary about Bon Jovi, and that was pretty much Jon doing all the writing, scheduling, performance plannning etc. > > Sort of left the rest of the band waiting all the time for instructions, or trying to second gues ’ Do you think Jon wants us to do it like this’? You may be remembering that wrong. Richie Sambora co-writes most of the songs with Bon Jovi. See track listings for [New Jersey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_%28album%29#Track_listing), [Slippery When Wet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippery_When_Wet#Track_listing) or [Keep The Faith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_the_Faith#Track_listing) as examples. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/31 "2013-02-12T13:03:12Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > Blondie - Debbie Harry. Yes, Chris Stein has always been there, but I think most people think Blondie=Debbie Harry. As I’m reading the OP it’s not about what people think. Blondie was a partnership between Harry and Stein. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Derek and the Dominoes Not really. Clapton had the name but the songs were mostly a joint effort and even much of the most famous guitar was actually Duane Allmann. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/32 "2013-02-12T13:24:28Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Creedence Clearwater Revival – John Fogerty dominates everything. I’d heard that after John’s brother Tom had already quit the band, and a full-blown breakup was pretty much in the cards, remaining members Stu Cook and Doug Clifford started pushing Fogerty for more creative control. Knowing CCR’s days were numbered anyway, he gave them their wish. The band’s final album, _Mardi Gras_, was a critical and commercial failure, and became known as “Fogerty’s Revenge.” > [@RealityChuck](#): > > [The Blue Ridge Rangers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Ridge_Rangers) – John Fogerty again. I’m not sure if this one counts, since he actually played all the instruments on the album. It was literally a solo project. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/33 "2013-02-12T13:27:35Z")
Spiritualized is Jason Pierce and whomever else he decides that he wants around at the time. Crowded House was basically Neil Finn from what I can remember. The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/34 "2013-02-12T13:49:50Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Simon & Garfunkel. But, it’s the name of the band, it’s clear who the band is. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The E Street Band. There’s a reason one guy is called the Boss. The E street band is the support band of Bruce Springsteen. Bruce doesn’t tour as a member of the band. The records come out as “Bruce Springsteen” and the tours as "Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street band. The E Street band exists on its own. > [@drastic\_quench](#): > > The Black Keys are just two guys. Sure, but it’s all the band. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/35 "2013-02-12T13:54:16Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > You may be remembering that wrong. Richie Sambora co-writes most of the songs with Bon Jovi. > > See track listings for [New Jersey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_%28album%29#Track_listing), [Slippery When Wet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippery_When_Wet#Track_listing) or [Keep The Faith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_the_Faith#Track_listing) as examples. Bon Jovi got a record deal before he got a band, so he pulled in players he knew, but to my knowledge has treated them like a band since - well except for firing their first bass player, Alex John Such. So he’s the face and has the most power, etc, but they aren’t just hired hands, IIRC… ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/36 "2013-02-12T15:35:48Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Love](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(band)) – Arthur Lee and backing musicians. > Creedence Clearwater Revival – John Fogerty dominates everything. > [The Blue Ridge Rangers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Ridge_Rangers) – John Fogerty again. > Derek and the Dominoes > **Poco was basically Richie Furay** > The Mother of Invention – Frank Zappa (though his name was added later) [Bold Mine] Oh no! You did NOT dis Timothy B. Schmit! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/37 "2013-02-12T15:42:49Z")
A lot of people would argue that Lemmy Kilmister is Motorhead (not sure they’re right). And Whitesnake hasn’t been a real band in decades- it’s David Coverdale plus whoever he’s working with this week. At different times, King Crimson has been BOTH a real band AND “Robert Fripp and his current hired flunkies” (think of the Gordon Haskell era). ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/38 "2013-02-12T15:50:23Z")
Cracker is pretty much a David Lowery band. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/39 "2013-02-12T16:10:29Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > [Bold Mine] > > Oh no! You did NOT dis Timothy B. Schmit! Or Jim Messina, Randy Meisner and Rusty Young, for that matter. Poco was a great band, IMO ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/40 "2013-02-12T16:14:42Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > But, it’s the name of the band, it’s clear who the band is. Sure. It’s Paul Simon and his backup singer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037.md?page=3)