# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/81 "2013-02-13T07:37:20Z")
[Good point](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15996897&postcount=31) ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/82 "2013-02-13T13:52:30Z")
**Pere Ubu** is effectively David Thomas and others. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/83 "2013-02-13T13:59:40Z")
Natalie Merchant and 10,000 maniacs Beyonce and Destiny’s Child ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/84 "2013-02-13T14:49:39Z")
**Bands that are actually "Johnny and his guys"** Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes Johnny and the Hurricanes ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/85 "2013-02-13T15:22:08Z")
Gwen Stefani and No Doubt ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/86 "2013-02-13T19:56:54Z")
The Velvet Underground was Lou Reed. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/87 "2013-02-13T20:08:20Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Except that Billy played all of the instruments, except drums, on some of heir most important recordings (I’m thinking of Siamese Dream). And in the end, Jimmy proved disposable (at least in Corgan’s eyes) when he finally left the band, and SP continued without him. It’s definitely Billy’s band. But I understand the point. To me, SP really wasn’t SP without Jimmy, much in the same way the Who without Moon don’t sound like The Who to me. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/88 "2013-02-13T20:12:26Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Has no one mentioned Sting & the Police yet? True, Stewart Copeland and Any Summers each did contribute songs to various LPs…both those songs only demonstrate exactly why Sting was a major international superstar and they were “the other guys in the band.” Oh, hell no. Hell no. The Police was Copeland’s band, if anything. But I wouldn’t even say that. I would say it was equally Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers, and Gordon Sumner aka Sting. But there is no way in hell the Police were just a backing band to Sting. If pressed, I would say Sting was easily the most replaceable. But only if pressed. I think all three were equally responsible for the sound that is “the Police.” ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/89 "2013-02-13T20:26:34Z")
> [@bup](#): > > The Velvet Underground was Lou Reed. And definitely John Cale, who co-founded the group and was influential on the first two albums. Reed certainly carried on without him, but I doubt The Velvet Underground would exist as known without Cale. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/90 "2013-02-13T22:57:14Z")
Didn’t the Anderson Bueford Wakeman and Howe incident pretty much cement that **Yes** is Chris Squire’s band, no matter how much the others may contribute on various albums? ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/91 "2013-02-13T23:12:50Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Didn’t the Anderson Bueford Wakeman and Howe incident pretty much cement that **Yes** is Chris Squire’s band, no matter how much the others may contribute on various albums? I’d say Squire’s sound was sorely missed on _ABWH_, but the album still sounds more like Yes than _Big Generator_. If anything, the various lineups in Yes have sold me on the idea that Anderson, Howe and Squire are the core of the band, and any two of them working together effectively represents Yes. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/92 "2013-02-13T23:20:03Z")
99% of bands are Johnny and the boys unless there are 2 Johnny’s and those are so few and far between. The Rolling Stones are the shining example. Their 2 best eras were driven by guys who got the boot or left(Jones and then Taylor.) These guys were crucial to some of the best Rock ever made. They were driven out because of Jagger and Richards being the stars. If Sambora got uppity, Jovi would drop him in a heartbeat. Same with most bands. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/93 "2013-02-13T23:23:47Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > 99% of bands are Johnny and the boys Wow. I profoundly disagree. Most “bands” I listen to, to me, are really “bands” in the collective sense. There may be one visionary and driving force behind it, but there is almost always a second force, too, tempering and shaping the vision of the band. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/94 "2013-02-13T23:28:33Z")
Like, for me, one example mentioned before–The Pretenders. For me, that wasn’t Chrissy Hynde. James Honeyman-Scott was essential to the sound of the band. As was Martin Chambers (drums), but, for me, mostly those two. After James died, the band simply wasn’t the same to me. And I came to them way after their heyday. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/95 "2013-02-13T23:29:33Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > And definitely John Cale, who co-founded the group and was influential on the first two albums. Reed certainly carried on without him, but I doubt The Velvet Underground would exist as known without Cale. Yeah, This is a fact. It has become fashionable to champion the second two albums, which are influential in their own right… But aren’t at the same level as the first two. Cale brought ALOT to the table. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/96 "2013-02-13T23:32:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Wow. I profoundly disagree. Most “bands” I listen to, to me, are really “bands” in the collective sense. There may be one visionary and driving force behind it, but there is almost always a second force, too, tempering and shaping the vision of the band. 99% might be an overstatement but who are you talking about? I can see some genres with more sincere artists having more group ethos. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/97 "2013-02-13T23:34:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Like, for me, one example mentioned before–The Pretenders. For me, that wasn’t Chrissy Hynde. James Honeyman-Scott was essential to the sound of the band. As was Martin Chambers (drums), but, for me, mostly those two. After James died, the band simply wasn’t the same to me. And I came to them way after their heyday. Chrissy Hynde is a highly ethical, intelligent lady. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/98 "2013-02-13T23:36:14Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > 99% might be an overstatement but who are you talking about? I can see some genres with more sincere artists having more group ethos. Pretty much any band. Even a band like The Smashing Pumpkins, which is popularly known as Billy Corgan’s brainchild, I feel is at least Billy and Jimmy, and the stuff he’s done since with the new band does not sound like SP. I know that’s a very outdated example, but it was brought up in this thread. I find it difficult to think of bands where members are truly replaceable. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/99 "2013-02-13T23:38:11Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > Chrissy Hynde is a highly ethical, intelligent lady. Um…yes? Is there a typo in my post or something that I’m missing? What do ethics and intelligence have to do with this discussion? ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037/100 "2013-02-13T23:50:34Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Um…yes? Is there a typo in my post or something that I’m missing? What do ethics and intelligence have to do with this discussion? I was agreeing. Ethics have a lot to do with the subject. Band dynamics are as much a ethical situation as any other business. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-actually-johnny-and-his-guys/650037.md?page=6)