# Bands with one great musician **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908 "2019-03-10T19:23:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/1 "2019-03-10T19:23:24Z")
Probably not the best title but I will try to explain better. Try to name bands where one member is a significantly better musician than the rest of the band. Yes it’s subjective and there maybe some “yes he is” “no he isn’t” but that’s half the fun. Let’s have it be true bands and not backing groups for one star. I’ll start with Winger. I see them as a typical hair metal band with a pretty boy singer and nothing special. But on drums is Rod Morgenstein. He’s an amazing drummer who started with The Dixie Dregs and then with the Steve Morse Band. He’s also a music professor at the Berklee School of Music. Although I don’t know the band well it seems that Level 42 is similar. A competent pop band but Mark King is a great bass player. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/2 "2019-03-10T19:33:36Z")
Nine Inch Nails is almost literally one guy who brings others along with him. I’m sure all of them are talented, but Trent Reznor plays most(if not all) of the music on the albums. Soulfly is a similar situation, where Max Cavalera is more or less in a solo band. I mean, none of the band has stayed totally consistent except him. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/3 "2019-03-10T19:41:33Z")
I wonder if it’s fair to mention Wings in this context. It’s not as though his bandmates weren’t good musicians, but Paul McCartney certainly overshadowed them and was the main draw of the band. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/4 "2019-03-10T20:01:58Z")
Neil Young and Crazy Horse. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/5 "2019-03-10T20:03:28Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Neil Young and Crazy Horse. So which one is the great musician? ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/6 "2019-03-10T20:04:12Z")
Are we talking strictly musicianship or overall talent? If it’s the latter, John Fogerty was the driving force behind Creedence Clearwater Revival -though not regarded as an elite musician. He wrote every one of the band’s hits, arranged them, sang lead and backing vocals and played lead/rhythm guitar. Then you can take the above text and replace “John Fogerty” and “Creedence Clearwater Revival” with “Robert Smith” and “The Cure” for answer number two. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/7 "2019-03-10T20:08:07Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Are we talking strictly musicianship or overall talent? > > If it’s the latter, John Fogerty was the driving force behind Creedence Clearwater Revival -though not regarded as an elite musician. > > He wrote every one of the band’s hits, arranged them, sang lead and backing vocals and played lead/rhythm guitar. > > Then you can take the above text and replace “John Fogerty” and “Creedence Clearwater Revival” with “Robert Smith” and “The Cure” for answer number two. Well there are no hard and fast rules but I’m thinking more along the lines of musicianship. What are the bands where one member clearly outshines the others on their instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/8 "2019-03-10T20:09:03Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > So which one is the great musician? Seriously. I can think of at least three. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/9 "2019-03-10T20:12:03Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Seriously. I can think of at least three. So it doesn’t really fit in the thread right? I’ve seen the band live and although I can argue how great they are compared to other musicians, I think the level of musicianship within the band is pretty equal. There is no arguing that Neil is a great songwriter but that’s a whole different issue. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/10 "2019-03-10T20:41:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > So which one is the great musician? Ralph Molina. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/11 "2019-03-10T20:44:02Z")
2 bands off the top of my head with great guitarists are Van Halen and Living Colour. The rest of the members in each band are good but not exceptional talents. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/12 "2019-03-10T20:51:44Z")
Jimi Hendrix Experience. Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell were not in his league, of course, and toward the end Hendrix was doing the bass parts in the studio instead of Redding. Geoge Thorogood and the Destroyers. The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. In all cases, the lead musician was amazing and the background group just filled out the sound. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/13 "2019-03-10T20:53:52Z")
Depending on which incarnation of the band, I nominate Genesis. When they were a trio: Tony Banks is a good keyboardist, but not an AWESOME keyboardist. Mike Rutherford is an ok bassist, and a not-so-great guitarist. Phil Collins is an AWESOME drummer. Go back in time, however, and Genesis doesn’t fit, because Steve Hackett is an AWESOME guitarist. Marillion is another one. They’ve been one of my favorite bands for more than 30 years. They are definitely one of those sum-is-greater-than-the-parts bands; their strongest point is their songwriting, not their musicianship. I’ve never been under the illusion that any of the band members are exceptional at their instruments… except their bassist, Pete Trewavas. And I don’t think I realized how good he is until he started playing with Transatlantic. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/14 "2019-03-10T22:04:56Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Jimi Hendrix Experience. Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell were not in his league, of course, and toward the end Hendrix was doing the bass parts in the studio instead of Redding. . . . Mitch Mitchell was an excellent drummer and highly regarded as such. I don’t know who would be in Hendrix’s “league.” It was kind of a league of one. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/15 "2019-03-10T22:36:18Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Mitch Mitchell was an excellent drummer and highly regarded as such. I don’t know who would be in Hendrix’s “league.” It was kind of a league of one. I’d argue Mitch is in the same league, or close enough. Dude is one of the iconic rock drummers. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/16 "2019-03-11T00:28:42Z")
Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols. Steve Jones was an ok guitarist who knew some chords and was good in stealing riffs (and equipment), Paul Cook a decent drummer, Johnny Rotten not a musician at all, but Matlock wrote the songs (that were not covers) and was clearly the musical leader and backbone of the band. When he got replaced by another non-Musician, it terribly showed. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/17 "2019-03-11T00:32:59Z")
Oh, and their rivals, the Clash: Strummer, Jones and Simonon were all competent enough for a punk band and clearly got better with the times, but none of them could hold a candle to Topper Headon’s drumming. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/18 "2019-03-11T00:43:21Z")
I was going to say Neil Young and Creedence. Already taken. As my brother in law once said, “If you can think of it, someone else already has.” ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/19 "2019-03-11T00:50:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > So it doesn’t really fit in the thread right? I’ve seen the band live and although I can argue how great they are compared to other musicians, I think the level of musicianship within the band is pretty equal. There is no arguing that Neil is a great songwriter but that’s a whole different issue. I’ll disagree with that. I’ve seen Neil live about 20 times so excuse the “fanboy” bias. But Crazy Horse, as a band, is great. But other than Neil, not great musicians. David Crosby once said, after singing along with them on Cinnamon Girl, that Billy Talbot was making mistakes - “After 30 years, he still doesn’t know it!” But it works. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908/20 "2019-03-11T00:53:54Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > 2 bands off the top of my head with great guitarists are Van Halen and Living Colour. The rest of the members in each band are good but not exceptional talents. I’m definitely with you on Van Halen. Living Colour I have to think about. I think they’re all pretty good. > [@GESancMan](#): > > Marillion is another one. They’ve been one of my favorite bands for more than 30 years. They are definitely one of those sum-is-greater-than-the-parts bands; their strongest point is their songwriting, not their musicianship. I’ve never been under the illusion that any of the band members are exceptional at their instruments… except their bassist, Pete Trewavas. And I don’t think I realized how good he is until he started playing with Transatlantic. I’m definitely going to have to disagree with you there. When ever the topic of underrated guitar players comes up I always say Steve Rothery. I put him up there with David Gilmour for having great melodic phrasing during solos. I don’t know a lot of their recent work but his guitar playing on the old albums with Fish was fantastic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-one-great-musician/830908.md?page=2)