# First Rock "Lead Singer, Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, drums" 4 man band? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761 "2011-09-19T00:05:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/1 "2011-09-19T00:05:16Z")
How and where did it start? ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/2 "2011-09-19T00:20:28Z")
Don’t know the answer to your question, but is there a single band in the history of rock music that doesn’t have a bass? ---
**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:** [September 19, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/3 "2011-09-19T00:21:36Z")
The Doors had no bassist. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/4 "2011-09-19T00:25:56Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Doors had no bassist. So yes, there is a _single_ band in the history of rock music with no bassist. 😉 ---
**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:** [September 19, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/5 "2011-09-19T00:54:27Z")
Lee Michaels, who performed with a drummer, not as a solo artist. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/6 "2011-09-19T00:56:58Z")
Somewhere I read that Buddy Holly and the Crickets were the first. Oops, sorry, I misread the OP. I thought it was asking for 2 guitars, bass and drum. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/7 "2011-09-19T01:10:40Z")
The original incarnation of Traffic had no bassist and produced four albums without one. There was also Billy Joel’s first group, Attila (no one said they had to be good music 🙂 ). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/8 "2011-09-19T01:11:53Z")
At least as early as Buddy Holly and the Crickets in 1956. Holly, lead guitar and vocals Niki Sullivan, guitar Joe B. Mauldin, bass Jerry Allison, drums ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/9 "2011-09-19T01:30:09Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Doors had no bassist. Well, like Roxy Music, the Doors never had a full time bass player as a member of the band… but Roxy Music usually hired a session man to make their records, and a capable-but-unemployed bassist (John Wetton, for one) to tour with them. The Doors had session men play bass guitar on their records, while Ray Manzarek usually played the bass part on his keyboards, during concerts. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/10 "2011-09-19T01:56:43Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Doors had no bassist. Not completely true - Ray Manzarek played most of the bass lines on keyboards, but Doug Lubahn (of the band Clear Light) played bass on some studio sessions. Most likely to free Ray to do even more creative playing. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/11 "2011-09-19T04:57:47Z")
AFAIK, ZZ Top doesn’t have a bass player. ---
**Author:** ![Glass\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ccd318/32.png) [@Glass\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glass_Joe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/12 "2011-09-19T05:18:37Z")
> [@BaneSidhe](#): > > AFAIK, ZZ Top doesn’t have a bass player. Sorry, Dusty Hill has been their bass player since the late 60’s. And IMO, a very underrated player at that. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/13 "2011-09-19T05:18:38Z")
> [@BaneSidhe](#): > > AFAIK, ZZ Top doesn’t have a bass player. [Dusty Hill](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusty_Hill) ZZ Top have always been a three piece, and Dusty Hill has been the bassist since day one. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/14 "2011-09-19T05:23:59Z")
> [@BaneSidhe](#): > > AFAIK, ZZ Top doesn’t have a bass player. I’m sure [Dusty Hill](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusty_Hill) will be surprised to hear that. Moving on… **400 Blows** has never had a bass player. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/15 "2011-09-19T06:20:52Z")
CRAP. I apologize to all ZZ Top fans AND Dusty Hill. :smack: ---
**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:** [September 19, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/16 "2011-09-19T06:35:24Z")
> [@Philliam](#): > > Not completely true - Ray Manzarek played most of the bass lines on keyboards, but Doug Lubahn (of the band Clear Light) played bass on some studio sessions. Most likely to free Ray to do even more creative playing. On the Doors first album, Larry Knechtel overdubbed Ray’s bass lines on four or five of the songs, because Ray’s bass keyboard sounded adequate in concert but not for studio recordings. _Strange Days_: Doug played bass, presumably for the same reason, and possibly (in my opinion) because Ray’s bass lines were never especially interesting. Okay live, but too rudimentary for records. _Waiting For The Sun_, _The Soft Parade_: Several bassists, including DL. _Morrison Hotel_: If I remember correctly, two bassists, neither of them Doug. _LA Woman_: Jerry Scheff on bass. Bonus Trivia: The Doors performed live with a bass player at least once. December 1968, Inglewood Forum (L.A.) They had strings, horns, and a bass player on stage with them for four songs from the not-yet-released Soft Parade album. I can’t remember who the bassist was, only that his bass was bright red. I think I remember him staying on for a couple of songs after the strings and horns were gone, but my memory is vague- I was cursed with a crippling headache that night. But I do remember that red bass, and the concert overall; of the four times I saw The Doors (with Jim) it was by far the best show. . ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/17 "2011-09-19T13:32:47Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Well, like Roxy Music, the Doors never had a full time bass player as a member of the band… but Roxy Music usually hired a session man to make their records, and a capable-but-unemployed bassist (John Wetton, for one) to tour with them. Roxy Music did have a full band member playing bass on their first album (Graham Simpson). Interestingly, in subsequent years (at least prior to their late '70s hiatus) they usually included whoever their current temp bassist happened to be in their publicity photos. > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Bonus Trivia: The Doors performed live with a bass player at least once. > December 1968, Inglewood Forum (L.A.) They had strings, horns, and a bass player on stage with them for four songs from the not-yet-released Soft Parade album. I can’t remember who the bassist was, only that his bass was bright red. Probably NYC-based Harvey Brooks, who had just played on the _Soft Parade_ sessions, which would account for his being in Los Angeles. Brooks definitely played bass on the Doors’ next gig (at Madison Square Garden a month later), which was also augmented by strings and horns. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/18 "2011-09-19T18:18:22Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Probably NYC-based Harvey Brooks, who had just played on the _Soft Parade_ sessions, which would account for his being in Los Angeles. Brooks definitely played bass on the Doors’ next gig (at Madison Square Garden a month later), which was also augmented by strings and horns. I’ve always wondered if there had been another one. Thanks! . ---
**Author:** ![Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kim_o_the_Concrete_Jungle)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/19 "2011-09-20T07:53:32Z")
The Cramps didn’t have a bass player in the early days. ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761/20 "2011-09-20T13:19:21Z")
Just to balance the ‘no bass player’ hijack, **Ned’s Atomic Dustbin** has 2 bass players! Take THAT **Attila** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rock-lead-singer-lead-guitar-rhythm-guitar-drums-4-man-band/596761.md?page=2)