# Great Artists No One Tried To Emulate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819 "2019-12-13T17:55:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [December 14, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/41 "2019-12-14T15:41:03Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > I’ll have to respectfully totally disagree about him even being in the ballpark of Keith’s drumming. Keith Moon is the first I thought of, but then I thought not, but it really depends on what you mean by “no one tried to emulate.” I think most aspiring rock drummers have tried to emulate Keith Moon at one time or another (which is why I thought better of that suggestion), but nobody really sounds like Keith Moon. He’s not even close to my favorite drummer, but I respect him for his energy and unique style he brought to the Who, such that any post-Moon songs by the Who just don’t sound like the Who to me, and nobody has that weird chaotic, slightly off-kilter sense of rhythm he has. That said, I would say with most of the artists I love, they have an identifiable, unique style and voice to their expression, and nobody sounds like them, depending on how discerning your ear is, I guess. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/42 "2019-12-14T15:52:34Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > While Bruce Springsteen got his start trying to be a Bob Dylan clone, nobody I know of has tried to be a Springsteen clone I wouldn’t say a “clone,” but The Hold Steady certainly have a Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band vibe to them, though without the horn section, filtered through a Brooklyn bar band aesthetic with a singer with an “indie” voice as opposed to a more classic, powerful rock voice. But I (and many others) definitely hear a strong Springsteen & E Street Band influence to a lot of their music. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/43 "2019-12-14T16:03:27Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Andy Kaufman? Bob Zmuda tried, sort of. IIRC, after Kaufman died, Zmuda appeared somewhere and did Kaufman’s Tony Clifton character, and was soundly booed off the stage by an audience who felt it was in bad taste. I think some of the _Taxi_ actors complained about it as well. Apparently, none of them knew that Zmuda had been Clifton before, on occasion - and Kaufman was in on it. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/44 "2019-12-14T16:13:11Z")
Maybe someone else can thin of a Leonard Cohen clone but I can’t. Also Jeff Buckley - lots have covered his stuff but any direct rip offs? Not many ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/45 "2019-12-14T16:26:28Z")
Henry James? Some writers might be influenced by him but I’d be surprised if anyone tried to emulate him. Also perhaps James Joyce - leaving aside the books that are seen as difficult (and haven’t been read by me), I can’t think of anyone that reminds me of _The Dubliners_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/46 "2019-12-14T16:29:26Z")
Has anyone tried to emulate Iain M Bank’s science fiction books? Were they successful? ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/47 "2019-12-14T16:56:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Keith Moon is the first I thought of, but then I thought not, but it really depends on what you mean by “no one tried to emulate.” I think most aspiring rock drummers have tried to emulate Keith Moon at one time or another (which is why I thought better of that suggestion), but nobody really sounds like Keith Moon. He’s not even close to my favorite drummer, but I respect him for his energy and unique style he brought to the Who, such that any post-Moon songs by the Who just don’t sound like the Who to me, and nobody has that weird chaotic, slightly off-kilter sense of rhythm he has. > > That said, I would say with most of the artists I love, they have an identifiable, unique style and voice to their expression, and nobody sounds like them, depending on how discerning your ear is, I guess. I agree… After Keith died, so did The Who. Unfortunately since, Pete keeps diminishing Keith (and John) in an effort to tell the world, “They had nothing to do with it, it was all ME” I can imitate Keith, and have in concert, but it would be cheating to do that on my albums. Being able to play Moon or Bonham note-for-note is nice, but its unoriginal. I give credit to those who did the creating. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/48 "2019-12-14T17:17:28Z")
The Airborne Toxic Event is similar to Springsteen in some of their songs except it’s deviates from Springsteen more musically than singing-wise. [This slow song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCfd6q3LJbg) is their springsteeniest since it captures the energy and despair of youth. > [@pulykamell](#): > > I wouldn’t say a “clone,” but The Hold Steady certainly have a Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band vibe to them, though without the horn section, filtered through a Brooklyn bar band aesthetic with a singer with an “indie” voice as opposed to a more classic, powerful rock voice. But I (and many others) definitely hear a strong Springsteen & E Street Band influence to a lot of their music. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/49 "2019-12-14T17:53:00Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Maybe someone else can thin of a Leonard Cohen clone but I can’t. Rod McKuen ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/50 "2019-12-14T18:07:18Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I wouldn’t say a “clone,” but The Hold Steady certainly have a Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band vibe to them, though without the horn section, filtered through a Brooklyn bar band aesthetic with a singer with an “indie” voice as opposed to a more classic, powerful rock voice. But I (and many others) definitely hear a strong Springsteen & E Street Band influence to a lot of their music. The Replacements also have a lot of songs with the Springsteen vibe. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/51 "2019-12-14T18:22:11Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > I can imitate Keith, and have in concert, but it would be cheating to do that on my albums. Being able to play Moon or Bonham note-for-note is nice, but its unoriginal. I give credit to those who did the creating. One of the interesting things for me about Moon is that he never really seems to settle into a groove. I swear, I feel like he never plays exactly the same measure twice in a song – it feels like it’s constantly changing and always a little bit different and he also has this chaotic pulse to him that feels like it should fall apart at any time and break the song, yet he somehow manages to keep it together. It’s like a drum set falling down a flight of stairs, but in a somehow musical manner. I’ve heard people try to channel and imitate Moon, but it sounds too “controlled” and too “neat” to me. He just had his own quirky pulse that I’ve not heard anyone else have. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/52 "2019-12-14T20:04:52Z")
The Residents. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/53 "2019-12-14T20:26:34Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The Residents. Ever faithful to your avatar :D. Yes, good example. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/54 "2019-12-15T03:52:51Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > One of the interesting things for me about Moon is that he never really seems to settle into a groove. I swear, I feel like he never plays exactly the same measure twice in a song – it feels like it’s constantly changing and always a little bit different and he also has this chaotic pulse to him that feels like it should fall apart at any time and break the song, yet he somehow manages to keep it together. More toms, less hi-hats. That’s part of it. I’ve read that Moon used hi-hat very sparingly, sometimes not even having them set up in the kit at all. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2019, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/55 "2019-12-15T04:18:14Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > More toms, less hi-hats. That’s part of it. I’ve read that Moon used hi-hat very sparingly, sometimes not even having them set up in the kit at all. Sure. When I think Moon, I think tom fills all over the effing place, and a drummer who loves riding on the cymbals vs knocking out a hi hat groove. And a usually busy kick that knocks out eight notes (he doesn’t really seem to do sixteenth note patterns that much) that is not completely predictable. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/56 "2019-12-15T12:50:42Z")
I wonder if a reason Keith didn’t use a hi-hat was so he could use his left foot on the second bass drum. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/57 "2019-12-15T16:18:58Z")
I think it was more that the hi-hat monopolizes the left hand in a way that he didn’t want. But you may be onto something with the pedal, because I do know that Moon sometimes used hi-hats, fixed slightly apart, with no pedal at all. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/58 "2019-12-17T22:03:29Z")
Not a musician, but a painter: Jackson Pollock. It seems evident how it should be done, but it would be silly, IMO. ---
**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:** [December 17, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/59 "2019-12-17T22:24:45Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > I think it was more that the hi-hat monopolizes the left hand in a way that he didn’t want. But you may be onto something with the pedal, because I do know that Moon sometimes used hi-hats, fixed slightly apart, with no pedal at all. From reading up on it, it looks like Moon didn’t use hi hat at all on tour from 1968-1972, but I can’t find any definitive reason for it. One source said that he wasn’t very good with the hi hat pedal, so when it was on stage, it was just used without the pedal. Yeah, to me it seems like a lot of the constant tom fills he did were easier if he rode a cymbal on the right rather than hit a hi hat on the left (and I don’t think open position drumming was much used back then – where a right handed player would use the left hand on the hats and the right on the snare instead of crossing over, as is more usual.) Seems much more natural for his playing style to want to ride a cymbal on the right hand side of the kit with his right hand. I also suspect the loudness of riding a ride and crash vs the more tight attack and quick decay of a hi hat suited his style better. You can turn those ride “pings” into crashes and cymbal washes by altering where and how you hit the cymbal with your stick. So, for someone with a manic style who wants to make a lot of noise, those cymbals make more sense to me than a hi-hat. (Though when he did use hi-hat, setting them in that half open/“sizzle” position that doesn’t require use of the foot pedal makes sense to me for him for creating that noisier sound with a longer decay and just more overall noise. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819/60 "2019-12-17T22:28:20Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Not a musician, but a painter: Jackson Pollock. It seems evident how it should be done, but it would be silly, IMO. I’d agree: when you see a Pollock-y painting in a museum, the large majority of the time it _is_ a Pollock. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-artists-no-one-tried-to-emulate/844819.md?page=4)