# Put your favorite musicians in a single band; would it work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383 "2019-12-04T23:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/1 "2019-12-04T23:42:38Z")
For me it’s Roger Daltry on vocals, Frank Zappa and Mark Knopfler on guitar, John Entwhistle on bass, and Levon Helm on drums. I’m not sure they’d mesh very well. Roger and John would obviously be fine. Knopfler and Levon probably would as well. Could any of them work with a perfectionist like Zappa? Maybe Knopfler, but I don’t know about the others. For the purpose of this exercise those who are in rock and roll heaven live again. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/2 "2019-12-05T00:20:04Z")
If you put Tommy Makem and J. S. Bach together in a room and told them to jam, I’m sure they’d come up with something interesting, but I have no friggin’ clue what it’d be. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/3 "2019-12-05T01:52:34Z")
Terry Kath and Steve Lukather on guitar, Geddy Lee on bass and keyboards, and Jeff Porcaro on drums. Kath, Luke and Lee share vocals. All of them can play just about any style so I think it works. They’d be more of a “musicians” band like Kings X or Dream Theater. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/4 "2019-12-05T02:00:15Z")
Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Mark E. Smith and Laura Nyro. No problem. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/5 "2019-12-05T02:10:38Z")
Hmmm this raises interesting possibilities… Michael Jackson performing with KISS? The King of Pop singing "Detroit Rock City’ and “I was Made for Loving You”? Gene and Paul performing “Beat It” and “Bad”? Johnny Cash performing with Metallica? Cash performing the vocals on “One” and “Enter Sandman”? Hetfield and the boys performing “The Man comes Around” and “Ain’t No Grave”? These possibilities are endless… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/6 "2019-12-05T06:31:36Z")
Guitar 1- Johnny Marr Guitar 2- Kristin Hersh Bass - Kim Deal Vocals - Kimbra Keyboards - Martin Gore Drums - Doktor Avalanche I can see that working out just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/7 "2019-12-05T13:27:43Z")
For the past several years my interest is in bluegrass/country/oldtime music. One of the wonderful things about that type of music is that the absolute best musicians frequently team up with each other - and magic occurs. Just the other day I was listening to a bunch of Doc Watson (guitar) picking w/ Bill Monroe (mando). I play upright bass, and no one does it better than Edgar Meyer - who has played with EVERYONE. Bruce Molsky (fiddle), Sam Bush (mando), Ricky Skaggs (anything he happens to pick up) play with any number of super combos, both large and small. Hell, it is so common, Marty Stuart wven call his band The Fabulous Superlatives! 😃 Rhiannon Giddens - would be an addition to ANY group in ANY style. And my 2 current pave flatpickers are Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle. Again - virtuosos who add to any gathering of musicians. ---
**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 5, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/8 "2019-12-05T21:44:24Z")
Well, lemme see, just of the top of my head I try to gather a band of my favorites: James Burton - lead guitar Malcolm Young - rhythm guitar John Entwhistle - bass guitar Garth Hudson - keyboards Aretha Franklin - vocals and piano Could definitely work. Dream band for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/9 "2019-12-05T22:05:49Z")
I saw Rush perform with Public Enemy. If they want it to, it’ll work. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/10 "2019-12-05T23:05:53Z")
If Sandy Denny can sing with Led Zeppelin, anything is possible. Vocals, Female - Sandy Denny, Annie Haslam, Grace Slick Vocals, Male - Marty Balin, Freddy Mercury Guitars - Carlos Santana, Richard Thompson, Glen Campbell Bass - John McVie Drums - Mick Fleetwood, Max Weinberg Percussion - Ray Cooper Keyboards - Chick Corea, Roy Bittan ---
**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 5, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/11 "2019-12-05T23:23:01Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Well, lemme see, just of the top of my head I try to gather a band of my favorites: > > James Burton - lead guitar > > Malcolm Young - rhythm guitar > > John Entwhistle - bass guitar > > Garth Hudson - keyboards > > Aretha Franklin - vocals and piano > > Could definitely work. Dream band for me. Shit, I forgot the drummer. Keith Moon. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/12 "2019-12-05T23:31:38Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Mark E. Smith and Laura Nyro. No problem. What an absolutely glorious trainwreck that would be 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/13 "2019-12-06T14:57:40Z")
AAAAARGHHH! Entwistle! ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/14 "2019-12-06T15:05:54Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > What an absolutely glorious trainwreck that would be 😃 “idiosyncratic” could be a word for it. Had Mark E. Smith lived, given his turnover rate it was a nailed-on certainty that those others would have to be in The Fall at some point. There are only so many musicians in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/15 "2019-12-06T15:18:38Z")
Here’s one that might work. Perhaps not my absolute top picks in every category but certainly artists I very much enjoy. Not allowing multiple choices from the same group and choosing on the basis of what I think could be a meeting of musical styles. I’m thinking precision, driving rythymn and melody. 2 keyboardists, Micheal Rother (Neu! Kraftwerk and Harmonia) and Brian Eno (err…it’s Brian Bloody Eno) Drums - Stephen Morris (Joy Division, New Order) Rythmn Guitar - Lyndsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac) Lead Guitar - Dave Gilmour, (Pink Floyd) Bass - Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/16 "2019-12-06T15:21:15Z")
oops, duplicate post, it was good but not \*that \*good. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/17 "2019-12-06T17:59:47Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > “idiosyncratic” could be a word for it. > > Had Mark E. Smith lived, given his turnover rate it was a nailed-on certainty that those others would have to be in The Fall at some point. There are only so many musicians in the world. Not Laura, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383/18 "2019-12-06T18:06:23Z")
Alex Lifeson on Guitar Phil Collins on Drums Kim Warnick (the Fastbacks) on Bass and backing Vocals Trent Reznor on Keyboards and to round it all off… Robin Zander on lead Vocals. Alex and Trent will handle songwriting. Phil will not be allowed in the room.