I think it was 5 time champ who suggested we do a March Madness style tourney with rock bands after the Beatles bracket is finished. I’m willing to run it, but I need some suggestions from the more musically inclined as to who (Who?) should be in it.
I would seed the bracket using artists whose work is played on American ‘Classic Rock’ radio, reserving the right to add some 60’s acts that have crossed over to ‘oldies’ status (I’m looking at YOU Beach Boys). For the last week or so, as I’m driving home, when I hear a song, I think “They’d be a 6 seed.” “Definitely a top 4 seed.” But I’d like some suggestions to flesh out the bracket. Here is a preview of early seeds.
The Number Ones - (pretty obvious really)
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
Lynard Skynard
Led Zeppelin
It’s the 2s through 16s that are giving me trouble, so I’m soliciting your suggestions. So let’s hear it, who’s (Who’s?) in the field?
I’ve got to question Skynard as a #1 seed. Other than a single or two they’re a pretty average band, and I don’t think that just having written Free Bird earns them a #1 seed.
Yeah, I was unsure about Skynard, but being from the South, I get to hear them All…The…Time…
I wanted an American band to be included as a #1, since having 3 British Invasion bands (if we include The Who), and Zep would downplay American rock. What about Guns and Roses? After all, they were probably the biggest band in the world for 5 years or so.
that’s what I’d like to avoid, is overlooking some deserving band/artist that SHOULD be on the list. Plus, I am leaning toward allowing multiple entries per artist - like Eric Clapton AND Cream or John Lennon and The Beatles as well. Those are the only two I can seeputting in twice at the moment however.
In my opinion, a 16 band tournament is all that is necessary. Unlike March Madness, a real low seed is just not going to upset a top seed in an opinion tourney. That being said:
Elton John is barely classic rock. I’d switch G&R for him, Aerosmith for Ziggy Stardust, and the Eagles for the Beach Boys, in order to balance out the British/American divide and to address the fact that the Beach Boys are pop, not classic rock.
Oh, and the Jimmy Hendrix Experience ought to be in there, somewhere.
Well, I have the Eagles in there already. G&R just didn’t stick around long enough for me. The Beach Boys are pop-ish, yes, and I don’t mind replacing them… but with who?
Maybe a compromise between 16 and 64… go with 32 entries. That way, we don’t have to add in too much chaff, but it’d cut down on complaints of not putting in deserving bands (come on… we know this is going to go down to the Stones and the Beatles in the end, don’t we?)
Well, I’ve just finished a preliminary 64 entry bracket, and there are some powerhouses in the lower 32. I think we need to go with 64, just to hear all the arguments, but since the Beatles song bracket will be going on for a while, I’ll still be able to tweak the field based on suggestions.
For pure, kick-ass live performance, I have never seen any act top what Queen did at Live Aid back in '85. Freddie Mercury had 80,000 people in Wembley eating out of his hand.
(See, see!??! This is what I’m on about! Talking about the bands!)