# Suggestions for a Classic Rock bracket. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 6, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275 "2008-03-06T02:40:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/1 "2008-03-06T02:40:20Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/2 "2008-03-06T02:50:20Z")
Two Seeds: Pink Floyd The Who The Doors Jimmy Hendrix (and honestly, I think both the Doors and the Who have a better claim to a #1 seed than Skynard) Three Seeds The Eagles Jefferson Airplane AC/DC Aerosmith Four Seeds Cream Def Leppard Van Halen The Kinks ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/3 "2008-03-06T02:50:26Z")
Well, the Who are definitely a #1. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/4 "2008-03-06T02:54:15Z")
Five Seeds: (and this is about where I’d slide in Skynard, personally) ZZ Top Queen Fleetwood Mac Jethro Tull Six Seeds: Blue Oyster Cult Allman Brothers Band Steve Miller Police ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/5 "2008-03-06T03:01:35Z")
Other acts (unsorted) Crosby, Stills and Nash Grand Funk Railroad Rush Kiss CCR Steppenwolf Styx Scorpions Journey Genesis Dave Clark 5 Grateful Dead U2 ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/6 "2008-03-06T03:06:44Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/7 "2008-03-06T03:17:30Z")
[QUOTE=Wargamer] 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. [/QUOTE] G&R… how’d I forget 'em? Great band… but to be honest, the best 5 or 6 acts in any Classic Rock list are going to be British. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/8 "2008-03-06T03:21:11Z")
[QUOTE=Diomedes] G&R… how’d I forget 'em? Great band… but to be honest, the best 5 or 6 acts in any Classic Rock list are going to be British. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/9 "2008-03-06T03:26:10Z")
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: Region 1: 1. The Beatles 2. Bob Dylan 3. The Eagles 4. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Region 2: 1. Rolling Stones 2. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 3. David Bowie 4. Elton John Region 3 1. The Who 2. U2 3. Creedence Clearwater Revival 4. The Beach Boys Region 4 1. Led Zeppelin 2. The Kinks 3. The Doors 4. Lynard Skynard ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/10 "2008-03-06T03:38:33Z")
[QUOTE=Southern Yankee] 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: [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/11 "2008-03-06T03:41:06Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/12 "2008-03-06T03:43:12Z")
[QUOTE=Southern Yankee] 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? [/QUOTE] Queen. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/13 "2008-03-06T03:46:17Z")
YES… Queen. How did I forget them? And I also forgot Pink Floyd. What about Van Halen? Would they bump anyone? Yes… bye bye Elton. Region 1: 1. The Beatles 2. Bob Dylan 3. The Eagles 4. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Region 2: 1. Rolling Stones 2. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 3. Pink Floyd 4. Van Halen Region 3 1. The Who 2. U2 3. Creedence Clearwater Revival 4. Queen Region 4 1. Led Zeppelin 2. The Kinks 3. The Doors 4. Lynard Skynard ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/14 "2008-03-06T03:48:56Z")
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?) Region 1: 1. The Beatles 2. Bob Dylan 3. The Eagles 4. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 5. ZZ Top 6. Blue Oyster Cult 7. Journey 8. Rush Region 2: 1. Rolling Stones 2. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 3. Guns and Roses 4. Jefferson Airplane 5. David Bowie 6. Steve Miller Band 7. Wings 8. Elton John Region 3 1. The Who 2. Pink Floyd 3. U2 4. Queen 5. AC/DC 6. Jethro Tull 7. Allman Brothers 8. Creedence Clearwater Revival Region 4 1. Led Zeppelin 2. The Kinks 3. The Doors 4. Lynard Skynard 5. The Police 6. Van Halen 7. Genesis 8. Foreigner ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/15 "2008-03-06T03:52:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Diomedes** > > 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?) Maybe on catalog alone, but in a real, live Battle of the Bands-type competition, I’d wager The Who to blow them off the stage. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/16 "2008-03-06T03:55:55Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/17 "2008-03-06T03:56:06Z")
[QUOTE=Southern Yankee] Maybe on catalog alone, but in a real, live Battle of the Bands-type competition, I’d wager The Who to blow them off the stage. [/QUOTE] You’re absolutely right. But they wouldn’t get there in our brackets: The Doors come out of Group 4 and wins it all. You heard it here first. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/18 "2008-03-06T03:55:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/19 "2008-03-06T04:00:12Z")
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!) ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275/20 "2008-03-06T04:00:41Z")
Ok, I’m going to bed, but I’m looking forward to **Wargamer** ’s field of 64. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-classic-rock-bracket/440275.md?page=2)