I have to add The Moody Blues to these lists. Combining a rock band with orchestral arrangements was ground-breaking, and Days Of Future Passed was a landmark album.
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Who
The Kinks
The Damned
The Toy Dolls
Obviously this list is chronological, otherwise the Toy Dolls would be at the top.
Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Who, Elton John.
I guess I’m not really bringing anything original to the thread.
Sometimes I think all the personalities in 60s British rock was severely damaged. Lennon was also a shit. Moon was a loon. Ginger Baker couldn’t get along with anyone. Syd Barrett went insane. Peter Green went insane. Jagger was an insufferable narcissist. Jimmy Page collected underage girls. So did Gary Glitter. Everybody (with one or two exceptions) cheated on their wives, became alcoholics and drug addicts, spent money like water, crashed cars regularly, trashed their apartments, homes, and hotels, and followed the Maharishi to India, just for starters.
I’m not challenging conventional opinion with this list.
- The Beatles
- The Rolling Stones
- The Who
- The Kinks
- The Yardbirds
- The Sex Pistols
I think Elvis Costello belongs on a list of the top British solo artists of all time. Maybe that will be Lucas_Jackson’s next subject.
Sure, but I’ve always thought that he was best with the Attractions, a really outstanding little band with a big sound.
I had intended to make that a condition of my OP but inadvertently left it out. So, for example, Clapton should only count if listed in the particular band that you consider the greatest. But I’m not going to be too nannying about it.
Although a ‘Greatest solo Brit’ might be a good topic
(side note about Clapton, I don’t consider him greatest. He rehashed a bunch of blues riffs. He’s had some good songs but I feel he’s over-rated).
Yea, I am thoroughly amazed some of them are still around. It’s truly a miracle that all of the original members of Black Sabbath are still alive.
Off the top of my head, I can only think of few that didn’t participate in debauchery and excesses during the heyday: John Paul Jones, Charlie Watts, Brian May.
We all know that Sir Paul has always been very fond of weed, but I never heard that he had much interest in anything harder or more problematic. Not a big drinker either and not the excessive type.
ETA: how guys like Ozzy, Clapton and Keith can still live is beyond me, though. But they give me hope for my own expectations for a long life…
ETA2: about Charlie Watts: he never partook much in the excesses of the 60s and 70s Stones, but I heard that he had a short but seveer fling with heroin and booze as late as the 80s. I think it was a midlife crisis caused by marital troubles, but he got out of it.
The Smiths
My Bloody Valentine
Cocteau Twins
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Public Image Limited
my cheat - Joy Division/New Order
If we are going with these pop bands (which are great) I have to wonder why Tears for Fears is not on the list. Certainly up there with The Smiths and Joy Division and New Order I’d think.
I might put them above The Smiths and the rest.
The Beatles
Led Zeppelin
Queen
The Rolling Stones
David Bowie
Radiohead
Good idea.
Maybe because they had a short peak, three albums and then a break-up.
While I gave my six bands that are historically the greatest, I have to say that when I check out concerts on YouTube I often wind up with Roxy Music, who are awesome and timeless. That’s also greatness.
I’m interested in all replies - not just different ones.
Stones
Kinks
Roxy Music
The Pogues
Radiohead
London Grammar
If you don’t know the last, check them out. Trep jr saw their set at Glastonbury, and by his account wept through it at the sheer beauty.
j
Are The Pogues British?
(I don’t think so)
Does that include Bryan Ferry solo albums?
They’re from London…so we’re my Irish in-laws.
Though many had an Irish background, most of them, including Shane MacGowan, were born in England. Philip Chevron and Terry Woods were both born in Dublin, but I think that’s it.