# The greatest Canadian music act: group, individual, whatever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2019, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481 "2019-04-13T02:45:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/81 "2019-04-15T19:34:31Z")
> [@eunoia](#): > > We’re trying to not go by sales to make sure nobody mentions Nicke… awww, fuck! Hey, it’s not like I brought up Avril Lavigne! Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/82 "2019-04-15T19:57:10Z")
Moxy Früvous? (Ducks.) It’s Leonard Cohen for me. Rush if I was looking objectively. Celine Dion if the RIAA is keeping score. EDIT: cross out Rush, and make it Neil Young. RickJay convinced me. Hard to go wrong with either. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/83 "2019-04-15T20:09:42Z")
What’s wrong with Nickleback, Avril Lavigne and Justin Bieber, anyway? Sure, it’s bubblegum pop, but that has its place in music. I wouldn’t put those acts on top, but they rank ahead of Leonard Cohen as far as I’m concerned. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/84 "2019-04-15T20:23:31Z")
RUSH, by objective measure. 30+ years together (\*). 24 gold, 14 platinum, and 3 multi-platinum albums. Sold out venues world wide when the members are well into their 60s. Canadian Music Hall of Fame, RR Hall of Fame, Juno Awards, a Grammy. They released gold albums in 4 different decades. > [@](#): > > Over their careers, the members of Rush have been acknowledged as some of the most proficient players on their respective instruments, with each band member winning numerous awards in magazine readers’ polls. > [@](#): > > Rush has released 24 gold records and 14 platinum records (including 3 multi-platinum), placing them fifth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Kiss and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums by a rock band in the United States. [sub]\* The band took a break following the deaths of Peart’s daughter, then his wife [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/85 "2019-04-15T22:43:48Z")
Eh! ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/86 "2019-04-15T22:50:20Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > OK, I thought this thread concerned the “greatest” Canadian artist, group, etc. But it seems that a lot of replies here fit more into “any Canadian I can think of”. Since we’re going there: Craig Farraway. > 😛 In that case, Bob and Doug McKenzie. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/87 "2019-04-16T12:16:10Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > Sam Roberts Band, Or as I know him, XXX’s Dad. (Our children go to school together) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/88 "2019-04-16T12:31:28Z")
I would say The Band, though of course Levon Helm was from Arkansas. My second choice would be Neil Young. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/89 "2019-04-16T12:56:59Z")
Neil Peart. Hey, **Leaffan** asked for the greatest Canadian whatever, and Peart is widely considered one of the best rock drummers in history. Ergo, he’s the greatest Canadian drummer yet. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/90 "2019-04-16T13:25:32Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > What’s wrong with Nickleback, Avril Lavigne and Justin Bieber, anyway? Sure, it’s bubblegum pop, but that has its place in music. There’s an argument there. > [@](#): > > I wouldn’t put those acts on top, but they rank ahead of Leonard Cohen as far as I’m concerned. You are dead to me. ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/91 "2019-04-16T15:22:44Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Or as I know him, XXX’s Dad. (Our children go to school together) Rock stars and their crazy names for their kids! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/92 "2019-04-16T17:00:27Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/93 "2019-04-16T18:00:19Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Neil Peart. > > Hey, **Leaffan** asked for the greatest Canadian whatever, and Peart is widely considered one of the best rock drummers in history. Ergo, he’s the greatest Canadian drummer yet. I can get behind that. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/94 "2019-04-16T18:53:25Z")
Peart is (was) also the lyricist, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![TimfromNapa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TimfromNapa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimfromNapa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/95 "2019-04-16T19:40:03Z")
Mother Tucker’s Yellow Duck ---
**Author:** ![Valentine\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/76d3ee/32.png) [@Valentine\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valentine_Smith)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/96 "2019-04-16T19:44:09Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Mr. Tambourine Man? _ **MR. TAMBOURINE MAN!!** _ NO! NO! NO! - Rocket Man, at the Grammy’s, introduced by Bernie Taupin!!! ---
**Author:** ![Valentine\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/76d3ee/32.png) [@Valentine\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valentine_Smith)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/97 "2019-04-16T20:12:30Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > There’s an argument there. You are dead to me. Where is the guy with the launch codes when we need him?!?!?!? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/98 "2019-04-16T20:30:38Z")
Rush, no doubt about it. If they’re still at it 20 years from now, maybe we could add [Unleash the Archers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqUPGa15Oto) to the discussion. They’re utterly fantastic, and singer Brittney Slayes is considered one of the top five female metal vocalists in the world right now. ---
**Author:** ![FatOrangeCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cab0a1/32.png) [@FatOrangeCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatOrangeCat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/99 "2019-04-16T20:51:21Z")
Individual- can’t choose between Stan Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot. Group- Spirit of the West ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-canadian-music-act-group-individual-whatever/832481/100 "2019-04-16T21:28:41Z")
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