# The three great primitives of rock: AC/DC, the Ramones and Motörhead **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 7, 2026, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445 "2026-01-07T20:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/1 "2026-01-07T20:57:44Z")
I’ve long been thinking about posting this thread, and now that I’m once more listening to “No Sleep Til Hammersmith”, I’m finally ready to. I want to post the theory that these three bands represent the essence of what rock’n’roll is all about, at least as I understand and appreciate it. They’re the most no bullshit, three chord guitar (+guitar), bass and drums bands you can think of, no need for keyboards, horns or background singers. And almost no ballads, granted, the Ramones had a few, and AC/DC have a few slow blues songs, but not any of that maudlin shit other hard rock and heavy metal bands like to churn out (I’m looking at you, Scorpions). No, these three bands are the real deal. And it’s no surprise that “If You Want Blood”, “It’s Alive” and “No Sleep” rank among the best live albums of all time. So what do you think? Are there even other bands in that category? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/2 "2026-01-07T21:04:24Z")
Johnny Burnette and his band, The Rock and Roll Trio. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VkZhJJ8sPmw/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGYgZihmMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBjAK495sxaXaeS8HbPZLGrv8wbxQ "Johnny Burnette Trio-Train Kept A Rollin'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkZhJJ8sPmw) ---
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/3 "2026-01-07T21:10:48Z")
Yeah, of course they were standing on the shoulders of giants. And “Train Kept A Rollin’” was covered by many bands, the Yardbirds, Aerosmith etc. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/4 "2026-01-07T21:23:34Z")
It’s an interesting category, because in order to be “great” by this definition, they must be one dimensional and risk adverse. In other words, not so great. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/5 "2026-01-07T21:26:01Z")
I dunno, maybe it’s a risk in itself to not take risks and deviate from the formula. Maybe I like them for their consistency. They all had success with it. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/6 "2026-01-07T21:26:25Z")
Would Metallica count? Or are we excluding Metal as a separate category from Rock? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uejGmZ6qQ74/maxresdefault.jpg "Metallica: Atlas, Rise! (Nashville, TN - January 24, 2019)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uejGmZ6qQ74) ---
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/7 "2026-01-07T21:28:37Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > these three bands represent the essence of what rock’n’roll is all about No. I like some minimalism and all, but I disagree it’s the “essence” of rock. And if you absolutely insist on some form of rockist stance, I can think of plenty more guitar+bass+drum outfits I’d much rather hear. > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > So what do you think? I don’t really _like_ any of them. Motörhead I can tolerate, the other two not so much. In fact I actively _loathe_ Ramones. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/8 "2026-01-07T21:32:26Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > And if you absolutely insist on some form of rockist stance, I can think of plenty more guitar+bass+drum outfits I’d much rather hear. I think by now you must know that I don’t have any “rockist stance”, in fact I’m quite open to almost any music and listen to a lot, I just happen to like those three bands and to rock in general, that doesn’t make me a rockist. There’s a difference between “rock fan” and “rockist”. It’s ok for you not to like these bands, but don’t accuse me of being someone I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/9 "2026-01-07T21:34:31Z")
I endorse this formulation. All three are great, and I can’t think offhand of any logical addition to the list. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/10 "2026-01-07T21:36:56Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > There’s a difference between “rock fan” and “rockist”. I’m talking about the attitude expressed here: > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > these three bands represent the essence of what rock’n’roll is all about > […] > no need for keyboards, horns or background singers. And almost no ballads But never mind that, like I said, even allowing the parameters, I can think of plenty of pared-down rock bands I’d prefer. Start from classic Dinosaur Jr and work outwards from there. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/11 "2026-01-07T21:38:50Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Are there even other bands in that category? How about a Gen Z Girl Group? In this clip, the bassist is 13 and the drummer is 16. So cute 😎 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/e-_qlHMEKUo/maxresdefault.jpg "Dust to Dust @forcefest 2018 First time played LIVE") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-_qlHMEKUo) ---
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/12 "2026-01-07T21:39:11Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I’m talking about the attitude expressed here: Nah, you must have misunderstood me, of course I listen to a lot of music that has all those things, and more, that’s not my argument, But sometimes, I just like to listen to a power trio. > [@](#): > > Start from classic Dinosaur Jr and work outwards from there. Well, I got my Dinosaur Jr down, got almost all their albums. And saw them live. I’m really not a rock dinosaur myself. 😉 ---
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/13 "2026-01-07T21:39:54Z")
See my edit, then. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/14 "2026-01-07T21:41:29Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Yeah, of course they were standing on the shoulders of giants. And “Train Kept A Rollin’” was covered by many bands, the Yardbirds, Aerosmith etc. “Train” was just a sample. The Rock and Roll Trio checked off every criteria in your OP when Angus Young was still in diapers. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/15 "2026-01-07T22:12:02Z")
Is longevity key? What about bands that burned short but ferociously bright? I’m sure if I thought about it I could dig up some punks for you. Possibly Richard Hell and the Voidoids for starters. And how about [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PIcmk8WA10A/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gOCgvMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDCZs4gdtP6u1N4SFRrhFZYPjFdjA "Shake Some Action (the proper 1976 version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIcmk8WA10A) Also, where does the Spector produced stuff by the Ramones stand? j ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/16 "2026-01-07T22:14:32Z")
Muse? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/j8WP7aOD_9Q/maxresdefault.jpg "Muse - Knights Of Cydonia: Live At Wembley Stadium 2007") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8WP7aOD_9Q) Hello? Hello? Is this thing on? 🎤 ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/17 "2026-01-07T22:15:02Z")
Goddamn, it’s far too long since I listened to that. j ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/18 "2026-01-07T22:18:18Z")
Agree with the OP. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/19 "2026-01-07T22:18:42Z")
I was actually thinking about the Flamin’ Groovies as a fourth candidate for this thread, because I love them, but then ditched them because nobody than us two knows them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445/20 "2026-01-07T22:21:49Z")
Fair enough! Also, does it have to be rock to be rock? How about Rhythm ‘n’ Blues? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GzF0AETdRF8/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgOig0MA8=&rs=AOn4CLCNFhV_yFUA8mpPAPEJL3mVwsqSqQ "Dr Feelgood - Live At Southend Kursaal (15 minutes of magic in the 4 songs)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzF0AETdRF8) j [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-great-primitives-of-rock-ac-dc-the-ramones-and-motorhead/1026445.md?page=2)