I’d either want to be in Yes or the Dixie Dregs or working as guitar tech (not that I actually have guitar tech skills beyond tuning and polishing).
I would love to have been a guitarist in John Denver’s band.
Veruca Salt, back when Nina Gordon was still with the band.
Buckingham/Nicks without Buckingham or Blackmore’s Night without Blackmore.
Or maybe the Runaways.
Funny you should mention Buckingham/Nicks – I was going to chime in with the original Fleetwood Mac.
I’d say Ya Ho Wa 13, just to have the chance to experience the whole Father Yod cult firsthand–as long as I could leave eventually. :eek:
But as far as actual bands (not just the experience), I might say the 13th Floor Elevators (US) or the Pretty Things (UK)…
[QUOTE=Alma]
Great choice. I’d go for Pavement.
[/QUOTE]
I once had a dream that I was a guest performer with Pavement and Stephen Malkmus started yelling at me for forgetting the song.
[QUOTE=Drake Tungsten]
A friend posed the question: “If you could be in any rock band, past or present, who would it be?”
For me, hands down it would be The Band, Ronnie Hawkins through The Last Waltz. They were some of the best musicians in rock history and were influenced by artists from all over rock, folk, gospel, country, classical, jazz, and motown. They seemed to genuinely love hanging out and playing music. Plus I’d get to play with Hawkins, Dylan, Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, and everyone at The Last Waltz.
Haw about you? What’s yor dream band?
[/QUOTE]
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Taste
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Humble Pie
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Faces
ELO would be tempting, as would The Faces.
I would add Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show, The Eels, and Barenaked Ladies.
I’d say Tom Waits’ band, but I’m never going to be nearly cool enough to pull that off.
Opal, lose the guy. I’m the dude you want. You may not come to realize it for another 4 or 5 decades, but you’ll have to trust me on this. 
[QUOTE=Christopher]
I hate being second but Pink Floyd is my answer as well.
[/QUOTE]
Third, actually. The funny thing is, a lot of you are saying that you have no musical talent, but I do. I can run circles around David Gilmour, guitar-wise. Singing-wise, not so much.
XTC, to serve as a personal therapist to Andy Partridge to cure his stage fright…
[QUOTE=plnnr]
I used to work with Bob Nastanovich’s sister. From what I gathered being in the band was no picnic.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I can only imagine how un-picknicky it would be. But still, I’d love to make that music and have that kind of influence.
I want to be in the Muppet band that hangs out with Kermit; the one with Animal as the drummer. I’m not sure if they have a name, but that would be the best band to be in.
ETA: Holy Cow. the band name is Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem 
Okay, yea, definitely the best band to be in.
Cracker.
Nine Inch Nails. I can stand up there and scream with the best of 'em!! [and I loves me some Trent Reznor, oh yes…]
For the purposes of making music, The Decemberists. They have such a great sound that sends shivers down your spine and I would love to be a part of that. But for purposes of having a generally good crazy ass time, I would join an 80s hair band. The parties can’t be beat.
The Pogues. Then or now, I don’t care.
Wild ride, but passionate, poetic and rockin’. And I can sing Fairytale better than Ella Finer.
Little Feat when Lowell George was still around.
Hell, I’d still sell a body part to sit in during “Dixie Chicken”!
[QUOTE=Buck Tudrussell]
Little Feat when Lowell George was still around.
Hell, I’d still sell a body part to sit in during “Dixie Chicken”!
[/QUOTE]
Which part?
[QUOTE=Argent Towers]
I would love to play in a jangly 90s indie-pop band with a female vocalist, like The Sundays (who did the 1997 song Summmertime, which I consider to be one of the best jangle-pop type songs ever, surpassing anything by, say, Camera Obscura. Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer is also up there. What can I say, I love it. Also Lovefool by The Cardigans.)
I could play fluid, melodic bass lines behind a dreamy female voice and jangly guitars forever.
Kind of a surprising response from someone who mostly plays heavy post-rock and Brian Jonestown type rock.
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Huh, I’ve always wanted to be the female vocalist of a band like that! I don’t know that anyone wants to listen to it, but I’d be happy to live out the rest of my life singing cute, happy songs in front of an indie band.
It’s suprising with me also, because I mostly listen to classic rock, grunge, and harder rock. But my voice is kind of high and little-kid like, so I’m not going to be singing in a Stones cover band any time soon. 