There are a lot of references to Tony Banks. A while back, I had the classical station on as background noise, and the announcer said, “That was (name of piece), performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, composed and conducted by Tony Banks.”
Yep. THAT Tony Banks.
Danny Elfman is way better known for his film soundtracks than he ever was for anything he did with Oingo Boingo.
I’d give them both a 10 for sheer versatility.
Man, 13 years later and my first instinct to the OP is almost the same as what I wrote at the time.
Urgh.
Tool
Maynard James Keenan, songwriting, vocals 10.
Adam Jones, songwriting, guitar, 9.5
Danny Carey, drums, 10.
Justin Chancellor, bass, 8
9.375 overall
Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan, guitar, 10
Billy Corgan, bass, 9
Billy Corgan, vocals, 7.5
Jimmy Chamberlain, drums, 10
(Corgan only used other band members for guitar and bass during live performances)
9.125 overall
How about the various incarnations of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band? Anybody who could play that stuff has got to be good.
Look at it this way, you’re consistent. Love or hate Rush, there’s no denying the raw talent.
Probably doesn’t really count since the “band” has changed constantly over the years, but Jeff Beck has surrounded himself with some *really *excellent players and vocalists. When I saw the 1999 lineup with Jennifer Batten, I was blown away by the way she and Jeff played off each other. Years later I was blown away again when I saw Tal Wilkenfeld in the band. He’s had Terry Bozzio, Simon Phillips, Narada Michael Walden on drums, Jan Hammer and Tony Hymas on keyboards and vocalists ranging from Rod Stewart to Imogene Heap and Imelda May.
I’d agree with this mostly. Maybe I’d give justin an 8.5 or 9 though.
I’m too lazy and drunk to think of numbers for the following. Please, follow dopers, do it for me…
Iron maiden
Rainbow
Dethklok…Brendan small pretty much recorded every instrument except drums. Which he actually DID do on a drum machine purposefully so complicated that nobody could do it, until, as the story goes, gene Hoglan came along…
UFO
…and others of similar styles as above.
Please and thank you.
My take:
**Genesis ** (classic lineup)
Peter Gabriel (vocals) - 8 (his best vocals were after Genesis, but not by much)
Peter Gabriel (flute) - 5 (hard to tell)
Phil Collins (drums) - 9 (great drummer but few realize it because of his singing)
Phil Collins (backing vocals) - 7.5 (complemented Gabriel’s voice so well)
Tony Banks (keyboards) - 9.9 (not a 10 only cuz maybe Emerson’s better)
Tony Banks (guitar) - 6.0 (can’t be sure how good he was)
Steve Hackett (guitar) - 9.0 (maybe the most important part of the band)
Mike Rutherford (bass) - 7.5 (he’s a very good player playing weird parts)
Mike Rutherford (guitar) - 5.0 (workmanlike, but little more)
**Overall rating: 7.4
**
**Genesis ** (later lineup)
Phil Collins (vocals) - 6.5 (not great, but distinctive)
Phil Collins (drums) - 9.0
Tony Banks (keyboards) - 8.0 (still great, but inferior sound patches)
Tony Banks (guitar) - 6.0 (only did it once or twice, I bet)
Mike Rutherford (bass) - 7.5
Mike Rutherford (guitar) - 5.0
Chester Thompson (drums) - 8.5 (heck of a drummer)
Daryl Steurmer (guitar) - 6 (his style wasn’t quite right to play Hackett’s stuff)
**Overall rating: 7.1 **
But best of all they are HUGE Bill Hicks fans.
But how do you score a drummer who combusts?
But, seriously, folks, I want to point out that “virtuoso” does not mean “great”. The Ramones, AC/DC, and of course The Beasties, are almost anti-virtuoso. But I love 'em.
On the other hand, I have almost no music from these next two bands on my iPod, but was blown away by their talent:
Someone already addressed Jethro Tull, but just wanted to point out that they were one of the tightest live performances I’ve ever heard.
And I’m exhausted and not up for doing math, but if someone’s more awake, rate **Joni Mitchell’**s live band from the Mingus tour (captured on film, and her album Shadows & Light):
Not merely jazz fusion virtuosos, but played off each other really well. A lot of energy as well as precision and creativity.
Joni Mitchell – electric guitar, vocals
Pat Metheny – lead guitar
Jaco Pastorius – fretless bass (Fender Jazz)
Lyle Mays – electric piano (Rhodes), synthesizer (Oberheim FVS-1)
Don Alias – drums, misc. percussion
Michael Brecker – saxophones
The Persuasions – backing vocals
and Toller Cranston – I kid you not… figure skating.
I’d give Bruce Dickinson a 10 for his pipes, and another 10 for being a polymath.
Singer
Licensed airline pilot
Author
Fencer (almost made it to the Olympic trials)
and who knows what else
p.s. Never a Maiden fan, but I do understand talent when I see it.