# Which band member was the luckiest, least talented , least substantial member ever?d, **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [May 12, 2023, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933 "2023-05-12T11:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/201 "2023-05-18T16:09:22Z")
My nomination is Jerome Benton of [The Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_(band)#Members). Yes, he gets name checked in _“Jungle Love”_ (“Jesse… now Jerome… Oh We Oh We Oh”) and provided comic relief in the movie _Purple Rain_, but his role in the band is listed as valet, dancer, backing vocals, percussion. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/202 "2023-05-18T16:20:36Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Booker T. Jones of “Booker T. and MG’s” was primarily a keyboardist and guitar player. He played a lot with guest musicians and singers. Seems a bit off topic? He is a good B3 player and created a classic with ‘Green Onions’. I don’t know how well he plays guitar, but it seems he is something of a multi-instrumentalist. Hardly untalented!! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/203 "2023-05-18T16:28:26Z")
I was reponding to ‘bands named after people who weren’t the lead singers’ ---
**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:** [May 18, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/204 "2023-05-18T17:42:24Z")
Yeah, but Booker T and the MG’s never had a lead singer at all. They’re a mere instrumental and backing band (Stax’s house band from the start). One of the best in both regards, though. Legendary, even. ETA: as an aside, I’ve always wondered why Booker T Jones got the name check in the band name. When they started, he was the youngest of the four at age 17. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/205 "2023-05-18T17:52:21Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I’ve always wondered why Booker T Jones got the name check in the band name. It’s a much cooler name than Steve and the MGs and Donald Duck and the MGs might not have the right feel. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/206 "2023-05-18T19:18:44Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I’d have to say the same is true for Frank Zappa. Great guitarist, but he couldn’t sing. Yeeaaars ago I was in a club in Dallas watching Lightning (with Rocky Athas, who later played for Black Oak Arkansas). Zappa was in town doing a concert. Afterwards, he stopped by the club and sat in a set or two. Man, could that guy could play. It’s really kind of a shame he didn’t go more mainstream. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/207 "2023-05-18T19:26:14Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Imagine the Beatles with a _monster_ drummer instead of Ringo, say Keith Moon, John Bonham or Ginger Baker. See? Wouldn’t have worked at all. Nope, the Beatles needed Ringo. Although, John Bonham might have added to Helter Skelter. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/208 "2023-05-18T19:31:11Z")
Would he have also gotten blisters on his fingers, though? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/209 "2023-05-18T19:47:51Z")
Only if he used four sticks. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/210 "2023-05-18T19:51:04Z")
Well played! 😃 ---
**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:** [May 18, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/211 "2023-05-18T20:18:39Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > > I’ve always wondered why Booker T Jones got the name check in the band name. > > It’s a much cooler name than Steve and the MGs and Donald Duck and the MGs might not have the right feel. That’s it exactly. Also, Stax didn’t want to lose their most versatile session player at a time when he was having crazy ideas like going to college, so they tried to position him as a star. He went to college anyway. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/212 "2023-05-18T20:22:13Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I was reponding to ‘bands named after people who weren’t the lead singers’ Oh, all right. I don’t think that was the original topic, but never mind. We should all be lucky enough to create one classic in our playing life. ‘Summertime’ will be played long after we are gone, for example… ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/213 "2023-05-19T20:40:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Actually, looking it up, he was both in that band. No idea which he played live. I guess he is both bass and guitar in Genesis, too. I never really followed them that closely. I thought he was primarily a guitar player, but it looks like he’s primarily a bassist, as I somehow accidentally assumed in my first post. Have been gorging on old Genesis videos on YouTube recently, Mike was primarily bassist, but also wielded a mean Rickenbacker double-neck guitar/bass in live performances. Would be my dream guitar if I was actually capable of playing it well. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/214 "2023-05-20T01:39:54Z")
I was thinking it odd listing lead singers, as they are the face and voice of their respective bands, and good voices or not, they are what they are. Exceptions, of course, would be replacement lead singers. But I did come across a good example that ruined my opinion. This is a band that recorded albums and toured real tours. The Blues Brothers. John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd had no voices at all but had some of the finest session musicians backing them that ever existed. If you go through each one, they are all legends in their own rights but aren’t very well known except among aficionados of the genre. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/215 "2023-05-20T04:07:19Z")
I dunno, I kind of think of Belushi and Aykroyd had enough charm in their delivery to sell their parts beyond their mechanical ab8lity. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/216 "2023-05-20T04:18:38Z")
Which can be said about most of the lead singers listed above. There’s just such a huge divide between their talents and the guys they have in the band, though, that it fits this topic. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/217 "2023-05-20T04:36:55Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > I’m sticking to my eye-candy theory. She was very pretty. And don’t forget her musical success on Knot’s Landing. Well, maybe not musical. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/218 "2023-05-20T04:39:52Z")
Yeah, but it doesn’t really put them in the Bez category. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/219 "2023-05-20T04:41:54Z")
Anything Yngwie Malmsteem was in? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933/220 "2023-05-20T11:34:15Z")
Didn’t even have to stop and think about this one. Donnie van Zant of **.38 Special**. Just watch the videos for “Caught Up In You” and “Hold On Loosely” to see what I mean. Having a big name was a big help. But he always seemed like a nice guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-member-was-the-luckiest-least-talented-least-substantial-member-ever-d/983933.md?page=12)