# Who are the greatest minds in Rock and Roll **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045 "2002-06-14T14:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/1 "2002-06-14T14:40:43Z")
What musicians would you say are not only excellent performers, but are also innovative and intellectual songwriters, incrediably polished musicians, have staying power (as a testament to their greatness) and put their unique stamp on any music they touch whether as artist, composer, or producer. The two people who top my list would be: **David Bowie** **Phil Collins** I might add **Prince** , but the only work I’ve heard of his (AFAIK) is _Purple Rain_. An excellent, excellent album, not enough of a sampling for me to confidently put him on this list. Who else is there? ---
**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/2 "2002-06-14T14:44:43Z")
**Frank Zappa** **Bob Dylan** **Roger Waters** and **David Gilmour** ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/3 "2002-06-14T14:45:43Z")
Definitely with you on David Bowie. I’d also throw in David Byrne, Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen. And yeah, we can toss in Prince too. _Purple Rain_ is one of those must-have albums that’s often conveniently on sale. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/4 "2002-06-14T14:53:19Z")
I’d add Paul Simon, Sting and Randy Newman. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/5 "2002-06-14T15:02:30Z")
How could I forget **Frank Zappa**! I’ll also agree with **David Byrne** , and **Sting** (was he the songwriter for the _Police_?). Here’s another thing we could add ('cause a number of the people listed I’ve heard of, but don’t know any of their music): what 1 album would you recommend for each person listed which best exemplifies that person’s most significant contribution to the music world? ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/6 "2002-06-14T15:16:10Z")
Brian Eno Todd Rundgren Glyn Johns Nile Rodgers Quincy Jones ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/7 "2002-06-14T15:18:31Z")
Neil Young ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/8 "2002-06-14T15:20:10Z")
Oh, and though is output has been spotty over the years, when he is at his best, you can’t be Lou Reed. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/9 "2002-06-14T15:22:10Z")
Robert Hunter, lyrcist for most of the Grateful Dead’s output. A very, very bright guy who also manages to write inciteful lyrics. Pick any album after Workingman’s Dead and you’ll find a great Hunter lyric. Brian May, guitarist for Queen. He developed a signature sound, wriites terrific riffs, and has always seemed to be not in the least concerned with the trappings of a rock and roll lifestyle. Plus, he’s pretty damn close to holding a PhD. in astrophysics, so the guy has to have a pretty sharp mind. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/10 "2002-06-14T16:08:47Z")
I would add Brian Wilson (pre-break down, of course) of the Beach Boys and John Phillips (sp) (pre-death, of course) of the Mammas and Papas. Strange, no one has said Ozzy. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/11 "2002-06-14T16:12:49Z")
Ladies and gentlemen, Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, **Steely Dan**! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/12 "2002-06-14T16:48:55Z")
I have always held up **Prince** and **Peter Gabriel** as great minds and great musicians… ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/13 "2002-06-14T17:24:17Z")
Well, shit, all of the ones I thought of are taken (Sting, Prince, Nile Rogers, Quincy Jones, David Byrne), but where are the women up in heah??? Can I get a Joni Mitchell??? Can I hear a Carole King??? ---
**Author:** ![Fibonacci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Fibonacci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibonacci)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/14 "2002-06-14T17:48:07Z")
A lot have been mentioned already, but don’t overlook **Pete Townshend**. I think **John Lennon** , **George Harrison** and **Robbie Robertson** would have to be included as well. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/15 "2002-06-14T18:07:04Z")
Neil Peart, of Rush, for his lyrics. I’ll take out Phil Collins (nice enough guy, but not a musical _genius_), and toss in Gabriel (as others have done). Gilmoure is mostly a great guitarist. Obviously, the creativity lies with Waters. Janis Joplin. Hendrix! Well, if you forget about the staying power for a while. 😉 Same category: Phil Lynott. And of course, the King of them All: Nigel Tufnel. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/16 "2002-06-14T18:24:41Z")
**Peter Townsend** would top my list. Not only are his lyrics and music top-notch and very clever, but his comment in interviews usually contain one or two amazing insights. **John Lennon** is a special case. A genius, but an untrained one, so he’d often run off in bizarre directions. **Frank Zappa** ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/17 "2002-06-14T18:42:08Z")
**Freddie Mercury** - Taken away much too soon. ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/18 "2002-06-14T18:45:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*And of course, the King of them All: Nigel Tufnel. 😉 \*\* 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/19 "2002-06-14T18:57:28Z")
I must throw in **Kurt Cobain**. I think he’ll go down as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His lyrics are great, and his song structures were Beatlesque in simplicity and brilliance. And I’ll add **Laurie Anderson** for good measure. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/20 "2002-06-14T19:18:04Z")
Y’all took my list. I second most of these. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045.md?page=2)