# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Journeyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Journeyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Journeyman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/21 "2002-06-14T19:19:14Z")
Well, because there’s that fine line between stupid and, and clever. ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/22 "2002-06-14T19:30:57Z")
I’ll second **Neil Peart** and **Nigel Tufnel**. I’ll also add **Dave Mustaine** of Megadeth and the **Bruce Dickenson / Steve Harris** combo from Iron Maiden. I’d say they _all_ go to eleven! NP: **Pantera** - _Cowboys From Hell_ ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/23 "2002-06-14T20:45:20Z")
great thread. I’m lookin up Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Todd Rundgren, Glyn Johns, Nile Rodgers, Brian May, Robbie Robertson, Phil Lynott, Nigel Tufnel, and Laurie Anderson as we speak. Here’s my list, in order: \*\* John Lennon Brian Eno Rodger Waters Otis Redding Eric Clapton Pete Townshend David Bowie Thom Yorke Jimi Hendrix Bob Dylan Lou Reed David Byrne Carlos Santana Kurt Kobain Paul Simon David Crosby Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Michael Jackson Freddie Mercury Dan Nakamura Mick Jagger\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/24 "2002-06-15T00:01:53Z")
I saw the Clash documentary _Westway to the World_ last week, and although I was always a Mick Jones fan, I have to say that **Joe Strummer** impressed the hell out of me. He always wrote good, smart lyrics, and had a very good stage presence, but his ability to speak so well about his experiences in the band (his perspective on punk, what the band meant, the use of so many different styles, etc.) impressed me. The only thing that might knock him off this list is that he pretty much dropped out of sight for 15 years after the Clash broke up. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/25 "2002-06-15T00:44:21Z")
I’ll back up Prince, and Nile Rodgers… I’d add **Stereolab** , as a band- the songwriting is usually credited to Tim Gane & Laetitia Sadier but a lot of the unique directions their music takes seems to come from the collaboration of everyone. Sadier is an interesting lyricist- some of her English language songs are just _odd_ (was Calleidoscopic Gaze _really_ about nudism?), but the French lyrics are brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/26 "2002-06-15T00:56:58Z")
I’ll add the writers of the most songs to appear in the Billboard Magazine top 100 songs the last 20 years. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/27 "2002-06-15T01:08:28Z")
Another vote for Eno, the guy has had a pretty amazing run. His albums don’t get mainstream attention, but yet when Microsoft needed startup sounds for their Win32 operating systems, they first went to him with a long list of evocative emotional words and phrases and asked him to write a song which encompassed all the list. Then they told him that the song had to be less than three seconds long. Thus was born the Win95 startup sound. I’ll also second Todd Rundgren. Aside from being an amazing musician in his own right, he’s an incredible producer. His production of XTC’s Skylarking resulted in it being far and away there most magnificent album. No small feat considering the quality of the stuff they had put out up to that point. One guy who will never get his due is Scott Miller, first of Game Theory and later The Loud Family. Aside from putting out albums with insanely hook laden pop, his lyrics are some of the best there are. Interbabe Concern is probably the highpoint of his work, and if you can find it, you should get it. Sadly, you won’t and so you won’t. Last I heard he was thinking about hanging it up with The Loud Family, cause he’s just tired of banging his head against the wall. Other musicians view him as a veritable musical god, and yet he works as a UNIX coder in the SF Bay Area to pay the bills. Sometimes there ain’t no justice. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/28 "2002-06-15T01:09:46Z")
And yes, I often confuse there, their, and they’re. So bite me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/29 "2002-06-15T01:20:38Z")
Billy Corgan Frank Black (Black Francis) ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/30 "2002-06-15T01:28:39Z")
Bono ---
**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 15, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/31 "2002-06-15T04:05:29Z")
Aw come _on_, **Coldie** , Phil Collins certainly deserves to be on this list! Not only does he have some very very excellent work with Genesis (I’m thinking Trick of the Tail, for one), but his more recent pop stuff still manages to be exciting despite being pop. Can’t Phil _and_ Peter be on the list. I’ll also add **Joe Jackson** ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/32 "2002-06-15T04:49:52Z")
Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/33 "2002-06-15T06:21:18Z")
Gotta put in for my idol, James Douglas Morrison, Poet. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/34 "2002-06-15T06:26:17Z")
All hail **Warren Zevon**. Let me add a vote for **Neil Peart** , and **Pete Townsend**. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/35 "2002-06-15T06:35:08Z")
how could I forget Morrison! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Skydive101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@Skydive101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skydive101)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/36 "2002-06-15T07:52:04Z")
A few off the top of mein head. Billy Corgan Bjork Joan Jett Peter Gabriel Thom Yorke Tanya Donelly Bob Dylan ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/37 "2002-06-15T08:00:10Z")
**Ray Davies** Heh, I got there before everyone else. Those in the know would also include (and I’d be surprised if there are many here) **Richard Thompson** , his style, lyrics and delivery are instantly recognisable and he’s a very good guitarist. **Billy Joel** another one you all missed. **Neil Sedaka** You know its him he moment he opens his mouth, and yet you also know one of his songs even if someone else performs it. **Gordon Lightfoot** Been around some time, writes good stuff, is recognised as a good musician. **Glen Tilbrook** of Squeeze, although the songs seem like easy going pop tunes, the lyrics are really good. **Peter Green** In the 60’s even folk like Hendrix looked up to him, as a guitarist Green was peerless. ---
**Author:** ![colour\_wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@colour\_wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colour_wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/38 "2002-06-15T08:11:22Z")
After seconding most of those mentioned, I’d like to put up for consideration… For lyrics, Greg Graffin (of bad religion) certainly qualifies, but he is very very far from a musical genius. Billy Bragg has written some of the best lyrics ever and puts on a great show. Chris ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/39 "2002-06-15T11:54:14Z")
i’ll second **kurt cobain** and raise y’all a **michael stipe**. and plus: **andre 3000** (outkast) **thom yorke** (radiohead) **billy bragg** **michael franti** (spearhead) **chuck d** (public enemy) **ani difranco** what’s the big deal with john lennon being a ‘genius’? he wrote good pop songs. one included the imaginative concept that we all be nice to each other (expressed in a sickeningly sacharrine manner). he often wrote meaningless lyrics that thousands somehow call brilliant songwriting (i am the walrus?). i fail to see the genius\* \*unless your’e comparing him to paul mccartney. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/40 "2002-06-15T12:07:10Z")
Jeff Lynne. Laugh if you want; it’s my understanding he’s gifted in a buncha ways [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045.md?page=3)