# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@kka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kka)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/61 "2002-11-18T04:47:26Z")
Dylan Clapton ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/62 "2002-11-18T05:40:56Z")
Didn’t originally think of Adam Duritz, though I do love Counting Crows - but I will say his songwriting has become less clichéd and more substantial with each album. I think _Hard Candy_ is an excellent CD, but I’m not quite sure if he’s in my top ten just yet… However, I’ll agree wholeheartedly with David Byrne, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan, and especially Paul Simon. And my own original contribution: **Jeff Tweedy** of Wilco. His songwriting style reminds me of the poetry of Sylvia Plath for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Pythagras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@Pythagras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythagras)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/63 "2002-11-18T06:00:31Z")
**Billy Corgan** **MIKE PATTON!!** ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/64 "2002-11-18T07:52:35Z")
Blixa Bargeld and Serge Gainsbourg (not quite rock, but liked by lots of rock lovers). ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/65 "2002-11-18T11:27:16Z")
[insert your personal favourite musician here] ---
**Author:** ![angelicate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@angelicate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/angelicate)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/66 "2002-11-18T11:35:58Z")
While I agree with a lot of the names that have already been mentioned, I’ll have to throw in **Eddie Vedder** as well. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/67 "2002-11-18T14:37:12Z")
True Genius’ of Rock and roll? Barry Gordy. Founded Tamla Motown and his genius changed the way an entire generation listened to music. Pete Waterman. Love him or hate him ( I hate him) few can deny the contribution he has made to Popular music over the last 25 or so years. He knows exactly how to make an act popular and is able to spot upcoming trends. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/68 "2002-11-18T22:02:19Z")
I didn’t see **Steve Winwood** mentioned. Look at the groups he was a major player in; Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic plus some fine solo albums. He played all the instruments on his _Arc of a Diver_ album. ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/69 "2002-11-19T01:26:13Z")
**Paul McCartney** ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045/70 "2002-11-19T17:18:24Z")
Quick question: Are we talking about great musical minds or great all around minds? In either case, I second (third? tenth?) Frank Zappa and I’ll throw Ian Anderson’s (of Jethro Tull) name in the mix. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-greatest-minds-in-rock-and-roll/114045.md?page=3)