# Worst band of the Seventies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021 "2012-05-05T21:04:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/141 "2012-05-09T16:39:04Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Don’t forget his playing a flying, spinning grand piano! Definitely over the top. Come to think of it, I believe that it was his Hammond rather than his Moog that he used knives on. I see there are quite a few folks who post vids of themselves playing Keith Emerson’s Piano Concerto no. 1, and Eruption from Tarkus. Not bad for what the OP thinks is one of the worst of the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/142 "2012-05-09T16:42:47Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Weird. I don’t care for Rush, myself - their music just doesn’t resonate with me - but I’ll freely admit that they’re talented musicians. I feel the same way. Rush as a group does not turn my crank, but Neil Pert as a soloist very much impresses me. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/143 "2012-05-09T18:06:24Z")
ALl this Rush talk got me to watch a documentary about the making of their two “Classic Albums” (that’s the name of the series): 2112 and Moving Pictures. I realized that I had always known the name of the band, but I had absolutely zero familiarity with so much as a note of their music. And now I know that my life was none the worse for the lack. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/144 "2012-05-09T19:19:45Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > I think it was that the tempos were always a bit off, in a way that was almost creepy: everything was just very slightly too slow. > [@Snickers](#): > > Or the Starland Vocal Band, just because of “Afternoon Delight.” They should burn for that song alone. This, except about Afternoon Delight. It literally sounds like something I’d get if I put my finger on a cassette tape to make it play slower. ETA: I think they recorded it slowly on purpose to cancel out stations that customarily played tracks fast to “pep” up the music and so the song would play at the “normal” speed. Because I definitely don’t remember it being as slow when I originally heard it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/145 "2012-05-09T20:37:00Z")
As bad a song as it is, I just can’t bring myself to condemn a song that extols fucking in the afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/146 "2012-05-09T23:18:36Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > That last bit is one of the most preposterous statements I’ve ever seen on this board (and I’ve seen a few). What, exactly, makes you the St. Peter of Rock Heaven, with your standards inscribed as Holy Writ upon the Stones above the entrance, denying entry to all who fail your little litmus tests? Rock has always been perfectly capable of “exploring deeper structures” in a variety of idioms, whether you like the idea or not. > > While I have a lot of bones to pick with prog myself (their 3rd generation descendants-mid 90’s to date, or thereabouts-almost universally leave me completely cold, with the notable exception of Porcupine Tree, who aren’t really prog to begin with), to insinuate that they aren’t performing “true” rock just because they dare to expand things a bit beyond 4 Chords and the Truth is a pretty far reach. > > And putting Rush on there, with the excuse that rock is “all about the beat” is silly too, given who their drummer is and how tight his/their rhythms were. It’s never been “all about the beat”, even going back to the mid 60’s. Every time I hear ‘rock is all about the BEAT, MAN! And \ sucks!’ I instantly come to the conclusion that the person stating this cannot count to anything but 4. 4/4 is ok, cause they can count to 4. 3/4 confuses them. 5/4 makes them cry. 5/8, 7/4 or 7/8 makes them curl up in a fetal position and start asking for Mommy. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/147 "2012-05-10T00:04:55Z")
> [@](#): > > But, the gig I have as the drummer in King Crimson is one of the few gigs in rock ‘n’ roll where it’s even _remotely_ possible to play anything in 17/16 and stay in a decent hotel. - [Bill Bruford](http://www.elephant-talk.com/wiki/Interview_with_Bill_Bruford_in_Modern_Drummer) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/148 "2012-05-10T00:20:53Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > Every time I hear ‘rock is all about the BEAT, MAN! And \ sucks!’ I instantly come to the conclusion that the person stating this cannot count to anything but 4. 4/4 is ok, cause they can count to 4. 3/4 confuses them. 5/4 makes them cry. 5/8, 7/4 or 7/8 makes them curl up in a fetal position and start asking for Mommy. One of the things I’ve always thought was cool about Rush is that they’re so _good_ at playing in those odd time signatures that, unless you’re trying count or play along, you really don’t even notice the oddness. It sounds completely natural when they do it. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/149 "2012-05-10T02:01:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > As bad a song as it is, I just can’t bring myself to condemn a song that extols fucking in the afternoon. Well yeah, but, if you were a kid at the time, this was clearly a song about _your parents_ fucking in the afternoon. :(:o ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/150 "2012-05-10T06:08:37Z")
Rush sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/151 "2012-05-10T06:59:41Z")
I you hate Rush, you probably think Adele is the world’s best vocalist, and Lady Gaga is original. Worst band ever goes to Styx, hands down over and over. Wish it was on the list ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/152 "2012-05-10T07:20:09Z")
Come on, I’m a Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis fan, and I even own _Moving Pictures_ (bought on a whim) and the Rush adulation baffles me. Partly it’s because they have zero presence on Australian radio, and I suspect their following is more-or-less limited to North America, but there has to be a reason that many prog bands gained followings in places where Rush never took root. Yet these people like Floyd (say) and hate Rush–I’m sure that must blow your mind. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/153 "2012-05-10T13:34:13Z")
Re: Rush–just last week they received lifetime achievement medals at the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards in Ottawa. [Here they are alongside another distinguished gentleman](http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w218/BurtonAnderson/PeteTownshend_May2012_02.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/154 "2012-05-10T14:55:08Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I you hate Rush, you probably think Adele is the world’s best vocalist, and Lady Gaga is original. > > Worst band ever goes to Styx, hands down over and over. Wish it was on the list But if you **LIKE** Rush you wear your momma’s bra and hate kittens! See? I can make silly comparison’s too. I have little desire to listen to any of the artists you mentioned. Both Rush and Styx sound like chipmunk rock to me. And I wouldn’t recognize either Adele or Gaga on the radio. I suspect that they have decent voices but are far much better at manufacturing publicity than they are at singing. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/155 "2012-05-11T02:05:04Z")
Actually, the best thing about Rush is seeing how, after all these years, these guys are still the best of friends - something many, if not most of the bands on that list can’t say. You gotta love guys who can come up with stuff like this: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxuw_ZzpVOw) and this: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNcAYv7GYUM) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/156 "2012-05-11T02:09:28Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > And I wouldn’t recognize either Adele or Gaga on the radio. I suspect that they have decent voices but are far much better at manufacturing publicity than they are at singing. Both are lovely singers, but I much prefer Adele’s music. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/157 "2012-05-11T02:43:21Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Actually, the best thing about Rush is seeing how, after all these years, these guys are still the best of friends - something many, if not most of the bands on that list can’t say. You gotta love guys who can come up with stuff like this: > > [www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxuw\_ZzpVOw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxuw_ZzpVOw) > > and this: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNcAYv7GYUM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNcAYv7GYUM) Not being a big fan of prog rock myself, I honestly don’t understand the hate of Rush. I’d much rather listen to them than ELP or Yes. Lyrics aside, they had more rock and tighter songwriting than those bands (IMHO, of course.) Is it all just Geddy Lee’s vocals that turns people off? Or is it the Ayn Rand objectivist tinge of the lyrics (which I’ve never really listened to anyway?) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/158 "2012-05-11T05:02:41Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Not being a big fan of prog rock myself, I honestly don’t understand the hate of Rush. I’d much rather listen to them than ELP or Yes. Lyrics aside, they had more rock and tighter songwriting than those bands (IMHO, of course.) Is it all just Geddy Lee’s vocals that turns people off? Or is it the Ayn Rand objectivist tinge of the lyrics (which I’ve never really listened to anyway?) I honestly couldn’t say. I can respect people just not caring for their music — musical taste is subjective and personal, after all. And I can agree that Geddy’s voice is an acquired taste (fortunately, I “acquired” it the first time I heard it). I only really speak up and argue when I feel like the “critic” is just repeating talking points. Usually their criticisms are very specific and 30+ years out of date, i.e. Geddy’s “shrieking” vocals. He hasn’t “shrieked” on an album since 1980 (or perhaps 1977, the last time he sang in a hard rock “screaming” style), or references to Peart’s Ayn Rand influences, a phase he had mostly outgrown by the end of the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/159 "2012-05-11T06:48:57Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Not being a big fan of prog rock myself, I honestly don’t understand the hate of Rush. I’d much rather listen to them than ELP or Yes. Lyrics aside, they had more rock and tighter songwriting than those bands (IMHO, of course.) Is it all just Geddy Lee’s vocals that turns people off? Or is it the Ayn Rand objectivist tinge of the lyrics (which I’ve never really listened to anyway?) Rush stopped the Rand stuff around 2112 or so, which came out in 1976. Geddy stopped the high vocal stuff not too long after. I think the hate comes from a couple places. First, a limited exposure. People probably know Fly By Night, Tom Sawyer and possibly Red Barchetta. Some of their better stuff, at least IMHO, never got much air play. For example, Losing It off of Signals. Second, it isn’t all 4/4. Third, the instrumental interludes can turn off people\*. And last, some Rush fans can be a little over the top. Oh, add in some different lyrical subjects. My overall theory is that bands like Rush tend to piss people off because it isn’t simple. There is a lot going on in a lot of their stuff and it isn’t toe tapping music. A lot of technically advanced bands get a lot of hate for this. The music can be busy and if you are used to listening to straight 4/4 with no key changes, a band that does a lot of time and key changes can be a little overwhelming. I have the opposite problem which is most radio friendly music bores me pretty quickly. I still like some straight ahead rock n roll but that is mostly for background noise. If I am listening to listen I prefer more progressive and complex stuff. There are some exceptions, for example the Ramones and I still love me some Ozzy and Metallica but I find myself looking for more interesting stuff. Slee ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/160 "2012-05-11T14:01:18Z")
Well, that’s pretty much the argument against all prog rock, not Rush in particular. That’s more what I’m curious about. (And Metallica has a lot of prog influence in all their albums before the eponymous black album, so it makes sense you would like them.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021.md?page=9)