The Counterintuitive CEO
This blog, written by Forrester CEO George Colony, contains ideas, observations, and analyses to help drive the success of other CEOs. George’s goal is to assist today’s company leaders in forming unique approaches to the challenges they face. Read George’s biography.
Follow George on Twitter.
Posted by George Colony on April 6, 2009
Here's the massive lack of consensus so far. If you haven't yet voted, please chime in. Bands listed by number of votes as of April 6th at 12:30 P.M.:
Allmans
E Street Band
Dead
Doors
Aerosmith
Replacements
Beach Boys
Nirvana
Phish
Ramones
REM
The Band
ZZ Top
Black Crows
Creedence
CSN&Y
Foo Fighters
Fugazi
Guns N' Roses
Jefferson Airplane
Little Feat
Metallica
NRBQ
Pearl Jam
Rush
Stooges
Talking Heads
Tom Petty and Heartbreakers
Velvet Underground
White Stripes
Wilco
Eagles
Chili Peppers
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Comments
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Allmans in the number one spot?I don't buy it. I'm declaring shenanigans!
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Rush is from Canada.
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Allman Bros as #1? feh. (Willing to move my vote from Aerosmith to the E Street Band to kick Allmans out of #1, if necessary.) How about supplying some numbers so we have a sense of how things are shaking out?
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
okay - Greatfull Dead - Done.
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
My favorites (NOT counting funk, R&B):1. Doors2. Eagles3. CCR4. Lynyrd Skynyrd5. Aerosmith6. Van Halen7. Allman Brothers8. Beach Boys9. Velvet Underground10. Talking Heads11. ZZ TopI did not count bands from Canada even though they are eligible under George's rules. I just think bands from Canada shouldn't be lumped together with the U.S. Also, how should we treat Fleetwood Mac -- American, British, or a hybrid? Finally, I just couldn't count the E Street band; if we're going to count the E Street band, then we have to count the Jimi Hendrix Experience, in which case the Experience would rocket to Number 1 or close to it on my list.
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Great to see the Replacements with such a strong showing. I second that. I would vote for them multiple times if it means I could bump the Doors off the list -- or at least well out of the top ten!
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Where the hell is Green Day? Doesn't anyone out there have any taste?
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Lots of great bands listed here, and if anyone has seen the recent Foo Fighters live from Wembley on Palladia, there is a case to be made for them as one of the best, or at least one of the best live performances. Ultimately, when it comes to rock I have to vote for Guns 'n Roses. They had the thunderous guitars, great melody, scorching Axel Rose lyrics and amazing Slash solos that cannot be matched to this day. Appetite for Destruction is one of the best albums ever. It's too bad they are totally in shambles today (including one of their guitarists wearing a KFC bucket on his head).
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Does anyone else do as good a job of mixing all the great American styles of music like the Allman Brothers? A little blues, some jazz, country - they mixed all these purely American sounds to come up with something new, adding in a touch of psychedelia. Add in their longevity and influence on not just the southern rock of the 70s but also today's jam band scene, and they get my vote easily.
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Interesting: none of us has mentioned the Byrds. I don't think they're the Number 1 American band, but they belong on a Top 20 list. I forgot all about the Byrds, perhaps because the band's sound feels "of the time," but the Byrds were actually quite influential and talented.
re: Best American Rock and Roll Band -- Update
Band of GypsiesFrank Zappa and the Mothers of InventionThe Beach BoysLittle FeatThe Allman BrothersThe Grateful DeadCrosby, Stills, Nash and YoungThe Talking HeadsStevie Ray Vaughn and Double TroubleLynyrd Skynyrd