The greatest rock and roll band in the world?

hawkmoon269

Just weeks away now from the start of the Vertigo tour and following the recent announcement of a third leg in the US, U2 are still as bankable a live act as ever.

Maybe now would be a good time to consider U2 and their role in rock music.

From, in his own words a "blank suburban anonymous" neighbourhood on the fringes of Ballymun in North Dublin, Bono now sups with statesmen and international politicians, all with the aim of pursuing his causes of social justice.

In my view Bono is a worthy successor to the late John Lennon and has taken Lennon's political campaigning to a whole new level.

Musically, it took 3 or 4 albums before U2 got really good but when they hit it, they really hit it.

After seeing U2 during the ZooTV tour legendary record producer Phil Spector desribed them as the best live act in the world. Bob Dylan described Bono as the best frontman of his generation. Keith Richards
and Bruce Springsteen have performed live on stage with the band.

Driven by a radical agenda, U2 have never sold out on their commitment to social justice for the oppressed as witnessed by Bono's involvement in the DATA campaign.

God bless 'em.

"We're one, but we're not the same, we get to carry each other."

Basq

I think U2 are great... but people are generally pretty negative about them (or more specifically Bono) on Boards...

.. and then complain a week later when they couldn't get a ticket to the Croke Park gig!

hawkmoon269

basquille wrote:

I think U2 are great... but people are generally pretty negative about them (or more specifically Bono) on Boards...

Yeah I know that's the main reason I posted this.

Pugsley

The greatest rock band ever are Fractured from Fermanagh, get it right :rolleyes:

DerekD Goldfish

The greatest Rock Band ever were Whipping Boy with Gang of Four a close second

U2 would make my top 50 Irish List

the_obsolete

Nah best rock act ever has ta go ta Queen, end of story.

jossnjuice

quite obviously-The E Street Band

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

funeral_forever

rock............... queen definatly hehe xxxkirstyxxx

Dinner

Queen hands down

Karl Hungus

Solitaryman666 wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Queen were indeed infinetly superior to U2.

And furthermore, Brian May could actually play guitar, unlike the Edge.

0utshined

Led Zeppelin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With Queen a close second.

Karl Hungus

0utshined wrote:

Led Zeppelin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta give credit to the Zep.
And of course, Jimmy Page could actually play guitar, unlike The Edge.

Jimmy_Jazz

Karl Hungus wrote:

Gotta give credit to the Zep.
And of course, Jimmy Page could actually play guitar, unlike The Edge.

The Edge can actually do all that pentatonic stuff really well. Listen to the live version of The Fly.

0utshined

Karl Hungus wrote:

Gotta give credit to the Zep.
And of course, Jimmy Page could actually play guitar, unlike The Edge.

I think you're being a bit harsh there, I've been looking at the tab to Vertigo and reckon it'd take me a few weeks to get it down. Or maybe not.

Karl Hungus

0utshined wrote:

I think you're being a bit harsh there, I've been looking at the tab to Vertigo and reckon it'd take me a few weeks to get it down. Or maybe not.

Hah!

Blisterman

I think he means at the moment.

And seriously, Queen? Greatest band in the world?

Ph3n0m

this debate about the Edge "playing" guitar reminds me of BIll Bailey's Part Troll show - where he showed the Edge was all about effects

Doctor J

It doesn't matter. He plays the right thing at the right time, whether that means a gazillion notes or just one, it's a great skill to have

irlirishkev

I have to go with Led Zeppelin here.. Nobody has ever rocked and/or rolled like them!
And on that note i'm going to listen to 'Rock and Roll' by Led Zep!

K.

eoinf

oasis

nuff said

ether

eoinf wrote:

oasis

nuff said

OASIS! EXQUIZE ME.

Have to agree that Zeppelin are the greatest.

kawaii

Another zep-head here and personally, i despise Queen.

[shields eyes from flames and sneaks out a rear exit]

lee_baby_simms

kawaii wrote:

Another zep-head here and personally, i despise Queen.

[shields eyes from flames and sneaks out a rear exit]

for me its a dead heat between the clash and led zep.


queen were really just a tacky singles band. definately not rock'n'roll. more of a novelty act.
apart from the first 4 or 5 their albums were generally bad. really bad.

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!!"

2+2=5

led zeppelin are so so over rated in my opinion, pages guitar playing live, was so terribly messy... and please dont say, "Listen to how the west was won"... i have it, clapton would piss all over the man...
but this isnt about guitar players, this is about bands as a whole, so ill go with PEARL JAM... none of their albums sound alike... they are definitly the greatest rock band of all time

kawaii

2+2=5 wrote:

led zeppelin are so so over rated in my opinion, pages guitar playing live, was so terribly messy... and please dont say, "Listen to how the west was won"... i have it, clapton would piss all over the man...
but this isnt about guitar players, this is about bands as a whole, so ill go with PEARL JAM... none of their albums sound alike... they are definitly the greatest rock band of all time

Zep did sp much more than Eric Clapton. Though I listen to both, Clapton always maintained a purist aprouch to blues. Zep, on the other hand, experimented a lot more and got a lot of wonderful sound, much more original and interesting than Eric. In my oppinion, though Pages guitar playing is often very sloppy, his solos went a lot further than clapton's and were just more interesting.

And i don't think pearl jam would have sounded the same if Zep had never been on the scene.

2+2=5

pearl jam wouldnt sound the same if many bands didnt exist, but thats not the point... the point is that they do...
eric clapton has played so many different guitar styles and unlike jimmy page, is still playing guitar brilliantly... everytime jimmy page and robert plant get back together all i can do is laugh at how he has lost all his guitar playing abilities... sure he did experiment, but alot of the times his experimenting got boring

lee_baby_simms

2+2=5 wrote:

eric clapton has played so many different guitar styles

blues and rock? reggae rhythm with a blues approach?

clapton is primarily a blues player. and a pretty safe one at that. he never took any big risks after cream.

the people who play the cleanest and most presise are often the most boring and predictable like brian may and some of claptons stuff.
hendrixs' playing was sometimes messy as hell but its wild to listen to.

this is about rock'n'roll music. which above all is supposed to be exciting.

Baggio

Have to agree,
Zeppelin???..the more I hear them, the more they suck,,,really overated band, a real namedroppers delight , what is it in this country that everyone jumps on the bandwagon so easily with bands ..Ive listened to Zep a lot in the last few years on and off....trying to se the good music there.. the Zep 4 album I even bought, I do like that album,,but gosh they were sloppy - really sloppy at times....I dunno as was said earlier Page was a great rock guitarist but has dried up big time..Sorry lads overated is what they are - Rush wipe the floor with them and always have better musicans in every way Bonham and Peart Competition???.WHAT competition!!!... Peart has done far more dramatic ad high class drumming than Bonham ever came up with .
All those newbie Zep fans who deny this have never listened to RUSH to see the yawning gap between Bonham and Peart.... so Zep? do me a favour their music sounds dated old and sloppy Queen were a class act..RUSH are even better anyone disagrees?..go listen and then contradict. Zep fans?...lads move on

ciao',,,Baggio.........

0utshined

People who........ don't like Zeppelin???

I'm confused.

Do you not get that rush when you hear 'Rock and Roll', or 'Black Dog'.

Or how about when you listen to 'Over the hills and far away' right after 'Rain Song' and it starts off mellow and the first time you hear it you think it's going to be a quiet song again until that riff kicks in. I've been listening to that song for years and I still get excited anticipating it.

Aside :When I saw Baggio's name as the last poster I instantly knew he'd be saying Rush. I'll confess I've never heard them, What's a good album to start with?

eoinf

0utshined wrote:

People who........ don't like Zeppelin???

I'm confused.

would you say your a little "dazed and confused".......

sorry tou tee'd it up i just had to

Baggio

Outshined....for Rush intro try Moving Pictures there are too many albums you could start with try that and maybe the compilations:
retrospective 1 - 1974 - 1980
retrospective 2 - 1981 - 1988

ciao' Baggio...

Piste

I really think Queen were the best Rock n Roll band of all time, there will never be anythnig like them.

0utshined

eoinf wrote:

would you say your a little "dazed and confused".......

sorry tou tee'd it up i just had to

Oh man, that's bad.. how can you live with yourself ? I really should have seen that coming.

Baggio,

Thanks I'll check that out. I love Bonham's drumming but Neil Peart is considered a master so I'm sure I'll be impressed.

eoinf

was ted neugent playing with rush for a while or am i thinking of someone else.


by the way my humour is obviously lost on a forum like this

elivsvonchiaing

Can't believe no-one mentioned the Rolling Stones... their early stuff will be played in 100 years - as absolute all time classic. They are still going strong - but everything after the '70's sucks...

LZ had its day too as did Queen!

U2 However, are not there as long (as stones), but have constantly re-invented themselves and have retained their appeal.

Do think they deserve the title to be honest!

lee_baby_simms

Ac-dc

the_obsolete

I dunno elivsvonchiaing....to be honest the rolling stones just bore me to tears, especially with their fantastic "jazz" drummer...
And Baggio you shouldn't be allowed enter this debate, your answer to the greatest of every genre would be Rush!

Baggio

Laughs at obsolete..cheeky sod

and no ted nugent wasnt with Rush but theres time laughs

ciao'..Baggio...

2+2=5

a wise man once said:

Baggio wrote:

Have to agree,
Zeppelin???..the more I hear them, the more they suck,,,really overated band, a real namedroppers delight , what is it in this country that everyone jumps on the bandwagon so easily with bands ..Ive listened to Zep a lot in the last few years on and off....trying to se the good music there.. the Zep 4 album I even bought, I do like that album,,but gosh they were sloppy - really sloppy at times....I dunno as was said earlier Page was a great rock guitarist but has dried up big time..Sorry lads overated is what they are

the_obsolete

I'm surprised ya didn't mention Bonham in that ickle speech Baggio...

Waltons

Baggio,
I dunno. I've listened to some Rush stuff, not as much Zep as I've listened to I'll admit, and while Peart is an amazing drummer and the rest of the band are very talented on their instruments, I just don't enjoy the music as music as I do with Zep's music. Being extremely talented on an instrument doesn't always lead to the most enjoyable music.
Having said that though, I'll willingly listen to any Rush albums you recommend with an open mind

marshmallow

U2 and Queen would have to battle it out

Baggio

Waltons,
...good man and fair play to you for being so open minded,..and your fully entightled to like any band ya like..i mean if folks like the music Zep produced - good luck to them, if they like em better than Rush - good luck to them aswell,,its just the ol "legendary status mega musician * tag that i always question.

Rush albums to recomend?..gosh where do i start laughs ....

well if ya want great music ..then 2112 , Moving Pictures, Hemsipheres, A Farewell To Kings, Counterparts and Grace Under Pressure

yeah its a lot..i could name 10 more but those for many fans cover their amazing abilitys and showcase them to the full ,wether its 80's style rush or 90's or 70's they fit into each decade while maintaining their own flavour...know what I mean?

A Farwell To Kings contains two 10 minute epics and im sure some will groan, i understand that....but if you listen to them seperatley as if yer listening to a classical music suit which lasts a while, because of the content THEN youll get it. As i often say music doesnt have to last 3.50 mins! and doesnt HAVE to be a SONG..theres great music everywehre which is more conceptual and multi parted , if done well rock music like that can be fantastic..and those 2 are veryy much classic in that sense amazing percussion by Peart etc

enjoy...ciao...Baggio...

fragile

Pearl Jam

Pugsley

Id be another on the 'zep are over rated' bandwagon, because their music always seemed to bore me, dunno what it was about them but from what I have heard (admitadly, not all that much but a fair bit), I have found them samey somewhat, they have some great stuff, but they just didnt have the energy alot of the rock bands I do like (Im not that big into rock admitadly), Fractured beign what I see as the perfect rock band, so much energy in their music and their live show gives such an atmosphere (particularly when their playing in their home turf up here in Fermanagh). Just never got any of that with Zep.

Waltons

I'm sure the atmosphere was pretty spectacular with Zep as well though, Pugsley. I think that might be a large contributing factor in this; that we'll never get to go to a live Zep concert. It's obviously not the same watching something on a video or DVD even if it's from a live concert and Zep's stuff, like nearly all music, was probably designed to be heard live.
The energy doesn't come across much in their studio recordings, but even from looking at the live Dvds they did, they seem to have quite a bit of energy on stage (Bonham particularly).

And, Baggio. Cheers mate, I'll have a look into some of those Rush albums

Töpher

Baggio wrote:

Have to agree,
Zeppelin???..the more I hear them, the more they suck,,,really overated band, a real namedroppers delight , what is it in this country that everyone jumps on the bandwagon so easily with bands ..Ive listened to Zep a lot in the last few years on and off....trying to se the good music there.. the Zep 4 album I even bought, I do like that album,,but gosh they were sloppy - really sloppy at times....I dunno as was said earlier Page was a great rock guitarist but has dried up big time..Sorry lads overated is what they are - Rush wipe the floor with them and always have better musicans in every way Bonham and Peart Competition???.WHAT competition!!!... Peart has done far more dramatic ad high class drumming than Bonham ever came up with .
All those newbie Zep fans who deny this have never listened to RUSH to see the yawning gap between Bonham and Peart.... so Zep? do me a favour their music sounds dated old and sloppy Queen were a class act..RUSH are even better anyone disagrees?..go listen and then contradict. Zep fans?...lads move on

ciao',,,Baggio.........

ARG! I just typed a very long structured reply to this, and boards didn't post it. :mad:

You know where it woulda gone anyways.

Baggio

Einst hey yes I know where it would have gone lauggs but no worries we'll agree to disagree just put 3 best Zep albums on and 3 Best Rush and see whos tops , why it would be sooo easy for the 3 Mastercraftsmen sooo easy laughs

Zep are ok but thats all¬!!..Rush make emn look and sound pedestrian and dulllllllll

ciao amigo..Baggio......

0utshined

Baggio wrote:

Einst hey yes I know where it would have gone lauggs but no worries we'll agree to disagree just put 3 best Zep albums on and 3 Best Rush and see whos tops , why it would be sooo easy for the 3 Mastercraftsmen sooo easy laughs

Zep are ok but thats all¬!!..Rush make emn look and sound pedestrian and dulllllllll

ciao amigo..Baggio......

I bet you said that with a straight face and all.

Töpher

I listen to alot of Rush. And alot of Zeppelin.

It's all down to opinion at the end of the day (though your reason for your strange obsession with Rush ALWAYS seems to be Neil Peart and nothing but ), but yours is just wrong! Hehe.

Try to look beyond the drummer (not that Bonham should be looked beyond :eek:!).

And calling all Zep fans noobs is just downright moronic!