Highest ranked band members at their intruments.

[vandalizemenow00]

I had a hard time coming up with a title for this thread but here is the premise: Rush has two members that are inarguably in the top 5 best players at their respective instruments in Geddy Lee and Neil Pert. I am not a huge Rush fan, but I don't see how anyone could say that Lee is not a top 5 bassist of all time and Pert is not a top 5 drummer. Thats a pretty good 1-2 punch. Are their any other bands that have this distinction?

The only band that I can think of that would come close would be RHCP with Flea and Frusciante. Flea in my mind is no question top 5 while Frusciante is underrated but with names like Hendrix, Clapton, Van Halen, and Page out their I don't know that he will ever crack the top 5.

[DarkSide247]

The Who. Keith Moon is in the top ten on most lists, and Pete Townshend is usually on quite a bit of lists.

[vandalizemenow00]

The Who. Keith Moon is in the top ten on most lists, and Pete Townshend is usually on quite a bit of lists.

Interesting. Moon is definately up there Townshend is a great song writer but I don't know if he is up there with guitar gods. But they may just be number two behind Rush in this topic.

[WhiffleBallTony]

Dream Theater.

End of thread.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Led Zeppelin. Plant, Page, Jones, and Bonham all get high praise for their ability.

[Hungryfreak]

My favorite Death lineup is full of people I would rank very highly in their respective instruments:

Chuck Schuldiner - Guitar/Vocals
Gene Hoglan - Drums
Andy LaRoque - Guitar
Steve DiGiorgio - Bass

Atheist, though, has had many people who are my favorites at their respective instruments, especially in the rhythm sections. The current lineup:

Kelly Schaefer - Vocals/Guitar
Steve Flynn - Drums
Tony Choy - Bass
Rand Burkey - Guitar

Though I guess I haven't really regarded Rand too much at all. Their rhythm section catches my attention the most. I should also give mention to Roger Patterson, the bassist before Tony Choy, may he rest in peace.

[thedoorsdk]

The Who is a good one, although I think Entwistle deserves the recognition more than Townsend does. Moon is a shoe-in, while Daltrey is certainly up there in terms of sheer power.
Rush is also good, although I'd add Alex Lifeson to the top 5 list. He's certainly in my top 5 guitarists, and his ability to add texture and color with his guitarwork is without peer.
Cream is obvious, all three members are highly regarded on their instruments. Hence the name.
The classic era of Yes (ie the Close to the Edge/Fragile lineup) is another band where all the members are extremely talented at their instruments (Bill Bruford on drums, Jon Anderson on vocals, Steve Howe on guitar, Chris Squire on bass, and Rick Wakeman on keys).

[vandalizemenow00]

The Who is a good one, although I think Entwistle deserves the recognition more than Townsend does. Moon is a shoe-in, while Daltrey is certainly up there in terms of sheer power.
Rush is also good, although I'd add Alex Lifeson to the top 5 list. He's certainly in my top 5 guitarists, and his ability to add texture and color with his guitarwork is without peer.
Cream is obvious, all three members are highly regarded on their instruments. Hence the name.
The classic era of Yes (ie the Close to the Edge/Fragile lineup) is another band where all the members are extremely talented at their instruments (Bill Bruford on drums, Jon Anderson on vocals, Steve Howe on guitar, Chris Squire on bass, and Rick Wakeman on keys).

Cream is a great choice. Clapton and Baker are both very highly ranked. I don't know much about thier bassist though.

[DarkSide247]

The Who is a good one, although I think Entwistle deserves the recognition more than Townsend does. Moon is a shoe-in, while Daltrey is certainly up there in terms of sheer power.
Rush is also good, although I'd add Alex Lifeson to the top 5 list. He's certainly in my top 5 guitarists, and his ability to add texture and color with his guitarwork is without peer.
Cream is obvious, all three members are highly regarded on their instruments. Hence the name.
The classic era of Yes (ie the Close to the Edge/Fragile lineup) is another band where all the members are extremely talented at their instruments (Bill Bruford on drums, Jon Anderson on vocals, Steve Howe on guitar, Chris Squire on bass, and Rick Wakeman on keys).
Forgot Entwistle. While i don't think Townshend deserve all of his recognition, he deserves quite a bit.

[polishdog90]

The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Jimi was a guitar god, and Mitch Mitchell is a fantastic drummer.

I don't know if you guys listen to Liquid Tension Experiment, but not much can beat that band when it comes to instrumental skills.

[a21schizoidman]

ELP
Palmer- drum god
Emerson - keyboard god
Lake - underrated bassist and vocalist

[partyboydanial]

Cream:

Eric Clapton - top 5 guitarist

Ginger Baker - top 10 drummer

Jack Bruce - top 5 bassist

[Runa216]

There are only two bands I can think of that are truly composed of greats.

Rush

Peart is widely considered one of, if not THE best drummer of all time.
Geddy is a great bassist and a VERY unique vocalist.
Lifeson is underrated, and is among the top five, in my opinion.

Dream Theater

Petrucci is a guitar god, one of my faves.
Portnoy is the only drummer that is on the same level as Peart (and Keith Moon)
Myung is an amazing Bassist, but gets little to no recognition, similarly to Alex Lifeson.
Rudess is such an amazing keyboardist he was recognized as a professional in second grade.
LaBrie is unique, much like Geddy and Mercury, but I guess he's nothing special.

[Runesmith]

This is an odd choice, but I'm going to go with the Bad Brains and the Dead Kennedys. Both groups had highly charismatic frontmen, underrated rhythm sections, and inventive guitarists. East Bay Ray, in particular, reminds me of how Dick Dale would sound if he decided to go punk.

While they enforced texture, creativity, and restraint over overt displays of technical ability most of the time, Roxy Music also had some truly great players in the form of Paul Thompson, Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry, and Phil Manzanera.

[afterstasis]

This is an odd choice, but I'm going to go with the Bad Brains and the Dead Kennedys. Both groups had highly charismatic frontmen, underrated rhythm sections, and inventive guitarists. East Bay Ray, in particular, reminds me of how Dick Dale would sound if he decided to go punk.

While they enforced texture, creativity, and restraint over overt displays of technical ability most of the time, Roxy Music also had some truly great players in the form of Paul Thompson, Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry, and Phil Manzanera.

i agree with all three of these, and would like to throw in lightning bolt...
two men who are truly incredible to behold with their respective instruments.

[Cubecubed]

Zeppelin

Page=Best guitarist IMO
Bohnam=best drummer IMO
JPJ= top 5 bassist no question
Plant=easily a top 10 vocalist

[Eaglediveofsex]

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. I do not like love these guys, although I do like them, but they are so brimming with talent it is hard not to respect. Bela Fleck, well, insane, errr, banjo player. Victor Wooten THE best bassist. and Jeff Coffin, with his sax; he can play two at once for Vishnu's sake! and an honourable mention to futureman with his drumitar. So I guess this does not really work since no one sticks out, but if I had to I would say Victor does.

[Jhail83]

I personally think Mike Portnoy is overrated....


Anyway I'd like to add Yes to the list.

Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford/Alan White, Rick Wakeman, and Jon Anderson.

[a21schizoidman]

I personally think Mike Portnoy is overrated....


Anyway I'd like to add Yes to the list.

Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford/Alan White, Rick Wakeman, and Jon Anderson.

oooh

Yes

and Asia

and Anderson Wakeman Bruford Howe, lol

[SputnikDX]

90's Megadeth lineup anyone?

Friedman? Up there, (or should be) no doubt.
Mustaine? For a rhythm guitarist, he's easily top 3.
Menza? Underrated, and while not top 5, he's easily in the top 20.
Ellefson? Not many bassists get recognition they deserve, and neither does he.

[neckermanncj]

Muse. End Of Thread.

[Hungryfreak]

Much as I like some of Muse's stuff, they have not shown much talent on the level of top 10 anything.

[Gowienczyk]

List's of such are usually either done by A) ****ty american journalists or B) exaggerated fans of entry level material.

[Lord_Mhoram]

Queen.

Freddie is often the top of vocalists lists, and always in the top 10.
Brian is usually in the top 50 of longer lists, and shows up in the top 20 quite often.
Similar with Roger Taylor.

Deacon usually gets no respect. :)

[Alright_Computer]

Much as I like some of Muse's stuff, they have not shown much talent on the level of top 10 anything.

Top 10 keyboardists in rock?

Back on topic, Dream Theater's members (except the singer) are all easily some of the best at their respective instruments.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Queen.

Freddie is often the top of vocalists lists, and always in the top 10.
Brian is usually in the top 50 of longer lists, and shows up in the top 20 quite often.
Similar with Roger Taylor.

Deacon usually gets no respect. :)

You got Roger and John Backwards. Deacon gets tons of praise, but I dodn't see Riger get many.

And Edit your post to say "The REAL Queen"

[The Highway To Hell]

Angus Young - Lead Guitarist, AC/DC

Chris Slate - Drummer, AC/DC (1990-1994)

[BhindBluEyes430]

well the who is an easy choice

I would also go with pink floyd from Ummagumma to The Wall.
they might not have been in the top 10 of everything but the way they came together puts them above most other bands

[Nourez]

I've been a fan of Dave Grohl for a while. He's a pretty good guitarist and vocalist, but his drumming is great. Not the best, but if he was to go 1 on 1 with Satan in a drum battle, he would totally win.

[SputnikDX]

Guess I forgot to mention Judas Priest. Everyone but their bassist is a beast, and Halford is easily on of the greatest vocalists of all time.

[Alright_Computer]

I've been a fan of Dave Grohl for a while. He's a pretty good guitarist and vocalist, but his drumming is great. Not the best, but if he was to go 1 on 1 with Satan in a drum battle, he would totally win.

Dude, Dave Grohl is Satan. How would he beat himself in a drum battle?

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/new_line_cinema/tenacious_d_in__the_pick_of_destiny/dave_grohl/tenacious2.jpg

[a21schizoidman]

Angus Young - Lead Guitarist, AC/DC

Chris Slate - Drummer, AC/DC (1990-1994)

you mean Chris Slade?


and Phil Rudd was waaaaaaaaaay better than Slade

[Lord_Mhoram]

You got Roger and John Backwards. Deacon gets tons of praise, but I dodn't see Riger get many.

And Edit your post to say "The REAL Queen"

There is only one Queen. There is also an offshoot band it is names Queen + somebody. :)

I mostly based my comments on the fact that I haven't seen John on very many Best bassist lists, but have seen Roger show up on some drummer ones.

[polishdog90]

A lot of people are saying Dream Theater, but I would like to argue that Liquid Tension Experiment is better.

It has:
John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
Tony Levin (King Crimson)

Check out this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmo1VW_wA_o

[l-o-t]

Steven Tyler is a kick-ass singer/front man. I think he's a little under acknowledged in these forums...

And Joe Perry is a damn good guitarist.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Guess I forgot to mention Judas Priest. Everyone but their bassist is a beast, and Halford is easily on of the greatest vocalists of all time.

I think that's because he likes to stare at Halford.

[SputnikDX]

Steven Tyler is a kick-ass singer/front man. I think he's a little under acknowledged in these forums...

And Joe Perry is a damn good guitarist.

You joking? Steven Tyler is talked about all the time on these forums!

Wait, nevermind. I'm thinking of Fake Steven Tyler...

[TheCrimsonSaint]

Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Megadeth all come to mind.




Anyone who says MetallicA is fooling themselves.