Battle of the Bands: Pink Floyd vs. Tool

[Julio_Strikes_Back]

Today is a battle between two bands that are so unique that one cannot help but compare them.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd are an English rock band that initially earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. They are known for philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative cover art, and elaborate live shows. One of rock music's most successful acts, the group have sold over 200 million albums worldwide including 74.5 million albums in the United States alone.

Pink Floyd had moderate mainstream success and were one of the most popular bands in the London underground music scene in the late 1960s as a psychedelic band led by Syd Barrett; however, Barrett's erratic behaviour eventually forced his colleagues to replace him with guitarist and singer David Gilmour. After Barrett's departure, singer and bass player Roger Waters gradually became the dominant and driving force in the mid-1970s, until his eventual departure from the group in 1985. The band recorded several albums, achieving worldwide success with The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979). In 1985, Waters declared Pink Floyd defunct, but although the remaining members, led by Gilmour, were sued by Waters for rights to the name, they continued recording and touring as Pink Floyd and enjoyed commercial success with A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994), eventually reaching a settlement with Waters over the use of the name.

Waters performed with the band for the first time in 24 years on July 2, 2005 at the London Live 8 concert.

Pink Floyd have influenced rock music artists of the 1970s such as Genesis and Yes; and various contemporary artists such as Dream Theater, Tool, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree, The Orb, Anathema and Nine Inch Nails.

Tool

Tool is an American rock band that was formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of drummer Danny Carey, bassist Justin Chancellor, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Tool has won three Grammy Awards, hosted worldwide tours, and produced albums which have performed well on international music charts.

The band emerged with a heavy metal sound on their first LP at a time when the genre was dominated by thrash metal, and later reached the top of the alternative metal movement with the release of their second LP, Ænima, in 1996. Their efforts to unify musical experimentation, visual arts, and a message of personal evolution continued with Lateralus (2001) and their most recent album, 10,000 Days (2006), gaining the band critical acclaim and success around the world.

Due to Tool's incorporation of visual arts and relatively long and complex releases, the band is generally described as a style-transgressing act and part of progressive and art rock. The relationship between the band and today's music industry is ambivalent, at times marked by censorship and the band members' insistence on privacy.

Here's some videos:

Pink Floyd - "Comfortably Numb"
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Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here"
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Tool - "Lateralus"
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Tool - "Parabola"
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Vote or die!

[BhindBluEyes430]

Welcome back

Gotta go with pink Floyd on this one. Never found tool that interesting. And i wonder what all the Hype is about them for? Pink floyd were realy amazing. Dark side of the moon was the first album i ever listend to straight through. They were so inventive, creative and extreamly talented. Although i did think the wall was a little overrated. Money and time are some of the greatest songs ever

[polishdog90]

This one was easy for me. Definitely Pink Floyd.

[KillBox]

Pink Floyd

[AlterEgo]

Apples and oranges my friend.

[AxlVanHagar]

Floyd. Never got Tool.

Welcome back Julio.

[Shredder87]

No contest dude. Pink Floyd.

[TheVIRUSacsw52]

Pink Floyd hands down. I love Tool and I really love Pink Floyd, but I don't see much of a battle here. Tool has not put out enough material to match up with one of the all-time greats.

[Julio_Strikes_Back]

Keep voting!

[JMcQ77]

To the OP, "better" is too vague for a music discussion. Does better mean: (1) you like them more; (2) the band is more talented; (3) the band is more influential; (4) the band has a more complete body of work...etc.

BTW, I like Tool and have several albums but to use a sports analogy, this is like comparing Chris Paul with Magic Johnson. Yeah, Paul has had some GREAT years and is a talented point guard but no one could/should compare him to Magic. Magic is an icon.

Similarly, Pink Floyd is an icon and one of the "greatest" rock bands in history. Tool's not there, yet.