PJ is not the GOAT but definitely in the Top Ten. Their big drawback to me is they really didn't influence anyone significantly, and if they did it was bands like Creed. I think it would be hard to argue any band is the GOAT outside of Zep, Beatles, Stones. U2 definitely up there too, and Bruce/EStreet.
Now that I think about it, Bruce with the E Street band could be GOAT.
I'm surprised Pink Floyd haven't come up yet in this conversation (though I acknowledge they can be an acquired taste, lol).
For my 2 cents, I think the only acts that will still be listened to widely in 100 years will be The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix (since music will still be catching up to him, lol). I know that's expanding on the original premise, sorry.
"The world is full of idiots and I am but one of them."
10-30-1991 Toronto, Toronto 1 & 2 2016, Toronto 2022
I think Pearl Jam deserves to be in the GOAT conversation for sure. Their run of albums from 1991-1994 can certainly stand up to anything the GOATs have ever done:
PJ: Ten, Vs., Vitalogy (could even cheat and say Temple of the Dog self-titled too) U2: Joshua Tree, Rattle & Hum, Achtung Baby Beatles: Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Peppers Zep: I, II, III...IV (take your pick) Stones: Beggar's Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers Pink Floyd: Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here
I'm just glad we have all this great music to listen to forever. But I'm also proud that "my band" (Pearl Jam), that I listened to growing up when I was 18-21 has reached the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame next week! Rock on!!!!
I'm surprised Pink Floyd haven't come up yet in this conversation (though I acknowledge they can be an acquired taste, lol).
For my 2 cents, I think the only acts that will still be listened to widely in 100 years will be The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix (since music will still be catching up to him, lol). I know that's expanding on the original premise, sorry.
If Pink Floyd gets mentioned, does PJ contemporary Radiohead also get thrown into the mix?
I'm surprised Pink Floyd haven't come up yet in this conversation (though I acknowledge they can be an acquired taste, lol).
For my 2 cents, I think the only acts that will still be listened to widely in 100 years will be The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix (since music will still be catching up to him, lol). I know that's expanding on the original premise, sorry.
If Pink Floyd gets mentioned, does PJ contemporary Radiohead also get thrown into the mix?
I don't see why not, lol.
Another thing that occurred to me that we're not acknowledging is how the music scene well and truly fractured in the 90s with countless sub genres, which I think makes determining a "modern" GOAT increasingly difficult.
"The world is full of idiots and I am but one of them."
10-30-1991 Toronto, Toronto 1 & 2 2016, Toronto 2022
I would accept Zeppelin or the The Beatles. I'm always impressed by how many quality albums The Beatles bumped out especially in the latter half of their career where they shunned playing live and focused on albums only.
Zeppelin kind of had both though. Wicked awesome albums (alot of them) and the toured a lot longer than The Beatles did. Except for Coda it's a pretty awesome career
never been one for the beatles.... but respect them for what they have done for R&R.
Same. Well, I like a couple songs.
Probably going to get banned for just saying this, but that is how I feel about The Beatles and Zeppelin. Not that either are bad, but one or the other ends up #1 on almost any "Best Of" list. I prefer The Who over either of those.
I'm with ya mace! I could never really get into the Beatles or Zeppelin. And I'm finally coming around to the Stones. But I'd still take The Who in a landslide.
Pearl Jam's career isn't over. There is (fingers crossed) still music to come. They cannot be properly judged in a historic context yet. A few other bands that have been mentioned are still touring, but most with a clear claim to this title are virtually or entirely done recording. If we are truly interested in the answer we need to revisit a few (or many, hopefully) years from now.
Just have to say that all of these arguments against them as the GOAT have been strictly about context. Very few have brought up the pure musicianship of a band like LZ, and to me that's the only thing that matters. How good is the music? How deep is the catalog?
It's impossible to compare PJ to these older bands. There will NEVER be another British Invasion. And the lineage of bands who were directly inspired by that expired a long time ago. So, to compare a modern band to the Beatles and Stones just doesn't work. Same for LZ, Floyd, The Who, Queen or anybody else you want to bring up. Pearl Jam has existed in a different world. Music was consumed in an entirely different way when they hit the scene, and it's even more different now. The fact that we even discuss them with the greatest bands of past eras is proof of their all-time greatness.
There are certainly ways to compare bands, but let's stop with the legacy, influence, popularity argument. Things are just too different now.
Not that it really matters (and it's all really a matter of opinion) but if you scour the www and read any of those "ten greatest rock artists of all time" lists, very rarely does Pearl Jam get named.
Not that it really matters (and it's all really a matter of opinion) but if you scour the www and read any of those "ten greatest rock artists of all time" lists, very rarely does Pearl Jam get named.
I'm 44 yo. I grew up on my dad's record collection: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, etc. At 14 yo I bought my first record - Guns N' Roses: Appetite For Destruction. I think many of us are still the "old guys" on this forum. In 5-10 years when these "best of lists" come out, you'll start seeing more 90's bands like: Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and R.E.M. start pushing out bands like Queen, U2, Pink Floyd, etc. It's just a matter of time and the natural order of things.
Top 10 for me. I'd like to think the general public would put them in the top 20. If you start mixing in solo artists (Hendrix, Dylan, Mitchell, Bruce, Neil, etc.), who I think should be included, it pushes them down a bit.
In no particular order, in a top 20 I'd include: Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, The Who, The Doors, Dylan, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, N.Young, Bruce, U2, REM, Nirvana, PJ, Radiohead, ...
....Crap, now it's getting tough....ACDC, Metallica, and GNR???? (Seems quite different than The Beatles and Dylan) ....Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis were both HUUUUUGE in the mid-1990's so whether you like them or not they should be considered, at least. ...RHCP???? ....Foo Fighters??? (nah)
I dont think Pearl Jam's name will carry as good as The Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin etc because even now there are tons of people that ask "Pearl Jam? Who are they?" I say we disqualify them from any music rankings lol, but point is they at least know the names of the other bands listed in this thread.
And this is if we are just talking about rock n roll it seems... Are there other genre bands that beat out PJ? Or any of the people listed?
Pittsburgh 2013 Cincinnati 2014 Greenville 2016 (Raleigh 2016) Columbia 2016
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
For their generation, it's between them, U2 and Radiohead.
My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
For their generation, it's between them, U2 and Radiohead.
+1
It's almost if they fill the space between U2 and Radiohead being (arguably, of course) the greatest at a specific time period. In other words: U2 - 1987-1993 PJ - 1992-1996?...1998???? RH - 1997-2001 With the above said, I'm sure fans (which include myself) of GNR, Nirvana, and even the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis might debate the above lists.
For their generation, it's between them, U2 and Radiohead.
+1
It's almost if they fill the space between U2 and Radiohead being (arguably, of course) the greatest at a specific time period. In other words: U2 - 1987-1993 PJ - 1992-1996?...1998???? RH - 1997-2001 With the above said, I'm sure fans (which include myself) of GNR, Nirvana, and even the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis might debate the above lists.
Pumpkins had PJ from 95-97 otherwise this list is pretty much correct. maybe Guns in 1987
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
For their generation, it's between them, U2 and Radiohead.
+1
It's almost if they fill the space between U2 and Radiohead being (arguably, of course) the greatest at a specific time period. In other words: U2 - 1987-1993 PJ - 1992-1996?...1998???? RH - 1997-2001 With the above said, I'm sure fans (which include myself) of GNR, Nirvana, and even the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis might debate the above lists.
Pumpkins had PJ from 95-97 otherwise this list is pretty much correct. maybe Guns in 1987
Yeah, you're probably right about Billy Corgan and Co. They that double album was pretty big deal (although I don't find that it has aged that well - Siamese Dream is way better). Difficult to say about GNR. I think U2 owned 1987 with The Joshua Tree while "Appetite" grew a bit more slowly (kind of like Ten?) but by the the GNRLies came out they were HUGE. I remember eagerly awaiting those Use Your Illusions release for almost a year. Come to think of it, however, that double album didn't age so well, either.
For their generation, it's between them, U2 and Radiohead.
+1
It's almost if they fill the space between U2 and Radiohead being (arguably, of course) the greatest at a specific time period. In other words: U2 - 1987-1993 PJ - 1992-1996?...1998???? RH - 1997-2001 With the above said, I'm sure fans (which include myself) of GNR, Nirvana, and even the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis might debate the above lists.
Pumpkins had PJ from 95-97 otherwise this list is pretty much correct. maybe Guns in 1987
Yeah, you're probably right about Billy Corgan and Co. They that double album was pretty big deal (although I don't find that it has aged that well - Siamese Dream is way better). Difficult to say about GNR. I think U2 owned 1987 with The Joshua Tree while "Appetite" grew a bit more slowly (kind of like Ten?) but by the the GNRLies came out they were HUGE. I remember eagerly awaiting those Use Your Illusions release for almost a year. Come to think of it, however, that double album didn't age so well, either.
Siamese was the best but I think in terms of popularity with the average fans... SP was way bigger in years we mentioned. 1987 was a little before my expertise. but I can see where GNR didn't really hit mainstream till 1988-89. by 1990 when I started paying attention they were HUGE.
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
For their generation, it's between them, U2 and Radiohead.
+1
It's almost if they fill the space between U2 and Radiohead being (arguably, of course) the greatest at a specific time period. In other words: U2 - 1987-1993 PJ - 1992-1996?...1998???? RH - 1997-2001 With the above said, I'm sure fans (which include myself) of GNR, Nirvana, and even the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis might debate the above lists.
Comments
Now that I think about it, Bruce with the E Street band could be GOAT.
DEGENERATE FUK
This place is dead
"THERE ARE NO CLIQUES, ONLY THOSE WHO DON'T JOIN THE FUN" - Empty circa 2015
"Kfsbho&$thncds" - F Me In the Brain - circa 2015
For my 2 cents, I think the only acts that will still be listened to widely in 100 years will be The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix (since music will still be catching up to him, lol). I know that's expanding on the original premise, sorry.
10-30-1991 Toronto, Toronto 1 & 2 2016, Toronto 2022
PJ: Ten, Vs., Vitalogy (could even cheat and say Temple of the Dog self-titled too)
U2: Joshua Tree, Rattle & Hum, Achtung Baby
Beatles: Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Peppers
Zep: I, II, III...IV (take your pick)
Stones: Beggar's Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers
Pink Floyd: Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here
I'm just glad we have all this great music to listen to forever. But I'm also proud that "my band" (Pearl Jam), that I listened to growing up when I was 18-21 has reached the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame next week! Rock on!!!!
Another thing that occurred to me that we're not acknowledging is how the music scene well and truly fractured in the 90s with countless sub genres, which I think makes determining a "modern" GOAT increasingly difficult.
10-30-1991 Toronto, Toronto 1 & 2 2016, Toronto 2022
1998 - West Palm Beach 1
2000 - West Palm Beach 1&2
2003 - WPB,Tampa,Atlanta,Camden 1&2,MSG 1&2, Boston 3,Hershey Park
2004 - Asheville, Kissimmee
2008 - West Palm Beach,Tampa,Columbia,Virginia Beach, Mansfield 1&2
2010 - Hartford,Boston,Newark, MSG 1&2
2011 - PJ20 1&2, Costa Rica
2013 - Wrigley,Brooklyn 1&2,Seattle
2014 - Denver,Mountain View 1&2
2015 - Bogata, Mexico City
2016 - Ft Lauderdale,Miami,Tampa,NYC 1&2,Telluride,Fenway 1&2,Wrigley 1&2
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
in real life...ummm nope.
It's impossible to compare PJ to these older bands. There will NEVER be another British Invasion. And the lineage of bands who were directly inspired by that expired a long time ago. So, to compare a modern band to the Beatles and Stones just doesn't work. Same for LZ, Floyd, The Who, Queen or anybody else you want to bring up. Pearl Jam has existed in a different world. Music was consumed in an entirely different way when they hit the scene, and it's even more different now. The fact that we even discuss them with the greatest bands of past eras is proof of their all-time greatness.
There are certainly ways to compare bands, but let's stop with the legacy, influence, popularity argument. Things are just too different now.
If you start mixing in solo artists (Hendrix, Dylan, Mitchell, Bruce, Neil, etc.), who I think should be included, it pushes them down a bit.
Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, The Who, The Doors,
Dylan, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, N.Young, Bruce,
U2, REM, Nirvana, PJ, Radiohead, ...
....Crap, now it's getting tough....ACDC, Metallica, and GNR???? (Seems quite different than The Beatles and Dylan)
....Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis were both HUUUUUGE in the mid-1990's so whether you like them or not they should be considered, at least.
...RHCP????
....Foo Fighters??? (nah)
And this is if we are just talking about rock n roll it seems... Are there other genre bands that beat out PJ? Or any of the people listed?
Cincinnati 2014
Greenville 2016
(Raleigh 2016)
Columbia 2016
livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446
1995- New Orleans, LA : New Orleans, LA
1996- Charleston, SC
1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY
2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2
2020- Nashville, TN
2022- Smashville
2023- Austin, TX x2
2024- Baltimore
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
But I don't think they'll ever be held in the same regard as the Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, ect.
U2 - 1987-1993
PJ - 1992-1996?...1998????
RH - 1997-2001
With the above said, I'm sure fans (which include myself) of GNR, Nirvana, and even the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis might debate the above lists.
otherwise this list is pretty much correct.
maybe Guns in 1987
livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446
1995- New Orleans, LA : New Orleans, LA
1996- Charleston, SC
1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY
2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2
2020- Nashville, TN
2022- Smashville
2023- Austin, TX x2
2024- Baltimore
Difficult to say about GNR. I think U2 owned 1987 with The Joshua Tree while "Appetite" grew a bit more slowly (kind of like Ten?) but by the the GNRLies came out they were HUGE. I remember eagerly awaiting those Use Your Illusions release for almost a year. Come to think of it, however, that double album didn't age so well, either.
1987 was a little before my expertise. but I can see where GNR didn't really hit mainstream till 1988-89. by 1990 when I started paying attention they were HUGE.
livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446
1995- New Orleans, LA : New Orleans, LA
1996- Charleston, SC
1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY
2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2
2020- Nashville, TN
2022- Smashville
2023- Austin, TX x2
2024- Baltimore