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Highest Intellects in Rock

tonadaxtonadax Posts: 594
edited July 2007 in Other Music
There are a number of individuals throughout the course of the history of Rock whose intellectual prowess never ceases to impress, whether experienced through interviews, or if a lyricist, through his/her words. Certain examples: Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page, Neil Peart, Roger Waters all come to mind, Who else?
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  • Electric LandladyElectric Landlady Posts: 11
    Joe Strummer
    Jarvis Cocker
    Damon Albarn
    Alex James
    Steve Earle
    Polly Harvey
    Bob Dylan
    Neil Young
    Thom Yorke
    Jonny Greenwood
    Then you had to bring up reincarnation over a couple of beers the other night
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    Wayne and Garth are pretty surprised by Alice Cooper's intellect.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • shareshare Posts: 551
    http://www.last.fm/group/Progressive+Metal/journal?action=display&entryid=381429
    we're all sentient snowflakes
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    I'm a number that doesn't count
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    the nothing ventured - the nothing feigned
  • South of SeattleSouth of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    Greg Graffin
    Dexter Holland
    Jello Biafra
    Henry Rollins
    KRS-One
    NERDS!
  • redrockredrock Posts: 18,341
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    Wayne and Garth are pretty surprised by Alice Cooper's intellect.
    Not just Wayne and Garth.. apparently he IS very intelligent.
  • Evacuation RulesEvacuation Rules Posts: 2,162
    Frank Zappa - by a landslide
  • Evensolo05Evensolo05 Posts: 118
    Zack De La Rocha
    Neil Young
    Bruce Springsteen
    Mike Patton
    Chuck D

    Zappa I agree with 100%
    no additives, preservatives, or artificial colouring
  • lalalalaaaaaaaalalalalaaaaaaaa Posts: 2,445
    JWBusher wrote:
    Frank Zappa - by a landslide
    agreed.

    Also, as far as I know, Chuck D and KRS One have nothing to do with Rock...love em both, but jesus...read the freakin' post before you respond ;)
  • fadafada Posts: 1,032
    Pete Townshend for me is a highly intelligent man. The Lifehouse project was a great concept
  • QuarterToTenQuarterToTen Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 3,642
    Rivers Cuomo and Poe both have ivy league degrees.

    Tom Waits
    Neil Young
    Trent Reznor
    Nice shirt.
  • South of SeattleSouth of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    Saturnal wrote:
    agreed.

    Also, as far as I know, Chuck D and KRS One have nothing to do with Rock...love em both, but jesus...read the freakin' post before you respond ;)

    Oh they Rock! ;)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ_zUa4IFsw

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUOHFn07KKU
    NERDS!
  • JaneNYJaneNY Posts: 4,438
    Rollins, definitely. That guy does so many different things.
    Trent Reznor without a doubt - I do not hesitate to call him genius in his work.
    Springsteen, well yes.
    Vedder, no? No one's mentioned him yet.
    And a younger guy who I've been impressed with in guitar work and what he says in interviews, Jade Puget.

    I think for the most part, people don't get to the level of success that the people listed above get to, without being bright, talented and dedicated to what they are doing.... (even if its someone's music that's not necessarily your taste)
    R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
    R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
    R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
  • Pearl Jam and toastPearl Jam and toast Posts: 4,475
    Marylin Manson.
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

    "Make our day"
  • illfatedillfated Posts: 65
    Maynard James Keenan

    Can be a douch, but most times its really interesting.
  • crazymerriecrazymerrie Posts: 64
    Tom Morello....

    hes got that Harvard degree to prove it
    Don't gimme no lip
  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Trent Reznor
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • PearlJamaholicPearlJamaholic Posts: 2,019
    well im not 100% sure with most of the names listed but i think greg graffin is the only one listed with a ph.d
    http://db.etree.org/PearlJamaholic
  • Evacuation RulesEvacuation Rules Posts: 2,162
    Jon Bon Jovi


    (just kidding)
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    Robert Fripp
    Peter Gabriel

    are a couple that come to mind and have not been mentioned yet.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • Phantom PainPhantom Pain Posts: 9,876
    The Gallagher Brothers
    My drinking team has a hockey problem

    The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill



    A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    JWBusher wrote:
    Frank Zappa - by a landslide
    didn't zappa have an IQ of 160+ or something insane like that?
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • Evacuation RulesEvacuation Rules Posts: 2,162
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    didn't zappa have an IQ of 160+ or something insane like that?

    Well, he learned how to write complete orchestral scores when he was in junior high, just by reading a book....so I would guess so.
  • piaget77piaget77 Posts: 156
    Jack White
  • direwolf74direwolf74 Posts: 1,622
    Tom Waits
    Gord Downie
    John K. Samson
    Greg Graffin
    Tom Morello
    Steve Earle
    Thom Yorke
    Marilyn Manson (can't stand his music, but he's a very intelligent & well spoken guy)
    Henry Rollins
    Billy Bragg
    The Boss
    Neil Young
    Jello Biafra
    Michael Stipe
    Bono
    Eddie Vedder
    "I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."

    -Tom Waits
  • bird jambird jam Posts: 107
    I am curious as to how you guys are defining "intellect" and how (beyond "OMG, he writes the deepest lyrics!") you think Eddie Vedder qualifies.
    Liberace was great on the piano but he sucked on the organ.
  • MattCameronKicksButtMattCameronKicksButt Posts: 4,317
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    Wayne and Garth are pretty surprised by Alice Cooper's intellect.

    that's what I was thinking. Not sure if you are being sarcastic but I always thought he was a smart man.
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    MattCameronKicksButt wrote:
    that's what I was thinking. Not sure if you are being sarcastic but I always thought he was a smart man.

    I was kind of being sarcastic, but I don't know, he may well be :)
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • MattCameronKicksButtMattCameronKicksButt Posts: 4,317
    bird jam wrote:
    I am curious as to how you guys are defining "intellect" and how (beyond "OMG, he writes the deepest lyrics!") you think Eddie Vedder qualifies.

    It's hard to define the word intellect if it applies to someone you don't know. Know one really knows how smart celebrities are unless you are talking about their lyrics, opinions or whether they did well in school and went to university. As far as politics is concerened, it is a matter of opinion.

    I don't know about Eddie... I don't know enough about him. Sometimes he says some really smart things but again, it is a matter of opinion. He does write great lyrics though, not many other people could come up with what he does.
  • darthvedder88darthvedder88 Posts: 1,023
    Billy Corgan
    "Darth Vader would say 'Impressive'."

    -Eddie Vedder

    6/24/06 Cincinatti, Ohio
    6/14/08 Manchester, Tennessee
  • JellyrollsJellyrolls Posts: 523
    Pearl Jam and toast wrote:
    Marylin Manson.
    I totally agree...miles above everyone
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