Nirvana was more influential but down the road when it is all settled pearl jam will be a super band one of the top five of all time and we will never know with nirvana. i am talking 20+ years from now people will be writing on a board arguing that PJ could be the best band of all time.
The only singer I have heard blatantly rip Cobain off is the guy from Seether. I'm no expert on Kurt's influence but didn't he basically steal somebody else's singing style?
Kurt borrowed a lot of things. But did them well in my opinion. Put his own spin on it.
That dude from Puddle of Mudd sweats Kurt pretty bad, appearance, singing, everything.
The Allman's invented a genre of music, along with spearheading a whole other movement, the jam bands. They were the most technically sound band of the day.
Ed is the most imitated vocalist since Robert Plant. PJ is the most sucessful of the early 90's bands. While PJ can't match the initial onslaught that was Teen Spirit, they had a longer lasting impact in what was popular. And Nirvana didn't open the flood gates. They leaned up against somethin that was about to break already. Plus they had about run their course.
Beach Boys were the first great american rock band.
I don't think the Allman's get that claim to themselves. Ever hear of the Grateful Dead? If anyone created the jam band scene it was the Dead. There's also Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR... don't get me wrong, I love the Allman Brothers Band, but they're not going to top any list of the biggest names in rock history.
As to Nirvana vs PJ... it doesn't take much. Ed didn't even make Rolling Stone's list of top vocalists. Watch any music countdown show... you'll get every huge musician on there talking about how great Nirvana is or that band is... but when Even Flow came on VH1's hard rock countdown... you had some bassist from a forgotten metal band talking about their politics and how he respected that and 10 people making fun of the vocals. Not one kind word about their music. Let's face, they don't get the respect they deserve. Every new band cites Nirvana as an influence, nobody talks about Pearl Jam. They're too polarizing. They're a populist band... the CCR of the grunge scene... great band, lot of great songs, ton of general respect, but the one always forgotten when people talk about great bands because they just don't have the kind of universal recognition Nirvana and Radiohead get.
I guess I just don't hear the overwhelming influence of Nirvana's music. It was always more about the way people went about making music, imo. Whether they looked at the charts and let that sway them or if they just said fuck it and wrote what they wanted.
How many crappy singers have been mentioned on this board b/c they are obviously rippin Ed?
There are just as many who wish they were Kurt. Including my best friend. Pearl Jam is very influential no doubt, but not to the same scale as Nirvana.
Ok, well PJ is full of better musicians, written more and better albums, and is one of the greatest live bands of all time. That would put them above Nirvana.
The only singer I have heard blatantly rip Cobain off is the guy from Seether. I'm no expert on Kurt's influence but didn't he basically steal somebody else's singing style?
There are a lot of people that would say PJ hasn't made a great album since Vs or Vitalogy. They've gone the way of the Stones. They're more known now for their classic songs and albums and for putting on a good show, but nobody but the diehards gives a flying fuck about whatever new album they have out at the moment.
The Beatles
Led Zeppelin
The Rolling Stones
Metallica
Pink Floyd
good list we better do a top ten. I really need to think about this
Not to start shit but................... Metallica? Really? I have to plead ignorance since I only know their stuff in a "greatest hits" kind of way but I've never considered them to be even close to an all-timer type band.
Explain your nomination, please.
Well, for me part of it is bias. I grew up listening to lots of Metallica. But for this, I look at it this way. Musically they are epic. Especially their first 5 albums, sort of like the Pink Floyd of metal. They have it all. Long, intricate songs that can blow your ears off, catchy riffs, devoted fans, the ability to sell out any and every show they play anywhere in the world, and above all harmony in their songs. Also every.... EVERY band has at least one sucky album to the masses. Metallica had a few in the 90's and their worst came in 2003 with St. Anger. But they reorganized and regrouped and put their heads together and came out with the hardest hitting album in 2008 with Death Magnetic. For a group who is pushing 50 they have really come full circle. Oh, and getting inducted into the Rock and Roll HOF in the first year of eligibility says enough. No easy task.
The Allman's invented a genre of music, along with spearheading a whole other movement, the jam bands. They were the most technically sound band of the day.
Ed is the most imitated vocalist since Robert Plant. PJ is the most sucessful of the early 90's bands. While PJ can't match the initial onslaught that was Teen Spirit, they had a longer lasting impact in what was popular. And Nirvana didn't open the flood gates. They leaned up against somethin that was about to break already. Plus they had about run their course.
Beach Boys were the first great american rock band.
I don't think the Allman's get that claim to themselves. Ever hear of the Grateful Dead? If anyone created the jam band scene it was the Dead. There's also Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR... don't get me wrong, I love the Allman Brothers Band, but they're not going to top any list of the biggest names in rock history.
As to Nirvana vs PJ... it doesn't take much. Ed didn't even make Rolling Stone's list of top vocalists. Watch any music countdown show... you'll get every huge musician on there talking about how great Nirvana is or that band is... but when Even Flow came on VH1's hard rock countdown... you had some bassist from a forgotten metal band talking about their politics and how he respected that and 10 people making fun of the vocals. Not one kind word about their music. Let's face, they don't get the respect they deserve. Every new band cites Nirvana as an influence, nobody talks about Pearl Jam. They're too polarizing. They're a populist band... the CCR of the grunge scene... great band, lot of great songs, ton of general respect, but the one always forgotten when people talk about great bands because they just don't have the kind of universal recognition Nirvana and Radiohead get.
If the Grateful Dead never existed, you still have ABB's Live at Fillmore and Band of Gypsy's. I have seen more jam bands cite those as influences than any Dead album.
What planet are you on that PJ doesn't have the respect of their peers. THEY were the biggest band in the world at one time. Fact is, Nirvana never was. They were one their way there, then GnR put out the UYI albums. When that kinda faded, PJ was there to pick up the ball, but PJ didn't want it for long. They've shared the stage with members of some of the greatest bands of all time. How, again, are they not respected very much.
I think alotta critics hate PJ, b/c they wanted to elevate PJ, but PJ didn't want any part of being press band. That didn't seem to affect Zeppelin much, in the long run.
Pearl Jam get way more universal recognition than Radiohead. It's not even close. I've never heard a Radiohead song besides Creep and the current single on the radio. Radiohead are great, but unless you are more into music than the average person you are never gonna like them much.
I agree with you about CCR, but I think Soundgarden fits that bill much better than PJ.
I find very few fans of good music that can come up with an honest bad thing to say about them.
The Allman's invented a genre of music, along with spearheading a whole other movement, the jam bands. They were the most technically sound band of the day.
Ed is the most imitated vocalist since Robert Plant. PJ is the most sucessful of the early 90's bands. While PJ can't match the initial onslaught that was Teen Spirit, they had a longer lasting impact in what was popular. And Nirvana didn't open the flood gates. They leaned up against somethin that was about to break already. Plus they had about run their course.
Beach Boys were the first great american rock band.
Yeah, I guess we can thank the Allman Brothers for Southern Rock. :roll: I've heard enough of that to last me a lifetime.
The Beach Boys music is infectiously fun but I don't consider them influential. How can you not like surf music? But they didn't influence rock they way American artists like Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Elvis, and Chuck Berry did.
The Allman's invented a genre of music, along with spearheading a whole other movement, the jam bands. They were the most technically sound band of the day.
Ed is the most imitated vocalist since Robert Plant. PJ is the most sucessful of the early 90's bands. While PJ can't match the initial onslaught that was Teen Spirit, they had a longer lasting impact in what was popular. And Nirvana didn't open the flood gates. They leaned up against somethin that was about to break already. Plus they had about run their course.
Beach Boys were the first great american rock band.
Yeah, I guess we can thank the Allman Brothers for Southern Rock. :roll: I've heard enough of that to last me a lifetime.
The Beach Boys music is infectiously fun but I don't consider them influential. How can you not like surf music? But they didn't influence rock they way American artists like Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Elvis, and Chuck Berry did.
Every genre of music has crappy bands, lets not hold that against ABB and Skynyrd.
The Beach Boys were America's only legitimate answer to the Beatles. They cite each other as reason for branching out. Unfortunately Brian Wilson burned out before he could answer Revolver.
If the Grateful Dead never existed, you still have ABB's Live at Fillmore and Band of Gypsy's. I have seen more jam bands cite those as influences than any Dead album.
What planet are you on that PJ doesn't have the respect of their peers. THEY were the biggest band in the world at one time. Fact is, Nirvana never was. They were one their way there, then GnR put out the UYI albums. When that kinda faded, PJ was there to pick up the ball, but PJ didn't want it for long. They've shared the stage with members of some of the greatest bands of all time. How, again, are they not respected very much.
I think alotta critics hate PJ, b/c they wanted to elevate PJ, but PJ didn't want any part of being press band. That didn't seem to affect Zeppelin much, in the long run.
Pearl Jam get way more universal recognition than Radiohead. It's not even close. I've never heard a Radiohead song besides Creep and the current single on the radio. Radiohead are great, but unless you are more into music than the average person you are never gonna like them much.
I agree with you about CCR, but I think Soundgarden fits that bill much better than PJ.
I find very few fans of good music that can come up with an honest bad thing to say about them.
Yeah, but how many people do you know that rave about them? Even people that don't like Radiohead or haven't heard a thing since OK Computer will tell you they're geniuses. The most common reaction when you mention PJ is people asking if they're still together. I know 2 kinda of people... people that say PJ is their fav band and the best ever, and people that remember them as a band with a few hits years ago. I've never heard anybody that wasn't a die hard PJ fan mention them among the greats. I've heard plenty of casual or even non-fans talk about Nirvana and Radiohead as being bands for the ages.
If the Grateful Dead never existed, you still have ABB's Live at Fillmore and Band of Gypsy's. I have seen more jam bands cite those as influences than any Dead album.
What planet are you on that PJ doesn't have the respect of their peers. THEY were the biggest band in the world at one time. Fact is, Nirvana never was. They were one their way there, then GnR put out the UYI albums. When that kinda faded, PJ was there to pick up the ball, but PJ didn't want it for long. They've shared the stage with members of some of the greatest bands of all time. How, again, are they not respected very much.
I think alotta critics hate PJ, b/c they wanted to elevate PJ, but PJ didn't want any part of being press band. That didn't seem to affect Zeppelin much, in the long run.
Pearl Jam get way more universal recognition than Radiohead. It's not even close. I've never heard a Radiohead song besides Creep and the current single on the radio. Radiohead are great, but unless you are more into music than the average person you are never gonna like them much.
I agree with you about CCR, but I think Soundgarden fits that bill much better than PJ.
I find very few fans of good music that can come up with an honest bad thing to say about them.
Yeah, but how many people do you know that rave about them? Even people that don't like Radiohead or haven't heard a thing since OK Computer will tell you they're geniuses. The most common reaction when you mention PJ is people asking if they're still together. I know 2 kinda of people... people that say PJ is their fav band and the best ever, and people that remember them as a band with a few hits years ago. I've never heard anybody that wasn't a die hard PJ fan mention them among the greats. I've heard plenty of casual or even non-fans talk about Nirvana and Radiohead as being bands for the ages.
I think all the press for the last PJ album, Lolla and Bonaroo did wonders for PJ's legacy. They're more visible now than they have been for years. I doubt any serious fan of rock music ever thought Pearl Jam broke up. I have heard countless radio personalities talk about how great PJ is, just kinda random little comments.
I don't think Radiohead is quite as universally loved as you think. How many people over 30-35 do you know that listen to Radiohead. I can't say that I know any. Radiohead are hugely popular among a certain age group, but not so much with the older generations.
I know quite a few people that rave about them. Maybe down here in southern IL we are just waaaaaaaaaaay behind the times.
those old fogies that say "nothin beats the old stuff" listen to PJ
Yeah, I guess we can thank the Allman Brothers for Southern Rock. :roll: I've heard enough of that to last me a lifetime.
The Beach Boys music is infectiously fun but I don't consider them influential. How can you not like surf music? But they didn't influence rock they way American artists like Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Elvis, and Chuck Berry did.
Every genre of music has crappy bands, lets not hold that against ABB and Skynyrd.
The Beach Boys were America's only legitimate answer to the Beatles. They cite each other as reason for branching out. Unfortunately Brian Wilson burned out before he could answer Revolver.
I should have explained myself better. I was being just a little facetious. I love the Allman Brothers but otherwise don't care much for Southern Rock. I was a teenager in Texas in the 70s so I heard more than my share of it.
I still have a hard time putting the Beach Boys in the same class as the Beatles. Yes, they were also hugely popular but their long term impact on music wasn't the same by any means.
My opinion on the whole PJ vs Nirvana thing is that Nirvana made a bigger innitial impact on music and the world for that matter (come on, anyone who was there knows what I'm talking about), but PJ hasmade more of an impact in the long haul as far as influencing so many bands out there now and for what they have done to the careers of their opening acts.....MMJ and KOL are two prime examples that BLEW UP after the toured with PJ.
"If you want a friend, feed any animal." - JA
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV
Elvis
The Beatles
Rolling Stones
Bob Dylan
Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd
And don't forget about those that were not as big but influenced a ton of bands:
The Beach Boys
The Everly Brothers
Simon & Garfunkel
Black Sabbath
etc
Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
My opinion on the whole PJ vs Nirvana thing is that Nirvana made a bigger innitial impact on music and the world for that matter (come on, anyone who was there knows what I'm talking about), but PJ hasmade more of an impact in the long haul as far as influencing so many bands out there now and for what they have done to the careers of their opening acts.....MMJ and KOL are two prime examples that BLEW UP after the toured with PJ.
I'm not sure the blew up because they toured with PJ though. I'm sure it helped, but I think those bands were headed for the big time when PJ scooped them up and walked them into stardom. But I never hear bands mentioning PJ as an influence unprompted. These bands all talk about how cool it was to tour with them, but never a word about them before. The only band I ever heard saying they loved PJ was Good Charlotte... and they sounded pretty dejected about it because it was after Ed had dissed them on the MSG dvd.
PJ hasn't done anything new or revolutionary musically in their entire career. The bands we've listed here did things with music that nobody knew could be done before they did. PJ has to some extent rewritten the rules about how much you have to bow to the record companies and still have a good career, and they jumped on the internet thing pretty well, but musically, they're just a very good band turning out very good rock songs. It's why they were more popular than Nirvana or the other grunge bands... their sound had mass appeal... it was 70s hard rock, with a dirty sheen. There's nothing wrong with that. I just don't think they've done anything that will have people's jaws on the floor for its uniqueness and brilliance in 20 years the way Sgt Pepper's or ZOSO or Dark Side of the Moon or Tommy does. Again, nothing wrong there... those are almost impossible standards.
I think it is really easy in discussions such as this to focus strictly on bands who were around when it started, as if greatness somehow equals longevity and is dependent upon a band having come along in the 1960s or ealry 70s.
As an example: I llke The Who a lot and always have, but when it gets right down to it I don't see or hear "greatness" coming from them. Many, many great songs, but a great band? Not to me. Sure The Who's influence is wide and far-reaching, but I think a lot of the bands they influenced -- PJ included -- do The Who better than The Who ever did The Who.
Personal preferences are also difficult to take into account when this comes up. I would certainly put PJ in the top five greatest band of all time, but that doesn't necessarily make it so and who's to say one way for the other.
Anyway.....here's my five in no particular order
PJ
Black Crowes -- if they had been around in the 70s they would have put the stones out of business a long time ago
Led Zep
The Doors
Stones
G'n'R could have been
Metallica is definitely top 10 and should not follow Black Sabbath just because Sabbath came before them.
All I have to do is revel in the everyday....then do it again tomorrow
They say every sin is deadly but I believe they may be wrong...I'm guilty of all seven and I don't feel too bad at all
I think it is really easy in discussions such as this to focus strictly on bands who were around when it started, as if greatness somehow equals longevity and is dependent upon a band having come along in the 1960s or ealry 70s.
I don't necessarily agree with that. I would say bands like U2, Metallica, Nirvana, and Radiohead all have legit claims to top 10 status, because they are all bands that changed rock in major ways, and none of them were around in the 60s or 70s. PJ didn't do that. I don't even like Radiohead, hell I don't like the Who either. But I recognize the impact they had on the way we perceive and think about rock music. I don't think PJ has done that, even though they're my favorite band. I compare PJ to Bruce Springsteen... they both have a lot of songs that defined their times, both renowned for amazing live shows, both beloved for being bands "of the people." They both do rock better than almost anyone at times. But neither of them is going to be placed in that upper echelon of bands the redefined what rock is. They were the best at what they did in their time, but neither of them blazed any new trails or seem to capture the zeitgeist the way other groups did.
You underestimate PJ's popularity and their influence was instant. Eddie alone has influenced more artists than Radiohead.
Radiohead is big, and probably the most important band right now but I think their musical influence is pretty minimal. I honestly don't hear much. Coldplay says they owe Radiohead their career, but that's just so people compare them. Radiohead kinda has their own sound.
I think there are as many casual music fans out there that would say "Who the hell is Radiohead" as "PJ, didn't they break up". Radiohead isn't a huge phenomenon. They are the most popular mainstream rock band at a time when mainstream rock music is in the crapper. PJ was the most popular in the 2nd biggest movement in rock history.
I could never hear the big influence of AIC, either. Black Sabbath played sludgy doom music 30 years before. Staind, Godsmack etcetc never really sounded anything like AIC imo.
EDIT: I think a TON of people would put Bruce in the top 10, so don't underestimate being a "band of the people".
I think it is really easy in discussions such as this to focus strictly on bands who were around when it started, as if greatness somehow equals longevity and is dependent upon a band having come along in the 1960s or ealry 70s.
I don't necessarily agree with that. I would say bands like U2, Metallica, Nirvana, and Radiohead all have legit claims to top 10 status, because they are all bands that changed rock in major ways, and none of them were around in the 60s or 70s. PJ didn't do that. I don't even like Radiohead, hell I don't like the Who either. But I recognize the impact they had on the way we perceive and think about rock music. I don't think PJ has done that, even though they're my favorite band. I compare PJ to Bruce Springsteen... they both have a lot of songs that defined their times, both renowned for amazing live shows, both beloved for being bands "of the people." They both do rock better than almost anyone at times. But neither of them is going to be placed in that upper echelon of bands the redefined what rock is. They were the best at what they did in their time, but neither of them blazed any new trails or seem to capture the zeitgeist the way other groups did.
+1 for the use of the term Zeitgeist.
Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
MMJ and KOL are two prime examples that BLEW UP after the toured with PJ.
When will Ted Leo and the Pharacists get their big break???
Hmmmm, they may have to open up another tour for them. Of course, MMJ and KOL were destined to be big bands...they are two incredible bands in every way, but I really believe opening for PJ did propel their careers.
Many bands have givin credit to PJ as an influence (too many to list)...maybe not just as a musical influence but also in how to conduct themselves and handle the business. And you know why?? Longevity does equal greatness in a certain point of view...you can't make it for 20, 30, 40+ years if you don't have something going right, right?? Although....then how would you explain Kiss
"If you want a friend, feed any animal." - JA
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV
Down the street you can hear her scream youre a disgrace
As she slams the door in his drunken face
And now he stands outside
And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
And his tears fall and burn the garden green
Black Crowes -- if they had been around in the 70s they would have put the stones out of business a long time ago
Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin didn't put the Stones out of business, but I agree with your point... the Crowes are a much better band, and one of my personal favorites.
No mention of The Doors????
They are definately in my top 5!
I personally love them (Jim is an American icon) but let's be honest, they weren't the greatest musicians.
"If you want a friend, feed any animal." - JA
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV
Comments
That dude from Puddle of Mudd sweats Kurt pretty bad, appearance, singing, everything.
I don't think the Allman's get that claim to themselves. Ever hear of the Grateful Dead? If anyone created the jam band scene it was the Dead. There's also Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR... don't get me wrong, I love the Allman Brothers Band, but they're not going to top any list of the biggest names in rock history.
As to Nirvana vs PJ... it doesn't take much. Ed didn't even make Rolling Stone's list of top vocalists. Watch any music countdown show... you'll get every huge musician on there talking about how great Nirvana is or that band is... but when Even Flow came on VH1's hard rock countdown... you had some bassist from a forgotten metal band talking about their politics and how he respected that and 10 people making fun of the vocals. Not one kind word about their music. Let's face, they don't get the respect they deserve. Every new band cites Nirvana as an influence, nobody talks about Pearl Jam. They're too polarizing. They're a populist band... the CCR of the grunge scene... great band, lot of great songs, ton of general respect, but the one always forgotten when people talk about great bands because they just don't have the kind of universal recognition Nirvana and Radiohead get.
There are a lot of people that would say PJ hasn't made a great album since Vs or Vitalogy. They've gone the way of the Stones. They're more known now for their classic songs and albums and for putting on a good show, but nobody but the diehards gives a flying fuck about whatever new album they have out at the moment.
Well, for me part of it is bias. I grew up listening to lots of Metallica. But for this, I look at it this way. Musically they are epic. Especially their first 5 albums, sort of like the Pink Floyd of metal. They have it all. Long, intricate songs that can blow your ears off, catchy riffs, devoted fans, the ability to sell out any and every show they play anywhere in the world, and above all harmony in their songs. Also every.... EVERY band has at least one sucky album to the masses. Metallica had a few in the 90's and their worst came in 2003 with St. Anger. But they reorganized and regrouped and put their heads together and came out with the hardest hitting album in 2008 with Death Magnetic. For a group who is pushing 50 they have really come full circle. Oh, and getting inducted into the Rock and Roll HOF in the first year of eligibility says enough. No easy task.
9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
If the Grateful Dead never existed, you still have ABB's Live at Fillmore and Band of Gypsy's. I have seen more jam bands cite those as influences than any Dead album.
What planet are you on that PJ doesn't have the respect of their peers. THEY were the biggest band in the world at one time. Fact is, Nirvana never was. They were one their way there, then GnR put out the UYI albums. When that kinda faded, PJ was there to pick up the ball, but PJ didn't want it for long. They've shared the stage with members of some of the greatest bands of all time. How, again, are they not respected very much.
I think alotta critics hate PJ, b/c they wanted to elevate PJ, but PJ didn't want any part of being press band. That didn't seem to affect Zeppelin much, in the long run.
Pearl Jam get way more universal recognition than Radiohead. It's not even close. I've never heard a Radiohead song besides Creep and the current single on the radio. Radiohead are great, but unless you are more into music than the average person you are never gonna like them much.
I agree with you about CCR, but I think Soundgarden fits that bill much better than PJ.
I find very few fans of good music that can come up with an honest bad thing to say about them.
The Beach Boys music is infectiously fun but I don't consider them influential. How can you not like surf music? But they didn't influence rock they way American artists like Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Elvis, and Chuck Berry did.
Every genre of music has crappy bands, lets not hold that against ABB and Skynyrd.
The Beach Boys were America's only legitimate answer to the Beatles. They cite each other as reason for branching out. Unfortunately Brian Wilson burned out before he could answer Revolver.
Yeah, but how many people do you know that rave about them? Even people that don't like Radiohead or haven't heard a thing since OK Computer will tell you they're geniuses. The most common reaction when you mention PJ is people asking if they're still together. I know 2 kinda of people... people that say PJ is their fav band and the best ever, and people that remember them as a band with a few hits years ago. I've never heard anybody that wasn't a die hard PJ fan mention them among the greats. I've heard plenty of casual or even non-fans talk about Nirvana and Radiohead as being bands for the ages.
I think all the press for the last PJ album, Lolla and Bonaroo did wonders for PJ's legacy. They're more visible now than they have been for years. I doubt any serious fan of rock music ever thought Pearl Jam broke up. I have heard countless radio personalities talk about how great PJ is, just kinda random little comments.
I don't think Radiohead is quite as universally loved as you think. How many people over 30-35 do you know that listen to Radiohead. I can't say that I know any. Radiohead are hugely popular among a certain age group, but not so much with the older generations.
I know quite a few people that rave about them. Maybe down here in southern IL we are just waaaaaaaaaaay behind the times.
those old fogies that say "nothin beats the old stuff" listen to PJ
I still have a hard time putting the Beach Boys in the same class as the Beatles. Yes, they were also hugely popular but their long term impact on music wasn't the same by any means.
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV
Elvis
The Beatles
Rolling Stones
Bob Dylan
Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd
And don't forget about those that were not as big but influenced a ton of bands:
The Beach Boys
The Everly Brothers
Simon & Garfunkel
Black Sabbath
etc
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
I'm not sure the blew up because they toured with PJ though. I'm sure it helped, but I think those bands were headed for the big time when PJ scooped them up and walked them into stardom. But I never hear bands mentioning PJ as an influence unprompted. These bands all talk about how cool it was to tour with them, but never a word about them before. The only band I ever heard saying they loved PJ was Good Charlotte... and they sounded pretty dejected about it because it was after Ed had dissed them on the MSG dvd.
PJ hasn't done anything new or revolutionary musically in their entire career. The bands we've listed here did things with music that nobody knew could be done before they did. PJ has to some extent rewritten the rules about how much you have to bow to the record companies and still have a good career, and they jumped on the internet thing pretty well, but musically, they're just a very good band turning out very good rock songs. It's why they were more popular than Nirvana or the other grunge bands... their sound had mass appeal... it was 70s hard rock, with a dirty sheen. There's nothing wrong with that. I just don't think they've done anything that will have people's jaws on the floor for its uniqueness and brilliance in 20 years the way Sgt Pepper's or ZOSO or Dark Side of the Moon or Tommy does. Again, nothing wrong there... those are almost impossible standards.
As an example: I llke The Who a lot and always have, but when it gets right down to it I don't see or hear "greatness" coming from them. Many, many great songs, but a great band? Not to me. Sure The Who's influence is wide and far-reaching, but I think a lot of the bands they influenced -- PJ included -- do The Who better than The Who ever did The Who.
Personal preferences are also difficult to take into account when this comes up. I would certainly put PJ in the top five greatest band of all time, but that doesn't necessarily make it so and who's to say one way for the other.
Anyway.....here's my five in no particular order
PJ
Black Crowes -- if they had been around in the 70s they would have put the stones out of business a long time ago
Led Zep
The Doors
Stones
G'n'R could have been
Metallica is definitely top 10 and should not follow Black Sabbath just because Sabbath came before them.
They say every sin is deadly but I believe they may be wrong...I'm guilty of all seven and I don't feel too bad at all
I don't necessarily agree with that. I would say bands like U2, Metallica, Nirvana, and Radiohead all have legit claims to top 10 status, because they are all bands that changed rock in major ways, and none of them were around in the 60s or 70s. PJ didn't do that. I don't even like Radiohead, hell I don't like the Who either. But I recognize the impact they had on the way we perceive and think about rock music. I don't think PJ has done that, even though they're my favorite band. I compare PJ to Bruce Springsteen... they both have a lot of songs that defined their times, both renowned for amazing live shows, both beloved for being bands "of the people." They both do rock better than almost anyone at times. But neither of them is going to be placed in that upper echelon of bands the redefined what rock is. They were the best at what they did in their time, but neither of them blazed any new trails or seem to capture the zeitgeist the way other groups did.
Radiohead is big, and probably the most important band right now but I think their musical influence is pretty minimal. I honestly don't hear much. Coldplay says they owe Radiohead their career, but that's just so people compare them. Radiohead kinda has their own sound.
I think there are as many casual music fans out there that would say "Who the hell is Radiohead" as "PJ, didn't they break up". Radiohead isn't a huge phenomenon. They are the most popular mainstream rock band at a time when mainstream rock music is in the crapper. PJ was the most popular in the 2nd biggest movement in rock history.
I could never hear the big influence of AIC, either. Black Sabbath played sludgy doom music 30 years before. Staind, Godsmack etcetc never really sounded anything like AIC imo.
EDIT: I think a TON of people would put Bruce in the top 10, so don't underestimate being a "band of the people".
+1 for the use of the term Zeitgeist.
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
When will Ted Leo and the Pharacists get their big break???
9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
Many bands have givin credit to PJ as an influence (too many to list)...maybe not just as a musical influence but also in how to conduct themselves and handle the business. And you know why?? Longevity does equal greatness in a certain point of view...you can't make it for 20, 30, 40+ years if you don't have something going right, right?? Although....then how would you explain Kiss
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV
Jimi Hendrix
Pearl Jam
Little Feat
Sublime
first 5 i thought of, that's all
As she slams the door in his drunken face
And now he stands outside
And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
And his tears fall and burn the garden green
Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin didn't put the Stones out of business, but I agree with your point... the Crowes are a much better band, and one of my personal favorites.
2. Pearl Jam
3. Radiohead
4. Led Zeppelin
5. Pink Floyd
They are definately in my top 5!
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I personally love them (Jim is an American icon) but let's be honest, they weren't the greatest musicians.
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV