OK, here is one for y'all to ponder... which of the following rock legend live solos is the best?
Bass.
Drum.
Flute. Yes, flute!
And no, I am not asking "what other solo is even better than any of these." I picked these because I like them, so discuss these and not others! We'll save the others for later...
OK, someone's gotta say it first...
Van Halen's guitar is...
SMOKIN'!!!
Posted by: Independent Thinker | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 12:57 PM
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Posted by: Steve | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 01:29 PM
Gully
Nicely done. If you were asking us to pick the best that is almost impossible as they play different instrument. As a drummer for more than 30 years, and my favorites being Buddy Rich and Bonzo, that will be my pick. I personally have more of a love for drums than guitar, bass, keyboards and yes flute.
If you were going to add vocalist then Robert Plant singing No Quarter live is absolutely haunting.
Posted by: Sid Leiken | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 01:34 PM
Mr. Mayor, I had no idea!
Actually, for vocals (male) I would go for Justin Hayward and (female) Annie Haslam.
Posted by: Gullyborg | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 01:36 PM
What wonderful picks to choose from. For pure musicianship my pick would be Wakeman. His timing was impeccable and the piece was a monster. For uniqueness the pick would be Ian Anderson, only he has even attempted to take the flute to new heights. Bonham and Entwhistle are great but I've seen and heard better. Eddie wins on just plain Rock and Roll, he is a guitar God. All that said I thought Wakemans work was best overall.
Posted by: John Eyler | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 02:36 PM
I'd go with Rick on the piano for pure musicality... I've seen (and worked stagehand for) Jethro Tull, and not even his own roadies had good things to say about Ian... The Bass solo comes in second.
Posted by: Jeff | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 02:50 PM
Make that keyboard, not piano....
Posted by: Jeff | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 02:51 PM
Wakeman would definitely get the nod on the political/spiritual level, music aside.
Although Entwistle and Bonham are certainly "spiritual" these days.
Why do the great musicians always die too young?
Posted by: Gullyborg | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 03:51 PM
I'm a drummer of only 28 years, so I find new reasons to bow in respect to Mayor Leiken. And he likes Buddy? Leiken for president!
Difficult choice, Gully. I lean toward Bonham because of his contribution to the evolution of drumming, but Entwhistle and Eddie made their own huge contributions. And Anderson and Wakeman were so, so, unique!
Purely on which one I like best, I'm going with Anderson. I can find plenty of great (and actually, even better) drummers, keyboardists, guitarists and bass players than these great men. But how many ground-breaking rock bands used a flute player?
Posted by: Ken | Friday, 19 October 2007 at 08:40 PM
My family owns Double Tee Promotions in Portland, and so I have seen many of concerts over the years. Probably the best drummer I have ever seen live is Neil Peart of Rush, but as for power drummers, Bonzo is the man. Buddy, however, was in a league of his own followed closely by Gene Krupa.
Posted by: Sid Leiken | Saturday, 20 October 2007 at 08:24 AM
If Buddy and Gene are your style, you shouldn't overlook Ed Shaughnessy.
Posted by: Gullyborg | Saturday, 20 October 2007 at 11:50 AM
As a drummer all my life and coming from a family of drummers I have to agree with the Mayor.
Drums.
Yip Yip
Posted by: Coyote | Sunday, 21 October 2007 at 08:59 AM
For serious guitar, it's hard to beat a little SRV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agHM4UC1gxo&mode=related&search=
Posted by: Mike Clark | Sunday, 21 October 2007 at 01:58 PM
Buddy and Gene are not necessarily my style, just loved to watch them. My style is power drumming, i.e. Bonzo, Carl Palmer, Joey Kramer, Alex Van Halen, et al. In fact, Alex is probably one of the most underrated. Saw Jason Bonham recently with the new Foreigner line-up, by the way they are incredible, and he is great.
Posted by: Sid Leiken | Sunday, 21 October 2007 at 03:39 PM
I am VERY excited about the upcoming Zeppelin reunion concert with Jason sitting in for his late father!
Posted by: Gullyborg | Sunday, 21 October 2007 at 09:40 PM
Sid,
You took the words out of my mouth about Alex Van Halen. Heck I think I did a post on that some time back. I remember back in HS a lot of the younger set really had it on for Neil Peart. Yah ok he was fast. Maybe the fastest hands ever. But like Mr. Mayor, I liked the drive in the power drummers like AVH and Bonham.
AVH is my favorite drummer and second is... I know folks hold on now... Mick Fleetwood.
Call me eclectic.
Posted by: Coyote | Monday, 22 October 2007 at 10:06 PM
Coyote
I knew there was a reason I like you. I can totally understand why you like Mick. Not my fav but I like him too. Alex on Poundcake is major power drumming, love it.
Gully, if I could, I would fly to London in a heartbeat to see the Zep reunion.
Posted by: Sid Leiken | Tuesday, 23 October 2007 at 06:55 AM
For pure power drumming, it is hard to top Keith Moon.
Posted by: Gullyborg | Tuesday, 23 October 2007 at 10:10 AM
of those presented, i'm torn between wakeman and anderson. only after careful consideration, anderson ultimately gets the nod for being so far out-of-the-box.
these are all outstanding artists in their respective categories. nicely done. :)
Posted by: the nefarious doktor x | Wednesday, 24 October 2007 at 08:24 PM
If you like out-of-the-box, I may have to record and post one of my amazing incredible must-be-seen-and-heard-to-be-believed kazoo jams.
Seriously.
Posted by: Gullyborg | Wednesday, 24 October 2007 at 11:09 PM