Who are the greatest musicians (all genres) in all the land?

[Semjaza]

Jimi Hendrix was a good guitarist, but I don't quite get why so many people consider him the best ever. I will say he has a good warm quality a lot of players lack, but I've heard better overall playing, whether technically proficient or not. To me, Kurt Cobain is another one of those good, but not amazing guys out there. After twenty minutes, I find his voice grating. I can see what people like, I just don't like it to the same extent. Personal preference, I guess. As for Page, he is excellent, but at the same time, a lot of his work is incredibly similar to others work preceding him (in some cases, it almost feels stolen, but who knows).

For me the greatest is David Bowie. Perhaps not as influential on the very foundations of rock music (the guy pretty much revolutionized post-war music) as someone like Muddy Waters as HC mentioned, I think he is definitely one of the most influential people in terms of actually building upon that foundation. I don't think a single artist/group has matched the consistent, high quality of output that Bowie managed in the 70s and early 80s.

In addition to this, I think he managed to remove rock music from the progressive rut it was in. At that time, people were buying stuff that mostly consisted of some guy sitting in flannel and whining out heartfelt songs. Bowie's back catalog around that time (66 to 68 or so) mostly just contributed to that rut and deepened it. When Space Oddity came out shortly after, I don't know what happened exactly, but he completely broke free of all of that. I'll never understand how he could come from such predictable, tired material into something that excellent. Later following it with Ziggy Stardust really just cemented it. Of course it helped that his backing band was phenominal at the time (and really, still is, despite different members). Mick Ronson is probably the most underrated performer I can think of and completely integral to Bowie's sound at the time..

I think the whole costuming element was a big thing too. There were other glam rock bands at the time, but Bowie's image was [i]the[/i] image. Other bands/artists have images and costuming, but by comparison, most of them are arbitrary and have no meaning. Kiss's make-up and costumes had no effect on their music, neither did thirty plus years of Alice Cooper in the same eye make-up. The image meant something. These were personas; actual characters. They affected the songs, they affect the story, they affected everything and were their own voice in many ways. It's something you rarely see in music anymore and really, the only band that has really managed to secure this since then has been Marilyn Manson... although in far more sinister way. Look is one thing, purpose and meaning is another. In both cases, I think the depths of these images and characters is lost on a majority of people.

I remember watching some show where they mentioned a huge group of rock artists were asked various questions. One was who did they consider their largest influence. Bowie was number one. I think that says a lot.

[Heaven's Cloud]

[QUOTE=Semjaza Azazel]

For me the greatest is David Bowie.
[/QUOTE]

[color=indigo]Yeah, I ran out of time this morning before I could get to Bowie. I agree with your reasoning, especially the gimmick/theatrical aspect of his music. This was a trend that was snatched right up by Genesis and just kept on rolling through the years.

Rock- Although their music is excellent, the Doors make my list for one reason, Jim Morrison. Jim Morrison was the original ?rock star? when it comes to attitude. When you think of a rock star you think of an artistic, poetical, charismatic person that tends to be very egotistical and (more than likely) have some sort of addiction. That defines jim Morrison, he gave rise to that stereotype, be it good or bad.[/color]

edit: By the way, some of you guys have some really bizarre choices.

[Mykul]

Rock- I'd have to say Van Halen is pretty high up on the list for me. I cant really put my finger on why i love their music so much, i guess they just make the best workout songs. Oh and i speak of HALEN not HAGAR! Eddie slapped the rock and roll world in the face when he put down his guitar and picked up a keyboard...

And anyone who can deny Queen a spot on the list of best bands of all time should have their head examined. Their Page solos, combined with the linguistic flavor of Freddy (which has never really been matched) make them one of the most recognizable and powerful bands of all time.

And when we speak of who can thrash, three men really come to mind. First off is Eddie Van Halen. He and his brother put their minds together and practically invented the experiemntal emerging guitar. Then, of course, is Steve Vai. This man has to be the most gifted guitarist in the history of anyone strumming the dang piece of wood. He played with cheap trick, and i strongly urge you to pick up one of his solo albums if you love the electric guitar.

last is C-doe from the reletively unknown band RUFIO.

[CaptainAnarchy]

[quote name='Fall']Kurt Cobain. He's music was like no other, the best, ever. Every bit of music Nirvana played, I love. I'll be listening to their music till the day I die. Kurt Cobain lived by music, and you can't half tell. He's music was and is awesome. And always will be.[/quote]
lol yeah...I have a kurt cobain lunchbox...I take it to school and I get the evil eye...o.0

[kaisha]

Keane is one of the best, i love their music. Its so mellow and just great overall, especially for a guitarless band.

[Drix D'Zanth]

[QUOTE=Heaven's Cloud][color=indigo] I'll just comment on the genres I am knowledgeable of.

Classical: I have always been a George Fredric Handel fan. Growing up playing symphonic music, I always loved playing the Water Music Suites, I still find them incredibly expressive. His hornpipes and fugues are elegantly pure Baroque, a true reflection of the times, and he truly was a master of the keyboard. On top of all that his Messiah is a gorgeous piece of music..[/color][/QUOTE]

Yeah, I was going to say that Handel is more Baroque then classically classical. Though, I like the guy. I must give him credit, the Messiah is probably the most recognized peice of music in history. Maybe the Birthday Song is more widely recognized... maybe.

[QUOTE=Heaven's Cloud][color=indigo]
Jazz: The Birth of Cool is an incredible album, perhaps the best jazz album ever recorded. That is why I would have to say Miles Davis is not only the greatest jazz musician, but also maybe the most influential. The great thing about Miles Davis is that he not only could flat out jam, but he could write simple melodies that were like pieces of a jig saw puzzle. Alone they were nice, but when they were intertwined in his odd whimsical way they just popped and allowed for so much improvisation.[/color][/QUOTE]

Yeah, Miles is the best. I should really change my answer. You are right on, here, HC.

[QUOTE=Heaven's Cloud][color=indigo]
Blues/Rock: Muddy Waters is by far the most influential musician in rock history. Lennon and McCartney had a passion for Muddy Waters and Elvis. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards named their band after one of his earlier songs, actually Jagger and Richards formed their initial friendship out of mutual love for Muddy Waters. It is easy to understand their infatuation. Muddy Waters' bottleneck guitar style is the basis for every rock/pop guitar riff you hear today.

more to come...[/color][/QUOTE]

Well... muddy waters may have been the most infulencial. I still think that Sevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, and Clapton were closer to the epitomy of Blues.. Muddy certainly was a "Maaaaaannn! *screams from the audience*" I reccomend his album
"Fathers and Sons". Probably one of the best blues records in history. And BB. King, while not my favorite, certainly plays one hell of a concert.

I really look forward to what else you have to say on this topic, HC. I think we share some of the same tastes...

[Heaven's Cloud]

[quote name='Drix D'Zanth'] I still think that Sevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, and Clapton were closer to the epitomy of Blues.. .[/quote]

[color=indigo]I don?t disagree with you I love SRV and Mr. Slow Hand, actually [i]Mary Had a Little Lamb[/i] and [i]Signe[/i] get played on my guitar more than any other songs (I still can?t play the damn fill on Mary Had a Little Lamb well enough to do it justice, by the way get Me and Mr. Johnson and ignore this horrible run on sentence).

To continue?

R&B- Although there are more influential R&B artists then [b]Prince[/b], I think that he has been a direct influence everything good in R&B today. I can?t listen to an Alicia Keys or Andre 3000 song without hearing Prince under tones. Prince is great on so many levels that I know (yeah, this kind of morbid) that when he does die he will be immortalized as one of the most gifted musicians of his time.

Rap- Again, [b]the Roots[/b] might not be as influential as NWA or Tupac, but I love their music and they have profoundly impacted artists that I tend to enjoy. With all the ?Bling Bling I want so desperately to be street? rappers out there it is nice that some groups still care about the music. I think that the Roots creativity and jazz influence paved the way for guys like Big Boi, Kanye West, and even the Neptunes.

Percussion- Every rock drummer owes [b]Keith Moon[/b] a debt of gratitude. Moon made it cool to have a talented drummer in a band. Up until that point rock drummers more or less were used for keeping the beat. Moon?s performance on the My Generation album was just phenomenal and so far ahead of its time. The version of ?TheKids are Alright? that was edited out of the original US release is mind blowing. [/color]

[icexfire]

weird al yankeviech..the night santa claus went crazy...^_^ and the abc's to kinky s.e.x hehe i think it is funny

[Franky]

hmmmmmm... personally i think jimi hendrix is awesome same with jet the ramones jem linkin park , and i love ella hooper from killing heidis voice shes so cool