Through a combination of waiting for Mr Capello to choose his England squad for the world cup and through watching the BBC's "I'm In Rock & Roll Band" it got me to thinking about who would be the first choice players in my ultimate Rock band.
As the BBC had their own shortlist and rules I decided to stick to their parameters. Yeah I was limited to only 4 members but with The Who, Led Zep & The Beatles all only having 4 members it seemed fair enough to me. Yeah other bands have more but surely if you can rock just as hard with 4 members then why not? More difficultly I was limited to the musicians on the shortlists selected by their "experts"....
So to kick things off the rhythm section and what I think every great band certainly can not to without, a solid drummer! I toyed with Keith Moon not only for the phenomenal rolling rhythms he was able to create but also for that element of the unexpected he guaranteed. Eventually I had to go with Led Zep's John Bonham though. Not only did he offer a little of the craziness of Moon but also there is a tough almost funky edge to his style that has always kept Led Zep up there in my all time bands. It is hard to match Page & Plant in Rock God stakes no matter what band you are in but for me the big JB does it and from the same stage!
Next up is the drummer's partner in crime. For me this was the easiest choice to make from the BBC's shortlist. With no Bootsy Collins to consider (this is for a rock band so fair enough) the gig had to go to the only man I have ever been happy to see only in his Y fronts, The Red Hot Chili Peppers' hyperactive 4 stringed magician Flea. Not only do I think he would have made for a good companion in rock'n'roll escapades for Bonham but he also brings something funky to the table. As a session bassist Flea plucked and slapped his way through sessions for a bunch of Hip-Hoppers including for Young MCs classic "Know How". Sure it's played out but that bassline still gets floors moving . As well as providing the groove of the track Flea can carry a tune not to mention rock a pretty serious solo live so there was no other competition.
Next up was the next easiest decision in the band. Who's gonna front the outfit? If choosing my dream band of any kind then James Brown would have to be the man front and centre but of the BBC's list the only other possible contender was Freddie Mercury. Yeah he had incredible strutting presence that stole the show at the biggest concert of my living memory, Live Aid, yes his voice was stronger than my choices and his rage of notes and emotions have never really been surpassed but when looking for someone to front a Rock band are you ever really gonna look further than Mick "the lips" Jagger? That is the full package! Stage presence that is
unparalleled, a voice so distinctive it could never belong to anyone else and he is the very epitome of the old cliche that guys want to have a pint with him and girls want to sleep with him. Is that not the key to being a Rock front man? Despite his mega star status there is something about Mick that still strikes me as being the geezer from round the way. Yeah he may be a bit long in the tooth now but seriously 70's Mick was the definition of Rock. Yeah Keith has the licks and together their write pure belters but do you really think they would still be packing stadiums if it were not for Mick and his almost universal appeal?
So last up and for me the toughest part. Who is going to wield the axe? Rock no matter how you look at it is guitar driven music so this is almost the toughest gig of the lot. Although with John, Flea & Mick in the band even I would fancy my chases of making it to superstardom without a lead guitarist capable of cranking it up to eleven then you really ain't got shit. Yeah Jimi Hendrix is in my mind the best bar none but is that what we are after. Jimi needs to be the band, he is not a team player but the star striker that could drag an otherwise ordinary second division outfit into the premiership off his virtuoso goals alone. Pete Townsend not only know how to write a tune but also how to put on a show, assets to any band looking to rock around the clock but for me is had to come down to one controversial choise.
In the 80's you always wondered what the dude in the top hat with the Marlboro stapled to his lip actually looked like. You saw him in every video but still thought he could pass you in the street in his civvies and you would not blink. Clad head to toe in leather you did not even know his real name but had to refer to him by the greatest rock name (sorry Lemmy) of all time. For me the man taking this band into battle is Slash of the legendary Guns & Roses and I will tell you why. A few years back I was randomly offered tickets to go and see the reformed, new look G&R perform at one of London's huge arenas. Despite the fact Slash was not even part of the band his presence still loomed large. On my way there I was racking my brain to try and remember G&R songs and was only able to name about 3, however as I sat there beer in hand surrounded by hair, denim and leather I realised I knew every single riff that his replacement had the pleasure of cranking out. For me ladies and gents it is this simple. If you want to be a great rock band you need classic licks and for that you can look no further than the cat in the hat!
Have a crack at choosing your own awesome foursome from the BBC's list and let me know what you come up with!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/rocknrollband/
I will be back with my ultimate Soul band soon!
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