I didn't see a topic for this but i didn't really look that hard
Who do you think is the top 5 or even 10 in these categories:
Vocalist, Bassist, Guitarist and drummer.
Hell you can even have other instruments.
When these things are polled, especially the (let's say) best drummer of all time. People will just pick who their favorite drummer is or the drummer of their favorite band.
favorite does not equal best. Sometimes the best if your favorite but if we are to take polls into consideration basically everyone says:
Hendrix, Flea, Buddy Rich and vocalists usually vary.
They seem to be the generic responses. The ability to make good music is not dependent on technical musical ability.
Guitarists like Vai, Satriani and Malmsteen are definitely some of the best but they just make soulless guitar noise. Not actual songs in my opinion. Which is why their core audience is mainly guitarists who want to jerk off over their technical ability.
So i thought this would be interesting, who do you think are the best musicians in their fields versus your favorites. (and to note by best i mean technically best, plays with most soul and emotion, not most influential or anything like that, which should save from people putting Cliff Burton as the best technical bass player to walk the earth...hurr durr he plays metal with his fingers).
Without further ado:
For technical ability and soul in playing:
Best Guitarists
1. Joe Satriani (Self)
2. Buckethead (Self/C2B3/GunsNRoses/Praxis)
3. Jimi Hendrix (Self/Hendrix Experience/Band of Gypsys)
4. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
5. Eric Clapton (Cream/Yardbirds/Derek and the Dominoes)
favorite Guitarists
1. Spencer Seim (Hella and hundreds others)
2. J Robbins (Jawbox/Burning Airlines/Channels/Office of Future Plans)
3. Paul Sanders (Hammerhead/The Heroine Sheiks)
4. Page Hamilton (Helmet)
5. Buzz Osbourne (Melvins)
For technical ability and groove/rhythm
Best Bassists
1. Victor Wooten (Self/Flecktones)
2. Jaco Pastorius (Self/Random Big Bands)
3. Les Claypool (Primus/Frog Brigade/Holy Mackerel/Oysterhead/C2B3)
4. John Entwistle (The Who)
5. Doug Wimbish (Living color/Satriani/M.Jagger/Depeche Mode/Million Others)
favorite Bassists
1. Les Claypool (Primus/Frog Brigade/Holy Mackerel/Oysterhead/C2B3)
2. Kevin Rutmanis (Melvins/Cows/Hepa Titus)
3. Coco the Electronic Monkey Wizard (Man...or Astroman?)
4. Mark Sandman (Morphine)
5. Kim Deal (Pixies/The Breeders)
For technical ability and groove/rhythm
Best Drummers
1. Buddy Rich (His Big Band/Others)
2. John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
3. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre)
4. Neil Peart (Rush)
5. Danny Carey (Tool)
favorite Drummers
1. Dave Abbruzzese (Pearl Jam)
2. Tim Alexander (Primus/Laundry)
3. Zach Hill (Hella/Wavves and million others)
4. Matt Cameron (Skin Yard/Soundgarden/Pearl Jam)
5. Mitch Mitchell (Hendrix and million others)
For technical ability, vocal range etc.
Best Vocalists
1. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
2. Jeff Buckley (Self)
3. James Brown (Self)
4. Gary Cherone (Extreme/Van Halen/His own solo band - name escapes me)
5. Sting (Solo/The Police)
favorite Vocalists
1. Mike Patton (Faith No More/Tomahawk/Mr Bungle/Orchestras/Peeping Tom)
2. Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think)
3. Chino Moreno (Deftones/Team Sleep)
4. Rob Crow (Team Sleep/Goblin Cock/Pinhead/Many Others)
5. Thom Yorke (Radiohead/random supergroup - name escapes me)
So basically what i've learnt is that most of the people i think are best are musicians whose bands or work i don't even like. Lots of people have a problem separating this difference.
favorites i guess is more their playing style, sound and the songs they play.
