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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 8/27/2005 11:25:12 AM | For influentiality? Chuck Berry. Yes, I know the history of rock and blues, and yeah, T-Bone Walker did Chuck before Chuck did, but if Chuck didn't "break", all we'd be left with is Elvis. Unlike Elvis, Chuck wrote all his own songs, played guitar on all the tracks, and without Chuck, there might not be an AC/DC, who comes a damn close second, whom I award the "most influential artist that hasn't compromised their ideals or sound" because they've been able to outlast, outsell, and ignore every shitty trend that has come in the last 30 years--while filling out arenas and stadiums the whole time. Even on crappier albums like "Fly On The Wall", they never did anything that alienated their core base. Plus, AC/DC are still not a "parents" band.....they still have that stupidly youthful thing that piss uncool, uptight parents off (with the still absurd imagery of two swinging pendulums to the "Family Jewels" DVD that only they could get away with). And few bands can lay claim to those tenets, especially in the course of 30 years.
"Back In Black" will be in every juke box until the end of time, and is the only record in history that I can actually say the sales--and longevity--are deserved. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 8/27/2005 11:48:16 AM | ....plus, like some say, the whole "influence" (which can also range from the VERY obscure, like the old blues greats), versus "popular influence" can be a very tricky thing, because often it's the most popular proponents of a genre that are the least credible (ie: Elvis was to Chuck Berry and Howlin' Wolf for rock n' roll, in what the Sex Pistols were to the Ramones and Stooges in punk rock). So I guess people have to specify what they mean. Because, as some have outlined here, it's often the most obscure influences that end up influencing the most popular forms. Even Robert Johnson, who is perhaps the most famous Delta bluesman, took alot of cues from Charlie Patton, Son House, and Ike Zinnerman--and there was only so much that you could do in the Delta and 12 bar blues formats, so often, even finding the most influential guys from those eras is like saying "who was the most obscure guy to influence the less obscure guys who influenced the masses"? Because I really think that's the question that we're after.
I LOVE 50's music, but even it gets sketchy there--credibility wise, because there was alot of guitarists and musicians that were forced to play rock n' roll, simply because rock was killing off alot of the other genres. Alot of the players were essentially in glorified cover bands--playing songs they didn't really like, in order to make money. This is *not* all the musicians of that era, however. But even alot of Jerry Lee and early Johnny Cash weren't original songs, they were covers---and I like both of those guys' material and delivery. Some might even say that Hank Williams has more credit than he's been given due for an influence on rock n' roll, and the rock n' roll lifestyle, as a bridge between country, rock n' roll, and blues. I like it all, man. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 8/27/2005 4:17:24 PM | Wow, this is just like walking onto the set of " High Fidelity " . 
If we want to just define it as strictly rock and roll, I would have to go with Chuck Berry.
In his prime, he brought it all together in a popular package. He pretty much influenced every major musician that later strapped on a guitar. He had the looks, showmanship, and tight songs that kept everyone a rockin' .
There were many ( like those mentioned here) that helped build that castle, but Chuck Berry was the one duck walking along the top parapet. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 8/27/2005 9:00:55 PM | As I said before,it is really criminal to give Chuck Berry so much credit beyond his showmanship and guitar play without giving DUE credit to Johnnie Johnson. Who was the song Johnnie B Goode about? Who cowrote many of Berry hits? Who hired Berry and gave him his start as a star in the genre? whos band? Whos rythmes? Piano licks? Johnnie Johnson!
Still, no one can claim Berry UNLESS they've heard Wynnonie Harris's Good Rockin Tonight(1946/7)listened to Louis Jordan's Hits(57) during the 1940's or heard the recordings of Big Joe Turner's Decca recordings like "Rocks in my Bed"(1941) "Roll em Pete"(1938)"piney Brown Blues" "Its Alright Baby" "Around the clock"" Shake Rattle and ROll" The man was a Bluesman/Boogieman/JumpinJuker/Rocker!All BEFORE Berry. This is no offense to Chuck Berry and does not slight him in anyway.....its just the facts. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 8/27/2005 10:15:24 PM | Can't totally disagree with you on that, but Chuck made one thing obvious.
Rock and Roll was guitar based.
Rock music is like a stained glass window, and all the parts fit together to create the picture -both in the bands, and in the genre.
Btw, I saw him live with a Quebec based group backing him ( Offenbach) a long time ago ( 1980's) . He pulled all the usual stunts of changing keys, and songs without giving anyone a clue as to what he was doing - then tried to leave the stage mid-show ( but the promoters were smart enough to block off his car beforehand) , all and all a disaster. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 9/22/2005 10:10:50 AM | | Cream and Yardbirds would likely be somewhere in the top 100 BANDS. between 50 and 75BANDS.The individual memebers were more influential than the bands.The bands were cover and Brit Blues/Rock bands interpreting the Blues.Eric Clapton would be among the top 75 most influential artist | |
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mrAGC
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Joined: 8/15/2005
Msg: 88 | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 9/30/2005 11:02:28 AM | Chuck Berry - There would be no rock and roll guitar if it wasn't for those Johnny B. Goode riffs that influended so many after him. And I agree about Johnny Johnson, but unfortunately, he never got the recognition he deserved, like so many others from those early days.
Elvis - He took it all to a new level. Too bad he got involved making movies and away from what he did best.
The Beatles - My favorites. I think they did more to change the world than any other artist(s) | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 9/30/2005 1:06:54 PM | | It has to be Bob Dylan. Some people might consider his music folk music but it truly is rock. He had a special way of writing and playing that made people realize what the government was doing to the people of our country back then. If anyone gets a chance, dl "only a pawn in their game". It's an awesome song because it talks about a white who killed a black, got off, and how he's only a government pawn. Bob Dylan... Truly Brilliant | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 9/30/2005 1:11:44 PM | | Yes, Dylan is great too! I recommend the Martin Scorsese documentary about Dylan. It's got some vintage performance footage! Even shows him at the March on Washington where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 9/30/2005 2:00:09 PM | | Earliest would be Ike Turner...Little Richard was the "king" of Rock and Roll, John Lennon was probably the biggest influence of all, just look how many kids grew their hair long because of him. Lou Reed would influence the underground scene, so to speak, like no other....that is my two cents...Cheers! | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 10/3/2005 12:09:59 AM | It's subjective to say that R&R is the most important musical genre (what is Rock'n'Roll nowadays, anyway? A beast with a thousand heads?).
But even so, and even though I don't choose Elvis to listen to, I'd have to say Elvis first and foremost.
Just the same, though, Elvis didn't suddenly pop out of the woodwork from nothing.
There were influential R&R people before and after Elvis, and there will continue to be.
None of them would be influential without doing exactly what Elvis did: tap into something already there and put it on another level - with the help of others.
And maybe it's more influential if it's not popular with people over 30. And the stranger the better, too.
There's no rule that says it has to be about musical skill, songwriting abilities, or star quality, at all. If it was, there are plenty of people who would be nowhere, and many of the members of the R&R hall of fame would be with them.
I could write a list but there isn't space, and there sure isn't time. So, Elvis it is. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 10/3/2005 12:25:37 AM | Dylan is highly influential for a couple of reasons. His lyrics were/are a breakthrough in "popular" music because they are way more than insignificant part of the music and changed the way that other artists wrote and composed.
His songs have been around for longer than some people have been alive, and they're sure to stay around as songs, poetry, or both. He's still there, ancient but still the same guy, which is more than you could say for some.
He gives a damn but doesn't give a damn. He's a hijacked iconoclast who's sure of his own icon status. Love him for it, hate him for it, he's the best at what he does. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 10/3/2005 8:24:53 AM | This thread is about most influential NOT favorite! NOT simply influential but MOST influential in RockNRoll. Therefore Elvis and Marley are NOT even among the top 5. What did Elvis do to make him more influential musically than Big Joe Turner,Wynonnie Harris,Louis Jordan,The Count,Slim and Slam,Robert Johnson,Trixie Smith,Louis Prima, Sir Duke,or even Big Momma Thorton who's song he COVERED? Marley is also a VERY influential figure,but HE was influenced by the forementioned and more.Also,Marley's influence was more on Reggae and Ska than RockNroll.This is not to say he hasn't influenced Rock,just not NEARLY as much as soooo many others. Dylan also was a very influential figure particularly due to his writting talents,yet he was NOT among the top 20 most influential figures in the genre.
Certainly some things are debatable particularly among the top 5 or even who is in the top 10 but I don't believe a logical case can be made for Elvis,Marley,Dylan,Rush nor the Dixie Chicks being in the top 10 most influential artist in the genre (musically, a good argument can be made for his popularity due to a rason that has NOTHING to do with his contibution to music).
Ike Turner,Chuck Berry and Johnnie Johnson,Little Richard,the Beatles and so many more were more influential than Elvis and Marley to RockNRoll. | |
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| Name the artist you feel was the most infulential in RockNRoll
Posted: 10/3/2005 1:50:06 PM | Jimi Hendrix certainly expanded the range and vocabulary of the electric guitar.He nearly single handedly ushered in psychodelic Rock and certainly expanded Blues-Rock all of which laid seeds for acid rock,hard rock and metal.However all of those are subgenres of RocknRoll. Even though Hendrix came along late in the game,his innovation and imprint MUSICALLY is HUGE.He perhaps is the most influential figure in the last 40years(no small feat considering RockNRoll is only 60-70yrs old).This would certainly place him among the top 10 perhaps the top 5 most influencial artist in Rock history.
Paul McCarty is/was an excellent writer.He alone however isn't a hugely significant figure in Rock history(significant YES,hugely no).Yet the Beatles as a group of collective induviduals rank EASILY as the top BAND in RockNRoll history as far as influence is concerned in terms of POPULARITY, perhaps they are/were the MOST influencial rocknroll band,in terms of musicology and innovation they are still among the top 50 bands.However,overall they are most likely top 20 ARTISTs.
The point has already been made that RocknRoll was at LEAST hinted at in the 1920's(Trixie Smith-My daddy ROCKS me(with a steady roll)1922).Now arguably there was rocknroll in the 30's.However,there is no question that in the '40's RockNRoll was already out of diapers,and walking,rocking and and the ball was rolling" | |
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