Here’s my Booker T argument: when you think about that band, you immediately think about Cropper, who contributed to the writing of a lot of huge Stax hits, and the rhythm section of Dunn and Jackson, which laid the foundation for an entire geographic sound that’s still vital today. Rarely do you hear anyone single out the organ parts of Booker T. Even on “Green Onions” they’re taken for granted. Also, Booker T wasn’t in the Blues Brothers, was he? If he was really the front man, don’t you think Belushi and Ackroyd would have recruited him? Now, may I stand atop this pile for however long?
I will acknowledge that the Colonel was arguably the highest profile member of the band but ultimately I will have to reject these guys. They’re most well known for their teamwork supporting other artists. When they did record their own stuff, Booker T was front and center.
A valiant attempt, but ultimately and unsuccessful one.
The Mod is correct, Derrek is Eric and therefore disqualified.
Echo and the Bunnymen is also disqualified due to this quote from Will Sergeant on wikipedia: “We had this mate who kept suggesting all these names like The Daz Men or Glisserol and the Fan Extractors. Echo and the Bunnymen was one of them. I thought it was just as stupid as the rest”-
Big Steve deserves a special citation of some sort for “Rod Torkelson’s Armada Featuring Herman Menderchuk” Probably the greatest band name I’ve ever heard.
Nah, I’m down with The Jeff Beck Group. Hell, I’m the guy who spent a week making the case that Rod Stewart’s prime years were better than the Stones’ output during that same period.
What I’m saying is, once lured into an early Jeff Beck Group show, I would think Rod was as much a reason to stick around as Beck. At least my interest in those first two albums would be greatly reduced from their already low level of interest if, say, Terry Reid was singing lead.
I thought about Santana, but isn’t Carlos always the front man, even though he doesn’t sing? Isn’t the key moment in the performance of any Santana singer the moment when he stops singing and lets Carlos hold one of those long notes?
The Great One is correct. This isn’t about who is the most charismatic band member, but who is the front man. I’m going to see ACDC on the upcoming tour because of Angus but that doesn’t change the fact that the front man is that caterwauling jackass who replaced Bon Scott.
Let’s be clear, the front man is usually, but not always the singer. A good rule of thumb is if he does the talking in between songs, he’s the front man. db has provided a great example with the Nuge.
I don’t know muck about Kool and the Gang but unless someone wants to challenge, Alexmagic is currently the Last Man Standing.
And to be fair, David Was did a lot of the singing, especially on the first (and best) album.
I think we should declare Kool and the Gang the winner. Robert “Kool” Bell was the bassist, which even in a funk band is by definition not a front-line instrument.
Kool is just about the most famous guy from my high school. I find this extremely sad, however, it’s a very good reason not to be proud at all.
I submit Thunderclap Newman. Speedy Keen was the singer & songwriter and had the big Who connection through Armenia City In The Sky, and being a Who roadie. I don’t know if they were a “real” band though it was named after Andy “Thunderclap” Newman who I guess did the keyboards.
Pink Floyd doesn’t count! Doesn’t the person the band is named after actually have to be a member of the band? If Pink counts, then I’m the last man standing with Jethro Tull!
Brinsley Schwartz
Pince Nez – there’s not ‘t’ in Schwarz. For that correction, can I claim the top spot?
Fleetwood Mac
Manfred Mann
As a chronically bad speller myself, I have to rule against you.
Dave Clark 5
Can I argue Booker T & the MGs?
“Can I argue Booker T & the MGs?”
Probably not successfully, but let’s see what you got. I’m listening…
Spencer Davis Group
Here’s my Booker T argument: when you think about that band, you immediately think about Cropper, who contributed to the writing of a lot of huge Stax hits, and the rhythm section of Dunn and Jackson, which laid the foundation for an entire geographic sound that’s still vital today. Rarely do you hear anyone single out the organ parts of Booker T. Even on “Green Onions” they’re taken for granted. Also, Booker T wasn’t in the Blues Brothers, was he? If he was really the front man, don’t you think Belushi and Ackroyd would have recruited him? Now, may I stand atop this pile for however long?
Interesting.
I will acknowledge that the Colonel was arguably the highest profile member of the band but ultimately I will have to reject these guys. They’re most well known for their teamwork supporting other artists. When they did record their own stuff, Booker T was front and center.
A valiant attempt, but ultimately and unsuccessful one.
Paul Revere and the Raiders
Echo & the Bunnymen
Zumpano
Rod Torkelson’s Armada Featuring Herman Menderchuk
Derek and the Dominoes?
“Derek” is Eric, so the judges should rule No. (Bastards!)
If Manfred Mann is good, then Edgar Winter should be, too.
Van Halen
You can’t say this about Van Halen. Eddie’s magic fingers are the main attraction for at least 60% of the guys who got into them, no?
Rossington-Collins Band, in which the ghost of Ronnie Van Zandt was really the frontman.
The Mod is correct, Derrek is Eric and therefore disqualified.
Echo and the Bunnymen is also disqualified due to this quote from Will Sergeant on wikipedia: “We had this mate who kept suggesting all these names like The Daz Men or Glisserol and the Fan Extractors. Echo and the Bunnymen was one of them. I thought it was just as stupid as the rest”-
Big Steve deserves a special citation of some sort for “Rod Torkelson’s Armada Featuring Herman Menderchuk” Probably the greatest band name I’ve ever heard.
“You can’t say this about Van Halen. Eddie’s magic fingers are the main attraction for at least 60% of the guys who got into them, no?”
Then you’re really gonna hate this: The Jeff Beck Group
Nah, I’m down with The Jeff Beck Group. Hell, I’m the guy who spent a week making the case that Rod Stewart’s prime years were better than the Stones’ output during that same period.
Right, but using the logic you applied to van Halen, who was there to see Rod?
What I’m saying is, once lured into an early Jeff Beck Group show, I would think Rod was as much a reason to stick around as Beck. At least my interest in those first two albums would be greatly reduced from their already low level of interest if, say, Terry Reid was singing lead.
The various Kasenetz-Katz Circuses, or maybe Montrose?
Santana
TB
Shit. Tvox sniped mine.
I thought about Santana, but isn’t Carlos always the front man, even though he doesn’t sing? Isn’t the key moment in the performance of any Santana singer the moment when he stops singing and lets Carlos hold one of those long notes?
I just remember the scene in Freaks and Geeks with Daniel (James Franco) and Nick (Jason Segel) under the stairs:
Nick: “So, let me get this straight: The band’s name is Santana, but Santana is not the dude singing? He’s the guitarist? How is that?”
Daniel: “I don’t know, maybe he’s some kind of bad ass.”
Or something like that.
TB
How about John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers? Weren’t the lead guitarists the reason to see them in the mid-60s?
Mockcarr is standing tall! (For now.)
But Mayall was the singer, and therefore logically the frontman.
Good point, Great One. What’s your call, cdm?
The Great One is correct. This isn’t about who is the most charismatic band member, but who is the front man. I’m going to see ACDC on the upcoming tour because of Angus but that doesn’t change the fact that the front man is that caterwauling jackass who replaced Bon Scott.
CDM:
“The Great One is correct. This isn’t about who is the most charismatic band member, but who is the front man.”
I think Ted Nugent went through a period where he hired lead singers but I didn’t think that would fly here either.
-db
If Mockcarr gets a point for John Mayall, then *I* am the last man standing with the Butterfield Blues Band.
Badfinger 🙂
The Eric Gales Band
TB
Jeff Beck Group – when Rod was sinigng
Sorry – that was already posted
Then how about Was (Not Was)
Kool & The Gang
Actually I think the two non-frontal principals in Was (Not Was) are (stage)named after the band, rather than the other way around.
Let’s be clear, the front man is usually, but not always the singer. A good rule of thumb is if he does the talking in between songs, he’s the front man. db has provided a great example with the Nuge.
I don’t know muck about Kool and the Gang but unless someone wants to challenge, Alexmagic is currently the Last Man Standing.
And to be fair, David Was did a lot of the singing, especially on the first (and best) album.
I think we should declare Kool and the Gang the winner. Robert “Kool” Bell was the bassist, which even in a funk band is by definition not a front-line instrument.
No way this thing is over! I submit the Alan Parsons Project
G48 sez:
Robert “Kool” Bell was the bassist, which even in a funk band is by definition not a front-line instrument.
I say:
Huh? Tell that to the other members of The Brothers Johnson, Graham Central Station or Bootsy’s Rubber Band.
J Giels Band
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
? & the Mysterians
Phish
Kool is just about the most famous guy from my high school. I find this extremely sad, however, it’s a very good reason not to be proud at all.
I submit Thunderclap Newman. Speedy Keen was the singer & songwriter and had the big Who connection through Armenia City In The Sky, and being a Who roadie. I don’t know if they were a “real” band though it was named after Andy “Thunderclap” Newman who I guess did the keyboards.
Pink was *not* the front man of Pink Floyd.
Pink Floyd doesn’t count! Doesn’t the person the band is named after actually have to be a member of the band? If Pink counts, then I’m the last man standing with Jethro Tull!
Sat, can you DIG the magic number?
Wasn’t it billed as the Plastic Ono Band? IF so, I submit Lennon as the obvious front man.
John’s Children – John (Hewlett) was the bass player, Andy Ellison was the frontman.