The Voltron Band

Scott Hardie | February 18, 2016
Who would you combine in a band to make the greatest rock group of all time? That is to say, this guitarist, that drummer, that singer, et cetera. You can use deceased artists. You cannot use artists who would not get along (ie. egomaniacs like Axl Rose who would drive out other talent). You cannot take more than one artist from a real-world band. Whether they play new original songs or covers of classics is up to you, but there should be a good songwriter in the group if it's originals. Who do you choose?

Steve West | February 18, 2016
Drummer Neil Peart - Rush. An incredible drummer and lyricist.
Stephen Stills - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Acoustic guitar. "Captain Many Hands" plays bass, guitar, keyboard, electric guitar and piano - all well above average. And sings.
John Entwhistle - The Who. He may be the greatest bass player who ever lived.
Greg Allman - The Allman Brothers. Lead Guitar and vocals. Very under-rated at both.
Debbie Harry - Blondie. Female vocals.

Samir Mehta | February 18, 2016
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Scott Hardie | February 18, 2016
Drums: John Bonham. One of the very best. Few people accomplished so much with a drum kit. He makes everyone else in the band sound fantastic. The only reservation I'd have would be his weakness for drugs and booze and the risk of killing himself all over again. To me, that's the same disqualifier as an artist who wouldn't get along with others: I want a super-group that's stable, not one that would distegrate or implode shortly after inception.

Guitar: It's a good thing this selection isn't a draft, because I'd be pissed that Samir claimed Hendrix already. I can think of no one I'd want more than this natural-born genius. His interpretations of other artists' songs were riveting, and I'd love to see what he'd do with some covers of music published since his death. If he and Bonham didn't both die of overdoses on the first night, they'd really be something together.

Vocals: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Alanis Morissette, an artist who hasn't sung much rock & roll but who I think would kick ass at it. She has huge vocal range and power, and lots of flexibility in her approach, and a willingness to cover anything. She's also a disciplined professional who might bring some stablity to the group. I'm tempted to go with a more traditional rock singer who could hold his own with this band (like Jon Bon Jovi or maybe David Coverdale), but I want someone who can surprise me.

Bass: This is the hardest one for me, because so many bassists are hard to appreciate if you don't play an instrument yourself. One exception comes to mind: Flea. He plays bass like it's a lead instrument, creating a fertile sonic laboratory for the other artists to play with and off of, and he has tremendous versatility. And unlike most bassists, he wouldn't be blown off the stage by these other talents.

Piano: I have favorite pianists/keyboardists that don't fit the concept, like Ray Charles (wouldn't adapt well to rock music), or Fiona Apple (incapable of being in a band), or Trent Reznor (he'd take over production and ruin everything). So I'm going with someone who I couldn't say I'm a fan of, but who I nonetheless respect as one of the best pianists in rock music: Rick Wakeman. Holy crap can he play. Anything they'd need of him, he could do and then some.

I have a feeling that this quintet's original songs might be a mess because they're just too different, but I'd be curious to hear them all the same. I have more confidence that they'd produce some very impressive and interesting cover songs, reinterpreting other artists' work in totally unexpected ways.

Who else ya got?

Erik Bates | July 27, 2016
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Scott Hardie | July 30, 2016
That would be an interesting band! I know that Jack White resents the Black Keys for what he perceives as ripping him off, but the world is big enough for both of them and they're clearly both very talented, so I'd like to hear them together. And great choice on cowbell. :-)

I don't know much by Homme or Queens beyond a few big hits. Are there particular songs or an album that you would suggest starting with if I wanted to try getting into them?

Erik Bates | August 1, 2016
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Scott Hardie | August 6, 2016
I'm listening to them today and liking what I hear. Thanks for the recommendations. :-)

Just curious: Do you have any opinion of the music of Homme's wife Brody Dalle? I liked her punk band The Distillers once upon a time, and followed her into alternative rock with Spinnerette and her solo work. That scratchy voice and naked aggression are turn-offs for a lot of people, so I know she's an acquired taste, but I like a lot of what she's done.

Erik Bates | August 8, 2016
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Scott Hardie | August 9, 2016
Well, you and every critic out there loved Sufjan Stevens, and I can't stand him. I bought Illinois based solely on the high praise and I must have given it a good half-dozen listens through and it was like nails on chalkboard every time. I just don't get the appeal, but obviously I'm in the minority.

But, you alone got me into Leslie Feist, and now her tracks are in regular rotation whenever I listen to Spotify. I think her cover of "Secret Heart" is my favorite of her songs. Thank you for introducing me to her. :-)