Great thread, but as with all things subjective, there is no right answer. Always loved TP, saw live 4-5 times, including the Dylan tour. Seen NRBQ at least 50 times going back to early 70's to as recent as last year. In their prime years with Big Al, Terry, Joey and Tom, plus the Whole Wheat Horns, they were an incredible force ! As good a live show as Ive ever seen, and Ive seen a lot! I seem to have some things in common with stuartk: same age, still live next to Woodstock ( over 50 years) and vacation each year up near Brunswick ( Harpswell )
Marty Stuart on Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers:
"I’ve never made any bones about it. I think Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were the greatest Rock & Roll Band the United States Of America has ever produced."
Wow. Better than The Hawks/The Band (though composed of only one American and four Canadians, I consider the U.S.A. responsible for their formation)? Better than NRBQ, and The Byrds? And Los Lobos? As I consider Marty and his band The Fabulous Superlatives the current best band in the world, his opinions carry a lot of weight with me.
Okay, maybe I’ve been wrong about TP & TH. ;-)
Wow. Better than The Hawks/The Band (though composed of only one American and four Canadians, I consider the U.S.A. responsible for their formation)? Better than NRBQ, and The Byrds? And Los Lobos? As I consider Marty and his band The Fabulous Superlatives the current best band in the world, his opinions carry a lot of weight with me.
Okay, maybe I’ve been wrong about TP & TH. ;-)