Greatest Guitar Band


I thought just before Christmas I'd get a good thread going. IMHO,the greatest guitar band was the Yardbirds, not because E Clapton,or J Beck, or J Page was in it but because Chris Deja, and Paul Samwell-Smith were great rhythm and bass guitarists that could rock and keep up with the above. Plus Jim McCarty the drummer could keep the group in line and fine harmonica work from Keith Relf(ok not the greatest vocalist, more of a finesse singer).They had it all, I cannot think of another band that had three great guitarists in the band at one time(J Beck, C Deja, P Samwell-Smith). In 1967, when J Beck and J Page were in the band togther as co-lead guitars, they were the lead in band for the rolling stones, they just blow them away,ok, that is not a fair comparison considering the rolling stones still cannot play their instruments very well. But in comparison to say Led Zepplin, LZ did not have a rhthym guitarist(except J Page would overdub that part on recordings). That made them sound not as well rounded live as far as guitar work is concerned. I am not saying LZ was a bad band on the contrary,they put on probably the best show ever, but I do not consider them a guitar band per se. Besides, J Page stole vitually from his former band anyway. Remember "How Many More Times" is a repackaged version of the YBs "Smokestack Lightning", a Howlin Wolf tune. YBs version is in my mind the best rock song ever. So what do you think????
shubertmaniac
Jim, Thanks for remembering Quicksilver as Dekay did. I used to stand right in front of them watching John Cippolina. Ahhh, the good old days. And I sure do remember Alvin Lee. I wonder if I was at the Shrine for that particular concert, since I went so often then. Dekay, you remembered Savoy Brown; I'm amazed! Wonderful memories! I still enjoy listening to many of the great groups you all mentioned. If only we could still see them. For those of us who lived through those days of sex, drugs, and rock and roll... welcome to my world...we are extremely fortunate!!!!! Shubertmaniac, thanks for starting this great thread.
Shubertmaniac yup well cleared up-I agree about early Zeppelin(highly derivative) however in my opinion they developed into arguably the greatest rock band ever,in a way that their contempories never did--the later albums are a brilliant blend of styles-I can't agree on the stadium thing it's too narrow... they've left behind a series of albums that are a benchmark of consistency within the rock world and so-called stadium bands.......certainly the generations of rock bands that followed in their wake never hit their heights..oh and if your talking guitars and drums give Metallica a nod for dynamic musicianship and good songwriting/arrangements within their field Regards, Ben