Ask 411 Music 07.10.08 Defining the Untouchables

Posted by Blake Lauderback on 07.10.2008

Join us at Ask 411 Music as we discuss the "Untouchable Bands," the greatest ballads of all time, wife swapping and name stealing with the stars, and more on the early days of rock. Plus, a look at a classic album by Rush!

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Welcome to another thrilling edition of Ask 411 Music. I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves over the holiday weekend (or the regular ol' boring weekend for those of you outside of the States.) Thanks to all of you that sent me birthday wishes, and I must also say Happy Birthday to my fellow music staffer, Mr. Rob Samuels. Rob is addicted to old school rock much like myself, and if you haven't given him a read yet, you have been missing out. Check him out here. Rob, here is hoping we get matched up again on Dan's Fact or Fiction again soon so we can continue to spread the truth of classic rock to the unwashed masses.

My birthday was fun. I had family in town for a nice quiet birthday, and it was especially nice since it was the first time my dad had been able to see my youngest daughter. It was a wonderful time all around.

I have a TON of info that I need to cram into your noggins this week, so let's dive into the traditional review of last week's edition so that we can get on to the new stuff. Here is what we learned last week….

- A lot of you love live albums, which is awesome. I personally put a lot of stock in a band's ability to perform live, and thus I think highly of bands that have produced great live records. I think there is reason that there aren't as many live records out there today, and frankly, I think it is because many bands out there aren't equipped to do so from a talent and performance perspective. Thanks to all of you that respectfully sent in your own ideas.

- Not nearly many people called for my execution as I had anticipated when I spoke somewhat negatively about some big name bands. Really, only a few Grateful Dead fans spoke up.

- The first half of my section on the 1950's got a great response, and it seems that many of you like the idea and are looking forward to the rest of the 50's and all of the other decades as well.

- I am not alone in my love for Thin Lizzy, and it seems a few of you will be out there campaigning for them to get into the Hall of Fame too!

Alright, enough time focusing on what we have already learned. Let's now turn our attention to some new info!

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This week marks the beginning of a new piece that will be taking over the intro for the next few months or so. Our regular inquirer Steveo asked me a week or so back to break down my favorite bands by decade, and I am going to… but I am going to take it a step farther. Each week I will be covering a decade in the history of Rock and Roll and highlighting the ten most essential artists of the era. Inevitably, some of your favorites may be left out, and as always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. The whole idea is to get people buzzing about some of this great music from a bygone era. Hopefully this little trip down memory lane will be an enjoyable one for all.

Let's get started with…

The 1950's

As we discussed last week, the world was getting ready for drastic changes in not only the music world, but in every other realm as well. From politics to the basic values of society, everything was about to be challenged and questioned.

The artists that we have already covered were blazing a trail that generations of musicians would follow, whether they were fully aware of the contributions of their elders or not.

The second half of the top ten essential artists of the 1950's (in no particular order) are…

Roy Orbison - Yeah, he is most known for singing "Pretty Woman," buy Roy was so much more to the early rock and roll movement. He was a successful rock and roll star that reached stardom despite being the polar opposite of what most of us see as a rock star. He was awkward and not necessarily attractive, but this sunglasses wearing legend used his operatic voice and unique storytelling to weave himself into the fabric of the genre.

Carl Perkins - Now, there are plenty of so-called historians out there that will attempt to tell you that Mr. Perkins wasn't a rock and roll musician, and that he was really a "rockabilly" star. I personally don't see where such a distinction should keep him from the credit that so often has been denied him. Rockabilly or not, Perkins helped bridge that gap between country and R&B, helping to create the sound of rock and roll. Just food for thought, he has been called a crucial influence by countless other legends including George Harrison. So, no Perkins means no Harrison, and most likely, no Beatles. Would rock even still be around? And, more importantly, would life be worth living?

Little Richard - We all know that there is a "King of Rock and Roll," but Little Richard is often humorously referred to as the "Queen of Rock and Roll." There is no question that he was a flamboyant performer. Little Richard smashed together the hell fire of gospel with the fun of New Orleans style jazz. Audiences were shocked as he pounded away at the keys of his piano while screeching in his trademark manner, and he was one of rock's first controversial players as well. Despite the fact that his appeal faded very quickly in the next decade, he is still a very recognized contributor to the era.

Ike Turner - Speaking of controversial performers, this gentleman (and I suppose I use the term loosely) is far better known as an assaulter towards his former wife Tina Turner. This unfortunate reputation has caused Turner's true legacy to be ignored in favor of being a punch line for the last fifty or sixty years. In reality, Turner was an innovator on the guitar (he was one of the first to utilize the whammy bar) and a brilliant pianist as well. Turner's true gift was as a general, as he ran one of the tightest bands around.

Elvis Pressley - I suppose you MIGHT have heard of this guy. I tried to hold off with the obvious as long as I could. Here is why…

When 411 Music debuted the first ballot Hall of Famers for the 411 Music Hall of Fame this way, Mitch decided it would be funny to hold of on inducting my beloved Beatles until the very last second. I was anxious leading up to the final inductee, thinking that Mitch had slighted the greatest ever. Sure enough, the last name revealed was that of the aforementioned Beatles. When I expressed my relief, Mitch laughed (manically I am sure) and said that it was his plan to screw with the masses all along.

So… I decided to try out this power, and since a few of you expressed outrage that Elvis had not already been inducted, I felt as though it had been a successful experiment all around! Anyway, back to the matter at hand…

Elvis Pressley brought rock and roll to the masses like no one else did or ever could have. Suddenly, rock and roll was not just some music movement, but it became THE music anywhere that it was heard. He took that iconic voice and those darn "inappropriate" hips to the peak of stardom and ensure that we would all be here, years and years later, discussing the genre that bares his fingerprints.

Hit after hit came flying out of the studio, and everything that the man touched turned into gold in the 1950's. He still remains one of the highest selling artists of all time, and only recently did he release the hold on the number two spot for most total number one hits to "She that shall not be named."

Perhaps Chuck Berry was a better musicians, and maybe Buddy Holly was the most innovative, but no one influenced the world of popular music in the 1950's and beyond like the King himself, Elvis Aron Pressley.

Join us next week as we move ahead into the trippy world of the 1960's.

Now, back to your regular scheduled programming.

Class is in Session

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" Lovely Rita meter maid, nothing can come between us / When it gets dark I tow your heart away.

Standing by a parking meter when I caught a glimpse of Rita, filling in a ticket in her little white book.

In a cap she looked much older, and the bag across her shoulder made her look a little like a military man.

Lovely Rita meter maid, may I inquire discreetly when you are free, to take some tea with me.?

Took her out and tried to win her, Had a laugh and over dinner. / Told her I would really like to see her again.

Got the bill and Rita paid it / Took her home and nearly made it sitting on a sofa with a sister or two.

Oh, lovely Rita meter maid where would I be without you? / Give us a wink and make me think of you." – Lovely Rita

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Q: Hey man,

This ones a bit of work. The other day I was watching TV and I saw a commercial for VH1 Rock Honors (which along with I Love... is the only thing VH1 is good for) and I remarked to my friend that I was going to watch it. My friend said he would watch it as well, for the tribute acts (which are all good by the way) but probably change the channel afterwards because, and I quote, "He fuckin hates The Who."

I tried to convince him about some sacred rules of rock, that you can talk shit about a lot of good bands, but The Who is one of the bands you can't talk shit about....ever. You don't have to listen to them, just don't talk shit about them. I think we need to make it official, The 10 Bands you can never talk shit about...ever. Beatles, Zeppelin, Floyd, Sabbath, and Who are no brainers. Queen should probably be on there. I absolutely insist that Nirvana be on there for, in my opinion, fine-tuning punk rock to make it perfect. KISS would probably make it on there, but I don't know, they are responsible for hair metal. I don't know, we may have to make it a top 15.

By the way, spot on about Coldplay. I wouldn't say Sugar Gay is the worst band I've ever heard. I much rather hate Third Eye Blind than Sugar Ray from that era. The worst band I've ever heard is probably Blue October. For the simple fact that I fuckin hate everything I've ever heard from them, but worse...I'm the only one that hates them. Everyfuckinbody has Into the Ocean on a cd! Can't they see it's shit. Although I did hide a Daughtry cd from my roommate once.

Also, which is worse. Hair metal in the 80's or Emo from today?

P.S. I try to keep an open mind, but I still don't quite understand the appeal of Jane's Addiction. I'm not saying it sucks, i'm just saying maybe the quality's above my head.

- Steveo

A: You love to keep me on my toes don't you?

I will try my best to not pass judgement on your Who-hating friend, but it will be quite hard. For his sake, it is probably about time for an intervention of good music.

Your untouchables list intrigues me. For now, we will start with your original 10 Band concept, and I will solemnly swear not to badmouth any of the bands on the list for as long as I right in this space, and if I slip and go against the irrefutable ten, you are all welcome to call me out on it. I will only include bands (no solo artists) and I will throw in a quick bit of reasoning.

Here goes…

- The Beatles - Honestly, if I ever say anything negative about these guys, call me an ambulance because I have obviously suffered some sort of head trauma. They are the best…ever… period.
- Led Zeppelin - Truly deserving of their legendary status. All Zeppelin did was churn out some of the greatest hard rock of all time.
- Pink Floyd - Progressive rock at it's finest in my mind. Not just rock stars, but true artists.
- The Rolling Stones - They are still going, and will probably outlive all of us. While the last few decades haven't been the best for them creatively, they are absolutely one of the biggest influencial bands ever.
- The Who - Easily one of the best all around bands ever. Hard rock, ballads, operas, heart-pounding live shows, crazy antics… how anyone can miss their brilliance I don't understand.
- Queen - If you don't like Queen, you don't like good rock music. Mercury and company created one of the most amazing a unique sounds in the history of popular music, and backed it up with some amazing songs.
- Aerosmith - The real deal when it comes to American rock music. They trail only The Stones when it comes to longevity, and Steven Tyler has managed to keep his boys current in every era while other acts, including The Stones, have often been left in the past decade. Ever he chameleon act, these guys are still pumping out solid tunes to go with their classics.
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The sport the greatest guitar player of all time, and the other two were far from being slouches themselves. They had a short run, but their influence is undeniable.
- Black Sabbath - The unholy four. Sabbath took hard rock and molded it to their liking, and it became known as metal. They created the image, the persona, and 90% of the riffs for the next thirty years of metal.
- Nirvana - I include this one somewhat reluctantly for a few reasons. Number one, I can find fault in this band. Number two, we haven't yet been far enough removed to see what kind of legs their music will really have. However, they are amazingly influencial, and I have to give my respect to the suggestion of Steveo.

Now, there is the Untouchable 10. Next week I will include 5 more names that you all will select, so send me an email or leave a comment telling me who else you think deserves to be considered beyond reproach. I can't wait to see your thoughts.

I must defend Third Eye Blind, at least a little bit. I don't think that they were that band. Granted, their music was a little lacking on musicianship and they primarily wrote very basic college rock tunes, but I still think they are better than Sugar Ray. I am kind of with you on Blue October. I don't think they are the worst out there, but I don't really get the appeal either.

Emo is MUCH worse than hair metal and here is why…

1. We know about the death of hair metal. The pain has a time frame. We have no idea how long emo could run for, though pushing suicide to your audience is a bad idea if you want to hang around.
2. At least hair metal was fun and upbeat. It was annoying, but I'd rather be annoyed by people talking about going out and partying than by some kids crying about how life isn't fair. Tough shit, get over it. The rest of us did, and did so minus the horrible haircuts.
3. There is too much makeup! (Oh wait, I guess that is a tie.)

And finally… Jane's Addiction. It is not that I think they suck, or that I think they aren't talented at what they do, but I just don't really dig the sound that much. If they are going for a funky alternative rock sound, The Red Hot Chili Peppers have them beat out big time. I will open this up to everyone. What makes Jane's Addiction so popular?

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This week's list…(Insert mental drum roll here)

The Top 7 14 Rock Ballads

Disclaimer: See, this is why the world has rules, because if there weren't any, there would be chaos. Case and point… I decided to make this Top 7 list about the greatest ballads of all time, and lo and behold, I had a tough time narrowing it down to seven. So, since I have already broken the rules ones, it was far to easy to do it again here. Look for the second half (The actual top 7) next week. Enjoy.

14. "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers – In this day and age it seems to be "uncool" to pay your respects to what is now reffered to as the "oldies." If that is the case, feel free to lump me in with that group. This iconic song deserves some appreciation from this generation, as it's simple meanings and tight harmonies create a true masterpiece from a bygone era.

13. "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd – These southern rock gods were far more than just hard rocking country boys, and they proved it with this song. Despite their good old boy image, Van Zandt's lyrics are often thought provoking and intellectual when he wants them to be, and this song is a good example. This tune about his mother's kindly advice is both beautiful and touching.

12. "Last Kiss" by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers – This is another classic tune, and quite possibly the saddest song ever recorded. In case you are unfamiliar, the song details the tale of two young lovers that are involved in a car accident, and the lyrics details the boys perspective and reflection on his last moments with his first love. Many a grown man have teared up at this song. For a good cover, find Pearl Jam's take on the song.

11. "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Pressley – It was quite difficult to choose a singular Elvis track for the list, as half of his legendary catalogue is made up of touching ballads. However, after a little deliberation, I settled on this one. Millions and millions of girls swooned over this song, wishing more than anything for it to be about them. As Elvis croons about the one he loves, the world fell deeper in love with him while listening.

10. "Your Song" by Elton John – I suppose part of the appeal to this song as it is a great "fill in the blanks" tune. I wonder how many guys tried to be smooth by telling their best gal, "See! It is YOUR SONG!" Worse than that, I wonder how often it actually worked! All kidding aside, this is one of my favorite tracks from Sir Elton. The lyrics are a little suspect at some points (…but then again, no.) but the amazing melody more than makes up for it.

9. "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas – Is it just me, or does Kansas get completely forgotten in any and all conversations about classic rock? I don't get it, these guys were some heavy hitters back in the day, and they had the chops to back it up. We will save further discussion for another day, though maybe they should sign up to be a running mate on the "Thin Lizzy ‘09" campaign. "Dust in the Wind" is a song that hits home in a very serious way, as I am sure that every human being has at least pondered their significance (or lack of) in this crazy world.

8. "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who – Fred Durst bought himself a special private room in hell for his destruction of this classic. If that is the only version you have heard, get up and go pick up a copy of Who's Next, or at least click over to iTunes and download it. This song about the crushing feeling of isolation and crying out for companionship is a perfect example of both the gorgeous song writing of Pete Townsend, as well as the over all power of The Who. By the way, you should all tune in for VH1's "Rock Honors: The Who" next week. Maybe if we all watch we can avoid "Flavor of Love: Season 42."

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Forgotten Classic This week we are taking a look at a very special "power trio" that is far from forgotten themselves. The band in question is the sum of Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, and Neil Peart, which would be the Canadian band known as Rush. My favorite era in the Rush timeline is the late 70's/ early 80's, after Peart's inclusion to the lineup, and before the band got a tad too obsessed with the synthesizer for my taste (though it was still great music.) In 1981, the band released what is considered by many to be not only their best record, but one of the greatest hard rock efforts ever. The album in question is Moving Pictures and features an unbelievable track listing including "Tom Sawyer," "YYZ," "Red Barchetta," and "Limelight." In case you have missed it, Ask 411 has an amazing contest going on right now featuring Rush and "Rock Band." Find out all about it here.

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Q: Hey Blake,

Eric Clapton has always been a favorite artist of mine, particularly his work with Derek and the Dominos and Blind Faith because blues-rock has always been my passion, so I decided to send some questions concerning Slowhand.

What are your thoughts on Clapton's relationship with George Harrison? Despite sharing the same wife, the two still remained very close friends and collaborators. Secondly, do you by chance have any idea how and when the two became friends in the first place?

Where does Blind Faith stand in music history to you - a quality supergroup or just an overrated outlet for Clapton and Winwood?

How about some history of the Yardbirds guitarists while we're at it: Clapton, Page, and Beck. Though all three were never band members concurrently, how did they all come to be in the same band at some point? And finally, what are these three up to these days?

Thanks a ton, Blake!

- Stephanie

Oh, and as a separate side question just for your benefit only Blake, I must ask as a hardcore Beatles and post-Beatles fan myself (no need to put this in your column): Are you familiar with Lennon's one-off band during the Beatles, the Dirty Mac, on the Rolling Stones' t.v. special? Don't you think that Keith, Mitch, Eric, and John would have made a great real band, too?.

A: I am always up for a little time chatting about Eric Clapton. I am with you, Derek and the Dominos were a fantastic dose of solid blues-rock. As with all of Slowhand's bands, it is a shame that they didn't stick around a bit longer.

Clapton's relationship with George Harrison is a very odd one. The two legends met while playing around in the 1960's music scene, and the two began fast friends and writing partners. Their first work together was the Cream song "Badge," on which Harrison played rhythm guitar under and Italian pseudonym. The friendship between the two carried on until Harrison's passing earlier this century from his bout with cancer.

It is true that Clapton was at one point married to Harrison's ex-wife Pattie Boyd. It is also speculated that the song Layla was based on his obsession with his good friend's bride.

For the life of me I cannot understand how such a thing doesn't wreck the bonds of friendship, but somehow it didn't phase these two, which is either a testament to the bond of musicianship or to the unbelievable amount of understanding on Harrison's part.

In the end, Harrison seems to have come out better as he remarried and stayed married until his passing. Meanwhile, Clapton/Boyd didn't last.

Blind Faith is far from overrated in my book, and as a fan of the band Traffic, I personally love the match up of Clapton and Steve Winwood. Now, I am not sure that the band can hold a candle to the innovation of Cream or the blues stylings of Derek and the Dominos, but Blind Faith deserves to be respected as a brilliant collaboration.

Now, The Yardbirds are a funny story. The band started off as a rock band that was deeply rooted in blues, with the charge being led by Slowhand himself. As they began to gain some steam, they started to take on a much poppier sound and the dismay of Clapton. Eric decided that it was time for him to move on to his next project since his heart wasn't in pop music. Not wanting to totally abandon the band, he put the others in touch with Jimmy Page who had gained quite a reputation as a studio guitarist. At the time, Page was content with his studio gig, so he recommended his good buddy, Jeff Beck, who also happens to be ranked as one of the greatest players ever. Beck did a stint with the band before deciding to go his own way.

By this point, Page was ready to suit up and get into the game, so he took over the lead duties. This time however, it was the band that packed it in, leaving Page obligated to fulfill several contracted dates. He called in a few favors and created what would be briefly known as The New Yardbirds before making a name change… to Led Zeppelin.

So boys and girls, that is how The Yardbirds managed to have three of the greatest to ever play guitar as full fledged members.

Stephanie, I couldn't help but include that last part, because it is fascinating to me. I can whole-heartedly say that Dirty Mac is the most talented band to ever play just one show.

In 1968, The Rolling Stones recorded a TV special by the name of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, which was a musical variety show that featured the one-off performance of this immensely talented act.

The band? It was either a four or a five piece depending on who you ask. The lineup consisted of John Lennon, Keith Richards (who actually played bass), Eric Clapton, and Mitch Mitchell, the drummer for The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The debatable fifth member? Yoko Ono.

Yes, that's right… Darth Yoko (just for you Dan) reared her head in this potentially astonishing act.

The band played a version of "Yer Blues," which is a Lennon track that he recorded with The Beatles, and then proceeded to be a backing band for Yoko. Thus ended one of the most talent-filled bands of all time. Biggest…waste…ever!


The Yardbirds

Q: Okay, I don't really get the whole Alice Cooper thing. Is it a band? Is it a solo artists name? What the hell? – Eddie L.

A: Alice Cooper was initially the name of a band that was fronted by a guy by the name of Vincent Furnier. The band released a few albums together and had some huge hits with the songs "I'm Eighteen" and "School's Out."

The band was gaining notoriety not only for their playing, but also for their performance. Furnier and the boys took on elements of hard rock and glam rock to create a stage show of nightmarish proportions.

In 1975, Furnier went his own way, taking the name with him. Since everyone and their dog seemed to think that Furnier WAS Alice Cooper, he decided to embrace it, and it has been his solo stage name ever since.

For a more current analogy, think of it this way. Pretend that Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish decided that since everyone assumed that he was named "Hootie," that he would just oblige them all and start calling himself that.

Hope that helps a little.

Alrighty, to quote Mr. Plant, "let's bring it on home tonight."

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This week's drop of band name knowledge is…

Cheap Trick - There are a couple of thoughts in regards to this band name. The original band went by the name of Fuse, but when that lineup found very little to no success, they began to retool a bit, returning as Cheap Trick. The most obvious was to look at it is to take it literally as a cheap gag. The other popular idea is that it is a reference to an affordable prostitute. I suppose only the band knows for sure… if they even remember.

See you all back here next week… and send me some freaking questions.

Class Dismissed.