Throughout the years, the world of rock has seen many talented artists take to the stage. We’re collecting together some of rock’s greatest musicians of the past and present, with the premise of imagining how extraordinary it might have been if they had formed a band. Delegating roles wasn’t easy, however, these are the names who would’ve made our ‘dream team’.
The Dream Team, featuring Rock’s Greatest Musicians
Band Name: Hallucination
‘What’s in a name?”, an important question asked by many artists when naming their band. A synonym for a dream, ‘Hallucination’ seems a fitting name for this rock band. It also reflects the mood and idea behind the new group while fitting the popular trend of a one-word band name, such as ‘Nirvana’, ‘Pixies’ or ‘HOLE’.
Drummer: Dave Grohl
Not many musicians could have their name to many hits in three different bands. Dave Grohl provided the backbone for bands such as Nirvana, Queens of The Stone Age, and most recently, Foo Fighters. His signature style of beating and thrashing is not only distinctive but also heightens the intensity of his live performance. From his high-powered approach heard on ‘In Bloom’ as part of Nirvana, to his tempo-shifting skills heard on Foo Fighters’ ‘Everlong’ – his sheer diversity would be a great quality for this dream band.
Lead Vocalist: Freddie Mercury
Known for his role as the lead singer and songwriter for Queen, as well as commenting that “I won’t be a rock star. I will be a legend”, Freddie Mercury has long become revered for his four-octave range and unmatchable stage presence. One need only listen to his isolated vocals on tracks ‘We Are The Champions’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, to understand why. It’s even been scientifically proven that Mercury’s vocals are impossible to replicate, making them officially once in a lifetime.
Lead guitarist: Jimi Hendrix
Taking charge of the music scene in the 1960s, he has long been thought of as one of the greatest guitarists of all-time. Fusing a mix of genres such as blues, jazz, rock, and soul, he’d certainly be an exciting addition to the group. ‘Machine Gun’ (1970) and ‘Midnight’ (1972) are only two examples which feature many of his iconic guitar solos. His creativity and passion would be an excellent driving force for the band.
Bassist: Kim Deal
An established musician and credited with tying together the Pixies’ tracks with her slick bass playing, as well as her more current work for the Breeders, Kim Deal has an impressive stage performance. Favouring punchy but perhaps simple basslines, her style is prominent in Pixies’ early discography, such as ‘Wave Of Mutilation’ and ‘I Bleed’. Less really is more when it comes to Deal’s playing.
Rhythm guitarist: Joan Jett
Known for her high-powered hits such as ‘I Love Rock & Roll’ and ‘I Hate Myself For Loving You’, Joan Jett is a worthy of a place in any band. Contributing with flair to both Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and the Runaways, Jett focused on the pure sound of the music, rather than overly fancy fingerings. This natural instinct to perform is consistently heard in her music – so much so, that Rolling Stone named Jett one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all-time.
Songwriter: David Bowie
Not many songwriters could write as evasively as one of rock’s great musicians, David Bowie, yet still encourage others to listen and find their own meaning. Never afraid to take risks, he discussed a range of topics such as existentialism, love and cosmic spheres with both passionate intensity and childlike wonder. Using a range of inspirations, he knew all too well that time and place were paramount to writing interesting material, as heard on Heroes (1977), which was predominately written in Berlin. A master of reinvention as seen, in particular, during his Ziggy Stardust era, he would ensure the writing was never stale.
If you’re interested in finding out more about David Bowie, check out the biography Ziggyology by Simon Goddard or the Golden Years by Roger Griffin from our online bookstore.
Read our ‘Making of A Masterpiece’ feature on David Bowie here
Keyboardist: Elton John
Renowned for his keyboard skills and flamboyant wardrobe choices including his signature glasses, Elton John would be an asset to any band. Touring with four piano systems no less, he’d certainly fill out the sound of this dream band. After classically training at the Royal Academy of Music in London, this not only prompted his usual style of blending various genres, it also paved the way for a new way of playing the piano in rock music. Both ‘Rocketman’ (1972) and ‘Tiny Dancer’ (1972) are clear examples of his skills with added finesse. After selling over 300 million records as an artist, he can clearly carry off a hit.
Of course, just because these artists were gifted at their chosen role, it doesn’t mean they would have gelled well together, especially with some of the egos of these musicians. However, there’s no harm in speculation. Either way, they’ll certainly each be remembered for being rock’s greatest musicians.
Underground Soundwave presents an ongoing series of reports on emerging and established bands with close-up Q&As, new release reviews and gig reports with a special emphasis on supporting diversity in music, women in music, independent labels and venues and the local music scene.
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