Doug: How about musicians who get around? OK, you're thinking "sex, drugs, and rock -n- roll". But I'm thinking of a guy like Steve Winwood. You almost need a scorecard to follow the guy's career. Notable stops included the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and of course his fine solo career. Another singer/guitarist is the Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar. From Montrose to a solo career to Van Halen to a solo career to Chickenfoot. Wow. Lots of tickets punched with just those two examples.
So today we're discussing rock and roll artists (and if you want to branch into other genres, that's fine -- some of us will appreciate the education) who've been in multiple bands with perhaps a solo career squeezed in for good measure. And don't feel like you have to stick within any temporal parameters, and our comic book Silver Age will have some wonderful examples we can kick around, too (I'm looking at you, Graham Nash). Have fun -- artists, albums, favorite tracks, etc. It's all fair for today.
13 comments:
Perhaps not much for 'formal line-ups', but I look at McCartney for being the most diversified in terms of 'musical resume'.. How many classical releases has he done so far..? He's done movie scores ('The Family Way' soundtrack back in '66...), classical stuff, all the song-writing for other big names. And the instruments played, no less.
Besides Wings, the Firemen and the Fabs (and the Quarrymen, no less), Macca's had multiple lineups throughout his 50+yrs in the business. I'd consider him with the most diversified, perhaps followed by the likes of Bowie, Zappa, Pete Townsend, Dave Crosby, etc..
Between joining the Yardbirds, John Mayall, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos, Delaney & Bonnie, and collaborations with artists like the Beatles, George Harrison, Babyface, B.B. King, Roger Waters, and the Band, Eric Clapton is truly the Rock & roll world's bicycle.
- Mike Loughlin
Following on from David's comment, Paul McCartney is the only artist to have #1 hits as a soloist, a duo, a trio, a quartet and a quintet (Beatles & Billy Preston) and here in the UK he also reached #1 as part of the multi-artist Ferry Aid single, "Let It Be", in 1987. And don't forget that George Harrison was in the Traveling Wilburys as well as the Beatles and his solo output.
Michael McDonald. He made a big splash with the Doobie Bros., but also sang with Steely Dan frequently. And he had numerous hits as part of a duo or as a backup ( example: backing Christopher Cross on "Ride Like the Wind"). Then there was his solo work, as well...
Some of the guys from Asia (especially John Wetton) were in a bunch of other bands. And guys like David Coverdale, Cozy Powell, and Ronnie James Dio had pretty long resumes.
Mike Wilson
Joe Walsh: in a number of bands, most notably the James Gang and the Eagles, and he had a long and storied solo career.
Guitarist Ronnie Wood was a member of the Jeff Beck Group, then Faces, then the Rolling Stones.....pretty impressive resume. He's in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Faces and the Stones.
Thanks for the comments today, although I'd lie if I didn't say I thought this one would take off. It didn't. But then, I was so busy this morning that I wondered when I'd have time to use the restroom. So I get it.
Some inspired choices from you, though. Michael McDonald's voice backed on numerous hits. Eric Clapton was certainly well-traveled, as was Ronnie Wood. Other great suggestions as well.
I'm not qualified to lead such as conversation, but if we were to delve into session musicians I am positive we'd find not only some well-traveled musicians, but heavily decorated as well.
Doug
I will say this about that: (in my defense, I got in before dine-O-Mike)
Neal Schon. As a fifteen year old guitarist, he made the scene in Santana. Short stint in Azteca, then founding, and only original member left, in Journey. Side projects include HSAS, Hagar, Schon, Aaronson and Shrieve, work with Jan Hammer, Planet Us, with Hagar and Michael Anthony and solo work. Also a founding member of Bad English. It's Journey Doug, JOURNEY!!!!
Nick Lowe, if you listened to Stiff Records, you listened to his work. First punk single, the Damned's Damned Damned Damned. Rockpile with Dave Edmunds, Elvis Costello, (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love And Understanding is Lowe's. Also worked with Paul Carrack. Met and married Carlene Carter, Johnny Cash's daughter. Through her, Lowe worked and produced songs for Cash, including The Beast In Me.
Two funny side notes, Lowe named his four song EP Bowi in response to David Bowie releasing Low. And when he worked with The Rumour, they named their album Max as an answer to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.
And so it goes.........
(Well I do my best to understand dear
But you still mystify and I want to know why
I pick myself up off the ground
To have you knock me back down, again and again
And when I ask you to explain, you say
You've gotta be cruel to be kind, in the right measure
Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind, means that I love you, baby
(You've gotta be cruel)
You gotta be cruel to be kind).
PS: Once again passed the robot test!!!!!
You know I love Journey, Prowl. But don't be bringing that talk around Karen, or she'll go off about the "rat-faced" one (I believe that's how she put it).
And also -- you need to get yourself around here more than once every three weeks. Seriously... having trouble staying regular?
Doug
Hmm, I hear bran helps with that whole staying regular problem...
Anyway, another guy that came to mind is rock/blues vocalist and drummer Buddy Miles. He's more low key than a lot of the examples mentioned above, but he got around: besides his solo projects and bands (like Electric Flag back in the late '60s), he worked with Jimi Hendrix (Band of Gypsies) and Santana (in the mid-1980s - he was actually the vocalist at the first Santana concert I ever went to in 1987), although the wider public might be most familiar with his work in those claymation "California Raisins" commercials back in the 1980s, in which he sang lead vocals.
Widely considered one of the finest musicians to ever pick up a guitar, the late Duane Allman had a storied career. He was a hot session guitarist, playing on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs and Wilson Pickett, among many others. He was a prime contributor to Eric Clapton's magnum opus Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominoes. He also founded the legendary Allman Brothers Band, a group which not only redefined rock music but released arguably the greatest live album of all time, At Fillmore East.
Yes, I have a deep and abiding dislike of Journey and especially Steve "Rat-Face" Perry. Recently a co-worker said she had gone to a concert with Journey featuring "the Asian Steve Perry." I inquired further and apparently he no longer sings with the band, and they replaced him with a soundalike who happens to be of Asian descent -my immediate thought being, they are turning into their own tribute band. Well, they won't be the first, nor the last, I reckon.
As for the topic, I thought of Clapton and Walsh too. How about Paul Rodgers? He was in Free, Bad Company, had a solo career, then the Firm (OK, not so impressive), then hooked up with the surviving members of Queen. Not too shabby.
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