Unsong heroes in rock bands

[txteach]

I was thinking today, who are the guys who are great musicians or band mates who do not get recognized because of who else is/was in the band.Here's my list:

Creed- Mike Tremonte- the guitar player, sings well on a few tunes and helped write a lot. He also plays a mean guitar. All you ever heard about the group was about the idiot Stapp.

U2- The Edge, if you ever heard the song seconds you know the guy can sing. He also writes most of the songs and plays a lot of instruments and sings back-u p on U2 songs. He gets no recognition because he is in a band with an outspoken tree hugger who the media loves.

Rolling Stones- Ron Wood- A former member of small faces with Rod Stewart. I actually think he is a better guitar player than Richards but since he is not an original member he gets overlooked.

Duran-Duran- The 3 Taylor brothers. They collectively play drums, guitar, and bass in the group and when they left in the early 90's the group sucked with stupid replacements. Simon Labon is NOT Duran Duran and he and Nick Rhodes didn't understand that. Two of the brothers went and joined the highly successful Powerstation but get no or little respect as musicians.

Well this is my list so far. I'm sure there are a bunch more so lets hear who you think is underappreciated.

[huedell]

He gets no recognition because he is in a band with an outspoken
tree hugger who the media loves.

A flashy outspoken singer in a rock band heavily engages
the media with his doings??? It just DOESN"T MAKES SENSE!

Honestly though, if BONO was less of a media *****, it would only hurt
U2's visibility and I'm thinking wouldn't elevate The Edge's persona (which
he has little of) all that much.

SPEAKING of guitarists with not much to offer in the "charisma department"...
one musician that has to come to people's minds in these lists
is: BRAD WHITFORD (Aerosmith).

I mean, it's easy to be overshadowed by JOE PERRY (and otherwise Tyler)
but Whitford is a huge part of the original guitar work in Aerosmith nevertheless.

[txteach]

Huedell, I could care less about Bono getting the spotlight BUT how many everyday fans even know who The Edge is? The guy is a GREAT musician period. He could probably front a band with his singing because he has a good voice. I think the guitarist from Oasis is another one left in the shadows a bit because his brother sings. I remember going to an Oasis concert about 6 years ago where the singer was no where to to be found so his brother song all the songs AND played guitar. Why doesn't he just ditch his pain in the you know what brother? Do these people like being second fiddle?

[huedell]

Huedell, I could care less about Bono getting the spotlight

Apologies...that I read it kinda differently.
Admittedly, I'm defensive on this because I find it a conflict that
many times lead singers in rock bands are called out on being ego-laden
and over-the-top when essentially that's a big part of their job.

BUT how many everyday fans even know who The Edge is? The guy is a GREAT musician period. He could probably front a band with his singing because he has a good voice....Do these people like being second fiddle?

They probably do

I wouldn't like it...but I've worked with guitarists who STRIVE to stay in
the shadows because that's where they are the most comfortable.

And usually it's those same guys who are extremely TECHNICALLY
or CREATIVELY talented. Alot of the time, being "off to the side"
allows them to focus on their music more than the "show".

Also...it's often that guys that have "more to prove" crave the spotlight.

[txteach]

Huedell, I appreciate your perspective, I love a good discussion.

[huedell]

Huedell, I appreciate your perspective, I love a good discussion.

And I appreciate the acknowledgement teach.

I personally see one critical aspect of this discusion---
the question of the level of importance of "music technical talent"
vs. "performance talent" and related comparisons.

Peoples opinions will differ on this and it potentially causes debate
for where the spotlight deservedly deserves to land.

Obviously, there's no correct answer, but I thought since you
mentioned the appeal of a discoiurse, I'd point out what I thought was
a major factor here.

[txteach]

Huedell, I find your insight on this subject more in tune than most because you are a musician. I played guitar as a kid but strayed elsewhere then and now. I for one just do not like to be left in the background when I achieve a high level in my field and could not understand how others like it in the shadow. To me it would be frustrating.

[huedell]

Huedell, I find your insight on this subject more in tune than most because you are a musician.

Some things I understand because of my experience and I'll venture
that this one of them (although I've never reached the
higher echelons of success...I still have been "in the biz" so to speak
and witnessed more than my share of music biz drama).

Both bands I've been in that have had any modicum of success have involved
me being in bands with guitar players who are more techinically (and some
would say creatively) talented than me as singers and songwriters.

They preferred for me to be in the spotlight because to them being
the singer/frontman and/or "focus" otherwise took away from the more
musical side of being in a band---and, frankly, they both preferred
not to be the "dancing monkey"---"court jester"---- or M.C.---
it was pressure they didn't want.

I played guitar as a kid but strayed elsewhere then and now. I for one just do not like to be left in the background when I achieve a high level in my field and could not understand how others like it in the shadow. To me it would be frustrating.

Sometimes it DOES get frustrating to certain individuals and they can't
reconcile giving up the "main spotlight" for the freedom giving it up gives
them---and it results in horrid tension.

Eddie VanHalen is the classic example of this kind of behavior.

He's drug Van Halen through the mud because he wants to be
the central figure of his band and can't figure out how to
mantain VH's sucess while being such.

THe only time Eddie completely overshadowed his singer was during the
GARY CHERONE era---unfortunately for Ed---that didn't "suceed"
so Ed dumped him---he wanted the "best" of "both worlds" (ahem)

[theantiquetiger]

who are the guys who are great musicians or band mates who do not get recognized because of who else is/was in the band.

The cowbell player, Blue Oyster Cult:

cowbell snl - Google Video

[EmergencyIan]

The Beatles: I think you could argue that George Harrison is one.


- Ian

[txteach]

See, I don't view George in that light. George was a great musician but when compared to Lennon or McCartney he just wasn't on the same level. He actually did assert his self at the end and he was getting better as a musician. He just never was close musically to two of his band mates.

[huedell]

Because the Beatles were such a big splash in the context of rock history--
-this discussion alone could fill pages.

[Bill]

The guy that wasn't Dave Grohl or Kurt Cobain.

[megowgsh]

Elliott Easton of the Cars. An incredibly under-appreciated guitarist.

Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. Another one. IMO a musical genius.

Just 2 off the top of my head.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Don Felder of the Eagles. Felder came in after the first two albums and brought a rockier sensibility to the group before Joe Walsh showed up. Joe gets most of the credit for the Eagle's great guitar licks, but Felder played many of them, and wrote the music to Hotel California. When the band regrouped for Hell Freezes Over and did that MTV concert, Felder really shined and showed what he could do. He honestly outclassed guitar-god Walsh. For some reason though, he was booted from the group, and now it's just Henley, Frey, Walsh and Schmidt, the bass player. Felder never did get the recognition he deserved.

Chris