By Delmar Rezchenko: Here we have a list of bands and performers whom I believe are the best to ever have grabbed a mic and stood on stage belting out their wonderful tunes. Some of these you may not know, and so I suggest you do some homework ad find out more about them. Some you will know, and hopefully this will nudge you to play more of their music
Chuck was an early influence on many, many bands and singers, and he was the first person who told proper stories in his songs. As well as inventing a whole new guitar sound that has been copied and ripped off by so many since, Chuck penned some of the greatest pop tunes of the past 80 years. He was a bit of a stubborn performer by all accounts, and if you’ve seen the footage of him arguing with Keith Richards, you’ll get some of the picture. However, that doesn’t detract from the man’s songwriting genius, and it is down to this that he gets the place here rather than Little Richard, who actually had the better voice and fuller band sound.
Oh, the King of Rock and Roll. While that title arguably belongs to Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis was the artist who brought black and white music together and had everyone dancing with each other. His early stuff is, in my opinion, the best and it is true that he did wander off the track at certain points, mainly due to his film career. While they were hits, they were more a bit of fun than Oscar material. Elvis could sing all manner of styles too, and he crossed from Blues to Gospel to Rock ‘n’ Roll to Country, and there were ballads, of course. He played guitar and the piano too, though he was more of a rhythm guitarist than a shredder. Considering he was only 42 when he went to bed, he still stands as possibly the most recognisable artist the world has ever seen.
For a band and as individuals to come up with so many brilliant tunes over such a long period of time is nothing short of bloody immense. The Beatles were a group that never stood still and continued to grow and explore different spheres of sound with every passing year. It’s quite possible they inspired more people to pick up guitars than any other outfit on the planet, and as much as I truly dislike their early stuff, there’s no doubt that they were adored by millions who bought their records. Paul McCartney has probably sold more records than any other recording artist (let me know if you have the figures). Not only that, he still gives workshops in his native city to the lucky few who manage to get onto a course for the institution he founded in 1996, LIPA. John Lennon was his writing partner in the band and he went on to have a distinguished solo career, as did George Harrison, whose All Things Must Pass is the most successful album of the band as solo performers. Ringo? He was that guy who hung around with the band, wasn’t he? 😉
The Stones are still together after seven decades (barring drummer, Charlie Watts) and their tunes still sound as good now as they ever did. OK, while it’s true they haven’t released anything of value since Miss You in 1978, they have toured and still tour now and then. Mick, Keef and their mates released 70 albums and 121 singles, which is incredible. They have also inspired a ton of bands to form and take up instruments to follow in their footsteps, and few groups have made such an imprint on music as they have.
As much as I loved Elvis, when the Pistols came along they produced the first sounds that truly made the hair on my neck stand up. They were rock ‘n’ roll, of course, and they weren’t doing much new as far as rebelling goes; kids had been doing that for eons, but they did it in a new way that struck a chord with me. I loved being a punk. I loved not being the same as everyone else. I loved the switch back from flares to drainpipes, the dyed hair, the holes in my jeans, the zips, the safety pins. I loved it all, and it was down to the Pistols that I got involved in music. I’ve got the saddest Pistols story ever too, but that’s for another time and place. The proof of a band’s importance is down to those they influence, and they influenced more bands than any other since the Beatles. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols is also one of the greatest albums ever created. Every intro is instantly recognisable, and every tune is a stand out. For me, while the Pistols aren’t the best band ever, they are certainly my favourite. I still believe they were the only true punk band, and when the Pistols split, punk died.
The Lloyds formed as Executive Fork in Helensburgh, Scotland, and performed a handful of gigs before they shifted to Manchester. The Lloyds mainstays were brothers, Rod, Fabes and Andy, and in Manchester they became recognised as one of the most visual bands on the circuit, and honed their trade in grotty pubs and clubs like the Boatman’s Home, The Boardwalk, The Banshee, the Chorlton Irish Club, Shades, Jilly’s Rockworld, Lancaster Tavern and a ton of other smaller joints. Their following were incredibly loyal and filled each of the gigs to overflowing and got them a ton of radio play around the north west. The band split when the singer went to university.
My sister loved this guy, and when I listen to certain tracks, certainly from his Honky Chateau album, I can only ever think of her when she used to play it while she and I did our homework. It would blare from her bedroom while I was in mine and we were beavering away. That aside, the man has been producing wonderful music for decades, and you don’t get longevity through being crap. He’s sold more than 300 million records worldwide, and they continue to shift from the shelves and online platforms. Elton still tours too, he’s got a 2022 world tour kicking off in May.
This guy is my all time music hero. I quite literally cried for weeks when he danced sadly over to the other side, and I miss him and his output to this day. While it’s true his quality control was somewhat amiss throughout his latter years, there’s no doubt this man was truly a musical genius. When I die, I want to be lowered into the ground to Let’s Go Crazy blasting away on a beat box. Take me away! 55 albums and 85 singles demonstrates how prolific the man was. He continually reinvented his image, his style in fashion and music, and each was as individual as the man himself. His 1999 was the turn of the century anthem, and no one else can say that (although Robbie Williams may try). Added to all of the above is the fact that he played most of the instruments on his recordings, evidence – if needed – just what a phenomenon he was.
What can you say about Michael Jackson that hasn’t already been said? He was an amazing performer, a great singer: and what a showman! It’s such a pity he had so much trouble surrounding him. Michael was something of an enigma, and as much as he had his troubles through allegations of wrongdoing, I’d come down on his side, because from the films we see, he’s an innocent little boy inside a man’s mind. With 400 million (and counting) record sales, sell out tours, and enough gossip to fill ten encyclopedias, we could talk about him all day long and never repeat anything. The music stands out for me though, and there are so many great tracks it would be foolish to try and come up with a favourite.
You’ll possibly have noticed there are no females in this top ten so far, so I’m going to remedy this with Abba, who are one of the best bands ever to grace the radio and record player airwaves. Pre 1976, everyone was allowed to like Abba, but when punk came out I had to pretend I didn’t like them for fear of becoming an outcast in the world of my peers. Yep, I was a secret Abba admirer. Still am, in fact, and I am brave enough to admit it no and not care what others think, although most would agree with me. Those who don’t have no taste in music.
And there you have it. My choice of the best or most influential bands and performers/artists to ever walk the earth. If you don’t know any of the acts, I suggest you do a quick YouTube search and learn.