Great musicians, lousy band

[SchenkerFan]

I was thinking what an awesome drummer Frankie Banali was. The other guys were solid too. Rudy Sarzo and Chuck Wright were very good bass players and Carlos Cavazo had the occasional nice solo.

Problem is they couldn't write songs. A few good ones on each album and then a bunch of turds.

There are probably many other examples I can't think of right now.

[Wiseacre]

Don’t hate on me, I know there are fans here, but I never paid much attention to or really liked Helix at all, but my band’s manager booked shows back in the ‘80s and we’d help load gear and one of the shows was Helix (late ‘80s). No idea who the drummer was, but he did a solo and we were all looking at each other like “…the fuck is this guy doing in Helix????”

[Hellsinkey]

Don’t hate on me, I know there are fans here, but I never paid much attention to or really liked Helix at all, but my band’s manager booked shows back in the ‘80s and we’d help load gear and one of the shows was Helix (late ‘80s). No idea who the drummer was, but he did a solo and we were all looking at each other like “…the fuck is this guy doing in Helix????”

Greg "Fritz" Hinz. I doubt it was former Sludger Abe Freshley.

[Hellsinkey]

Paul Ryder (R.I.P.) from Happy Mondays was a great bass player, the rest of the band was nowhere near as musicians. In fact some were poor, especially singer and keyboard player.

[Wiseacre]

Don’t hate on me, I know there are fans here, but I never paid much attention to or really liked Helix at all, but my band’s manager booked shows back in the ‘80s and we’d help load gear and one of the shows was Helix (late ‘80s). No idea who the drummer was, but he did a solo and we were all looking at each other like “…the fuck is this guy doing in Helix????”

Greg "Fritz" Hinz. I doubt it was former Sludger Abe Freshley.

If I am remembering correctly, I feel like he may have only been wearing a thong or g-strings does that help?

[Venus Flytrap]

Chickenfoot

[Hellsinkey]

Don’t hate on me, I know there are fans here, but I never paid much attention to or really liked Helix at all, but my band’s manager booked shows back in the ‘80s and we’d help load gear and one of the shows was Helix (late ‘80s). No idea who the drummer was, but he did a solo and we were all looking at each other like “…the fuck is this guy doing in Helix????”

Greg "Fritz" Hinz. I doubt it was former Sludger Abe Freshley.

If I am remembering correctly, I feel like he may have only been wearing a thong or g-strings does that help?

I think that's Greg then. Didn't thankfully wear a thong when I saw them live.

[cowpins]

Eddie Van Halen. He could write a riff, and I guess he had that tapping thing, but without Sammy he wouldn't have any actual songs.

[Whatever Happened To…]

YES - love Chris Squire's playing but can't get into the band at all.

MR. BIG - again, love Sheehan's playing but the band are just tedious.

[dmbrocker]

Eddie Van Halen. He could write a riff, and I guess he had that tapping thing, but without Sammy he wouldn't have any actual songs.

Did you honestly decide to wake up and choose violence this morning?

[cowpins]

Eddie Van Halen. He could write a riff, and I guess he had that tapping thing, but without Sammy he wouldn't have any actual songs.

Did you honestly decide to wake up and choose violence this morning?

You have to admit that saying Sammy (and not Dave) was a nice touch.

[HottKarl777]

Eddie Van Halen. He could write a riff, and I guess he had that tapping thing, but without Sammy he wouldn't have any actual songs.

Did you honestly decide to wake up and choose violence this morning?

You have to admit that saying Sammy (and not Dave) was a nice touch.

It actually was. Double whammy.

[Wild Obsession]

Most of the "super groups" can't write a "hook"........(Chickenfoot, Winery Dogs, Black County Communion, etc., etc......)

And I actually think Dee Snider is a much better vocalist, but was limited by the one dimensional style/mediocre songwriting of Twisted Sister.

[Gibsonite]

Vito Bratta.

[AlexVonHaig]

Paul Ryder (R.I.P.) from Happy Mondays was a great bass player, the rest of the band was nowhere near as musicians. In fact some were poor, especially singer and keyboard player.

Abe was great. Ask him

[FreddyFender]

Poison

[DavidLeeLarsUlrichRoth]

And I actually think Dee Snider is a much better vocalist, but was limited by the one dimensional style/mediocre songwriting of Twisted Sister.

Dee was the songwriter as well, though (at least the only one credited).

[Spongie]

Mr. Big comes to mind.

Reputation as great musicians, but one of the all time worst bands. Awful songs. So bad, in fact, it’s embarrassing to hear and see.

[Love_Industry]

Vito Bratta.

This.

Also, can't deny Dimebag's talent but Pantera sucked.

[kytepunches]

Winger .

[CrankerBait]

Most of the "super groups" can't write a "hook"........(Chickenfoot, Winery Dogs, Black County Communion, etc., etc......)

And I actually think Dee Snider is a much better vocalist, but was limited by the one dimensional style/mediocre songwriting of Twisted Sister.

Unless you happen to be Led Zeppelin and maybe Cream, almost none of the super groups worked. Great individual musicians or singers thrown together often turn out to have little to no chemistry. They might have a successful album and/or great song or two, if they're lucky, but they mostly end up sucking and breaking up sooner than later.

The same goes for replacement musicians. Rod Wood was good enough for what the Rolling Stones were looking for in the mid-70s to replace Mick Taylor, but just as important, they knew he would click with the rest of the guys in the band.

[daveg]

Don’t hate on me, I know there are fans here, but I never paid much attention to or really liked Helix at all, but my band’s manager booked shows back in the ‘80s and we’d help load gear and one of the shows was Helix (late ‘80s). No idea who the drummer was, but he did a solo and we were all looking at each other like “…the fuck is this guy doing in Helix????”

Helix had a pretty solid run back in the day. Razor's Edge is all kinds of awesome. Saw them probably 30 times and they were a blast. Not sure I'd call them Great musicians though.

Side note, I'm going to see them in Oct with Prism and Nazareth. I'm in my 50's, and will probably be the youngest person there.

Chickenfoot

I think this just might be the winner here

[Psychobolia.com]

Extreme, Decadence Dance is a good tune but the rest of their music is tedious to listen to...

[GoodJudge]

As per my sig....

[Sleek]

Most of the "super groups" can't write a "hook"........(Chickenfoot, Winery Dogs, Black County Communion, etc., etc......)

And I actually think Dee Snider is a much better vocalist, but was limited by the one dimensional style/mediocre songwriting of Twisted Sister.

There is a recent interview with Tommy Aldridge where he is talking about Randy Rhoads being the rare great musician who could also write a song that kinda got me thinking.

Something to the effect of: "A lot of times it is the worst musician in a band who is the best writer for some reason..."

I kind of feel like knowing too much about music and having too much technique eliminates the gray areas and unknown parts where good ideas and songs thrive.

Liiike, if you don't know shit but can "hear" a melody then hum it, it can take you anywhere. But if you know ALL OF THE THINGS, you are likely to impose structure on it and take the magic out. You go: "Hmm...this is a sus2 triad followed by an Aeolian run, so I can play THESE notes and still be in key..." and you end up with the same old shredder bullshit that every shredder bullshits out.

Meanwhile Ozzy is over in the corner with a killer melody line without knowing what key or tonality it works with...

[Wiseacre]

Most of the "super groups" can't write a "hook"........(Chickenfoot, Winery Dogs, Black County Communion, etc., etc......)

And I actually think Dee Snider is a much better vocalist, but was limited by the one dimensional style/mediocre songwriting of Twisted Sister.

There is a recent interview with Tommy Aldridge where he is talking about Randy Rhoads being the rare great musician who could also write a song that kinda got me thinking.

Something to the effect of: "A lot of times it is the worst musician in a band who is the best writer for some reason..."

I kind of feel like knowing too much about music and having too much technique eliminates the gray areas and unknown parts where good ideas and songs thrive.

Liiike, if you don't know shit but can "hear" a melody then hum it, it can take you anywhere. But if you know ALL OF THE THINGS, you are likely to impose structure on it and take the magic out. You go: "Hmm...this is a sus2 triad followed by an Aeolian run, so I can play THESE notes and still be in key..." and you end up with the same old shredder bullshit that every shredder bullshits out.

Meanwhile Ozzy is over in the corner with a killer melody line without knowing what key or tonality it works with...

I totally agree. As a songwriter, it is good to know "enough" to get what you are looking for, but I've found the people who are highly musically educated have a hard to thinking outside the box. They are almost afraid to try something that is "wrong" or "against the rules" of what is considered "proper" composition.

[Alessa]

Most of the bands celebrated on this site.

[GoodJudge]

I kind of feel like knowing too much about music and having too much technique eliminates the gray areas and unknown parts where good ideas and songs thrive.

I like lots of scratchy indie, hardcore and garage punk. I've said to friends in the past that bands go crap when they learn how to play. They lose the youthful enthusiasm and 'go for it' attitude (I don't mean it has to stay fast and loud, though that helps) and they start trying too hard. It happens to an extent in metal too, even though musicianship is generally more important at the start. Who would seriously take the last 3 Maiden albums over the first 3? Or Generation Swine + Saints over Too Fast + SATD.

[Nate S Axel]

Poison

[Bono Nettencourt]

Mr. Big comes to mind.

Reputation as great musicians, but one of the all time worst bands. Awful songs. So bad, in fact, it’s embarrassing to hear and see.

This. When I heard that Sheehan and Gilbert formed a band, I expected to get my face melted. Instead, we got Winger II.