Top 10 live acts of all time (according to Rolling Stone Magazine)

[ILoveJimmyPage]

I will agree with you 100% on Robert Plant, Northumberland. From all that I've ever heard from Zeppelin's live recordings Robert Plant doesn't sound all that great half of the time (plus I've heard he has a tendency to forgot lyrics) and that makes him lose a degree of merit as a singer in my book. Also I've never been all that impressed with him as a frontman either. In fact, "The Song Remains The Same" was TV just a few nights ago and when he wasn't playing a tambourine all Plant did was just stand there in one of three poses. I've seen "The Song Remains The Same" and other instances of Zeppelin live and I must say that Robert Plant leaves me very unimpressed.

You must have not listened to How The West Was Won. So much energy, and Robert's voice was still in full force. Zeppelin sounded completely different live, and caught a lot of crap for that. But who goes to a live show to hear exact recreations of a studio song? I agree about TSRTS, though. His voice was not quite up to par there. It's not a good reference point IMO. Also, check out BBC sessions. No doubt in my mind that Jimmy Page and John Bonham were monsters of their live performances though. Jimmy sounded just as creative live as he did on the studios (check out the epic versions of Dazed and Confused live) and Bonzo going at it on Moby Dick. No wonder he was also voted RS's top drummer of all time!

 

[LG]

^^After reading Cosmic's post and your reply Jen I think of all the bands I have ever seen live, Supertramp came the closest to capturing their studio sound live in concert. Of course their music is suitable for that more than some other bands by it's nature of a lot of piano/keyboard as the lead instrument.

Another one who comes to mind, especially the first two shows was Jethro Tull, they were spectacular live very close to the studio sound as well.

 

[hawk11]

Of the band's on Rolling Stone's top ten list I've seen Queen, The Who and the Grateful Dead live. Of the three I'd say Queen was the best being they sounded great and put a great show as well.

I saw The Who with The Clash at Shea Stadium back in the early 80's and have to say I was somewhat disappointed being they didn't sound that good and were pretty immobile on stage. I was expecting to see a legendary Who performance but it just didn't happen, though possibly they just had an off night. Of course almost getting trampled to death kind of put a damper on things as well.

The Dead aren't the greatest showmen and while I like some of their music I would say that you have to be a deadhead to truly appreciate the atmosphere at one of their concerts.

My top 10 list of bands and solo artists I've seen :

Van Halen
Iron Maiden
Queen
Dio
Jack Bruce
Johnny Winter
Alvin Lee
Judas Priest
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Twisted Sister

I've seen Jack Bruce, Johnny Winter and Alvin Lee several times and while none of them have great stage personalities they always sound great and play their asses off so don't have to rely on lasers, pyros, explosions or any other frills (though I can appreciate that stuff).

 

[Nololob]

The question I only have about that list... if that was a fan vote list what voters were thinking about? Their all time favourite bands or what? I would have never (never) thought of Bruce Springsteen to put him on 1st place neither on top 10 and KISS are rather boring comparing to Deep Purple. Let's be honest here - Deep Purple concerts were always based on jams and musician's freedom, they released lots of (successful) live albums and what's more important they were live band than studio. So how the hell people missed that in the name of KISS, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin and Bruce Springsteen? That is something I can't understand.

 

[TheFeldster]

I'm gonna buck the trend and agree with the placing of the Rolling Stones on that list.

They're copping a bit of slack, but I think the raw energy that Mick Jagger brings to the show is invaluable.

I've never seen them personally, but I love watching their live DVD's and the like.

And as Keith Richards says, Mick could "work a postage stamp better than any man on the planet".



I'd personally put the Who up the top there, however.

And being the fan of long guitar jams that I am, I'd have to give at least an honorable mention to the Allman Brothers.

 

[architect]

Agreeing with Nololob here...

Since this was a fan poll, as someone said earlier, it leaves me with a rather dim view of music fans today. It just seems as if they've picked the top ten most popular bands of all time regardless of if they put on a good show or not. The only reason the Beatles aren't there is because they never played live past 1966! It's all very "mainstream".

 

[TheFeldster]

Since this was a fan poll, as someone said earlier, it leaves me with a rather dim view of music fans today. It just seems as if they've picked the top ten most popular bands of all time regardless of if they put on a good show or not. The only reason the Beatles aren't there is because they never played live past 1966! It's all very "mainstream".

That's the thing about popular votes, isn't it? More people have heard of the mainstream artists, like the Who and the Stones.

Bill and Bob from downtown Chicago might put on the best live show in the history of rock music. But if they're not mainstream, then they're never going to stand a chance. Just the way the world works, I'm afraid.

 

[Prime]

Since this was a fan poll, as someone said earlier, it leaves me with a rather dim view of music fans today. It just seems as if they've picked the top ten most popular bands of all time regardless of if they put on a good show or not. The only reason the Beatles aren't there is because they never played live past 1966! It's all very "mainstream".

That's actually close to what I was thinking as well. If you were to put like...10 of these kind of lists next to each other, chances are...most if not all are going to look alike in more ways than less. I think I've seen Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd on a top 10 list countless times. Not to say those aren't great bands, but they need to make these lists more...recent. Or the fans need to open their ears.

 

[Hydrazoic Acid]

You must have not listened to How The West Was Won. So much energy, and Robert's voice was still in full force. Zeppelin sounded completely different live, and caught a lot of crap for that.

Let's compare two live records.
and

Both singers performing the songs, recorded 2-3 years ago. Coverdale sounds almost more powerful than on the studio recordings, so Plant didn't take any of an high notes, that should be. This is despite the fact that Robert was still quite a young singer in a 1973 year, and David in the 90-th - already a veteran of the rock scene. I wrote exactly about that - a much weaker "live" performances of the songs by Plant. I understand your great love to Zep, but this obvious fact.

 

[AboutAGirl]

They both sound ragged to me... :/