greatness?

[low_delta]

What are the qualities which make up a great band?

Comments

[lonita.livejournal.com]

Vision, talent, staying power, ability, cohesiveness, understanding, comprehension, diversity, suppleness, strength, and adaptability.

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

;)

[cherie.livejournal.com]

It helps if they have talent.

[vwip.livejournal.com]

At least one great songwriter plus some others who can add something to the songs.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Talent, ability to evolve yet stay interesting over the years, willingness to experiment with their sound without sacrificing the quality, social consciousness, and their music has to evoke an emotion in the listeners (not just hysteria at the beginning of their career, but consistently).

The Formula.

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

I really should sell this, but for you, I'm giving it away!

Timing. Look at Genesis. Look at Britney Spears. Mariah Carey. Van Halen. It's being there at the right time and playing the music that people want to hear at that moment. Would they have been as big if they had arrived in a different point in history? Who knows?

A great lead singer. A Roger Daltrey. Mick Jagger. Steven Tyler.

Capable musicians help, but clearly aren't necessary, but one person must be able to play well.

A great name and a great "look" that people can relate to. The rebellious look that teens like. Think of "Cinderella" in the 80s... The Beatles in 1964. Deep Purple!

It definitely helps if they can write.

Money for promotions, and a great live show.

Oh, and great album cover art. I think that's it.

Oh, yeah... scandalous behavior, but I think that's automatic.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

:p

:-D

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Could you clarify? I'm not sure what you mean by some of those.

[lonita.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I suppose part of what I was trying to say is that you don't become great by simply releasing a lot of faddish pop-tunes. There has to be something more to a band than popularity, in order for it to become great. Great bands stand the test of time as Floyd, The Who, Beatles, etc. have, as U2 will, no doubt. These bands have to know how to be with each other, and work with each other. You can't become great by superficial know-how. A band who can bend with the wind, who is willing to experiment, to change when change is needed, to be able to roll with the punches. Mind you, AC/DC have been great by doing the EXACT same thing for twenty or more years, and never doing the rock ballad sell-out thing. They sing about chicks, cars, getting drunk and high, etc... simple stuff when you think about it, but they've got great style and cohesiveness.

Did any of that make sense?

[banana.livejournal.com]

1. Songs
2. Fervour

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Okay, I think that covers it. More or less.

Could you be more specific about understanding and comprehension?

And in what respects are you referring to diversity?

[lonita.livejournal.com]

Well by diversity I meant a group that can do many things, not simply one thing alone - a band that can incorporate multiple styles, for example. (Which is what the whole AC/DC thing was about, really. They're still great even though they've been doing the same damn thing without change, for the last twenty or so years. :>)

Understanding and comprehension are intrinsic to any group that wishes to function well for an extended period of time.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Understanding and comprehension of what?

I am making a list, by the way. I'd like to get a comprehensive list of things, so that i may apply a set of standards to all bands.

Laugh if you must, but I'm gonna do it.

[lonita.livejournal.com]

Of each other, and their audience. Just basic human skills, really.

A band can't survive simply on its laurels, though many do. Another key element is awareness - if they want to be great AND make money, they've got to be able to sniff out where the market's going. That's diverging from the pint, I think, so....

ANother thing that would help to make a great band, is expressiveness... the ability of the group to convey something, a message, an intent, a concept, whatever.

[lonita.livejournal.com]

I forgot inventiveness... the ability to create something new, or to utilise the old in new and different ways.

[lonita.livejournal.com]

You could also call that the ability to be innovative.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Trying to send that post count upwards?

;-)

[lonita.livejournal.com]

Uh, no..