We were rambling tonight during the podcast and Matt flippantly said – “On June 9th we are going to see the best 3-piece band of all-time.”
To which Chris said – “ZZ Top!”
To which Matt and I looked at each other in complete humiliation. “Uh…how about the 2nd?”
Then Chris said “Buddy Holly and the Crickets?”
Which of course got us thinking about all the 3 piece bands. To be fair – we eliminated any 3 piece that added a vocalist. Here’s what I can come up with so far – can you add any others?
Then…who would make your top 5 of all-time? My top 5 are the first 5…in order.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
ZZ Top
The Police
Cream
Buddy Holly and The Crickets
Rush – although they used keys in the studio
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Genesis – see Rush comment
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Glass Harp – of Phil Keaggy fame
Grand Funk Railroad – debatable..started as 3 piece, then morphed to 4.
Los Lonely Boys
John Mayer Trio
Greenday
Trios that WILL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE…
Destiny’s Child
Bee Gees
The Fat Boys
Run DMC
Cheetah Girls
Dixie Chicks
[tags]music, power trios[/tags]
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for the love of god why have youl left out motorhead!!!
i was doing some research on trio’s for my upcoming podcast and stumbled onto this discussion. i wanted to mention a few others considering everyone is throwing out similar names, and i agree with most of them.
(no top favorites for me though, because it’s impossible to judge.)
here’s a few going in a different direction to get you thinking.
High on Fire
Lost Goat
Melvins
Unsane
Zeke
Los Natas
Motorhead
The Minutemen
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Fudge Tunnel
Shellac
MUSE is definitely up there!
1. primus
2. medeski, martin & wood
3. motorhead
4. cream
5. jimi hendrix experience
honorable mention: rush
more honrable mention:
nirvana
the police
kingston trio
sausage
oysterhead
There were 3 Cricketts add Buddy Holly and you have a quartet. Same with double trouble, SRV bass, drums and keys. To trio bands:
1. Cream- short lived but wow
2. ZZ Top- that lil ol band from Texas
3. The Police
4. Jimi Hendrix Experience (much better band than Band of Gypsys)
the top 4 are all R&R HoF members
5. Rush- they should be in the HoF soon
4 Rush
NIRVANA
leave it at that
How can anyone not mention The Rev?
Ridiculous it is that Nirvana and their modern day protoges Biffy Clyro were not included in the original line up.
MUSE MUSE MUSE
Why does nobody ever mention muse!!!!
Amazing vocals, fantastic guitar and some of the most awesome basslines of all time all held togethor with tight as drumming.
Although I haven’t read all of the blog, I did read earlier a comment about Rush using Keys in the studio. Actually as a live performance, all Rush song with ‘keys’ were written so the Geddy lee could play bass and keys simultaneously! Undoubtedly the greatest 3 piece band of all time, voted best bassist on planet rock, voted best percussionist/drummer in many consecutive years by American Music Organisation, and a truly underated guitarist
1. The Police
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
3. Green Day
4. Nirvana
5. The Reverend Horton Heat
I like to add the underrated band RAVEN to the list
MUSE.
You folks REALLY need to check out this three piece band from rural Mississippi….famous for its musicians….Keep in mind it is an amateur video…..enjoy!!!
Not necessarily outstanding, but a couple of worthy mentions:
Zebra
FM
Klaatu (great music)
SUBLIME!
How were they not mentioned?
SRV for sure. and Sublime was amazing. im a huge Black Label Society fan too…..Zak Wylde is the best guitar player next to SRV ever
I cannot believe no one has mentioned TASTE!!!!!! Or RORY GALLAGHER, go right now and look him up, your mind will be blown and your lists will Be changed.
RUSH
MUSE
CRASH KINGS
LOS LONELY BOYS
BLINK 182
1.Cream
2.ZZ Top
3.Jimi Hendrix Experience
4.Nirvana
5.The Police
Easily
1. Nirvana
2. Jimi Hendrix Experience
3.the jam
4.Cream
5.the wipers
6.the police.
Does Crosby,still and nash count?
The Police (1,2,3,4,5, and more)
No contest.
5 years, 5 albums (ignore 1st “project”), amazing music, influence and legacy + ,
take Outlandos (1st official album) and then listen to Synchronicity (their 5th)
2 great albums that sound as if produced by two different group of guys (+ everything in between)
That’s a band ( a trio) exploring, evolving, and showing their true worth, as opposed to tireless “numbers” coming up with the same un-original, un-imaginative stuff over, and over, and over…
1. THE JAM would have to be. Paul Weller like him or not is one talented muscian songwriter who is still relevant today. Extremely influential band.
2. Jimi Hendrix Experience
3. Cream
4 Nirvana
5. Beastie Boys
Chevelle, great 3 piece
I’m surprised nobody mentioned Morphine. They are great. Check them out. NOW.
Has anyone heard of James Gang? Joe Walsh before the Eagles. they sung “Funk 49″ look it up.
sleater-kinney. jeez.
RUSH they can reproduce studio material live with foot pedals and real time trigger pads, watch GeddyLee play bass ,sing and play bass pedals all at the same time, AlexLifeson play guitar and pedals as well , and we all know what Neil Peart can do . Three musicians still together after 35 yrs.
GRAND FUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think Muse plays as a 4 piece live..They usually have a keys player.
RUSH – Simply the greatest of all time and I’m not just talking 3-piece. The album ‘Hemispheres” is the greatest show of musicianship I’ve ever heard. I am a very accomplished bass player and am in awe. Most bands can’t play their material let alone write it! Find two other musicians and get through La Villa Strangiato. Then you’ll understand.
1. Muse
2. Nirvana
3. Jimi Hendrix Experience
4. zztop
5. Jamesgang
6. Steveie Vaiughn
7. Greenhouse Effect
8. Rush
9. Kings X
10. Cream
Kings X is a great shout, but….
TRAPEZE
BUDGIE
If you don’t know them, check em out
Trapeze album “You are the Music, we’re just the band” is incredible
Budgie album “Never turn your back on a friend” so good, even Metallica covered the opening track!
Why not Run-DMC? They’re freaking awesome.
Technically — they are not a band as no one plays an instrument. And although I do love me some Run (and My Adidas) – the GREATEST?
As much as I love to bust my white-man moves to Run, I have to take them with moderation. Heavy doses makes me want to wear untied sneakers and put hydros on my Nissan Xterra.
Nirvana?????
PETER PAUL AND MARY!
MUSE!!!!!!!!!
BLINK 182
Foo fighters?
Stray Cats #1 No Contest!!! Can rock the socks off any band you can name…
Cream and Primus are my faves. Rush is great too
The Fall of Troy
Coheed and Cambria
*sorry
AND Feeder!
Feeder Feeder Feeder
The Tea Party?
Come in guys green day? Really they gave been a four price ever since American idiot blink has always been a 3 plus they never sold out
My list
blink 182
city and colour
rush
cream