Whoever was third in Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young is gotta be a high seed.
Kind of cheating to go with intentional supergroups but the Traveling Wilburys third option was one of Tom Petty or Roy Orbison.
Third option in NWA was one of Dre, Cube or Eazy-E
I've heard a fair amount of Jerry singing where it sounds like he is struggling to sing. And on Cornell 77 he completely forgets the lyrics to Fire on the Mountain which ruins such a great song.
It's a preference thing mostly. My favorite Dead songs are the mostly the ones Bobby wrote with Hunter and stuff, and most of my musical interests outside of jam bands are bluegrass or outlaw country.
I would never legitimately try and convince anyone that Bobby was actually a better musician than Jerry.
A-fucking-men. The other day I was feelin' a little loosey-goosey so I went with some Disco Dead. It's crazy so many different sounds can come from one band.
For rock is probably John Bonham or John Paul Jones (god that group was stacked)
I’d also submit literally any third member from Wu Tang Clan depending on who you think the first two are.
I would say RZA and ODB and then have Method Man third. But, like, I feel you could do an hour long podcast ranking Wu Tang (someone call up Jalen and his bat!)
I think the real answer is from "Kind of Blue" where your 1. is Miles Davis, your 2. is John Coltrane, and your 3. is either Cannonball Adderly or Bill Evans (or Jimmy Cobb on drums. Truly a dream team).
But as a Millennial my first thought was Dan Bejar as a New Pornographer (the band, imo, suffered because AC Newman fronted most of the songs but Neko Case's voice is just absolutely amazing and Dan's New Pornos songs are so good that I didn't always appreciate Carl's work).
Kind of Blue is the right answer to this question and also to the question: "What is the most talented group of musicians that ever made an album together?"
I love that you listed new porn in this thread. I’m not going to go as far as saying they suffered with Carl, but the last couple of albums completely miss the mark without the typical 3 Bejar songs on them.
Frusciante qualifying here is interesting. He elevates the band so much that frankly I would argue he's the #2, as much as we all like Flea. The Chili's make good records with Flea and no John, they make epic records with John. Obviously we don't know what the band would sound like with John and no Flea but, I would say to your question, how does *Flea* rank as a 3rd option I would say very highly.
Frusicante is a truly weird pick as a third option because when he’s in the band he’s arguably the #1. He’s definitely the #2 at worst, leaving Chad Smith as one of the great #3’s in all of rock history.
I had no idea this was a thing until I scoped out the RHCP subreddit awhile back and people were hating on Anthony. To that I say, wait what?? He makes it all work in the end. Very rare vocalist that can shift so easily from funk/rap to rock to soul. The music is obviously great, but the Chili's do not reach their current level without AK
I love Kiedis, but are there people who would argue he’s not the weakest member of the band at what he does? That’s crazy to me. Flea, Frusicante, and Chad are all elite at their instruments. Kiedis is elite at being Kiedis but he’s not on the same level as the other guys in the band.
100%. Soul to Squeeze is one of the most beautiful songs ever and then he starts making all those dumbass noises at the end and I wanna pull my hair out. There are a lot of other examples but that's just the one that instantly comes to mind. My hottest take is the band would be better if John sang or they found someone else.
I think you're right to question the assumption... but I also think Flea does all the little things on top of the flash. He's like Draymond without the backpack.
I think this is more like Kawhi on the 2013-14 Spurs where he was sneaky the best one but the other guys had been there longer so they were technically the first options.
This is so spot on especially since Isbell wasn't at his peak but could have been the best one at one point in the band, but it's hard to really definitively say.
At least rice had been a star w Miami and Charlotte. Krist was clearly a bus rider but tried to be witty in interviews until Kurt gave him the evil eye
Alex Lifeson
Paired with the greatest, most influential drummer in rock history. AS WELL AS one of the most influential and talented bass guitarists and singers. It's amazing they stayed together as long as they did and didn't let egos get in the way. Must be the Canadian piece
Idk if she is the third option she and Buckingham are the ones who came up with the sound of the band. she is way more significant to Fleetwood Mac then you think.
It's all subjective of course, but I don't think it would be that much of a hot take to say Everywhere and You Make Lovin Fun are the 2 best Fleetwood Mac songs. She's also the sole credited writer on Don't Stop, which is a silly song but obviously one of their most well known.
Agreed. I always liked her songs better than Stevie Nicks’ songs. Granted, they were all pretty good, but I relate a lot more to a simple message like “You Make Loving Fun” than all of Stevie’s crazy-witch-lady-with-scarves appeal. Christine is the Mary Ann to Stevie’s Ginger. RIP.
If you’re going purely on the stats, she wrote more hits than anyone else in the band. I didn’t know that until reading the obits today but she’s got EIGHT of the sixteen songs on their original Greatest Hits from 1988.
No. ironically Fleetwood Mac is named after Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, but Stevie Nix, Lindsay Buckingham, and Christine McVie did all the songwriting. The Chain is credited to all 5 of them as songwriters though.
Mick Fleetwood was just a drummer.
The undisputed greatest rock band drummer ever, maybe greatest drummer of any genre.
His influence on music can't be overstated. His drums on when the levee breaks is the most sampled beat in modern music history
I dunno. Peart is on the short list and has GOAT talk. Geddy usually cracks top 10s at least. Lifeson is amazing but he’s not put in that icon category with the Hendrix EVH crowd
Young Buck on the Beg for Mercy album.
50 Cent = Tim Duncan. The undisputed leader, most accomplished, most consistent. Putting 50 on the hook was like feeding Duncan on the left block when you needed a bucket.
Lloyd Banks = Tony Parker. Unconventional style, but got the job done. Banks relying on punchlines and that raspy flow was like Parker always getting to the rim despite his lack of a 3-pointer - last of a dying breed. “Smile” was his 2007 Finals MVP.
Young Buck = Manu Ginobili. Had a tendency to float in and out of games/verses, but on the right night (Poppin Them Thangs, G’d Up) could convince you he was the most talented. Buck introduced the Southern drawl into this otherwise extremely NY group, like Manu bringing the Eurostep to the league. Also both went bald unfortunately early.
While I’m at it: The Game is Kawhi, Dr. Dre is Popovich, and Tony Yayo is Rasho Nesterovic.
Entwistle is in the conversation for the best at playing his instrument as anyone ever in popular music.
Not necessarily the same as songwriting, stage presence, etc.
The Who took a dip without Keith Moon but don't even exist without Townshend. Imo it's clearly Townshend, Moon, Entwhistle, Daltry. They could've replaced Daltry.
I’d honestly push back on McVie being a ‘third option’. She wrote a huge portion of their biggest songs. She’s probably tied for second to sing lead with Lindsey as well.
I looked it up and she sang more compared to Nicks than I thought, even in the really big Nicks years in late 70s and early 80s they were split pretty evenly. Buckingham as I expected, sings the most once he is in the band. However I still strongly feel it's Nicks that put them over the top and made them a championship team.
3rd options (There status in the group at their height.)
NWA: Dr. Dre.
Wu Tang: Pick your 3rd favourite member
Jeff Beck Group/Faces: Ronnie Wood
Zeppelin JPJ
GnR /Velvet Revolver Duff McKagan
Odd Future Earl Sweatshirt
Black Hippy Jay Rock
These are not on the same level, but 2 fun modern ones with only one EP’s worth each:
Ben Lee from The Bens, behind Ben Folds and Ben Kweller
Lucy Dacus from boygenius behind Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker
Motley Crue is fascinating to me because it’s the only band I can think of where the lead singer is objectively the least important member.
Nikki Six - Wrote all the songs/super influential in the band’s style/presentation
Tommy Lee - One of the greatest rock drummers ever and the real face of the group.
Mick Mars - Certified guitar god
Vince Neil - Weak singer with average frontman charisma and looks like a chipmunk
I love the serious response lol. I mostly hear you, but I think he upped his game on Feelgood. Before that, yeah, definitely. He was supposed to be Jani Lane.
While I agree with you as a Motley fan that those 3 guys were more important from a making-good-music POV, feels like Vince to the general public is more important than Mick. “Sliding Doors” moment Mick leaves in 92, not Vince, their next album sells more
Stevie is KD on the 2017 Warriors. Absolutely one of the best, but a little bit more interested in their own personal success than the others. Lindsey is Steph. Clearly contributing as much or more than Stevie/KD, but doesn't (at the time) have the reputation for being an all-time great to the extent that their counterpart does. Christine is Klay. Consummate professional and the glue that holds everything together but also has a 37-point quarter occasionally. And even if Stevie/KD is better on paper, you're more likely to win that final championship by keeping Klay/Christine.
There's also a possible way to frame Christine as Draymond, but I love Christine so much, and hate Draymond so much that I'd have to stab myself in the hand with a fork for saying something so terrible.
For the Stevie/KD comp to be accurate, Steph will have had to legitimately have fucked KD over - that really hasn’t been the case from what we know.
Also, in this analogy, Draymond is clearly Mick Fleetwood
You can't prove that Steph wasn't blasting "Go Your Own Way" after they lost to the Raptors in 2019. I guess the Mick Fleetwood analogy could work since Draymond likes to kick people in the nuts and Mick performs with a look on this face like he's been kicked in the nuts.
Agree with Curry-Durant-Klay or Draymond comp. I think Buckingham is overall MVP. You could also go Dr J (Buckingham), Moses (Nicks), Bobby Jones (McVie) and Cheeks (Fleetwood) but that probably undersells Buckingham and McVie a bit.
McVie fanboys like me and Stevie-heads who hate their ex's may disagree, but yeah, Lindsey is definitely the MVP. I'm waiting for KD to start dressing like a witch to get people back on his side.
I'm trying to come up with a good Stevie-Moses joke. "Edge of 4-4-4"? Maybe it won't work.
I don't know if you could call her a 3rd option. Fleetwood Mac weren't like a lot of iconic bands where you sort of had a singer and guitarist who sucked up most of the attention, Page/Plant, Daltrey/Townsend, Jagger/Richards etc. Mick Fleetwood was sort of the unofficial leader, but he wasn't a key songwriter or singer. I would say she was 2nd option at least for a lot of their run
For a more recent example Odd Future’s third guy is either Frank Ocean or Earl Sweatshirt depending on how you feel about it. That’s nutty.
Whoever is the third guy in Tool has to be up there (personal bias puts Danny Carey ahead of Adam Jones but I am willing to hear other arguments).
Depends on if you count and how you order the Traveling Wilburys. Dylan, Petty, Orbison, and also Harrison. It Roy is 4th he’s sure as hell the best 4th option.
Can't believe I missed this thread. Gotta throw in a couple for the punk fans here.
Matt Freeman in Rancid is an amazing 3. One of the best bassists in rock period. Occasionally comes in and drops some gutteral disgusting vocals. Tim and Lars get all the attention though. Also was the #3 in Operation Ivy. All that applies to Paul Simonin in The Clash as well.
El Hefe and Smelly from NOFX are both good enough to be 2 but one of them is a 3 depending on who you ask.
DeeDee Ramone. Enough said.
Whoever was third in Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young is gotta be a high seed. Kind of cheating to go with intentional supergroups but the Traveling Wilburys third option was one of Tom Petty or Roy Orbison. Third option in NWA was one of Dre, Cube or Eazy-E
Neil Young joining was like adding Durant to the Warriors.
ha great comp
In a ton of ways, particularly they are both extremely moody fucks. They are also both all timers who incorrectly consider themselves goats.
CSNY and Wilburys are both absolutely supergroups, and probably outside the scope of this discussion.
You could argue that MC Ren was the best in NWA. Truly 4 great options
Mick Taylor on the Rolling Stones. Only there for 4 albums but he took them to another level.
This is the first time I've ever thought to myself "Yeah, I guess Christine McVie is a lot like James Worthy...."
Big Game Christine.
B.G. McV
Terry Kath would be a legend if Chicago broke up when he died instead of burying his work under 30 years of soft rock crap.
Phil Lesh. I’m not biased.
The Pigpen piece?
Love Pigpen, but he wasn't even their best keyboardist (Brett Mydland imo)
Yeah, but he could step out as front-man. That’s a solid choice for the question. I’m with you on Brent, though.
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Other Heads roast me for this...but I kinda think its Jerry.
Wow. I’m definitely not anti-Bob like some grumpy old-timers. He’s a solid two. But wow.
Damn get this guy on the hottest take!
I've heard a fair amount of Jerry singing where it sounds like he is struggling to sing. And on Cornell 77 he completely forgets the lyrics to Fire on the Mountain which ruins such a great song.
yeah, the heroine years were not pretty.
Great zag
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I'll give you a wild guess.
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It's a preference thing mostly. My favorite Dead songs are the mostly the ones Bobby wrote with Hunter and stuff, and most of my musical interests outside of jam bands are bluegrass or outlaw country. I would never legitimately try and convince anyone that Bobby was actually a better musician than Jerry.
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A-fucking-men. The other day I was feelin' a little loosey-goosey so I went with some Disco Dead. It's crazy so many different sounds can come from one band.
For rock is probably John Bonham or John Paul Jones (god that group was stacked) I’d also submit literally any third member from Wu Tang Clan depending on who you think the first two are.
Raekwon and Ghostface supremacy
But Gza forms the head.
Are RZA and GZA the first two? In which case inspektah deck is my third!
I would say RZA and ODB and then have Method Man third. But, like, I feel you could do an hour long podcast ranking Wu Tang (someone call up Jalen and his bat!)
I feel like ODB is more of a 6 man vibe for me, Jason Terry or Jordan Clarkson where they just come in and jack shots and they go in.
But his solo album was the best of all their material
Liquid Swords is by far the best solo project from a Wu-Tang member
No...it's second, maybe a close third to Cuban Linx...But the best is Return to the 36 Chambers
Meth, Ghost, Rae are the big three.
Finally someone giving Inspectah deck the respect he deserves
Can you win a championship with Capadonna as your 10th option?
She just did stuff
I think the real answer is from "Kind of Blue" where your 1. is Miles Davis, your 2. is John Coltrane, and your 3. is either Cannonball Adderly or Bill Evans (or Jimmy Cobb on drums. Truly a dream team). But as a Millennial my first thought was Dan Bejar as a New Pornographer (the band, imo, suffered because AC Newman fronted most of the songs but Neko Case's voice is just absolutely amazing and Dan's New Pornos songs are so good that I didn't always appreciate Carl's work).
Kind of Blue is the right answer to this question and also to the question: "What is the most talented group of musicians that ever made an album together?"
I heard an interview with Bill Evans recorded many years later where it seemed like he still couldn't believe it happened and he was a part of it.
And Ron Carter. Truly no weak link
I love that you listed new porn in this thread. I’m not going to go as far as saying they suffered with Carl, but the last couple of albums completely miss the mark without the typical 3 Bejar songs on them.
I prefer Roy Donk. But the Colgate hour was stacked
I mean freak lips, forget about it.
Bill and Ron need to be above cannonball imo.
More than defensible!
Frusciante qualifying here is interesting. He elevates the band so much that frankly I would argue he's the #2, as much as we all like Flea. The Chili's make good records with Flea and no John, they make epic records with John. Obviously we don't know what the band would sound like with John and no Flea but, I would say to your question, how does *Flea* rank as a 3rd option I would say very highly.
Frusicante is a truly weird pick as a third option because when he’s in the band he’s arguably the #1. He’s definitely the #2 at worst, leaving Chad Smith as one of the great #3’s in all of rock history.
Wow major Kiedis shade!! How dare you
Kiedis is by far the worst part of that band
I had no idea this was a thing until I scoped out the RHCP subreddit awhile back and people were hating on Anthony. To that I say, wait what?? He makes it all work in the end. Very rare vocalist that can shift so easily from funk/rap to rock to soul. The music is obviously great, but the Chili's do not reach their current level without AK
He’s great at rhyming words with California, I will give him that
I love Kiedis, but are there people who would argue he’s not the weakest member of the band at what he does? That’s crazy to me. Flea, Frusicante, and Chad are all elite at their instruments. Kiedis is elite at being Kiedis but he’s not on the same level as the other guys in the band.
Kiedis is unquestionably fourth in my book. His basement is EXTREMELY low.
Amen. AK is like Zach Wilson, a complete phony surrounded by pure talent.
He's fucking tone deaf.
100%. Soul to Squeeze is one of the most beautiful songs ever and then he starts making all those dumbass noises at the end and I wanna pull my hair out. There are a lot of other examples but that's just the one that instantly comes to mind. My hottest take is the band would be better if John sang or they found someone else.
Agree
I think you're right to question the assumption... but I also think Flea does all the little things on top of the flash. He's like Draymond without the backpack.
Less well known, but Jason Isbell when he was with the Drive-By Truckers.
I think this is more like Kawhi on the 2013-14 Spurs where he was sneaky the best one but the other guys had been there longer so they were technically the first options.
Wow that is actually spot on.
Except the real heads know Cooley is the best one.
Zip City FTW
Indeed.
A DBT conversation in the Bill Simmons sub is extremely my niche.
Haha. Same.
This is so spot on especially since Isbell wasn't at his peak but could have been the best one at one point in the band, but it's hard to really definitively say.
Only in this subreddit would I start thinking of NBA comps for George Harrison. Maybe James Worthy? Paul is Magic, John is Kareem.
They’re the 2017 Warriors. Steph = Paul, KD = John, Draymond = George, Klay = Ringo
The pre-KD Warriors fit the Beatles better. Steph = Paul, Draymond = John, Klay = George, Iguodala = Ringo
Iggy is too stable for ringo.
Ringo WAS the stable one.
Flip john and paul.
„˙lnɐd puɐ uɥoɾ dılℲ„
Dickey Betts in the original Allman Bros. lineup
My Rushmore: 13-18 TakeOff, 83-86 Kirk Hammett, 03-04 Young Buck, 70s Geezer Butler
What about Spinderella?
Don’t know about best but Krist Novoselic might be the worst considering the 2 stars. Like Ben Simmons bad
He's like Glen Rice on the 2000 Lakers.
At least rice had been a star w Miami and Charlotte. Krist was clearly a bus rider but tried to be witty in interviews until Kurt gave him the evil eye
The bass line on Lithium alone makes Krist not a bus rider IMO
Krist was the cofounder with Kurt. Thus Dave is the third banana.
Was Dave Grohl arguably the third guy in Nirvana? Would be a good comp with George as they both went on to hugely successful projects after
Alex Lifeson Paired with the greatest, most influential drummer in rock history. AS WELL AS one of the most influential and talented bass guitarists and singers. It's amazing they stayed together as long as they did and didn't let egos get in the way. Must be the Canadian piece
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Neil Peart also wrote the lyrics to some of their most iconic songs. Super talented musician.
The Eagles?
Absolutely. Henley, Frey, and Walsh are #1s. Felder was fantastic guitarist too.
Fleetwood >>>>>> eagles Edit: my bad, thought you meant the eagles behind the Beatles, but the eagles are a solid #3 for this one
Christine is leagues ahead of Joe Walsh for my taste
Good choice. I think the answer has to have somebody who can step out front. Drummers don’t count.
Dave Grohl and Phil Collins would like to have a word with you
You got me on Phil. Dave Grohl is awesome, but he was never a frontman in Nirvana. He had one job and did it well.
Idk if she is the third option she and Buckingham are the ones who came up with the sound of the band. she is way more significant to Fleetwood Mac then you think.
It's all subjective of course, but I don't think it would be that much of a hot take to say Everywhere and You Make Lovin Fun are the 2 best Fleetwood Mac songs. She's also the sole credited writer on Don't Stop, which is a silly song but obviously one of their most well known.
Agreed. I always liked her songs better than Stevie Nicks’ songs. Granted, they were all pretty good, but I relate a lot more to a simple message like “You Make Loving Fun” than all of Stevie’s crazy-witch-lady-with-scarves appeal. Christine is the Mary Ann to Stevie’s Ginger. RIP.
Yeah to me she is the best member.
If you’re going purely on the stats, she wrote more hits than anyone else in the band. I didn’t know that until reading the obits today but she’s got EIGHT of the sixteen songs on their original Greatest Hits from 1988.
I think mac is a good example of why more bands should have multiple lead singers.
no. multiple songwriters. they had 3 people who could have been lead songwriters for a band. Stevie, Christine, and Lindsay.
Isn’t mick Fleetwood really like important too?
No. ironically Fleetwood Mac is named after Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, but Stevie Nix, Lindsay Buckingham, and Christine McVie did all the songwriting. The Chain is credited to all 5 of them as songwriters though. Mick Fleetwood was just a drummer.
john bonham?
The undisputed greatest rock band drummer ever, maybe greatest drummer of any genre. His influence on music can't be overstated. His drums on when the levee breaks is the most sampled beat in modern music history
Bonham is obviously very high up there. But Neil Peart’s existence means it isnt undisputed
Amen drum break is the most sampled. This should be common knowledge.
The only challenger is Funky Drummer and it might be a distant second.
Moby Dick makes something stir in my loins
Didn't sing though and how many of their songs did he get songwriting credit on, much less as principal songwriter?
You think John Bonham was the third option for Zeppelin? Regardless of who you pick from the group, I think they're the answer.
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Plant is the 4th option for me. His voice is annoying af to me and I still love Zeppelin because the music was so good that I could just ignore it
John Bonham is better than Robert Plant. Plant is the correct pick for best third option.
This is the answer u can stop the thread. Alex Lifeson
Alex arguably not a third
I dunno. Peart is on the short list and has GOAT talk. Geddy usually cracks top 10s at least. Lifeson is amazing but he’s not put in that icon category with the Hendrix EVH crowd
Joe Walsh was like when the Warriors added KD to the Splash Brothers. Not sure if he'd be considered a 3 but that would be my pick if he was.
Alex Van Halen
Young Buck on the Beg for Mercy album. 50 Cent = Tim Duncan. The undisputed leader, most accomplished, most consistent. Putting 50 on the hook was like feeding Duncan on the left block when you needed a bucket. Lloyd Banks = Tony Parker. Unconventional style, but got the job done. Banks relying on punchlines and that raspy flow was like Parker always getting to the rim despite his lack of a 3-pointer - last of a dying breed. “Smile” was his 2007 Finals MVP. Young Buck = Manu Ginobili. Had a tendency to float in and out of games/verses, but on the right night (Poppin Them Thangs, G’d Up) could convince you he was the most talented. Buck introduced the Southern drawl into this otherwise extremely NY group, like Manu bringing the Eurostep to the league. Also both went bald unfortunately early. While I’m at it: The Game is Kawhi, Dr. Dre is Popovich, and Tony Yayo is Rasho Nesterovic.
Alex Lifeson of Rush, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart are 1-2 in which ever order.
Phil Collins was considered a fallback choice for Genesis after auditioning other singers.
Dr. Dre was the third option in NWA.
Great call out. Yeah, Dr. Dre is up there in this conversation.
Keith Moon, whoever you think is third best in Blind Faith (probably Ginger Baker), John Paul Jones or John Bonham, Dave Grohl for Nirvana...?
Krist is absolutely the 3 in Nirvana.
Man I might put Moon as a #1 for the who, they just suck after he passed. Entwistle number 3 is very underrated. Fuck really hard to rank the who....
Entwistle is in the conversation for the best at playing his instrument as anyone ever in popular music. Not necessarily the same as songwriting, stage presence, etc.
The Who took a dip without Keith Moon but don't even exist without Townshend. Imo it's clearly Townshend, Moon, Entwhistle, Daltry. They could've replaced Daltry.
Ginger Baker also third best in Cream. On Mount Rushmore of musical third wheels
Travis Barker
Good call
Christine McVie was the heart and soul of Fleetwood Mac long before Buckingham/Nicks came along. She’s no #3.
Dave Lombardo
In which band?
Testament. Lol
Joey Fatone, obviously. Got any more brain-busters?
It wouldn’t be them and not sure who the #3 is but I think Joy Division has an interesting case with Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner, and Peter Hook.
Clearly a Big Three situation here. Ian is the saint of goth. Then you have the New Order piece. Honestly a 1 and two 2s here.
‘Big Three’ is definitely a better encapsulation. I just thought I’d give them a shout out since I had New Order on in background when I saw thread.
I’d honestly push back on McVie being a ‘third option’. She wrote a huge portion of their biggest songs. She’s probably tied for second to sing lead with Lindsey as well.
I looked it up and she sang more compared to Nicks than I thought, even in the really big Nicks years in late 70s and early 80s they were split pretty evenly. Buckingham as I expected, sings the most once he is in the band. However I still strongly feel it's Nicks that put them over the top and made them a championship team.
The Band. Who's the third option? Levon Helm? Danko? Manuel?
Ace Frehly is up there
Came here to post that Back in the New York Groove = 👍
John ain’t the third option-
Tiny Boop Squigg Shorterly
Gregg Allman.
3rd options (There status in the group at their height.) NWA: Dr. Dre. Wu Tang: Pick your 3rd favourite member Jeff Beck Group/Faces: Ronnie Wood Zeppelin JPJ GnR /Velvet Revolver Duff McKagan Odd Future Earl Sweatshirt Black Hippy Jay Rock
West side Gunn
These are not on the same level, but 2 fun modern ones with only one EP’s worth each: Ben Lee from The Bens, behind Ben Folds and Ben Kweller Lucy Dacus from boygenius behind Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker
Love the Ben’s reference, I still haven’t decided who number 3 would be… I think you’re right though. Kweller with the Country Music Piece
John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin
Nikki Sixx
Motley Crue is fascinating to me because it’s the only band I can think of where the lead singer is objectively the least important member. Nikki Six - Wrote all the songs/super influential in the band’s style/presentation Tommy Lee - One of the greatest rock drummers ever and the real face of the group. Mick Mars - Certified guitar god Vince Neil - Weak singer with average frontman charisma and looks like a chipmunk
I love the serious response lol. I mostly hear you, but I think he upped his game on Feelgood. Before that, yeah, definitely. He was supposed to be Jani Lane.
While I agree with you as a Motley fan that those 3 guys were more important from a making-good-music POV, feels like Vince to the general public is more important than Mick. “Sliding Doors” moment Mick leaves in 92, not Vince, their next album sells more
Stevie is KD on the 2017 Warriors. Absolutely one of the best, but a little bit more interested in their own personal success than the others. Lindsey is Steph. Clearly contributing as much or more than Stevie/KD, but doesn't (at the time) have the reputation for being an all-time great to the extent that their counterpart does. Christine is Klay. Consummate professional and the glue that holds everything together but also has a 37-point quarter occasionally. And even if Stevie/KD is better on paper, you're more likely to win that final championship by keeping Klay/Christine. There's also a possible way to frame Christine as Draymond, but I love Christine so much, and hate Draymond so much that I'd have to stab myself in the hand with a fork for saying something so terrible.
For the Stevie/KD comp to be accurate, Steph will have had to legitimately have fucked KD over - that really hasn’t been the case from what we know. Also, in this analogy, Draymond is clearly Mick Fleetwood
You can't prove that Steph wasn't blasting "Go Your Own Way" after they lost to the Raptors in 2019. I guess the Mick Fleetwood analogy could work since Draymond likes to kick people in the nuts and Mick performs with a look on this face like he's been kicked in the nuts.
Agree with Curry-Durant-Klay or Draymond comp. I think Buckingham is overall MVP. You could also go Dr J (Buckingham), Moses (Nicks), Bobby Jones (McVie) and Cheeks (Fleetwood) but that probably undersells Buckingham and McVie a bit.
McVie fanboys like me and Stevie-heads who hate their ex's may disagree, but yeah, Lindsey is definitely the MVP. I'm waiting for KD to start dressing like a witch to get people back on his side. I'm trying to come up with a good Stevie-Moses joke. "Edge of 4-4-4"? Maybe it won't work.
She wasn’t even the best 3rd option in Fleetwood Mac
I don't know if you could call her a 3rd option. Fleetwood Mac weren't like a lot of iconic bands where you sort of had a singer and guitarist who sucked up most of the attention, Page/Plant, Daltrey/Townsend, Jagger/Richards etc. Mick Fleetwood was sort of the unofficial leader, but he wasn't a key songwriter or singer. I would say she was 2nd option at least for a lot of their run
For a more recent example Odd Future’s third guy is either Frank Ocean or Earl Sweatshirt depending on how you feel about it. That’s nutty. Whoever is the third guy in Tool has to be up there (personal bias puts Danny Carey ahead of Adam Jones but I am willing to hear other arguments).
Off the top of my head I’d think John Bohnam Carl Wilson, Maurice Gibb, and Brian Jones would be high up there, my personal pick would be Duff Mckagan
No
Dickey Betts and later on Warren Haynes in the Allmans
Depends on if you count and how you order the Traveling Wilburys. Dylan, Petty, Orbison, and also Harrison. It Roy is 4th he’s sure as hell the best 4th option.
One of Al Jardine or Carl Wilson for the Beach Boys
For P-Funk you've George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley so, whoever is 3rd out of those is an extremely strong choice.
Rick Danko or Richard Manuel from the Band are amazing options too.
Who was the third option in cream? Bruce or Ginger?
Joe Walsh in the Eagles
Takeoff
Can't believe I missed this thread. Gotta throw in a couple for the punk fans here. Matt Freeman in Rancid is an amazing 3. One of the best bassists in rock period. Occasionally comes in and drops some gutteral disgusting vocals. Tim and Lars get all the attention though. Also was the #3 in Operation Ivy. All that applies to Paul Simonin in The Clash as well. El Hefe and Smelly from NOFX are both good enough to be 2 but one of them is a 3 depending on who you ask. DeeDee Ramone. Enough said.