This is not easy to pick just three, but here are mine with reasons:
1. The Who
Pete Townshend is the reason I originally learned to play the guitar. Heard "Pinball Wizard" at the age of 10 and it blew my mind, plus I think he's the greatest all-around songwriter of his generation (along with Ray Davies of The Kinks). John Entwistle and Keith Moon are the best bass/drum combo in all of rock history if for anything else it's because they influenced everyone that followed; and Roger Daltrey is a fantastic frontman more concerned with delivering his vocals with passion than precision. To me that's rock and roll. Saw them for the seventh time two months ago and they still deliver a show that the young-ums can not match. And yes, even past 70 Roger can still hit those massive screaming notes in "Love Reign O'er Me," "Bargain" and "Won't Get Fooled Again."
2. Cheap Trick
To me they are the ultimate power-pop rock band, the natural bridge between The Beatles to Nirvana. The "Live At Budokan" album was one of the first records I ever got (again when I was 10), and along with The Who's "Live At Leeds" and UFO's "Stranger's In The Night" is one of my all-time favorite live albums (the expanded re-release version of all three only add to that assessment). They can play very hard or soft, but always have big hooks and great melodies. So fun to sing along to. If there is an American band that Scandal most reminds me of, it's Cheap Trick. Always great live (in fact, I am seeing them again in a few weeks).
3. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
I grew up on the Jersey shore, but unlike most of those around me I much preferred Southside over his buddy, Bruce Springsteen. Fun, bluesy bar-room R&B rock 'n roll with the one of the best horn sections you will ever hear. They're so good Bruce even swiped a few Jukes over the years, like Little Stevie, Clarence, Max, Gary Tallent, and even Mrs. Springsteen, Patty. I've seen Southside more times than any other band, somewhere between 20-30 times, and it would be more had I not moved to California 20 years ago. Lastly, I absolutely agree with Jon Bon Jovi who often says that if he could be in any other band, he'd like to be a Juke. BTW, Jon swiped Southside's guitarist, Bobby, to replace Richie Sambora. That's how good they are!
I know this is a Scandal forum and I really, really love Scandal, but I can't put them in my top three list just yet because there are so many others I have lived with so passionately for so long. I have a really big tie for fourth place though. And all of these bands are fantastic live.
4a. Van Halen (mainly the original line-up) - Eddie was my idol as a kid. I had an entire wall in my bedroom covered in VH posters and pictures, you couldn't see the paint. Incredibly fun live band.
4b. Michael Schenker (UFO/MSG) -My favorite guitarist, and whom I most sub-consciously play like.
4c. The Replacements - My generation's ultimate punk band.
4d. Iron Maiden - My favorite metal band. Technically brilliant, and fast melodic songs.
4e. AC/DC - Do I have to explain this one? Straight-to-the-point-basic rock and roll. No effects, no filters, no BS. First 2 of 4 albums I ever got myself were AC/DC (yes, I was 10-- it was big year for music for me).
4f. Billy Joel - Love his songwriting.
4g. SCANDAL - Their potential seems endless.
Last edited by Don Dio on Sat Jul 16, 2016 5:48 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : missed a typo, sorry)
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