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Top 5 living Rock Icons

Westside Steve's Movie Reviews
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  • there's plenty that would argue with you over the icon status of the sports you've named. Ive read somewhere that table tennis has a greater fanbase world-wide than Football. So, you know, whatever. It's what's iconic to you. It's an incredibly subjective topic no matter what anyone thinks SHOULD be objective.

    MudflyM Mudfly wrote on last edited by
    #40

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    there's plenty that would argue with you over the icon status of the sports you've named. Ive read somewhere that table tennis has a greater fanbase world-wide than Football. So, you know, whatever. It's what's iconic to you. It's an incredibly subjective topic no matter what anyone thinks SHOULD be objective.

    Right.....actually just looked up the definitin of "icon" to see if my perspective is actually even correct.....and it basically means "a person that is revered".....so.....there are icons of all eras and types and they probably can be generational, as well as geographic, etc....

    For this post....The top 5 rock icons....Id say it depends on if it's "your" top 5 or the worlds top 5.......so younger people would err to people who are iconic to their generation(or their icons).....us older guys might pick people who have been iconic longer(or the worlds).....cause Mcartney or Elvis were "icons" for longer than a lot folks have even been alive.....and to some of us older folks, guys like Grohl are just getting started.....

  • W Westside Steve wrote on last edited by
    #41

    I guess I should pull a Gipper and start bellyaching about the title of the threaday then.

    You should change the name to top five living people at random.

    😉

    WSS

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #42

    I guess it depends on whether you think someone like Santana has been more successful or had more of an impact on rock than James Hetfield. Santana has certainly had a long career that is much loved but I'd struggle to think his impact is greater.

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #43

    I mean, if we were just talking about the top five rock icons of all time, period, I'd probably put Kurt Cobain in there much to the chagrin of some.

  • MudflyM Mudfly wrote on last edited by
    #44

    Just to play devils advocate.....James Hetfield and Metallica play to a very select group that likes heavy metal rock and, while they are icons of that genre, there music really doesnt cross over much into groups that like other types of music...so, they have a fairly focused group of fans, that is about 30 years into listening to them....

    Santana....however....has been doing it for 50 years and crosses several genres....rock, pop, latin, percussive.....they also have attracted more fans from different generations....and Carlos pretty much created his own genre that sounds like no one but him..... while, I think a lot of people would tell you that Metallica sounds like a million other bands(or vice versa) and definitely didnt create their own genre.....so, I know its all perspective, but I have to believe Santana has touched and influence way more people, in way more musical genres for way more time.....

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #45

    that's your prerogative to think that, and trying to tell someone their opinion is wrong is usually a pretty stupid endeavor.

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by The Cysko Kid
    #46

    Santana could certainly be an icon. Supernatural was an incredible album that ruled the world in 99. In my opinion he's not. but that's just my opinion.

  • that's your prerogative to think that, and trying to tell someone their opinion is wrong is usually a pretty stupid endeavor.

    MudflyM Mudfly wrote on last edited by
    #47

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    that's your prerogative to think that, and trying to tell someone their opinion is wrong is usually a pretty stupid endeavor.

    certainly didnt mean it that way....at all.....so, apologize if you took that way.....

    Just offering a different perspective on who was influenced by who....thats all....no more no less....

    I mean.....didnt you just tell Steve his sports analogy was wrong and the Santana people they were wrong?....or am I missing something...

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #48

    I told nobody they were wrong. and that comment was me saying that for me to tell you you were wrong would be stupid.

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #49

    I only say my opinion and argue my point of view. I rarely tell anyone that they're wrong.

  • MudflyM Mudfly wrote on last edited by
    #50

    Fair enough....I misunderstood your comment.....

  • @the-gipper said:

    Not bad, but I was actually trying to go for a bit of an objective standard with this question. Any objective listing on this subject pretty much has to have Paul McCartney at the top of it.

    Love me some Bob Seger....but objectively....gotta go with Pauly...but the rest of your list is pretty much spot on.

    What is objective about any of this Gipp?

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #51

    @chicopee-john said:

    What is objective about any of this Gipp?

    I know it can't be totally objective....but I think that there can be a fairly clear situation about who is more famous...if you will.

    I mean, objectively....if I came up with some name that you had never heard of, I don't think that I could really have a claim that that is one of the most famous persons alive.

    Would you argue against the proposition that Paul McCartney is one of the most famous persons alive?

  • @westside-steve said:

    It can't be an exact science of course. I would say as objectively as you can how many people from all spectrums of life would recognize the name Frank Sinatra? And how many people from all spectrums of life would recognize Dave Grohl or his band?

    It's not an insult to the lesser-known artist just a fact. Has nothing to do with taste. I don't like Led Zeppelin but I would have to admit they are certainly Rock icons of the first order.

    WSS

    tons that aren't old. How many people under 50 are going to pick chuck berry out of a lineup or name any of his songs? It's a bit of a generational thing I think. Put chuck berry, chubby checker, little richard and James Brown in a lineup and see how many millenials can correctly pick them out. That's probably different for guys like Paul McCartney but even he was recently denied, twice, entry to an after Grammy party.

    So I dont think you can deny guys like Grohl and Hetfield their status because you're not as familiar with them.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #52

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    tons that aren't old. How many people under 50 are going to pick chuck berry out of a lineup or name any of his songs? It's a bit of a generational thing I think. Put chuck berry, chubby checker, little richard and James Brown in a lineup and see how many millenials can correctly pick them out. That's probably different for guys like Paul McCartney but even he was recently denied, twice, entry to an after Grammy party.

    So I dont think you can deny guys like Grohl and Hetfield their status because you're not as familiar with them.

    Actually...yes, I think you can....because familiarity is part of the point. Another part of the point as far as Rock Icons is concerned is their contribution to the genre.

    I dont think that there is any legitimate guitarists who would tell you that there was no influence upon what he did by Chuck Berry....who literally invented what it is to be a rock guitarist.

  • @the-cysko-kid said:

    there's plenty that would argue with you over the icon status of the sports you've named. Ive read somewhere that table tennis has a greater fanbase world-wide than Football. So, you know, whatever. It's what's iconic to you. It's an incredibly subjective topic no matter what anyone thinks SHOULD be objective.

    Right.....actually just looked up the definitin of "icon" to see if my perspective is actually even correct.....and it basically means "a person that is revered".....so.....there are icons of all eras and types and they probably can be generational, as well as geographic, etc....

    For this post....The top 5 rock icons....Id say it depends on if it's "your" top 5 or the worlds top 5.......so younger people would err to people who are iconic to their generation(or their icons).....us older guys might pick people who have been iconic longer(or the worlds).....cause Mcartney or Elvis were "icons" for longer than a lot folks have even been alive.....and to some of us older folks, guys like Grohl are just getting started.....

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #53

    @mudfly said:

    Right.....actually just looked up the definitin of "icon" to see if my perspective is actually even correct.....and it basically means "a person that is revered".....so.....there are icons of all eras and types and they probably can be generational, as well as geographic, etc....

    For this post....The top 5 rock icons....Id say it depends on if it's "your" top 5 or the worlds top 5.......so younger people would err to people who are iconic to their generation(or their icons).....us older guys might pick people who have been iconic longer(or the worlds).....cause Mcartney or Elvis were "icons" for longer than a lot folks have even been alive.....and to some of us older folks, guys like Grohl are just getting started.....

    I guess, perhaps we could limit ourselves to the English speaking.....or even American "world".

    As, after all, even an icon in America may not be one in England, or vice versa.

    Like the guy: Clint Richards or Richardson or the like

    Big, big, huge in the UK......but barely a blip over here.

  • Just to play devils advocate.....James Hetfield and Metallica play to a very select group that likes heavy metal rock and, while they are icons of that genre, there music really doesnt cross over much into groups that like other types of music...so, they have a fairly focused group of fans, that is about 30 years into listening to them....

    Santana....however....has been doing it for 50 years and crosses several genres....rock, pop, latin, percussive.....they also have attracted more fans from different generations....and Carlos pretty much created his own genre that sounds like no one but him..... while, I think a lot of people would tell you that Metallica sounds like a million other bands(or vice versa) and definitely didnt create their own genre.....so, I know its all perspective, but I have to believe Santana has touched and influence way more people, in way more musical genres for way more time.....

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by The Gipper
    #54

    @mudfly said:

    Just to play devils advocate.....James Hetfield and Metallica play to a very select group that likes heavy metal rock and, while they are icons of that genre, there music really doesnt cross over much into groups that like other types of music...so, they have a fairly focused group of fans, that is about 30 years into listening to them....

    Santana....however....has been doing it for 50 years and crosses several genres....rock, pop, latin, percussive.....they also have attracted more fans from different generations....and Carlos pretty much created his own genre that sounds like no one but him..... while, I think a lot of people would tell you that Metallica sounds like a million other bands(or vice versa) and definitely didnt create their own genre.....so, I know its all perspective, but I have to believe Santana has touched and influence way more people, in way more musical genres for way more time.....

    Agree completely....Hetfield (whose name I just learned)....belongs apparently famously to a niche. Santana....whose name I have known for those 50 years....has had much broader public awareness.

  • gftChrisG gftChris wrote on last edited by
    #55

    1. Ayers

    2. Plymouth

    3. The

    4. Split Apple

    5. Balancing

  • @mudfly said:

    Just to play devils advocate.....James Hetfield and Metallica play to a very select group that likes heavy metal rock and, while they are icons of that genre, there music really doesnt cross over much into groups that like other types of music...so, they have a fairly focused group of fans, that is about 30 years into listening to them....

    Santana....however....has been doing it for 50 years and crosses several genres....rock, pop, latin, percussive.....they also have attracted more fans from different generations....and Carlos pretty much created his own genre that sounds like no one but him..... while, I think a lot of people would tell you that Metallica sounds like a million other bands(or vice versa) and definitely didnt create their own genre.....so, I know its all perspective, but I have to believe Santana has touched and influence way more people, in way more musical genres for way more time.....

    Agree completely....Hetfield (whose name I just learned)....belongs apparently famously to a niche. Santana....whose name I have known for those 50 years....has had much broader public awareness.

    The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #56

    @the-gipper said:

    Agree completely....Hetfield (whose name I just learned)....belongs apparently famously to a niche. Santana....whose name I have known for those 50 years....has had much broader public awareness.

    This is another bad case of Gipper saying "Well I know Person A better therefore person A is better"

    Metallica is extremely mainstream. They may have been a niche when they first came on the scene in the 1980s but that has gone the way of the dinosaurs some time ago.

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #57

    by the way, Supernatural, Santana's biggest album went 15x platinum. Metallica's 'metallica' went 16x platinum. that's not a niche act when you have a record that goes 16x platinum

  • @the-gipper said:

    Agree completely....Hetfield (whose name I just learned)....belongs apparently famously to a niche. Santana....whose name I have known for those 50 years....has had much broader public awareness.

    This is another bad case of Gipper saying "Well I know Person A better therefore person A is better"

    Metallica is extremely mainstream. They may have been a niche when they first came on the scene in the 1980s but that has gone the way of the dinosaurs some time ago.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #58

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    This is another bad case of Gipper saying "Well I know Person A better therefore person A is better"

    Metallica is extremely mainstream. They may have been a niche when they first came on the scene in the 1980s but that has gone the way of the dinosaurs some time ago.

    Who the fuck said anything about "Better". This is about being "Iconic".....more well known....more "revered".

    Go ahead....try this test: Go downtown to Public Square....and just stop ever other random person on the street and ask two questions:

    A. Do you know who James Hetfield is? (more than likely people will say: Is that one of the guys that had the feud with the McCoys"

    B. Do you know who Carlos Santana is? (you might get some that say "Indians catcher, no"...but tons tons more will know Santana over James Hetfield.

    And FYI, "Public Square" is not some headbanger club on the west side.

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #59

    since 1973 Santana has won 10 grammys and been nominated for 14. Pretty impressive.

    since 1989 Metallica has won 8 grammys and been nominated for 17. Total niche act.