Oh man, the Yardbirds. Boy do I have a story. We have ZIA records stores in Arizona, and they have new, but mostly used music. My buddies and I used to have a challenge where we would pick a letter from the Alphabet, and had to buy an album from a band that started with the letter your buddy picked out for you that you have never heard before. It was fun, and a great way to experience different music. And “The” was excluded, to make it fair. I got Y. And when I saw The Yardbirds, and how old it was, I bought it. Best part of the story though was this... A week later, I was picking up a buddy of mine from the airport. It was pretty dead, so went to the magazine/gift shop Reading Guitar Magazines. Then, this guy with a huge black hat, black trench coat, black shirt, black jeans, and black boots, reads the same magazine next to me. And there was an article about the Yardbirds in it. It was Alice Cooper, and he just finished doing a radio show and was flying out to do another one. I asked him, “Hey, you don’t happen to be Alice Cooper, do you?” 🤣 Alice’s response, “Why, yes, Yes I do”. I was like, “Cool”. He asked me what I was reading, and I mentioned the article about the Yardbirds, and the challenge my buddies and I have, and I bought a CD of theirs. He was surprised Me being 19 at the time, I even knew they existed, lol. We both got some coffee, sat down, and chatted about music for 10 minutes before his flight left. And that’s how I got introduced to the Yardbirds.
Hi, That's a great story. I saw Disturbed in Reading, Pa. in 2009, and David walked out on to Penn Street and shook any ones hand and pics. Professionally Cool Move. Best to ya!
@@jamesjarvis5018 Back in the 70’s a friend of mine met The Beach Boys at the Beach in a small NJ beach town.. They all hit is off and went back to her house for dinner.. Her mom cooked. LOL
Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck , Ritchie Blackmore, Peter Green, Keith Richards and Brian May were all born within 30 miles of each other. Also Pete Townshend, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, Peter Frampton & Andy Latimer.
And Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi got his start playing with Jethro Tull... if Ian Anderson hadn't fired Iommi and hired Martin Barre in his place, Sabbath would never have happened, so thank Ian Anderson for helping to have his hands in the pie that created Black Sabbath!
@@williamadamsmusic3025 It might still have happened, despite being a huge JT fan Tony didn't enjoy his time there very much, he felt unimportant and didn't have much to say, so he was already thinking about going back to Sabbath (still Earth I think) for the creative freedom.
This is so typical of any top guitarist debates that Ritchie Blackmore is so sadly forgotten yet he inspired so many guitarists and Deep Purple were at the forefront of heavy rock. Also they were brilliant musicians as their live gigs bare evidence and 'Child In Time' was a game changer...
I think you are right about blackmore, however there is something about the three musqueteers that put them a click above. but yep you are right about that many times he is kinda ignored for that matter.
Ritchie Blackmore is certainly mostly overlooked in the greatest guitarist conversation but for sure was considered in top 20 all time maybe top 10 or 15.. Deep Purple , Rainbow are at the top of my list of great instrumental rock's iconic legendary bands and a major reason i would say is Ritchie Blackmore...RIP RJD🤟
Lack more came through after the other three... also the other 3 knew each other very closely from a young age... Blackmore is more skin to Iommi but not as good obviously 😂
I think you could make a pretty good argument for Chuck Berry being more influential to rock than Cream or The Beatles. They were all using his licks. John was using his lyrics lol.
with the exception of maybe Jerry Cantrell you don't often hear 'Hendrixisms' in guitar solos in the last 30 years but Chuck EVH and Yngwie are still in the vocabulary. Chuck lix however can be found in virtually every genre of rock hard rock metal thrash metal etc. So guitarists that may eschew the use of tapping sweeping pretty much will still have a 'Berry-ism' even if it's in passing.
Sure, but we're talking about bands here. In a band, everybody has his own personality. Can you name Chuck Berry's musicians without checking Wikipedia? Probably not. But Chuck is legend anyway
When Mick Jagger introduced The Beatles induction into the RnR HOF, he thanked them for opening up the doors for all the British bands that followed. That is one place to start in analyzing The Beatles’ influence.
That speech is a wonderful tribute. Jagger talks about how he and the Stones were such hot stuff in the London scene. And next thing they know, there's a band that's become a huge national sensation out of....Liverpool! I.e., the middle of nowhere!
Sorry- feed back in “I Feel Fine”, recording guitars backwards on “Revolver” all the incredible riffs like Day Tripper, Ticket to Ride, early hard rock like “Paperback Writer” predating all the groups mentioned. Nobody influenced EVERYONE like the Beatles.
... As mentioned they sold more guitars and got more kids playing than any ten bands. The Beatles are also probably responsible for more shitty bands than anything as well.
@@hugh-johnfleming289 - One could argue it takes ten shitty bands to make one great band. If the Beatles spawned 1000 bands that means 100 good ones. The rest -- well, they're shitty.
When people ask the next generations guitar players who influenced them the Beatles are rarely if ever mentioned. Page, Beck, Hendrix, Clapton. When the 70s players were asked, It's all blues players from the 50s.
Page was always my guy (studio-wise, anyway), but out of the three, Beck is the only one who seems to have constantly improved his technique over the years.
@@normt6226 There’s definitely a hell of a lot to be said for being willing to take chances, to put yourself on the spot and see if you can navigate the musical woods, just dive in and see if you can find your way back out again, bringing everybody with you at the same time. I don’t think anybody has ever done that better than Zeppelin when they were really on it.
Even though I agree I find one thing interesting. The Beatles were so influential that you had to say in beginning that it is NOT the beatles. I think that is kinda telling
@@betweentheeyes3956 I think The Beatles were the most influential rock songwriters, but I have to agree they weren't the most influential technicians on their instruments. McCartney gets brought up in the bass world quite a bit but it seems guitarists tend to gravitate towards the pyrotechnics of Hendrix or Page more than the harmonic structures and melodic contours of Beatles songs, that part seems to come later in the journey more often than not
It's The Beatles because they not only influenced tons of kids in the 60's to start rock bands, but they are always cited as big influences to musicians of all genres and even today's most successful artists 50 plus years later.
@@gavinreid8351 The Beatles influenced tons of rock bands in addition to song writers and pop bands. Rock bands influenced by The Beatles include: Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Aerosmith, Queen, Guns N Roses, Foo Fighters and the list goes on and on. The Beatles invented heavy metal with Helter Skelter. I'm not saying Beck, Page, and Clapton aren't amazing (and I love the Yardbirds too) but The Beatles influenced the most amount of musical groups. The title of this video is "The most influential Rock band is". It doesn't specify who that band is influencing. If it said "The most influential members of a rock band that influenced the most amount of rock bands" then I would agree The Yardbirds would be it. I did enjoy the content of this video and every other video Rick puts out!
I can't the rockers who said the Ed Sullivan appearance changed their lives. I just watched an interview with Gene Simmons where that was the moment he knew what he wanted to do with his life. Also, even the Yardbirds didn't have guitar harmonies like the Beatles.
@@markandersen793 Since the Beatles had 3 people in the band that played guitar, they could certainly be classified as a guitar band. Listen to Day Tripper, Helter Skelter, or the triple guitar solo at the end of Abbey Road.
Buddy Holly...hear me out! Clapton had to have a Strat because he saw him with one. It was a country guitar before. The Beatles harmonized because of him. He wrote his own stuff before it was fashionable. Hendrix, again the Strat. He was a starting point and an influence with relatively few hits.
Norman Petty recorded Buddy Holley . He recorded not only the amp , but the ambient room sound of the guitar, which is why to this day those records sound great . Norman Petty studios out of Clovis , New Mexico should be a museum . Not sure it is even around since his widow , who also played on Buddys records, has passed.
I saw Jeff and Jimmy in their first U.S. Yardbird's concert (August 5, 1966). Jimmy was playing bass, and his playing was so unique and joyful, it was unlike any other bassist I'd ever heard. And to have Jeff Beck on the same stage! Mind blown.
The Beatles gave us "Every Little Thing" and a few other similar songs, which were the prototypes for janglepop like the The Byrds,Tom Petty and later 80's Alt rock such as REM, The Smiths and XTC. Jagger and Richards observing Lennon and McCartney writing "I Wanna Be Your Man" inspired them to forge a great songwriting partnership. Brian Wilson hearing Rubber Soul and immediately going to work on Pet Sounds. They inspired Dylan to go electric.They turned the album into an art form and not just something full of filler, which led to a huge change into the public buying more LP's over singles. They were pioneers in world music and its blend into Western Music. Their studio innovations are 2nd to none. Their influence can still be heard in bands like Radiohead, Soundgarden, Oasis, Nirvana etc
They did all that you said, and much, much more. No band or group of musicians have come close to the influence on music, poetry,, art, politics, fashion, culture and all that is human.. Bigger than Jesus? Yes, in my world.
@@facelessandnameless All four played the drums, so does that make them a drum band? My point was (I think. I wrote this 2 years ago) that the sum of the parts is what made the Beatles, not which instruments they played.
If the key concept is INFLUENCE, the answer(s) go back to the big 3: The bands of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly. THAT defines "influential." Everything else flows from that deep well~~~~~
Agreed, they were a huge influence on rock music... but the term 'rock band' really defines a certain type of group which began with the Beatles and other bands in Britain from the late 50s/early 60s. It wasn't just about the music (which was new and different too) but also to do with the cultural setting that the first rock bands grew out of and also the culture within the bands themselves.
Why stop there though? There was a huge guitar scene long before those three. Muddy Waters influenced everyone from Chuck Berry to the Rolling Stones (who were even named after one of his songs), so do you give him credit for everything that Chuck Berry did? Les Paul pioneered the solid-body electric guitar and countless musicians afterwards, yet he himself was heavily influenced by Django Reinhardt: so does that mean that Django was responsible for everyone that Les Paul influenced too? They all came before the three you mentioned, so how far back do you go? I think the way that they're considering it is fine. If you start looking for the "genesis", so to speak, of guitar playing, then you're going to end up in the Middle Ages with guys like Francesco Corbetta. The well is too deep, it's just not practical to look at it that way.
leerobbo92 you can go back as long as you want though, every band was influenced by a band that was influenced by another band if you know what I mean?
@@trydigama3 Yeah, that's what I meant. I think if you're trying to figure out who's the most influential just by "going back", then you're going to run into problems!
Talking of the non-sequitur Rick, I have to say Deep Purple comes to mind. Deep Purple are one of the most underrated bands, when you think of the influence they've had on so many artists. Not only that, but so many artists talk about Deep Purple as one of their big influences. Purple almost defined the early prog Rock scene, moving into the early heavy rock scene, and you can't talk about Sabbath, and bands of that ilk without talking about Purple. I know you don't mention them much work on here, but Ritchie Blackmore as an influential guitarist, and certainly one who epitomises the random playing style and solo'ing that you talk of often, as so important when playing lead sections - especially live. I don't think Ritchie Blackmore has ever played the same solo twice. And what a guitarist. Roger Glover, what's a bassist and producer. Ian paice, left-handed, and an awesome drummer who takes his influences from Jazz. And incredible vocals from Ian Gillan. Please do a video talking about Deep Purple Rick, or at least mention them in one of your up-and-coming videos on what makes this song great, as a Purple track would be most welcome in the series. (And while we're talking about what makes this song great, maybe a Genesis track if you think there is one worthy of inclusion in the series..) Loving your videos though Rick, awesome, as always. I love hearing your conversations, and I loved hearing your insights into music and your teachings, as I learnt so much, even as an experienced producer of 30 years. So a big thank you from me!
Clint Tapper unfortunately he hate Deep Purple, i dont know why, but this is true, even if he don't want to admit it. He makes the list of the best guitarist- dosn't mention about Blackmore, makes the list of the best singers- no Gillan here, no Hughes. Great drumm intro? No Paice. Gosh gzeyggrfjcgy... 😣😤
The Beatles had a tremendous impact on pop music (pop rocked before rock popped). They were one of the first bands who had immensely popular hits written/composed and performed live and on record. As a veritable self contained unit. This helped change the focus from songwriters and production to bands.They also stand out as a band not rooted in American blues music. They focused on melody and were more influenced (I think) by British Music Hall and Skiffle. They also eschewed "blues riff" based songs for chords. Somewhere in Tommy James autobiography, he cites the impact (major) on him as an artist/band performing songs written by others as he realized the Beatles represented the future of Rock and Roll. I have seen other artists pointing our the same thing--the Beatles were a game changer.
@@julianwells4055Led Zeppelin gets the title for most influential guitar band. In terms of overall influence, the Beatles by a mile. Led Zeppelin were specialists, the Beatles were generalists.
@@chiefkc1306 - The Beatles played guitar almost exclusively throughout their career, certainly during their first 6 records. it wasn't til Revolver in the song Eleanor Rigby that they went completely guitarless. if you're talking about virtuoso guitar playing then no they didn't play guitar like that, but no other band in history sold more guitars than the Beatles did.
RIP Duane what a huge loss!! AB made some great music...Dickey Betts was super talented all the way around.....great musician...God just think of how Duane and Dickey would have been if not for the tragic loss of DA waaaay too gd soon
The Beatles were the most influential band of all time by a country mile. They influenced and dominated pop music, they influence music recording techniques, they introduced new new instruments to music, they introduced the concept album and started album art as more than just a picture of the band members. In 1965 they played Shea Stadium, the first big outdoor concert - this was done with the biggest amps of the day, 30W. If The Beatles did not start playing the big stadiums in 1965 someone else would have. However if that other band did the big concert 2 years later, the the legendary concerts of the late 60’s (think Woodstock) probably would not have happened because the equipment would not exist. So yes, there are other very influential bands and musicians, but their scope of influence pales compared to The Beatles. And The Beatles did it all in about 7 years.
I don’t know about Richie, but I don’t think Tony is left out of the praise and accolades. He’s one of the best guitarists of all time, but I don’t think he is lacking in recognition.
After led Zeppelin denied their direct influence on metal did Black Sabbath get the appellation as the founders of metal Led Zeppelin 1 and 2 are clearly the predessers of metal Every metal band has been trying to top Zep 2 since it's release
. Rick Beato I am so grateful for your nod and respect for Jeff Beck, that was about time someone showed him some love, he is really something special one of the best really
@@Jllyrol311 there are several undeniably influential guitar masters. Especially between the 50s and the 80s there’s nearly too much brilliance to track.
for me Rory Gallagher. But at first it was Hardrock for me (in the 80's MSG, Rainbow) After I started playing guitar I turned in the blues-rock direction thanks to Gallagher. Much later I discovered there is a lot more good music like Dream theater, allmann Brothers and other southern rock bands,. and fusion/jazz rock. In my country we only had radiostations that played top 40 pop music. Never was a fan but I think the Stones influenced guitar based rock a lot.
Skydog and Dickie were at the forefront of jam band music, southern rock and country rock as well as pioneers for dual guitar leads. And then there's the greatest live album ever, Live At Fillmore East.
The Ventures was a guitar band. "With over 110 million albums sold worldwide, the group remains the best selling instrumental rock group of all time."(Wikipedia)
I learned to play bass to the Ventures and Shadows. That was after I learned bar chords playing along witth the early Beatles til my fingers bled. I guess that dates me!
At the same time as the Yardbirds, another band called John Mayall's Bluesbreakers has a claim to fame. In and out of the Bluesbreakers went Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, John McVie and Mick Taylor, among others. Aynsley Dunbar played drums with the Bluesbreakers.
You're absolutely right, and while they mention the Bluesbreakers briefly, they spend most of the video talking about the Yardbirds. Just looking at your list, I'm in awe and there are many more great talents that came through Mayall's group, including Keef Hartley, Andy Fraser, Jesse Ed Davis, Walter Trout, and Freebo.
I'd agree. I guess it depends how you define "influential" - Beatles totally changed pop and music and opened the door for everything that followed but I think Zep's influence on everything about bands and rock was more jarring is still felt today. Van Halen was another major influencer bring forth a new level of guitarist flash and arena entertainment. I don't consider the Yardbirds to be nearly as impactful as any of these three on music or bands.
@@jayedwards1205 - Not that easy. Sure just borrow other people's music, produce an album, and it'll sell a million - wrong! What Zep did was phenomenal transforming old blues numbers (that most American kids didn't care for) into something different & palatable to the ears of white teenagers.
Great episode Rick. You guys mentioned John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Clapton coming through it but I think it deserves a mention as close to the Yardbirds as most influential guitar 'birthing' band. 3 of the top players with Mayall were Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. Or course there were many others such as Harvey Mandel but those 3 are up there in the pantheon of guitarists.
Great episode! I could listen to you guys talk music history for EVER!! Have always been fascinated about the fact that all of these amazing guitarist all came from the same place, playing together and inspiring each other to greatness. An incredible moment in time for sure. And I truly hate people that steal guitars! I had purchased a 74 white custom in 1974. My first new guitar. Was so beautiful. It was stolen 2 years later. That just killed me. I didn't realize that the guitarist Dave mentioned all played 74 white customs as well. Now it hurts even more. :( A few years later my black beauty was stolen from a club and in another year two sunburst were stolen. Again, I truly hate people that steal guitars. Buy your own damn guitars! Thanks again for another amazing episode! I know it's old but I love going through all of your vids! Thx Rick! Thank you Keith! Love your channel too! Thx Dave!
I remember the first time I heard Jeff Beck and “People Get already,” it was on a Rod Stewart tape my mom played in the car. Blew my mind as a kid and still does today.
Yes, there can be a universalality but it depends of when you lived and what genre or genres you were a fan of. I'm 53 and for me it was Rush. I play guitar and Alex Lifeson who often gets left off the great guitar player lists or if on them is near the bottom. IMO, he is the best all around guitarist. Rush is one of the most unique sounding bands ever. So there you go.
Im same age group..52 but Rush was not mainstream like Zeppelin, The Stones, Beatles, Hendrix and is why...although when best Drummers of all are discussed Pert is always up at the top which flushes my reasoning down the drain...but you have a dam good point
@@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL I would agree just of top of my head.. is there a correlation that can explain the consequential void of musical genius with regard to timeless music. It is the songs that we listen to 20, 30, 40 yrs after their creation and we get as much or more from than the very 1st time heard.. Did the "evil" label record companies actually have a direct impact on discovering and nurturing timeless artists? The mid 80's is the beginning of the end for the consumer music recipe as far as labels having 100% responsibility of bringing an unknown artist to the masses.
Lifeson is a tremendous guitarist. Incredibly talented and great sound. Lee's bass licks are ridiculously underrated. Those bass riffs filled out the sound of a 3 piece band that is 2nd to NONE. And Neil....he will always be my GOAT drummer. Just jaw dropping. My son and I got to see them on their Farewell tour for their last show ever in Montreal. Blew the roof off the Bell Center.... naturally
John Mayell's Bluesbreakers featured Eric Clapton ( it was at this time that Clapton played a Les Paul through a Marshall amp) who went on to form Cream, replaced by Peter Green went on to form Fleetwood Mac with someone also with Mayall at that time , Mick Fleetwood and fellow Bluesbreaker John McVie . Green was replaced by Mick Taylor who later left to join The Rolling Stones. Aynsley Dunbar , soon to join Jeff Beck. Andy Frazer was with the Bluesbreakers for a short time , but went on to join Free. John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, crucial to Blues Rock and the idea of the guitar hero.
Even though it was made by Marshall, the amp Clapton used with Mayall was actually closer to a Fender amp than the 100-watt Marshall Plexi Super Lead so iconically paired with the Les Paul.
They went a little deeper about the most influential guitar band. But many would agree that Led Zeppelin is actually the most influential one because of the voice, guitar, bass and drums. Zep inspired a lot of the bands from the 80's, 90's and 2000's and I think they still do.
I would put The Who Live At Leeds against live album or studio album from any guitar band. Pete Townshend can play it all. Paul McCartney and Townshend are probably two of the greatest singer, songwriters, muscians.
@@Spectre-wd9dl The Beatles, most successful and influential. Most hits, most money. Most radio play. The Beatles started it all from 1964 Ed Sullivan and to this day. The Stones deserve the title greatest rock n roll band. The Who greatest live band. Led Zep most popular. Zep band of the 70's. Beatles band of the 60's. Facts.
I think it's not their taste. Deep purple had a huge success over the world except America. So, manager and marketing should drive what they are. It's a bit sad not too many people talks about how great of Ritchie Blackmore. He's next level over eric clapton Jimmy page.
Yeah and they were around at that time. Clapton is awesome but how he can be mentioned in the same sentence as Blackmore???? Not mentioned at all??? WTF. I love Rick but I often disagree with his guitar opinions. Blackmore was so far above everyone except maybe Jimi but he knew musoc theory, used fancy scales, did composition and was technically on par with Hendrix and creatively and compositionally way above him in my opinion. There's a reason Malmsteen worshipped Blackmore. He was the Malmsteen of the 70s. Clapton is a good blues player but if we include less pale musicians he really wasn't that far above anyone. He was probably the best whitey. But Blackmore... 50 years later people are still impressed by his compostion and skill. Who is seriously impressed by Claptons technique? His tone sure. Love that. Songwriting awesome. But as a guitar player? Come on... I can accept if someone says Hendrix. Especially rythm. But lead and songwriting? Ritchie fking Blackmore. He was sweep picking... doing arpeggios... using modes... taking inspiration from classical music. The guy is a genius. And all of Deep Purple... Jon Lord + Blackmore? Jimmy who? Zeppelin are fun and some of the songs go beyond Rock n Roll party music but Deep Purple? Pure genius. Rainbow? Not even worth mentioning, that's so far above what the blues guys where doing but it was also later. But Purple was active mid 60s. And how is Zeppelin constantly mentioned and not Black Sabbath? This constant insistence they influenced Sabbath is garbage. So what if they're from the same town, they where barely aware of each other. Tony listened to The Shadows and Django Reinhardt, Ozzy was a Beatles nut. None of them listened to Zeppelin. And their music is actualy original. Purple too. Sabbath and Purple make Zeppelin look silly if we're talking hard rock. They made it. They spawned heavy metal. It soubds nothing like Zeppelin. Zepp is heavy rock n roll. Purple has the whole classical influence going with Lord and Blackmore and Sabbath is basically heavy jazz with some blues mixed in and distortion. It had literally nothing in common with rock music of the time. Not the chords, not the song structures, not the guitar sound, nothing. Take away the gain and Iommi is jazzing away. Bill Ward was a total funk/groove monster. Purple = Classical + Blues, add gain. Sabbath = Jazz + Blues, add gain. I'm NOT ANGRY. SHUT UP
The Yardbirds is the philosophical answer b/c of who and what was derived from the group. but the straight forward no bullshit answer is and will always be Led Zeppelin. From the iconic sound of Page's guitar to Bonzo's drums, Plant's vocals and even Jonesy's bass playing and instrument versatility. It will never be matched ever again, period, full stop; every band that came after them and even many bands during their time tried to emulate them and no one has come close.
@@ShaunHensley That name was only used to satisfy the contractual obligations (a handful of shows) Page was stuck with after everyone else in the Yardbirds quit. There was no "Yardbirds" as a band anymore - only Jimmy Page. And as soon as he could change the name, he did.
But would the Yardbirds achieve success (especially in America) if it weren't for the Beatles? Would the British Invasion even had happened at all if it weren't for them?
@@calnonhardy4002 But they didn't transform guitar playing, the choice of instruments, the nature of sounds.... The Beatles were also fans of the Yardbirds, most notably of Clapton (heard on 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps') and Beck (who covered 'She's a Woman'). Indeed, it could be argued that the psychedelic direction of pop music was largely inspired by the Yardbirds' 'Shapes of Things', 'Over Under Sideways Down', 'Happenings 10 Years Time Ago' etc., with the Beatles inspired by that direction on 'Revolver'.
It's the Beatles. The Yardbirds may have never been signed unless the Beatles reinvigorated interest in guitar based rock music. Over half of the population today wouldnt know who the yardbirds are. How many people say they decided to start playing music when they first saw the Beatles? Its a whole lot more than Yardbirds or even the many acts that followed the Yardbirds. No real debate here.
Cats of Sherman they stole everything from the underground scene or other artists, making rock music a commercial packaged product for borguese white people that wanted nothing of the revolution of the rock, expecially when it was about sex, drugs and politic. Thank god we had others, or we would still hear just silly catchy disney-like songs about strawberry fields.
The Beatles were reactionary, like KISS has always been critiqued as being. In the way Hard Luck Woman was only a response to Maggie May, Helter Skelter was a response to Sunshine of Your Love. The group that the Beatles ripped the most from was The Kinks, as Dave Davies was always pioneering new production techniques which John Lennon would later utilize. But since at the time The Kinks were not so popular in the States, it wasn't obvious here. I just can't get behind the Beatles being as innovative as they get credit for. Not that they were bad, they had talent. But I feel that Lennon's solo was still Kinksesque Beatles while George, Ringo and McCartney/Wings earned their own sound that was far better.
I don’t really consider the Beatles rock and Roll. It’s all about the riffs. Those hypnotic riffs that shape the sound of rock. The Beatles are something completely different.
I'd say the one of most influential Rock guitar players is Jimmy Page (there are many) - he started as a session player, then the Yardbirds, which later led to Led Zeppelin.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be .... What a stimulating discussion. Loved it. ~I don't know the whereabouts of the Beano guitar but I Do have a couple of yarns you might like. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - I spent a night in the cells back in 83, cold and damp it was, British summer. Broken window where the rain came in. Getting a cup of tea was a major chore. They just loved to bug hippie types. I got to whistling Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, the reverb down there in the cells was just right for it. Whistling and whistling, occasional stop to call for a cuppa. No luck After about an hour, the Whole police station was whistling it too, in time, in unison. Nobody was working. Eventually one of them brought me a cup of tea and told me to shut the f@@k up with that awful whistling …. Unobtanium Fenders in the 60s. I met this old drummer in Swansea. Bob Burnard, I was dating his daughter at the time, lovely girl. He was in a band in London in the 60s. Getting drum lessons from Jim Marshall. Rudiments and all that. Well, his band, I can't recall their name, started to do well for themselves and they were dead keen to get some Fenders for the band. As you mentioned the British import ban made them very rare. As they were going up in the world they had been earmarked for a share of the next consignment. Probably some dodgy smuggling deal engineered by music biz executives. The day finally came and there were three “Sets” of Fenders . Each set comprised a Strat, a Tele and a Precision. The reds went to the Shadows, the blues went to Johnny Kid and the Pirates , and Bob's band got the white set. Bob's band landed a load of movie work. Paid very well. Very well for the time, but didn't lead to stardom like the reds and the blues. Bob DID audition for the drummer's seat in little unknown rock trio but they though this style was too formal. Mitch Mitchell got that job... Bob kept going to Jim Marshall for drum lessons though and they became good friends. Bob related to me the tale of his helping Jim make speaker cabinets out the back of the shop where Jim was trying to see what speaker configuration could handle the crazy output of his new amplifier that he'd had built. They tried all sorts of speaker arrangement and tested them to destruction. Long soak testing. 4x10s, 2x15s, all sorts. Nothing couldn't take it. BUT the 4X12s survived. And so the Marshall 4x12 was born. Just think. If Goodmans 15” speakers had been a little more robust, we'd all be playing rock guitar through 2x15 cabs … Spooky huh ? Long after Bob had moved to Swansea, South Wales, to work as a toolmaker; Jim Marshall would send a crate of goodies down to Bob every now and then. With Marshall's association with Goodmans speaker, later Celestion, they'd regularly be sending Jim examples of their latest Hi-Fi and stuff. Jim would pass the surplus on to his friends and family. So Bob was never short of a nice sound system. Jim would send band gear down as well occasionally. Bob gave me a couple of goodies from his “crate collection”. An old Sound City 50 PA head, all valve. I used it for a while then sold it to a student in the Performing Arts college I found myself working at. The prize though was a lovely old Selmer Treble'n'Bass 50 Mk II head with F.ALL stencilled on it. I still have that one, needs recapping now though. I think I washed the stencil off IIRC. Probably knocked a bit off the value off it doing that. Yarns concluded ...
If the emphasis is on "guitar" (title is Guitar Band after all) you could make the argument that The Allman Brothers were up there too, just like Yardbirds. They spawned Duane, Dicky Betts and Derek Trucks .. and Warren Haynes is a damn good guitarist too but not quite like the other three. Love the video. Thanks man.
Warren Haynes is better than Derrick since he can play a symphony of another mans music Jerry Garcia and go tour with Government Mule then work with John Schofield. I know your thinking of putting precious Derick up there but as a guitarist for 45 years you fell into the hero trap not what is actually delivered. Good day sweet pea.
Iommi wasn’t in The Yardbirds, yet Sabbath went on to inspire an entire Genre of music 🎶. That’s way bigger than inspiring a teenager to tryout the guitar like the Yardbirds did. Earlier commenters said, and I agree, Hank Marvin and the Shadows Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. The influenced Iommi.
Not true. Page "assembled" an entirely new band and had some Yardbirds gigs that needed to be fulfilled in Scandinavia, post-breakup, so the as-yet- named Led Zeppelin were billed as The New Yardbirds for that very brief contracterally obligated tour.
I'm going to have to disagree with you guys on this one. While I can appreciate that Page, Clapton, and Beck, were all in the Yardbirds, that BAND was mildly successful when compared to the influence of their individual careers.
I agree. I had one record but it wasn't that special. Just 3 great guitarists. I think maybe the Stones are the most influential rock band. Beatles most influential song writers.
@@danielcarmichael8961 the skiffle boom in the UK motivated The Beatles and Jimmy Page to learn guitar. But, in the USA, first the folk boom and then the Beatles made American kids learn guitar.
@@stevehoran5595 Scotty Moore's playing on Baby Let's Play House inspired Jimmy to play guitar, he just happened to play in a skiffle band for a few months when he learnt his first few chords. I admit, the Beatles were a huge influence for guitarists in the 60's, but looking back over the past 50 years, Jimmy's work with Zeppelin has been more influential for guitarists, and continues to do so as the years go by. Even people that don't play guitar, more people have 'air guitared' to Jimmy than to George or John.
Roy Buchanan nobody ever gives this incredibly talented guitarist enough credit most people forget him because he didn't play stadiums but as far as insane...Roy Buchanan was so far ahead of his time
@@stevemossholder definitely he was so silky, maybe 15-20 yrs ahead of his time..never used effect pedals but was always creating sounds with his instrument, fingers, and imagination that was what im blown away by..was he talented enough to be the guitar God in any headlining band of the time? For certain he was and a lot to spare, I really believe his mental condition is why he never became a Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Brian May, Beck, Richards, etc., etc. For whatever reason he was happy to play clubs than realize guitar God status and that is unfortunate that his music was not enjoyed on a world stage but more of a local stage... but wow he even still seems to never be recognized by the critics and peers of Roy like he is not even in the thought of being in the same conversation when they discuss greats and still so many people have no idea who he is
@@stevemossholder that wouldn't surprise me and you might know better than me but now that you say I think I do have some memory of hearing that..I havnt even listened to Roy probably in 4 yrs nor read anything about his career..these posts are seriously giving me a Roy CRAVING though for sure..Yea he could be a studio guitarist and for some that is an incredible achievement but Roy was maybe just so far ahead of his time that the whole structure of a band wouldn't fit Roy's life style, mainly I think because his mental condition was getting worse and worse, which I think dam what a crime to not have been able to be 1stly recognized as truly one of the greatest guitarists we have seen..like I said his name would of been tossed around amongst all the greats but he is instead only once in while discussed from a particular date of importance of his..ex.. his birthday, day he died, or that kind of thing..Hey was he as important as Jimmy Hendrix or Page, or BB King? Hell NO but I do wonder may he have been if he didn't suffer from a mental illness..He was insane and thats having been mentally ill just imagine how incredible he would of been healthy..PS I apologize for lengthy posts..😞
@@Jsgro69 I guess we all could Wiki this, but speculating here is a better memory exercise, and more fun. I think he was in Booker T's band for a good period of time.
Led Zeppelin owned the 70"s every band out there were chasing Zeppelin, I think they should win this contest easily. God Bless my dear friend John Henry Bonham .
@@Drogers8675 You are so right. It took me more than 2 decades till Floyd took the top spot for me. I saw them at the Cleveland Stadium in 1977 it was the best show I have ever been to. Pink Floyd was in a class of there own. Take Care Brother
@John Downs Hey John, love the reply I also think the Allman Brothers were so much fun. Those days should have never ended. So many influences in such a short time. i am just grateful that I was able to see so many of the greats. Take Care Brother
My first fave band the Yardbirds, and also John Mayall had loads of great guitarists through his band, but the most influential rock band has to be Zep for me. Highly innovative, stuck to albums only, wrote/created the rockest riffs n beats and oh that voice of whom ever that was? Jimmy Page played on loads of fab session tracks too.
Lucky to have grown up in London during the embryonic period of bands like Yardbirds, Faces, Floyd, often in small locations - pubs (bars) - and it was fascinating to see other band members sitting and watching a show and them all getting together after to share drinks, drugs and song ideas.
I'm going to disagree right off the bat and go with the Shadows. Hank Marvin, at the time, influenced EVERYONE in the UK and inspired everyone there to get a Strat. I think he's easily overlooked here in the states.
Mark Knopfler cites Marvin as a great influence. I distinctly remember a quote by Knopfler: "I still wish I could get a guitar to sound like Hank Marvin." High praise.
Tony Iommi, Brian May, David Gilmour - all of them learned Hank Marvin songs. If I recall correctly, there is a clip from the 80s where they are in the same studio recording 'Smoke on the Water', possibly for a charity, and they discuss this.
In that case, why not John Mayall's Blues Breakers outright? Clapton, Mick Green (Fleetwood Mac) Mick Taylor (the Stones mk.II) AND Walter Trout. Mayall, the "Grandfather" of the London Blues scene, was the one with the record collection Clapton was listening to! Atlantic records signed Jimmy Pages's new project (Led Zeppelin) as a replacement for Cream, their original Brit blues-rock band. Speaking of Les Pauls trivia: Clapton bought his guitar from Andy Summers (he's not that young) who had already realized he wasn't destined to be a Blues player.
@@johnholmes912 The kinks didn't have a shot. The Beatles were carefully created and designed to be allowed into everyone's living room, remember how conservative times were still at their inception, they were sold to us as the guys you would let your sister date and such the good boy next door and their songs were catchy non confrontational(That role was for The Stones) about falling for a girl, holding hands, fluffy and safe..so The kinks didn't have the type of machine behind them like The Beatles..plus most important..TIMING, the time was so ripe for rock and roll..
@@mjjoseph8259 thats true nothing was gonna slow down the steam locomotive known as ROCK and ROLL..the Beatles were the perfect foot in the door..the kids were all screaming for music that wasn't their parents...Just prior to the Beatles we had Elvis priming the youth in America and their thirst for rock and roll..
Jimi Hendrix! He was the whole package. Song writing, playing, improvising, sonic innovator, performer, transcendent musician. The greatest loss to Rock music and beyond. RIP James Marshall(coolest middle name ever too) Hendrix Thanks Rick Keith and Dave
@@56doowopdave not true, Hendrix definitely defined "guitar band", he did NOT have a horn section, or a string section or a DJ on two turntables, EVERY Hendrix song 100% is GUITAR driven, thus all his bands were guitar bands
Mike Anderson how is that relevant lol. We dont caee whos the best. And Hendrix’s “band” is not the most influential band. But he “himself” is the most influential guitarist. But the band, nope
I'd say the Rolling Stones. You guys are obsessed with the ultimate one guitar bands. And I get it. We all imagine ourselves as Page with Zep, Hendrix, or Clapton with Cream. Hell, I've been playing in a three piece band in Portland-Vancouver for 15 years, I really do get it. But the "guitar bands" that started it were the Stones and Beatles. And to this day most cover bands are 2 guitar bands. And, when you are just starting out, it's comforting to have the other guy playing rhythm while you solo, and vice-versa. The Byrds, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, the Clash, Bob Marley, CSN&Y, the Eagles, the MC5, Kiss... these are the great guitar bands. Not the greatest solo guitarists in 3 or four (singer) bands. But the greatest guitar bands. So, it's clearly, once again Stones vs. Beatles... and as always the Stones rule. Keith & Brian? Keith & Mick Taylor? Keith & Woody? Guitar band!! All of them. SRV and Hendrix are amazing otherworldly guitar soloists. But not guitar BANDS. Does anyone even talk about "The Experience" or "Double Trouble"? No! Buckethead plays to pre-recorded rhythm tracks live. No one cares! It's guitar wankery at its finest. Stones and Beatles were "guitar bands" and that's what we all believed in. .Joe Harvard, RIP. (And if you don't know, find out and do a show on him.) Peace out!
I'd just like to add these names to your Yardbirds discussion: Keith Relf, vocals and harmonica, Chris Dreja, rhythm guitar, and Paul Samwell-Smith, bass. They were the core of the Yardbirds through all the guitarist changes.
Nobody even comes close the Beatles they influenced everybody but yeah Mr jimmy page every damn person who has even picked up a guitar has been influenced by him
People who picked up guitars in the 70s yes, but later on its because of bands like metallica, pantera, and now periphery etc. The only old one that is truly timeless is hendrix.
The Big Three were amazing in the Yardbirds and beyond. But, the Beatles were the Big Bang for guitar bands that were self-contained; that is that wrote and played their own music. They were the prototype. Add to that the amazing sustained quality of their output throughout their career, and it's the Beatles by three lengths.
Dean. I'm local to Robin. I know people who know him and used to work for the guy who built his amps but one day I was in a record shop looking at a Trower album and this young lady came up to me and said "that's my Dad!"
Three of us at work were just talking about Robin Trower last week. If three people can have a conversation about someone who's heyday was 40 years ago then what he put out must have been memorable.
I have attended several of his shows ... all in smaller venues and I have always loved his music. He is in my top five all time favorites. What thick rich tone he puts out... love Robin Trower.
@@goodun2974 You never know where you might run into a fellow music aficionado but it doesn't surprise me that hordes of Venetian tourists were unfamiliar with RT's classic album lol.
With respect, I think you’re getting into the “ Who’s the greatest guitar player” argument again. The question was about influence not virtuosity and I think that has to be translated into numbers. The band who influenced the largest number of people to pick up a guitar and start to play I would think would have to be the Beatles. I was 14 when they released “ Love me do” and had liked many preceding artists such as Buddy Holly, The Shadows, The Tornados, but it took the Beatles to make me get a guitar and struggle my way into learning the first few chords. I actually soon transferred my allegiance to The Rolling Stones and through them to a more blues based appreciation of guitar playing. Much later I discovered a player who seems to get very little mention or appreciation on these guitar forums, Ry Cooder. I absolutely love his eclecticism, his emotional tone and his ability to “ play the music” rather than the guitar.
Yeah, I remember that and the Keith Moon anecdote that goes with it... I was actually thinking Led Zeppelin as an answer to the title of this video before watching it. But mentioning THE band that was the stepping stone for Cream, The Jeff Beck Group AND Led Zeppelin makes much more sense.
@@notalcno9 ??? What do mean. When the yardbirds broke up JPP, retained all rights to the yardbirds. The only reason that The MLZ toured as the " new yardbirds" is because the band had committed to those dates PRIOR to the break up. So page n zeppelin fulfilled those shows as the new yardbirds. It was never they real name....
@@grimrod1 really....cause I can't remember anybody doing like him before he did it....so ahead and pull out Little Richard, Chuck Berry, etc etc....none of them combined it all like Elvis.
Including Elvis in this conversation is like including Sinatra. The subject is Guitar Bands, not people who performed songs written by other people and performing with a backup band.
@WORST CHANNEL EVERIf anyone was overrated then Hoola-hoola-Pelvis is the first on that list. Great voice, sure, but still overrated. King of Commercialism is the correct title.
@WORST CHANNEL EVER hey you are aware of the little fact that Elvis never wrote a single solitary song but was given co-writing credit because the label demanded of the actual songwriters to give co-credit to Elvis before he would perform their song?
@WORST CHANNEL EVER not hugging the Beatle's nuts...just saying in my opinion Elvis is so overrated that if it were not for the controversial hip shaking, igniting lust from the tweens and middle age housewives, he would not have been as commercially successful. Elvis's music was mediocre at best and he was a subpar actor.
Hey Rick, have you done a 'what makes this song so great' episode about Listen to the Music by the Doobie Brothers? I have been listening to that song lately and it just rocks! The bass, drums and guitar really create a happy mood.
“If you choose not to decide YOU STILL HAVE MADE A CHOICE !!” Hell yeah! Rush was a force of nature - I think the best live shows I’ve ever seen. But the fab4 was still the most influential LOL.
the beatles were a pop band who played loads of styles including a bit of rock, but they werent really a true rock band or all that good at rock, certainly not even close to the best at it. and nearly all clapton, page, and beck's legendary guitar playing was not done in the yardbirds. surely the beatles are the most influencial, after that the stones hendrix and zep i guess.
@@Fuq2 The Beatles were a guitar band. Their songs, for the most part, are based on great guitar parts and they motivated teens to learn to play guitar. The Yardbirds' guitarists were better players but not as influential.
Great conversation! The early reference to Hendrix and how other guitar players at the time were in awe of him reminded me of a comment Jimi supposedly made about Terry Kath of Chicago. I read somewhere that he heard Chicago in a club and remarked that Kath was better than him. Could you imagine if both Hendrix and Kath had lived on into the '80s and '90s, or even past 2000?
We need to define what "most influential" actually means. If we are boiling it down to what band has had more general influence on rock music, they got it right when they started with Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience.) But, then their conversation wandered off and settled on the Yardbirds. That makes no sense. The Jimi Hendrix Experience is, easily, the most influential band in history. Every rock guitarist, from Jimi's contemporaries to all that came after him, were influenced, directly or indirectly, by Hendrix's work. And when we consider how short was Jimi's career, and how long his brief catalog of work has endured, there is simply no comparison. However, if we are talking about what band directly spawned the most other great bands, it would have to be the Yardbirds for the Zeppelin and Cream connections alone.
All the great players have a vocal quality, Clapton, Beck, Page, Hendrix and Van Halen, Also Eric Johnson, who when He plays it sounds like an Orchestra, but all are great
It's not whether they directly influenced you, it's whether they directly influenced the people who directly influenced you. And judging by your list, they did.
@@oisin_smith (FWIW, I'd say most influential rock band was either The Beatles or The Crickets. I was only disagreeing with your logic, not your actual choices. Your choices are solid IMO.)
I would pick The Byrds. They triggered jangle pop (including much of the 80s alt scene), Eight Miles High kicked off psychedelia, and Sweetheart of the Radio triggered country rock. That's a huge range of influence.
The Yardbirds were one kick-ass band! Saw them live a couple times mid-late '60s and even though I was a drummer at the time, I was blown away by Jeff Beck...
Rick, these little talks you guys keep having, are the most interesting thing on RUclips right now. Maybe just because you always talk about the things that interest me, but I keep finding myself sitting, and listening for hours. Keep it up. If I'm not playing my guitar, I'm listening to people talk about it. Go figure.... And, I like your friends. I'm 67, and have played guitar since I was 11. I was taking lessons from a teacher who played in country bands, and was teaching us country. Nothing wrong with country, and I now listen to Country about 50% of the time and rock 50%. But one day an older kid came into class early, and started playing Gloria. It blew my mind, and I quit lessons and started a band. One of the best moves of my life. I was immediately influenced by Steppenwolf. But most of the music in those days was the Kinks, The Stones, The Doors. It was the greatest time to be a 13 year old boy ever. The guitar is one the greatest inventions of all time. Keep on spreading the word.
he's the guy that influenced me the most, the reason I bought a guitar. He was a great writer , guitarist and singer , he was the complete musician, seems to me BB King said he was the best white blues guitarist he ever heard.
How can three grown men be giggling like school girls for 40 minutes without alcohol being involved? Oh , yeah! The are talking about great music! Great vid!
The Beatles were the best, all around rock band of all time. Alot of people just can't admit that fact. The amount of quality, and varied music they came up with in such a short amount of time is incredible. Some of their songs being performed by many jazz artists and vocalists and became standards in The Real Book. How many rock bands can claim that?
No one is denying that dude…. There are nuances in life too. Good grief. Its possible for The Beatles to be the best most influential band while also saying Led Zeppelin is the greatest most influential guitar heavy band.
Tylur Mackinnon utter nonsense, The Beatles were in every aspect far more influential than the Rolling Stones or the Ramones and not least as a GUITAR band. What they presented on f ex Revolver of guitar riffs, openings, intertwined lines, solos, sound and tight complexity were completely unheard of and inspired EVERYONE, set the standard and is still to this day unsurpassed !
Hey Rick! When you guys were talking about the Yardbirds in your video, it made me think of this movie that came out in 1967 (I believe) called Blow Up. It’s about a London art student that ironically takes a picture of a murder. Not a very good movie, but the best part is where he takes a date to a night club, where the Yardbirds are playing! Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck are on stage, Beck’s guitar cord connection screws up, he smashes his guitar on stage and kicks the detached neck out in the audience! Check it out sometime. 🎸
Seeing Dave wearing the Pretenders tee... I would love to hear you guys talk about James Honeyman-Scott, one of the brightest candles to burn in our world. His playing and choice of guitars were sublime.
Only from a distance what other band had amps named after them? Vox Super Beatle , Gretch guitar company could not keep up with demand after Beatles! Who had heard of Rickenacker guitars, until the Beatles Who made the Vox ac 30 a worldwide classic amp still loved to this day, Beatles music is full of great guitar, influence still being felt today!
I appreciate your arguments but it is difficult for most people to even come up with a Yardbird's song or Derek and The Dominoes. Albeit they are awesome and have major influence. I still would have to go with the Beatles to this day. They explored all genres within pop and rock. You can see the huge variety of styles they were able to master. You can hear to this day their influence in all music to this day. Their songs are timeless and they wrote an anthology that is the manual of rock and pop. I do appreciate your reasoning. I would dare say if you ask most bands coming up through the rock era who their inspiration for getting into music was, many more are going to go with The Beatles. Paul McCartney continued and continues to put out great stuff. I have to ask: "Is it just too obvious to say they are it and it just "feels" better to go with something other than the Beatles?" I really love your channel and this is just my opinion. If you were rephrasing your question to: "Who are the most influential guitar players to other "guitar players?" Yeah, you are going to go with those guys over George Harrison.
@@michaeljorfi3552 Well yes, I know that because I am also into music and write music but I am saying the average person who represents more than people who are really into music. Many people if they had their multiple choice for the song Layla...A) Eric Clapton or B) Derek and the Dominoes are going to go with A. Just saying.
Clapton extended his influence through his Crossroads concerts where many top guitarists joined him. Imagine Clapton, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Jimmy Vaughn, Robert Cray, Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Winter - all together on the same stage at the same time. He also plays with many other musicians, and in his concerts, he stands back and let the guest performer take the spotlight.
Yeah. Don't know what these guys are talking about. Don't get me wrong, 3 influential guitarists with massive innovation, but that does not equal the blending of multiple styles, evolution of recording , changing of musical zeitgeist twice, and defining several musical genres the way the Beatles did. There has never been another band who was both the most popular and the best at what they did at the same time. These guys are trying to convince themselves
Since the question is most influential, it's definitely the Beatles. Sure, Clapton, Beck, and Page are better guitarists than George, John, and Paul but the Beatles motivated people people to learn guitar more than any other band. And the wealth of great guitar parts in Beatles songs is mind-boggling. Great parts in service to the songs. Whether that means chord selection or interesting arrangements like Paul's part for Blackbird, all the arpeggio parts over Abbey Road, George's use of rockabilly and rock n roll influences in their earlier tunes. Beck's impressive as Hell but I don't associate him with great songs. And there's a novelty aspect to the way he plays guitar, he's like the Zamfir of the electric guitar. Clapton and Page were the more influential of the Yardbirds' three. Clapton most of all because he made blues lead guitar the standard vocabulary through the rest of the 60s and 70s.
@@stevehoran5595 The Beatles are definitely a song/arrangement based band than a guitar band. Every instrument they use are almost equally utilized that I don't even notice the guitar work. Many of their songs don't even have any audible guitar parts in them.
@@BeatlesCentricUniverse When speaking of the Beatles, I think of the mellotron, sitar, Macca's walking bass lines, vocal melodies and George Martin's arrangement. The guitar usually just plays chords in the background. Even the song with the word "guitar" on it have the rhythm guitar blended with a piano.
Absolutely great content. Love the positive jocular vibe. I totally dug it and miss this type of tune talk like I used to do CONSTANTLY with my dope head rock friends as a Detroit rocker, banging my head on the stage at Cobo.
Oh man, the Yardbirds. Boy do I have a story. We have ZIA records stores in Arizona, and they have new, but mostly used music. My buddies and I used to have a challenge where we would pick a letter from the Alphabet, and had to buy an album from a band that started with the letter your buddy picked out for you that you have never heard before. It was fun, and a great way to experience different music. And “The” was excluded, to make it fair. I got Y. And when I saw The Yardbirds, and how old it was, I bought it. Best part of the story though was this...
A week later, I was picking up a buddy of mine from the airport. It was pretty dead, so went to the magazine/gift shop Reading Guitar Magazines. Then, this guy with a huge black hat, black trench coat, black shirt, black jeans, and black boots, reads the same magazine next to me. And there was an article about the Yardbirds in it. It was Alice Cooper, and he just finished doing a radio show and was flying out to do another one.
I asked him, “Hey, you don’t happen to be Alice Cooper, do you?” 🤣 Alice’s response, “Why, yes, Yes I do”. I was like, “Cool”. He asked me what I was reading, and I mentioned the article about the Yardbirds, and the challenge my buddies and I have, and I bought a CD of theirs. He was surprised Me being 19 at the time, I even knew they existed, lol. We both got some coffee, sat down, and chatted about music for 10 minutes before his flight left.
And that’s how I got introduced to the Yardbirds.
Hi, That's a great story. I saw Disturbed in Reading, Pa. in 2009, and David walked out on to Penn Street and shook any ones hand and pics. Professionally Cool Move. Best to ya!
@@jamesjarvis5018 Back in the 70’s a friend of mine met The Beach Boys at the Beach in a small NJ beach town.. They all hit is off and went back to her house for dinner.. Her mom cooked. LOL
Musicians are just people at the end of the day the only difference is their bank account and popularity. They like food and coffee just like we do.
Dude. That's a ripper of a story. You lucky dog. That memory is going to make you smile for the rest of your life.
Badass
Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck , Ritchie Blackmore, Peter Green, Keith Richards and Brian May were all born within 30 miles of each other. Also Pete Townshend, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, Peter Frampton & Andy Latimer.
That’s crazy
@@soulSaysHi They are all around the same age too.
And they were all influenced by Hank Marvin, who came down from Newcastle to London.
If true, that is crazy. Must have been something in the water back then.
@@KokowaSarunoKuniDesu Maybe, but Bert Weedon and Lonnie Donegan played their part too.
Deep Purple and Black Sabbath were huge inspirations for me, to play guitar. They created new genres of music.
And Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi got his start playing with Jethro Tull... if Ian Anderson hadn't fired Iommi and hired Martin Barre in his place, Sabbath would never have happened, so thank Ian Anderson for helping to have his hands in the pie that created Black Sabbath!
Yes of course, Purple and Sabbath are great and very influential Bands but they both said Zeppelin showed them the way in the end.
@@williamadamsmusic3025 It might still have happened, despite being a huge JT fan Tony didn't enjoy his time there very much, he felt unimportant and didn't have much to say, so he was already thinking about going back to Sabbath (still Earth I think) for the creative freedom.
Yes they was the first moves creaters of hard rock
This is so typical of any top guitarist debates that Ritchie Blackmore is so sadly forgotten yet he inspired so many guitarists and Deep Purple were at the forefront of heavy rock. Also they were brilliant musicians as their live gigs bare evidence and 'Child In Time' was a game changer...
I know, what about Ritchie Blackmore...
I think you are right about blackmore, however there is something about the three musqueteers that put them a click above. but yep you are right about that many times he is kinda ignored for that matter.
Agree! Try to copy him and you realise his skill.
Ritchie Blackmore is certainly mostly overlooked in the greatest guitarist conversation but for sure was considered in top 20 all time maybe top 10 or 15.. Deep Purple , Rainbow are at the top of my list of great instrumental rock's iconic legendary bands and a major reason i would say is Ritchie Blackmore...RIP RJD🤟
Lack more came through after the other three... also the other 3 knew each other very closely from a young age... Blackmore is more skin to Iommi but not as good obviously 😂
I think you could make a pretty good argument for Chuck Berry being more influential to rock than Cream or The Beatles. They were all using his licks. John was using his lyrics lol.
with the exception of maybe Jerry Cantrell you don't often hear 'Hendrixisms' in guitar solos in the last 30 years but Chuck EVH and Yngwie are still in the vocabulary. Chuck lix however can be found in virtually every genre of rock hard rock metal thrash metal etc. So guitarists that may eschew the use of tapping sweeping pretty much will still have a 'Berry-ism' even if it's in passing.
I've debated this for years!
Sure, but we're talking about bands here. In a band, everybody has his own personality. Can you name Chuck Berry's musicians without checking Wikipedia? Probably not. But Chuck is legend anyway
You mean T-Bone walker? xd
Only if you listened to Berry's music. Many artists never have.
When Mick Jagger introduced The Beatles induction into the RnR HOF, he thanked them for opening up the doors for all the British bands that followed. That is one place to start in analyzing The Beatles’ influence.
Joe Bonamasa knows where the Beano is.
That speech is a wonderful tribute. Jagger talks about how he and the Stones were such hot stuff in the London scene. And next thing they know, there's a band that's become a huge national sensation out of....Liverpool! I.e., the middle of nowhere!
Sorry- feed back in “I Feel Fine”, recording guitars backwards on “Revolver” all the incredible riffs like Day Tripper, Ticket to Ride, early hard rock like “Paperback Writer” predating all the groups mentioned. Nobody influenced EVERYONE like the Beatles.
Right on.
... As mentioned they sold more guitars and got more kids playing than any ten bands. The Beatles are also probably responsible for more shitty bands than anything as well.
@@hugh-johnfleming289 - One could argue it takes ten shitty bands to make one great band. If the Beatles spawned 1000 bands that means 100 good ones. The rest -- well, they're shitty.
When people ask the next generations guitar players who influenced them the Beatles are rarely if ever mentioned. Page, Beck, Hendrix, Clapton. When the 70s players were asked, It's all blues players from the 50s.
helter skelter, yer blues as well. not to mention how you can still hear their influence in pop music to this day, but thats a different convo
Page was always my guy (studio-wise, anyway), but out of the three, Beck is the only one who seems to have constantly improved his technique over the years.
Compared to beck, though, page was boring, to me anyways
Technique bores me...feeling is where it's at for me...Page rules...well...ruled back then...
@@normt6226 There’s definitely a hell of a lot to be said for being willing to take chances, to put yourself on the spot and see if you can navigate the musical woods, just dive in and see if you can find your way back out again, bringing everybody with you at the same time. I don’t think anybody has ever done that better than Zeppelin when they were really on it.
Even though I agree I find one thing interesting. The Beatles were so influential that you had to say in beginning that it is NOT the beatles. I think that is kinda telling
Rock band yes the Beatles, but Guitar Band no, its definitely YB
@@betweentheeyes3956 I think The Beatles were the most influential rock songwriters, but I have to agree they weren't the most influential technicians on their instruments. McCartney gets brought up in the bass world quite a bit but it seems guitarists tend to gravitate towards the pyrotechnics of Hendrix or Page more than the harmonic structures and melodic contours of Beatles songs, that part seems to come later in the journey more often than not
def the beatles, they are #1. fact
It's The Beatles because they not only influenced tons of kids in the 60's to start rock bands, but they are always cited as big influences to musicians of all genres and even today's most successful artists 50 plus years later.
The Beatles may have influenced song writers and Pop groups, but not Rock Bands.
@@gavinreid8351 The Beatles influenced tons of rock bands in addition to song writers and pop bands. Rock bands influenced by The Beatles include: Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Aerosmith, Queen, Guns N Roses, Foo Fighters and the list goes on and on. The Beatles invented heavy metal with Helter Skelter. I'm not saying Beck, Page, and Clapton aren't amazing (and I love the Yardbirds too) but The Beatles influenced the most amount of musical groups. The title of this video is "The most influential Rock band is". It doesn't specify who that band is influencing. If it said "The most influential members of a rock band that influenced the most amount of rock bands" then I would agree The Yardbirds would be it. I did enjoy the content of this video and every other video Rick puts out!
I can't the rockers who said the Ed Sullivan appearance changed their lives. I just watched an interview with Gene Simmons where that was the moment he knew what he wanted to do with his life. Also, even the Yardbirds didn't have guitar harmonies like the Beatles.
Read the title, they are talking about guitar bands, when I think of the Beatles, guitar isn't the first thing that comes to my mind.
@@markandersen793 Since the Beatles had 3 people in the band that played guitar, they could certainly be classified as a guitar band. Listen to Day Tripper, Helter Skelter, or the triple guitar solo at the end of Abbey Road.
Buddy Holly...hear me out! Clapton had to have a Strat because he saw him with one. It was a country guitar before. The Beatles harmonized because of him. He wrote his own stuff before it was fashionable. Hendrix, again the Strat.
He was a starting point and an influence with relatively few hits.
I agree
IDoBluesdeluxe me too I agree
He was also multitracking in 1957, not long after Les Paul. He was a pioneer in many ways.
Norman Petty recorded Buddy Holley . He recorded not only the amp , but the ambient room sound of the guitar, which is why to this day those records sound great . Norman Petty studios out of Clovis , New Mexico should be a museum . Not sure it is even around since his widow , who also played on Buddys records, has passed.
Buddy Holy and the Crickets influenced the biggest bands
I saw Jeff and Jimmy in their first U.S. Yardbird's concert (August 5, 1966). Jimmy was playing bass, and his playing was so unique and joyful, it was unlike any other bassist I'd ever heard. And to have Jeff Beck on the same stage! Mind blown.
The Beatles gave us "Every Little Thing" and a few other similar songs, which were the prototypes for janglepop like the The Byrds,Tom Petty and later 80's Alt rock such as REM, The Smiths and XTC. Jagger and Richards observing Lennon and McCartney writing "I Wanna Be Your Man" inspired them to forge a great songwriting partnership. Brian Wilson hearing Rubber Soul and immediately going to work on Pet Sounds. They inspired Dylan to go electric.They turned the album into an art form and not just something full of filler, which led to a huge change into the public buying more LP's over singles. They were pioneers in world music and its blend into Western Music. Their studio innovations are 2nd to none.
Their influence can still be heard in bands like Radiohead, Soundgarden, Oasis, Nirvana etc
Ehhh, Beatles, Shmeatles! There weren't so... No, I'm joking! I totally agree with you.
They did all that you said, and much, much more. No band or group of musicians have come close to the influence on music, poetry,, art, politics, fashion, culture and all that is human.. Bigger than Jesus? Yes, in my world.
I think we can all agree that 'guitar band' is not our first thought when we think of The Beatles.
@@facelessandnameless All four played the drums, so does that make them a drum band? My point was (I think. I wrote this 2 years ago) that the sum of the parts is what made the Beatles, not which instruments they played.
The nearly invented the guitar band
If the key concept is INFLUENCE, the answer(s) go back to the big 3:
The bands of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly. THAT defines "influential."
Everything else flows from that deep well~~~~~
Agreed, they were a huge influence on rock music... but the term 'rock band' really defines a certain type of group which began with the Beatles and other bands in Britain from the late 50s/early 60s. It wasn't just about the music (which was new and different too) but also to do with the cultural setting that the first rock bands grew out of and also the culture within the bands themselves.
Why stop there though? There was a huge guitar scene long before those three. Muddy Waters influenced everyone from Chuck Berry to the Rolling Stones (who were even named after one of his songs), so do you give him credit for everything that Chuck Berry did? Les Paul pioneered the solid-body electric guitar and countless musicians afterwards, yet he himself was heavily influenced by Django Reinhardt: so does that mean that Django was responsible for everyone that Les Paul influenced too? They all came before the three you mentioned, so how far back do you go?
I think the way that they're considering it is fine. If you start looking for the "genesis", so to speak, of guitar playing, then you're going to end up in the Middle Ages with guys like Francesco Corbetta. The well is too deep, it's just not practical to look at it that way.
leerobbo92 you can go back as long as you want though, every band was influenced by a band that was influenced by another band if you know what I mean?
@@trydigama3 Yeah, that's what I meant. I think if you're trying to figure out who's the most influential just by "going back", then you're going to run into problems!
And who influenced them...and who influenced them...and who influenced them.... :)
Thanks. I'm 71 and English and this is a great way to walk down memory lane. But don't forget Hank B. Marvin and Peter Greene!
Peter Greene was a legend.
Who 's Peter Greene??? :-)
Talking of the non-sequitur Rick, I have to say Deep Purple comes to mind. Deep Purple are one of the most underrated bands, when you think of the influence they've had on so many artists. Not only that, but so many artists talk about Deep Purple as one of their big influences.
Purple almost defined the early prog Rock scene, moving into the early heavy rock scene, and you can't talk about Sabbath, and bands of that ilk without talking about Purple.
I know you don't mention them much work on here, but Ritchie Blackmore as an influential guitarist, and certainly one who epitomises the random playing style and solo'ing that you talk of often, as so important when playing lead sections - especially live.
I don't think Ritchie Blackmore has ever played the same solo twice. And what a guitarist. Roger Glover, what's a bassist and producer. Ian paice, left-handed, and an awesome drummer who takes his influences from Jazz. And incredible vocals from Ian Gillan.
Please do a video talking about Deep Purple Rick, or at least mention them in one of your up-and-coming videos on what makes this song great, as a Purple track would be most welcome in the series.
(And while we're talking about what makes this song great, maybe a Genesis track if you think there is one worthy of inclusion in the series..)
Loving your videos though Rick, awesome, as always. I love hearing your conversations, and I loved hearing your insights into music and your teachings, as I learnt so much, even as an experienced producer of 30 years.
So a big thank you from me!
Couldn't agree more!
Clint Tapper unfortunately he hate Deep Purple, i dont know why, but this is true, even if he don't want to admit it. He makes the list of the best guitarist- dosn't mention about Blackmore, makes the list of the best singers- no Gillan here, no Hughes. Great drumm intro? No Paice. Gosh gzeyggrfjcgy... 😣😤
Couldn't of said it better
azja 666 I have noticed this. Deep Purple, Ritchie, and Ian are noticeably left off every list.
I love Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page, but Ritchie was at least twice the guitarist Jimmy was b
The Beatles had a tremendous impact on pop music (pop rocked before rock popped). They were one of the first bands who had immensely popular hits written/composed and performed live and on record. As a veritable self contained unit. This helped change the focus from songwriters and production to bands.They also stand out as a band not rooted in American blues music. They focused on melody and were more influenced (I think) by British Music Hall and Skiffle. They also eschewed "blues riff" based songs for chords. Somewhere in Tommy James autobiography, he cites the impact (major) on him as an artist/band performing songs written by others as he realized the Beatles represented the future of Rock and Roll. I have seen other artists pointing our the same thing--the Beatles were a game changer.
They influenced everybody that came after but they weren't a "guitar" band.
@@julianwells4055Led Zeppelin gets the title for most influential guitar band. In terms of overall influence, the Beatles by a mile. Led Zeppelin were specialists, the Beatles were generalists.
Julian Wells ah yes the band with more guitarists than most bands mentioned in the video isn’t a “guitar” band
@@chiefkc1306 - The Beatles played guitar almost exclusively throughout their career, certainly during their first 6 records. it wasn't til Revolver in the song Eleanor Rigby that they went completely guitarless. if you're talking about virtuoso guitar playing then no they didn't play guitar like that, but no other band in history sold more guitars than the Beatles did.
Julian Wells Three guitars (bass included) and a drummer.
I loved what Dickey and Duane were doing. What Dickey did post Duane was just as amazing. His instrumentals are wicked.
To carry the band without Duane just shows how talented he was. Duane always acknowledged it too.
RIP Duane what a huge loss!! AB made some great music...Dickey Betts was super talented all the way around.....great musician...God just think of how Duane and Dickey would have been if not for the tragic loss of DA waaaay too gd soon
I love how Rick always listens to his guests and keeps it real!
Yes!, He is a great listener, the key to any great interview.
The Beatles were the most influential band of all time by a country mile. They influenced and dominated pop music, they influence music recording techniques, they introduced new new instruments to music, they introduced the concept album and started album art as more than just a picture of the band members. In 1965 they played Shea Stadium, the first big outdoor concert - this was done with the biggest amps of the day, 30W. If The Beatles did not start playing the big stadiums in 1965 someone else would have. However if that other band did the big concert 2 years later, the the legendary concerts of the late 60’s (think Woodstock) probably would not have happened because the equipment would not exist.
So yes, there are other very influential bands and musicians, but their scope of influence pales compared to The Beatles. And The Beatles did it all in about 7 years.
sad thing thou, few people talk about Iommi or Blackmore, they single handedly-created whole genres of guitar rock music still blooming today.
True
I don’t know about Richie, but I don’t think Tony is left out of the praise and accolades. He’s one of the best guitarists of all time, but I don’t think he is lacking in recognition.
After led Zeppelin denied their direct influence on metal did Black Sabbath get the appellation as the founders of metal
Led Zeppelin 1 and 2 are clearly the predessers of metal
Every metal band has been trying to top Zep 2 since it's release
. Rick Beato I am so grateful for your nod and respect for Jeff Beck, that was about time someone showed him some love, he is really something special one of the best really
@@Jllyrol311 there are several undeniably influential guitar masters. Especially between the 50s and the 80s there’s nearly too much brilliance to track.
For me it was The Allman Brothers Band for guitar...
DUANE!
for me Rory Gallagher. But at first it was Hardrock for me (in the 80's MSG, Rainbow) After I started playing guitar I turned in the blues-rock direction thanks to Gallagher. Much later I discovered there is a lot more good music like Dream theater, allmann Brothers and other southern rock bands,. and fusion/jazz rock. In my country we only had radiostations that played top 40 pop music. Never was a fan but I think the Stones influenced guitar based rock a lot.
Skydog and Dickie were at the forefront of jam band music, southern rock and country rock as well as pioneers for dual guitar leads. And then there's the greatest live album ever, Live At Fillmore East.
If Duane had lived...no telling what the discussion would be in guitar circles today. I love the ABB.
It's important to remember that Duane was only 24 when he died. As great as his body of work is he was just getting started.
The Ventures was a guitar band. "With over 110 million albums sold worldwide, the group remains the best selling instrumental rock group of all time."(Wikipedia)
Peter Brough how many people can name 3 songs from the Ventures? Let alone any of their band members?
You do realize that Wikipedia can be edited by anyone, right? Not saying your info is wrong, but Wiki's not a truly reliable source.
I learned to play bass to the Ventures and Shadows.
That was after I learned bar chords playing along witth the early Beatles til my fingers bled.
I guess that dates me!
At the same time as the Yardbirds, another band called John Mayall's Bluesbreakers has a claim to fame. In and out of the Bluesbreakers went Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, John McVie and Mick Taylor, among others. Aynsley Dunbar played drums with the Bluesbreakers.
They are mentioned in the video, noted because Clapton went there after The Yardbirds and becuase of the other guitariists you mention.
You're absolutely right, and while they mention the Bluesbreakers briefly, they spend most of the video talking about the Yardbirds. Just looking at your list, I'm in awe and there are many more great talents that came through Mayall's group, including Keef Hartley, Andy Fraser, Jesse Ed Davis, Walter Trout, and Freebo.
Good call, Lynne!
Zeppelin was the most influential- from drums, guitar to vocals. They changed everything, even the way bands were managed.
I'd agree. I guess it depends how you define "influential" - Beatles totally changed pop and music and opened the door for everything that followed but I think Zep's influence on everything about bands and rock was more jarring is still felt today. Van Halen was another major influencer bring forth a new level of guitarist flash and arena entertainment. I don't consider the Yardbirds to be nearly as impactful as any of these three on music or bands.
Zeppelin most overrated group ever... stole a lot of their music
@@jayedwards1205 If you can name a band who didn't you know nothing about modern music.
@@jayedwards1205 - Not that easy. Sure just borrow other people's music, produce an album, and it'll sell a million - wrong! What Zep did was phenomenal transforming old blues numbers (that most American kids didn't care for) into something different & palatable to the ears of white teenagers.
Zeppelin or Beatles, I give the Beatles the 60s and zep the 70s
Great episode Rick. You guys mentioned John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Clapton coming through it but I think it deserves a mention as close to the Yardbirds as most influential guitar 'birthing' band. 3 of the top players with Mayall were Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. Or course there were many others such as Harvey Mandel but those 3 are up there in the pantheon of guitarists.
Spot on.
Great episode! I could listen to you guys talk music history for EVER!! Have always been fascinated about the fact that all of these amazing guitarist all came from the same place, playing together and inspiring each other to greatness. An incredible moment in time for sure. And I truly hate people that steal guitars! I had purchased a 74 white custom in 1974. My first new guitar. Was so beautiful. It was stolen 2 years later. That just killed me. I didn't realize that the guitarist Dave mentioned all played 74 white customs as well. Now it hurts even more. :( A few years later my black beauty was stolen from a club and in another year two sunburst were stolen. Again, I truly hate people that steal guitars. Buy your own damn guitars!
Thanks again for another amazing episode! I know it's old but I love going through all of your vids!
Thx Rick! Thank you Keith! Love your channel too! Thx Dave!
I had my L6S stolen the feeling still sucks 😞.
Beatles most influential band of the 60's ... Zeppelin most influential band of the 70's .
Nirvana in the 90’s
T Doggo And what about the 80's??
Guitar band for the 80s would have to be Van Halen
To answer the question. Deep Purple. Smoke on the Water riff. Played (wrong) by more beginning rock guitarists than any other song ever.
Tyler Haas Most definitely who didn’t hear eruption and NOT want to pick up a guitar
Rick how come Terry Kath gets no love in the guitar community? He had monster chops!
Because of Peter Cetera
Kath and Cetera BOTH had some chops!
Because he played with a .25 and his career was shortened and Chicago got the reputation of a horn band, not a guitar band. Killer player, though.
Good but odd style for rock but good for Chicago
Good call.
Jimi hendrix,jimmy page & Richie blackmore are gods
of rock guitarists
Lol , a god who breaks his weapon under the influence of drugs..
@@Moyetniishiswa2000 Ritchie Blackmore
@@cascito you know Hendrix did that too right?
@@smokin714 not a fan of Hendrix tho..
@@cascito ya, but I'm just saying it was sort of a trend back then.
I agree with the Yardbirds theory but I think Led Zeppelin was the most influential overall, at least for me.
Led Zeppelin was the New Yardbirds...with a name conjured up during a 1966 Jeff Beck session that included Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Keith Moon.
Led Zeppelin
Well for me it's Neil Young and Paul Westerberg of the Replacements.
Both of those bands existed because of the Beatles.
There would be no Zepplin. Without the Yardbirds. So your point is moot. As the ... Aw never mind . WOW
I remember the first time I heard Jeff Beck and “People Get already,” it was on a Rod Stewart tape my mom played in the car. Blew my mind as a kid and still does today.
LOVE THAT TUNE!
Great song, main props go to Curtis Mayfield who wrote it. Listen to Curtis Mayfield.
Yes, there can be a universalality but it depends of when you lived and what genre or genres you were a fan of. I'm 53 and for me it was Rush. I play guitar and Alex Lifeson who often gets left off the great guitar player lists or if on them is near the bottom. IMO, he is the best all around guitarist. Rush is one of the most unique sounding bands ever. So there you go.
Im same age group..52 but Rush was not mainstream like Zeppelin, The Stones, Beatles, Hendrix and is why...although when best Drummers of all are discussed Pert is always up at the top which flushes my reasoning down the drain...but you have a dam good point
@@Jsgro69 imo any one year in music between ‘65 and ‘85 packs enough brilliance to fill most of the decades to follow
@@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL I would agree just of top of my head.. is there a correlation that can explain the consequential void of musical genius with regard to timeless music. It is the songs that we listen to 20, 30, 40 yrs after their creation and we get as much or more from than the very 1st time heard.. Did the "evil" label record companies actually have a direct impact on discovering and nurturing timeless artists? The mid 80's is the beginning of the end for the consumer music recipe as far as labels having 100% responsibility of bringing an unknown artist to the masses.
I agree. Nobody has the versatility of Lifeson. Yet, he is so overlooked.
Lifeson is a tremendous guitarist. Incredibly talented and great sound. Lee's bass licks are ridiculously underrated. Those bass riffs filled out the sound of a 3 piece band that is 2nd to NONE. And Neil....he will always be my GOAT drummer. Just jaw dropping. My son and I got to see them on their Farewell tour for their last show ever in Montreal. Blew the roof off the Bell Center.... naturally
John Mayell's Bluesbreakers featured Eric Clapton ( it was at this time that Clapton played a Les Paul through a Marshall amp) who went on to form Cream, replaced by Peter Green went on to form Fleetwood Mac with someone also with Mayall at that time , Mick Fleetwood and fellow Bluesbreaker John McVie . Green was replaced by Mick Taylor who later left to join The Rolling Stones. Aynsley Dunbar , soon to join Jeff Beck. Andy Frazer was with the Bluesbreakers for a short time , but went on to join Free. John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, crucial to Blues Rock and the idea of the guitar hero.
Somebody needs to make a tree or flow diagram.
Yep that’s a great shout!
Even though it was made by Marshall, the amp Clapton used with Mayall was actually closer to a Fender amp than the 100-watt Marshall Plexi Super Lead so iconically paired with the Les Paul.
They went a little deeper about the most influential guitar band. But many would agree that Led Zeppelin is actually the most influential one because of the voice, guitar, bass and drums. Zep inspired a lot of the bands from the 80's, 90's and 2000's and I think they still do.
Agreed.
I would put The Who Live At Leeds against live album or studio album from any guitar band. Pete Townshend can play it all. Paul McCartney and Townshend are probably two of the greatest singer, songwriters, muscians.
No one other than Zeppelin has influenced so many bands through the decades. Still going on.
@@Spectre-wd9dl The Beatles, most successful and influential. Most hits, most money. Most radio play. The Beatles started it all from 1964 Ed Sullivan and to this day. The Stones deserve the title greatest rock n roll band. The Who greatest live band. Led Zep most popular. Zep band of the 70's. Beatles band of the 60's. Facts.
Paul Rimpela
There is a distinction between successful and influential. Don’t conflate the two
Why do you never talk about Deep Purple? They had a massive impact on music, both as Deep Purple and all the bands they spawned later on
I think it's not their taste. Deep purple had a huge success over the world except America. So, manager and marketing should drive what they are. It's a bit sad not too many people talks about how great of Ritchie Blackmore. He's next level over eric clapton Jimmy page.
Yeah and they were around at that time. Clapton is awesome but how he can be mentioned in the same sentence as Blackmore???? Not mentioned at all??? WTF. I love Rick but I often disagree with his guitar opinions. Blackmore was so far above everyone except maybe Jimi but he knew musoc theory, used fancy scales, did composition and was technically on par with Hendrix and creatively and compositionally way above him in my opinion. There's a reason Malmsteen worshipped Blackmore. He was the Malmsteen of the 70s. Clapton is a good blues player but if we include less pale musicians he really wasn't that far above anyone. He was probably the best whitey. But Blackmore... 50 years later people are still impressed by his compostion and skill. Who is seriously impressed by Claptons technique? His tone sure. Love that. Songwriting awesome. But as a guitar player? Come on... I can accept if someone says Hendrix. Especially rythm. But lead and songwriting? Ritchie fking Blackmore. He was sweep picking... doing arpeggios... using modes... taking inspiration from classical music. The guy is a genius. And all of Deep Purple... Jon Lord + Blackmore? Jimmy who? Zeppelin are fun and some of the songs go beyond Rock n Roll party music but Deep Purple? Pure genius. Rainbow? Not even worth mentioning, that's so far above what the blues guys where doing but it was also later. But Purple was active mid 60s. And how is Zeppelin constantly mentioned and not Black Sabbath? This constant insistence they influenced Sabbath is garbage. So what if they're from the same town, they where barely aware of each other. Tony listened to The Shadows and Django Reinhardt, Ozzy was a Beatles nut. None of them listened to Zeppelin. And their music is actualy original. Purple too. Sabbath and Purple make Zeppelin look silly if we're talking hard rock. They made it. They spawned heavy metal. It soubds nothing like Zeppelin. Zepp is heavy rock n roll. Purple has the whole classical influence going with Lord and Blackmore and Sabbath is basically heavy jazz with some blues mixed in and distortion. It had literally nothing in common with rock music of the time. Not the chords, not the song structures, not the guitar sound, nothing. Take away the gain and Iommi is jazzing away. Bill Ward was a total funk/groove monster.
Purple = Classical + Blues, add gain.
Sabbath = Jazz + Blues, add gain. I'm NOT ANGRY. SHUT UP
The two most influential bands of all time are The Beatles and Led Zeppelin!! I’ll fight anyone who disagrees!!
and Led Zeppelin can trace its genealogy back to the Yardbirds, therefore proving Rick's argument.
The Who is also a very influential band
@@JosephWolfson exactly The Who can before zeppelin..Moon even named them.
What about Pink Floyd???
Angelo J Richetti
That’s such a lame argument.
You must have missed everything after LED Zeppelin II.
The Yardbirds is the philosophical answer b/c of who and what was derived from the group. but the straight forward no bullshit answer is and will always be Led Zeppelin. From the iconic sound of Page's guitar to Bonzo's drums, Plant's vocals and even Jonesy's bass playing and instrument versatility. It will never be matched ever again, period, full stop; every band that came after them and even many bands during their time tried to emulate them and no one has come close.
So you’re saying The New Yardbirds then
@@ShaunHensley That name was only used to satisfy the contractual obligations (a handful of shows) Page was stuck with after everyone else in the Yardbirds quit. There was no "Yardbirds" as a band anymore - only Jimmy Page. And as soon as he could change the name, he did.
Great discussion. I think Thin Lizzy was another great influential guitar band. A number of solid guitarists of which Gary Moore is my favorite.
But would the Yardbirds achieve success (especially in America) if it weren't for the Beatles? Would the British Invasion even had happened at all if it weren't for them?
... and would that have happened without George Martin?
@@HBSuccess - More than that, would it have happened without Brian Epstein?
The Beatles inspired more guitar players and sold more guitars than anybody. Bar none.
@@HBSuccess Brian Epstein was THE MAN without whom we'd be stuck with Bobby Vee, the Seekers and New Christie Minstrels.
@@calnonhardy4002 But they didn't transform guitar playing, the choice of instruments, the nature of sounds.... The Beatles were also fans of the Yardbirds, most notably of Clapton (heard on 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps') and Beck (who covered 'She's a Woman'). Indeed, it could be argued that the psychedelic direction of pop music was largely inspired by the Yardbirds' 'Shapes of Things', 'Over Under Sideways Down', 'Happenings 10 Years Time Ago' etc., with the Beatles inspired by that direction on 'Revolver'.
It's the Beatles. The Yardbirds may have never been signed unless the Beatles reinvigorated interest in guitar based rock music. Over half of the population today wouldnt know who the yardbirds are. How many people say they decided to start playing music when they first saw the Beatles? Its a whole lot more than Yardbirds or even the many acts that followed the Yardbirds. No real debate here.
Yup, The Beatos hands down ;-)
Cats of Sherman they stole everything from the underground scene or other artists, making rock music a commercial packaged product for borguese white people that wanted nothing of the revolution of the rock, expecially when it was about sex, drugs and politic. Thank god we had others, or we would still hear just silly catchy disney-like songs about strawberry fields.
The Beatles were reactionary, like KISS has always been critiqued as being. In the way Hard Luck Woman was only a response to Maggie May, Helter Skelter was a response to Sunshine of Your Love.
The group that the Beatles ripped the most from was The Kinks, as Dave Davies was always pioneering new production techniques which John Lennon would later utilize. But since at the time The Kinks were not so popular in the States, it wasn't obvious here. I just can't get behind the Beatles being as innovative as they get credit for.
Not that they were bad, they had talent. But I feel that Lennon's solo was still Kinksesque Beatles while George, Ringo and McCartney/Wings earned their own sound that was far better.
thevisionary2007 thanks, exactly my point.
I don’t really consider the Beatles rock and Roll. It’s all about the riffs. Those hypnotic riffs that shape the sound of rock. The Beatles are something completely different.
I'd say the one of most influential Rock guitar players is Jimmy Page (there are many) - he started as a session player, then the Yardbirds, which later led to Led Zeppelin.
I agree 100% phenomenal player, but what sets jimmy above his peers is his ability to compose song. Others created songs, jimmy created experiences.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be ....
What a stimulating discussion. Loved it.
~I don't know the whereabouts of the Beano guitar but I Do have a couple of yarns you might like.
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - I spent a night in the cells back in 83, cold and damp it was, British summer. Broken window where the rain came in.
Getting a cup of tea was a major chore. They just loved to bug hippie types.
I got to whistling Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, the reverb down there in the cells was just right for it.
Whistling and whistling, occasional stop to call for a cuppa. No luck
After about an hour, the Whole police station was whistling it too, in time, in unison.
Nobody was working. Eventually one of them brought me a cup of tea and told me to shut the f@@k up with that awful whistling ….
Unobtanium Fenders in the 60s.
I met this old drummer in Swansea. Bob Burnard, I was dating his daughter at the time, lovely girl.
He was in a band in London in the 60s. Getting drum lessons from Jim Marshall. Rudiments and all that.
Well, his band, I can't recall their name, started to do well for themselves and they were dead keen to get some Fenders for the band.
As you mentioned the British import ban made them very rare.
As they were going up in the world they had been earmarked for a share of the next consignment. Probably some dodgy smuggling deal engineered by music biz executives.
The day finally came and there were three “Sets” of Fenders . Each set comprised a Strat, a Tele and a Precision.
The reds went to the Shadows, the blues went to Johnny Kid and the Pirates , and Bob's band got the white set.
Bob's band landed a load of movie work. Paid very well. Very well for the time, but didn't lead to stardom like the reds and the blues.
Bob DID audition for the drummer's seat in little unknown rock trio but they though this style was too formal. Mitch Mitchell got that job...
Bob kept going to Jim Marshall for drum lessons though and they became good friends.
Bob related to me the tale of his helping Jim make speaker cabinets out the back of the shop where Jim was trying to see what speaker configuration could handle the crazy output of his new amplifier that he'd had built.
They tried all sorts of speaker arrangement and tested them to destruction.
Long soak testing. 4x10s, 2x15s, all sorts. Nothing couldn't take it. BUT the 4X12s survived. And so the Marshall 4x12 was born.
Just think. If Goodmans 15” speakers had been a little more robust, we'd all be playing rock guitar through 2x15 cabs … Spooky huh ?
Long after Bob had moved to Swansea, South Wales, to work as a toolmaker; Jim Marshall would send a crate of goodies down to Bob every now and then.
With Marshall's association with Goodmans speaker, later Celestion, they'd regularly be sending Jim examples of their latest Hi-Fi and stuff.
Jim would pass the surplus on to his friends and family. So Bob was never short of a nice sound system. Jim would send band gear down as well occasionally.
Bob gave me a couple of goodies from his “crate collection”. An old Sound City 50 PA head, all valve. I used it for a while then sold it to a student in the Performing Arts college I found myself working at.
The prize though was a lovely old Selmer Treble'n'Bass 50 Mk II head with F.ALL stencilled on it.
I still have that one, needs recapping now though.
I think I washed the stencil off IIRC.
Probably knocked a bit off the value off it doing that.
Yarns concluded ...
If the emphasis is on "guitar" (title is Guitar Band after all) you could make the argument that The Allman Brothers were up there too, just like Yardbirds. They spawned Duane, Dicky Betts and Derek Trucks .. and Warren Haynes is a damn good guitarist too but not quite like the other three.
Love the video. Thanks man.
Don't forget "Dangerous" Dan Toler and Jack Pearson, and I've heard Dickey's son (Duane) and he can play like his DaddyO !
Duane♡♡♡♡
...and then you could bring up the Eagles who not only changed the style of music we all listened to but dragged a sh** load of bands along with them.
Warren Haynes is better than Derrick since he can play a symphony of another mans music Jerry Garcia and go tour with Government Mule then work with John Schofield. I know your thinking of putting precious Derick up there but as a guitarist for 45 years you fell into the hero trap not what is actually delivered. Good day sweet pea.
Duane Allman was a better guitarist than Clapton could ever dream of being. And he was only 24 when he died.
Iommi wasn’t in The Yardbirds, yet Sabbath went on to inspire an entire Genre of music 🎶. That’s way bigger than inspiring a teenager to tryout the guitar like the Yardbirds did.
Earlier commenters said, and I agree, Hank Marvin and the Shadows Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. The influenced Iommi.
Led Zeppelin was The New Yardbirds and they changed their name.
Thanks to Keith Moon's "you'll go down like a lead balloon" comment.
@@zardeh63 Entwistle
Not true. Page "assembled" an entirely new band and had some Yardbirds gigs that needed to be fulfilled in Scandinavia, post-breakup, so the as-yet- named Led Zeppelin were billed as The New Yardbirds for that very brief contracterally obligated tour.
Page was offered the name "The new yardbirds" by the label but refused it.
Often overlooked Don Felder from the Eagles is one of my favorites, but my very biggest influence is Koss,.Fly Free Brother.
Ten Years After. Most influential for those who _experienced_ them, and that includes all the guitarists you mention.
I'm going to have to disagree with you guys on this one.
While I can appreciate that Page, Clapton, and Beck, were all in the Yardbirds, that BAND was mildly successful when compared to the influence of their individual careers.
I agree. I had one record but it wasn't that special. Just 3 great guitarists. I think maybe the Stones are the most influential rock band. Beatles most influential song writers.
Beck...the most overrated guitarist ever..good player. but not on page or claptons level.
@@metalupyourass9 I don't think you've been listening.
@@metalupyourass9 listen to Beck now. He's miles beyond either Page or Clapton.
@@wulfenii64 Well he's not more influential, I bet most people can't even name more than a few songs
Sorry, no other band can beat this:
THE BEATLES on Ed Sullivan show, february 9th, 1964. Watched by 73 million people, and spawning hundreds of bands.
Zeppelin spawned thousands of bands and didn't need the Ed Sullivan Show to promote them...their music did that for them
@@danielcarmichael8961 the skiffle boom in the UK motivated The Beatles and Jimmy Page to learn guitar. But, in the USA, first the folk boom and then the Beatles made American kids learn guitar.
@@stevehoran5595 Scotty Moore's playing on Baby Let's Play House inspired Jimmy to play guitar, he just happened to play in a skiffle band for a few months when he learnt his first few chords. I admit, the Beatles were a huge influence for guitarists in the 60's, but looking back over the past 50 years, Jimmy's work with Zeppelin has been more influential for guitarists, and continues to do so as the years go by. Even people that don't play guitar, more people have 'air guitared' to Jimmy than to George or John.
i would say thousands of bands--
thousands of bands not hundreds. why is this even a discussion?
Roy Buchanan nobody ever gives this incredibly talented guitarist enough credit most people forget him because he didn't play stadiums but as far as insane...Roy Buchanan was so far ahead of his time
nice version of Green Onions he does.
@@stevemossholder definitely he was so silky, maybe 15-20 yrs ahead of his time..never used effect pedals but was always creating sounds with his instrument, fingers, and imagination that was what im blown away by..was he talented enough to be the guitar God in any headlining band of the time? For certain he was and a lot to spare, I really believe his mental condition is why he never became a Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Brian May, Beck, Richards, etc., etc. For whatever reason he was happy to play clubs than realize guitar God status and that is unfortunate that his music was not enjoyed on a world stage but more of a local stage... but wow he even still seems to never be recognized by the critics and peers of Roy like he is not even in the thought of being in the same conversation when they discuss greats and still so many people have no idea who he is
@@Jsgro69 wasn’t he one of the (or THE) go to guitarist for Stax Volt?
@@stevemossholder that wouldn't surprise me and you might know better than me but now that you say I think I do have some memory of hearing that..I havnt even listened to Roy probably in 4 yrs nor read anything about his career..these posts are seriously giving me a Roy CRAVING though for sure..Yea he could be a studio guitarist and for some that is an incredible achievement but Roy was maybe just so far ahead of his time that the whole structure of a band wouldn't fit Roy's life style, mainly I think because his mental condition was getting worse and worse, which I think dam what a crime to not have been able to be 1stly recognized as truly one of the greatest guitarists we have seen..like I said his name would of been tossed around amongst all the greats but he is instead only once in while discussed from a particular date of importance of his..ex.. his birthday, day he died, or that kind of thing..Hey was he as important as Jimmy Hendrix or Page, or BB King? Hell NO but I do wonder may he have been if he didn't suffer from a mental illness..He was insane and thats having been mentally ill just imagine how incredible he would of been healthy..PS I apologize for lengthy posts..😞
@@Jsgro69 I guess we all could Wiki this, but speculating here is a better memory exercise, and more fun. I think he was in Booker T's band for a good period of time.
for me influential band was The Kinks. Fore runners to heavy metal riffing and punk. Dave Davies is a beast.
I would desperately love a video all about breaking down Jeff Beck's style, I will personally watch that video 100 times if you make it
Led Zeppelin owned the 70"s every band out there were chasing Zeppelin, I think they should win this contest easily. God Bless my dear friend John Henry Bonham .
RIGHT ON BABY😘
I love Zeppelin, but Pink Floyd wasn’t chasing anyone
@@Drogers8675 You are so right. It took me more than 2 decades till Floyd took the top spot for me. I saw them at the Cleveland Stadium in 1977 it was the best
show I have ever been to. Pink Floyd was in a class of there own. Take Care Brother
Simply not true by a mile!
@John Downs Hey John, love the reply I also think the Allman Brothers were so much fun. Those days should have never ended. So many influences in such a short time. i am just grateful that I was able to see so many of the greats. Take Care Brother
My first fave band the Yardbirds, and also John Mayall had loads of great guitarists through his band, but the most influential rock band has to be Zep for me. Highly innovative, stuck to albums only, wrote/created the rockest riffs n beats and oh that voice of whom ever that was? Jimmy Page played on loads of fab session tracks too.
Led Zeppelin was the New Yardbirds...and Page was a Yardbird, so that takes us back to...the Yardbirds.
Baloney (Bologna if you prefer). It's the Beatles by any and every metric. No fanboy here, just stating an observable fact.
I think they just wanted to be controversial... sometimes it works
@@DavidRFIT Yep, controversy is a big _seller_ these days.
Lucky to have grown up in London during the embryonic period of bands like Yardbirds, Faces, Floyd, often in small locations - pubs (bars) - and it was fascinating to see other band members sitting and watching a show and them all getting together after to share drinks, drugs and song ideas.
I'm going to disagree right off the bat and go with the Shadows. Hank Marvin, at the time, influenced EVERYONE in the UK and inspired everyone there to get a Strat. I think he's easily overlooked here in the states.
Hank used a Strat and wore glasses because Buddy Holly did.
Mark Knopfler cites Marvin as a great influence. I distinctly remember a quote by Knopfler: "I still wish I could get a guitar to sound like Hank Marvin." High praise.
Tony Iommi, Brian May, David Gilmour - all of them learned Hank Marvin songs. If I recall correctly, there is a clip from the 80s where they are in the same studio recording 'Smoke on the Water', possibly for a charity, and they discuss this.
Quite so. Let's not also forget the influence of Hank Marvin on the late, and much lamented, Peter Green.
In that case, why not John Mayall's Blues Breakers outright? Clapton, Mick Green (Fleetwood Mac) Mick Taylor (the Stones mk.II) AND Walter Trout. Mayall, the "Grandfather" of the London Blues scene, was the one with the record collection Clapton was listening to! Atlantic records signed Jimmy Pages's new project (Led Zeppelin) as a replacement for Cream, their original Brit blues-rock band.
Speaking of Les Pauls trivia: Clapton bought his guitar from Andy Summers (he's not that young) who had already realized he wasn't destined to be a Blues player.
Ooops - Peter Green! Mick Green was the guitar player for The Pirates, a R&B trio from the same era as all the above influential.
If it were not for the Beatles, none of the English bands would not have had the golden gates of the USA open for them.
somebody else would break to america
tthe kinks should have
@@johnholmes912 The kinks didn't have a shot. The Beatles were carefully created and designed to be allowed into everyone's living room, remember how conservative times were still at their inception, they were sold to us as the guys you would let your sister date and such the good boy next door and their songs were catchy non confrontational(That role was for The Stones) about falling for a girl, holding hands, fluffy and safe..so The kinks didn't have the type of machine behind them like The Beatles..plus most important..TIMING, the time was so ripe for rock and roll..
It would have taken longer that's all.But the Beatles were the first.
@@mjjoseph8259 thats true nothing was gonna slow down the steam locomotive known as ROCK and ROLL..the Beatles were the perfect foot in the door..the kids were all screaming for music that wasn't their parents...Just prior to the Beatles we had Elvis priming the youth in America and their thirst for rock and roll..
Cream. The live solo on Crossroads/Wheels of Fire is a piece of anthology that must have haunted every rock guitar player...!
Jimi Hendrix! He was the whole package. Song writing, playing, improvising, sonic innovator, performer, transcendent musician. The greatest loss to Rock music and beyond. RIP James Marshall(coolest middle name ever too) Hendrix
Thanks Rick Keith and Dave
Jimi was a guitarist, not a guitar band.
@@56doowopdave not true, Hendrix definitely defined "guitar band", he did NOT have a horn section, or a string section or a DJ on two turntables, EVERY Hendrix song 100% is GUITAR driven, thus all his bands were guitar bands
Hendrix was the greatest guitarist.
Mike Anderson how is that relevant lol. We dont caee whos the best. And Hendrix’s “band” is not the most influential band. But he “himself” is the most influential guitarist. But the band, nope
just couldn't sing that well
I'd say the Rolling Stones. You guys are obsessed with the ultimate one guitar bands. And I get it. We all imagine ourselves as Page with Zep, Hendrix, or Clapton with Cream. Hell, I've been playing in a three piece band in Portland-Vancouver for 15 years, I really do get it. But the "guitar bands" that started it were the Stones and Beatles. And to this day most cover bands are 2 guitar bands. And, when you are just starting out, it's comforting to have the other guy playing rhythm while you solo, and vice-versa. The Byrds, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, the Clash, Bob Marley, CSN&Y, the Eagles, the MC5, Kiss... these are the great guitar bands. Not the greatest solo guitarists in 3 or four (singer) bands. But the greatest guitar bands.
So, it's clearly, once again Stones vs. Beatles... and as always the Stones rule.
Keith & Brian? Keith & Mick Taylor? Keith & Woody? Guitar band!! All of them.
SRV and Hendrix are amazing otherworldly guitar soloists. But not guitar BANDS. Does anyone even talk about "The Experience" or "Double Trouble"? No!
Buckethead plays to pre-recorded rhythm tracks live. No one cares! It's guitar wankery at its finest.
Stones and Beatles were "guitar bands" and that's what we all believed in.
.Joe Harvard, RIP. (And if you don't know, find out and do a show on him.)
Peace out!
I'd just like to add these names to your Yardbirds discussion: Keith Relf, vocals and harmonica, Chris Dreja, rhythm guitar, and Paul Samwell-Smith, bass. They were the core of the Yardbirds through all the guitarist changes.
Nobody even comes close the Beatles they influenced everybody but yeah Mr jimmy page every damn person who has even picked up a guitar has been influenced by him
More people picked up the guitar because of The Beatles then anybody else.
People who picked up guitars in the 70s yes, but later on its because of bands like metallica, pantera, and now periphery etc. The only old one that is truly timeless is hendrix.
I never cared a bit for Jimmy Page, I've played for many many years
The Big Three were amazing in the Yardbirds and beyond. But, the Beatles were the Big Bang for guitar bands that were self-contained; that is that wrote and played their own music. They were the prototype. Add to that the amazing sustained quality of their output throughout their career, and it's the Beatles by three lengths.
VAN HALEN for aspiring virtuoso guitar players searching dive bombs, speed of light and the one and only fun on stage act no doubt
My uncle got a mention, wow
Dean. I'm local to Robin. I know people who know him and used to work for the guy who built his amps but one day I was in a record shop looking at a Trower album and this young lady came up to me and said "that's my Dad!"
Three of us at work were just talking about Robin Trower last week. If three people can have a conversation about someone who's heyday was 40 years ago then what he put out must have been memorable.
I saw him once in 2010 or 2011 and it solidified my love for his playing
I have attended several of his shows ... all in smaller venues and I have always loved his music. He is in my top five all time favorites. What thick rich tone he puts out... love Robin Trower.
@@goodun2974 You never know where you might run into a fellow music aficionado but it doesn't surprise me that hordes of Venetian tourists were unfamiliar with RT's classic album lol.
Page was always my favorite but then l heard Jeff Beck's interpretation of Nadia and Nessun Dorma and now Beck is definitely number one.
With respect, I think you’re getting into the “ Who’s the greatest guitar player” argument again. The question was about influence not virtuosity and I think that has to be translated into numbers. The band who influenced the largest number of people to pick up a guitar and start to play I would think would have to be the Beatles. I was 14 when they released “ Love me do” and had liked many preceding artists such as Buddy Holly, The Shadows, The Tornados, but it took the Beatles to make me get a guitar and struggle my way into learning the first few chords. I actually soon transferred my allegiance to The Rolling Stones and through them to a more blues based appreciation of guitar playing. Much later I discovered a player who seems to get very little mention or appreciation on these guitar forums, Ry Cooder. I absolutely love his eclecticism, his emotional tone and his ability to “ play the music” rather than the guitar.
Ry Cooder - great! But no-one ever mentions him...........
malcolm herbert Cooder is a standout, and like Gabriel and Paul Simon, invested in a panoply of styles and traditions of music - Ry’s a musicologist
Led Zeppelin were originally called the New Yardbirds.
You're right. They did a small tour in Scandinavia.
Page got a cease and desist to stop using the yardbirds moniker
Yeah, I remember that and the Keith Moon anecdote that goes with it... I was actually thinking Led Zeppelin as an answer to the title of this video before watching it. But mentioning THE band that was the stepping stone for Cream, The Jeff Beck Group AND Led Zeppelin makes much more sense.
@@notalcno9 ??? What do mean. When the yardbirds broke up JPP, retained all rights to the yardbirds. The only reason that The MLZ toured as the " new yardbirds" is because the band had committed to those dates PRIOR to the break up. So page n zeppelin fulfilled those shows as the new yardbirds. It was never they real name....
I was so pleased that my school friend convinced a bunch of us to get tickets to see Jeff Beck at Memorial Drive, Adelaide in 1977. What an artist.
Elvis with Scotty Moore on Guitar influenced all these guys! And Chet Atkins was the bomb
Elvis stole his music. That is all.
Chet was straight up amazing! And he was tapping before EVH was born! Lol
@@grimrod1 really....cause I can't remember anybody doing like him before he did it....so ahead and pull out Little Richard, Chuck Berry, etc etc....none of them combined it all like Elvis.
Including Elvis in this conversation is like including Sinatra. The subject is Guitar Bands, not people who performed songs written by other people and performing with a backup band.
Jaffre - Don’t forget James Burton.
Nope.......pure opinion Rick.. The Beatles hands down.
@WORST CHANNEL EVERIf anyone was overrated then Hoola-hoola-Pelvis is the first on that list. Great voice, sure, but still overrated. King of Commercialism is the correct title.
@WORST CHANNEL EVER hey you are aware of the little fact that Elvis never wrote a single solitary song but was given co-writing credit because the label demanded of the actual songwriters to give co-credit to Elvis before he would perform their song?
@WORST CHANNEL EVER not hugging the Beatle's nuts...just saying in my opinion Elvis is so overrated that if it were not for the controversial hip shaking, igniting lust from the tweens and middle age housewives, he would not have been as commercially successful. Elvis's music was mediocre at best and he was a subpar actor.
Hey Rick, have you done a 'what makes this song so great' episode about Listen to the Music by the Doobie Brothers? I have been listening to that song lately and it just rocks! The bass, drums and guitar really create a happy mood.
It's RUSH, because, by the end of their songs, they were influencing themselves. ;)
It's Cream, because by the end of their songs they were fighting each other
“If you choose not to decide YOU STILL HAVE MADE A CHOICE !!” Hell yeah! Rush was a force of nature - I think the best live shows I’ve ever seen. But the fab4 was still the most influential LOL.
Amazing how many comments missed or ignore the “Guitar” in the title.
It was originally just "Rock Band"
VoyagerAbove I missed it at first and that’s probably why. Thanks.
Beatles for rock. Yardbirds for guitar players. There’s a difference. The Beatles influenced genres and bands outside of rock.
the beatles were a pop band who played loads of styles including a bit of rock, but they werent really a true rock band or all that good at rock, certainly not even close to the best at it. and nearly all clapton, page, and beck's legendary guitar playing was not done in the yardbirds. surely the beatles are the most influencial, after that the stones hendrix and zep i guess.
So the Yardbirds spawned a lot of bands. The Beatles are the most INFLUENTIAL band. No question. Not even close.
My thoughts exactly.
@@benbleed GUITAR band, not band as a whole.
@@Fuq2 The Beatles were a guitar band. Their songs, for the most part, are based on great guitar parts and they motivated teens to learn to play guitar.
The Yardbirds' guitarists were better players but not as influential.
Great conversation! The early reference to Hendrix and how other guitar players at the time were in awe of him reminded me of a comment Jimi supposedly made about Terry Kath of Chicago. I read somewhere that he heard Chicago in a club and remarked that Kath was better than him. Could you imagine if both Hendrix and Kath had lived on into the '80s and '90s, or even past 2000?
We need to define what "most influential" actually means. If we are boiling it down to what band has had more general influence on rock music, they got it right when they started with Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience.) But, then their conversation wandered off and settled on the Yardbirds. That makes no sense. The Jimi Hendrix Experience is, easily, the most influential band in history. Every rock guitarist, from Jimi's contemporaries to all that came after him, were influenced, directly or indirectly, by Hendrix's work. And when we consider how short was Jimi's career, and how long his brief catalog of work has endured, there is simply no comparison. However, if we are talking about what band directly spawned the most other great bands, it would have to be the Yardbirds for the Zeppelin and Cream connections alone.
All the great players have a vocal quality,
Clapton, Beck, Page, Hendrix and Van Halen,
Also Eric Johnson, who when He plays it sounds like an Orchestra, but all are great
To me, the master of making the guitar sing is Brian May.
Prince seemed to have been born with a guitar as an extra limb such was his natural comfort, fluidity and sheer ease with the instrument.
I couldn't even name one song by the Yardbirds, But I own almost everything by the Beatles, Led Zep, Stones, Clapton (career).
It's not whether they directly influenced you, it's whether they directly influenced the people who directly influenced you. And judging by your list, they did.
@@bubbabubberson2702 well then we might as well go back to Handel or Mozart. Or those caveman bashing a rock with a stick
Not if we're taking about rock bands. But I admit I LOLed at the caveman line because of Bonham's "caveman fills" :D
@@oisin_smith (FWIW, I'd say most influential rock band was either The Beatles or The Crickets. I was only disagreeing with your logic, not your actual choices. Your choices are solid IMO.)
Yeah true, fair point
@@bubbabubberson2702
I would pick The Byrds. They triggered jangle pop (including much of the 80s alt scene), Eight Miles High kicked off psychedelia, and Sweetheart of the Radio triggered country rock. That's a huge range of influence.
The Yardbirds were one kick-ass band! Saw them live a couple times mid-late '60s and even though I was a drummer at the time, I was blown away by Jeff Beck...
Used to make my roommates crazy in college in the 80s. I listened to Wired and Blow by Blow nonstop.
Stellar albums! I listen to Jeff Beck all the time. I still love those two albums and his last 4 albums are great, too. Nobody plays like Beck.
Rick, these little talks you guys keep having, are the most interesting thing on RUclips right now. Maybe just because you always talk about the things that interest me, but I keep finding myself sitting, and listening for hours. Keep it up. If I'm not playing my guitar, I'm listening to people talk about it. Go figure.... And, I like your friends. I'm 67, and have played guitar since I was 11. I was taking lessons from a teacher who played in country bands, and was teaching us country. Nothing wrong with country, and I now listen to Country about 50% of the time and rock 50%. But one day an older kid came into class early, and started playing Gloria. It blew my mind, and I quit lessons and started a band. One of the best moves of my life. I was immediately influenced by Steppenwolf. But most of the music in those days was the Kinks, The Stones, The Doors. It was the greatest time to be a 13 year old boy ever. The guitar is one the greatest inventions of all time. Keep on spreading the word.
10 minutes through and haven't heard yet about the best of them all, peter green and my heart's aching.
Green was heavily influenced by Clapton, though more from his Mayall times.
He got one brief mention.
@@rogerstone3068 ,. 👍🤎⛅
he's the guy that influenced me the most, the reason I bought a guitar. He was a great writer , guitarist and singer , he was the complete musician, seems to me BB King said he was the best white blues guitarist he ever heard.
How can three grown men be giggling like school girls for 40 minutes without alcohol being involved? Oh , yeah! The are talking about great music! Great vid!
I was thinking the same, they sound the same as me and my friend when talking music and we're 18, music has no age we're all giggling as schoolgirls
This IS a conversation had by teens in 1976.
We were sitting in the control room laughing away then Rick said, “ We need to turn the camera on and keep going.” Buzzkill (we’ll clearly not.)
The Beatles were the best, all around rock band of all time. Alot of people just can't admit that fact. The amount of quality, and varied music they came up with in such a short amount of time is incredible. Some of their songs being performed by many jazz artists and vocalists and became standards in The Real Book. How many rock bands can claim that?
No one is denying that dude…. There are nuances in life too. Good grief. Its possible for The Beatles to be the best most influential band while also saying Led Zeppelin is the greatest most influential guitar heavy band.
@@queenhenryviii tell him haha XD
The beatles have been given enough credit at this stage, we all know they were amazing, now lets talk about the millions of other bands
Tylur Mackinnon utter nonsense, The Beatles were in every aspect far more influential than the Rolling Stones or the Ramones and not least as a GUITAR band. What they presented on f ex Revolver of guitar riffs, openings, intertwined lines, solos, sound and tight complexity were completely unheard of and inspired EVERYONE, set the standard and is still to this day unsurpassed !
by the way; there are no Beatles songs included in the real realbook
absolutely agree, the yardbirds were out of this world, such a brutal band for that time
Hey Rick! When you guys were talking about the Yardbirds in your video, it made me think of this movie that came out in 1967 (I believe) called Blow Up. It’s about a London art student that ironically takes a picture of a murder. Not a very good movie, but the best part is where he takes a date to a night club, where the Yardbirds are playing! Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck are on stage, Beck’s guitar cord connection screws up, he smashes his guitar on stage and kicks the detached neck out in the audience! Check it out sometime. 🎸
It came out in 1966
Seeing Dave wearing the Pretenders tee... I would love to hear you guys talk about James Honeyman-Scott, one of the brightest candles to burn in our world. His playing and choice of guitars were sublime.
I saw the Pretender's at the Lillith Fair, and they came to ROCK!
James honeyman scott, keith Levine, john McGeoch....10 years on from that first wave...just as crucial..at least to me
Not the Beatles? Seriously?
Just a POP band...
Only from a distance what other band had amps named after them? Vox Super Beatle , Gretch guitar company could not keep up with demand after Beatles! Who had heard of Rickenacker guitars, until the Beatles Who made the Vox ac 30 a worldwide classic amp still loved to this day, Beatles music is full of great guitar, influence still being felt today!
We are talking about rock music, not pop music
@@of6594 Some rock music is pop.
Thorne not queen lmao
I appreciate your arguments but it is difficult for most people to even come up with a Yardbird's song or Derek and The Dominoes. Albeit they are awesome and have major influence. I still would have to go with the Beatles to this day. They explored all genres within pop and rock. You can see the huge variety of styles they were able to master. You can hear to this day their influence in all music to this day. Their songs are timeless and they wrote an anthology that is the manual of rock and pop. I do appreciate your reasoning. I would dare say if you ask most bands coming up through the rock era who their inspiration for getting into music was, many more are going to go with The Beatles. Paul McCartney continued and continues to put out great stuff. I have to ask: "Is it just too obvious to say they are it and it just "feels" better to go with something other than the Beatles?" I really love your channel and this is just my opinion. If you were rephrasing your question to: "Who are the most influential guitar players to other "guitar players?" Yeah, you are going to go with those guys over George Harrison.
Ok,I understand saying you don't know a yardbirds song off the top of your head but Derek and the dominoes?uh,off the top of my head?Layla maybe?
@@michaeljorfi3552 Well yes, I know that because I am also into music and write music but I am saying the average person who represents more than people who are really into music. Many people if they had their multiple choice for the song Layla...A) Eric Clapton or B) Derek and the Dominoes are going to go with A. Just saying.
Clapton extended his influence through his Crossroads concerts where many top guitarists joined him. Imagine Clapton, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Jimmy Vaughn, Robert Cray, Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Winter - all together on the same stage at the same time. He also plays with many other musicians, and in his concerts, he stands back and let the guest performer take the spotlight.
Cream was a jazz trio... but nobody told Eric.
He played a jazz guitar.
musically, i get it
Ginger Baker insisted that Cream was a jazz band. He's clearly wrong but I wouldn't tell him that. LOL!
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 Ginger Baker is also completely out of his mind lol
That’s a great point!
It's totally the Beatles, 10X more than the runner up
Yeah. Don't know what these guys are talking about. Don't get me wrong, 3 influential guitarists with massive innovation, but that does not equal the blending of multiple styles, evolution of recording , changing of musical zeitgeist twice, and defining several musical genres the way the Beatles did. There has never been another band who was both the most popular and the best at what they did at the same time. These guys are trying to convince themselves
Can't really call The Beatles a 'guitar' band and that's what the discussion is about
Since the question is most influential, it's definitely the Beatles. Sure, Clapton, Beck, and Page are better guitarists than George, John, and Paul but the Beatles motivated people people to learn guitar more than any other band.
And the wealth of great guitar parts in Beatles songs is mind-boggling. Great parts in service to the songs. Whether that means chord selection or interesting arrangements like Paul's part for Blackbird, all the arpeggio parts over Abbey Road, George's use of rockabilly and rock n roll influences in their earlier tunes.
Beck's impressive as Hell but I don't associate him with great songs. And there's a novelty aspect to the way he plays guitar, he's like the Zamfir of the electric guitar. Clapton and Page were the more influential of the Yardbirds' three. Clapton most of all because he made blues lead guitar the standard vocabulary through the rest of the 60s and 70s.
@@stevehoran5595 The Beatles are definitely a song/arrangement based band than a guitar band. Every instrument they use are almost equally utilized that I don't even notice the guitar work. Many of their songs don't even have any audible guitar parts in them.
@@BeatlesCentricUniverse When speaking of the Beatles, I think of the mellotron, sitar, Macca's walking bass lines, vocal melodies and George Martin's arrangement. The guitar usually just plays chords in the background. Even the song with the word "guitar" on it have the rhythm guitar blended with a piano.
Absolutely great content. Love the positive jocular vibe. I totally dug it and miss this type of tune talk like I used to do CONSTANTLY with my dope head rock friends as a Detroit rocker, banging my head on the stage at Cobo.