by Patrick Sills

Created on: December 09, 2009

If someone asked you which rock band was the best in the world, how would you reply to such a question? Does this include bands that are no longer together or just those who still make music? If we are allowed to include the former, the Beatles would get the nod; no questions asked. No other group has had as profound an impact on society or a rapid evolvement in the rock genre as these four guys from Liverpool. Unfortunately, this band has been out of the fold for some 40 years. Moreover, thanks to a deranged assassin and a horrible disease that takes far too many people from us prematurely, John and George are gone. Even if they were still among us, there is no guarantee that the Beatles would have ever played together again, anyway. Shortly before his death in a Playboy interview, John Lennon was adamantly opposed to a Beatles’ reunion of any sort. As for whether or not he would have ever had a change of heart? This will remain a mystery for eternity.

Regarding bands that still produce music and perform on a regular basis, this likewise presents itself as a tough question to answer. Rock music has evolved into several categories and subcategories. For the most part, one would have to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. It would thus be unfair to place a band such as Metallica or Godsmack into competition with someone such as the Allman Brothers or Weezer. This is in fact why the Beatles stand far apart from virtually every other rock band that has existed; for they crossed every boundary imaginable for their time. From love ballads backed by string ensembles to ragtime-inspired melodies to heavy blues and raw, hard-driven rock and roll, this band covered every avenue.

The only existing rock band that remotely approaches more or less the same versatility is the Rolling Stones. The core members; Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Charlie Watts have played together for nearly fifty years! How many other rock bands can you think of that can make this claim? It is of little wonder that they have and continue to explore many, many different styles of music. The Stones are just as much masters of the blues genre as B.B. King. They play straight-ahead rock and roll as expertly as Chuck Berry or Little Richard. On the same record, one can be treated with a pop ballad, reggae, or hard rock. Within the vast repertoire of the Rolling Stones’ musical library, one can even find country music! Let’s not forget the disco-inspired “Miss

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