It's All A Matter Of Opinion

Q.� Who are the fifty greatest bands of all time < xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

A.� A recipe for an argument where one or more music fans are gathered together!

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The Ramones

Actually, a list of ‘The 50 Greatest Bands Of All Time have just been listed by influential music magazine Spin, and according to the accompanying press release, the bands had to have “a roof-raising, history-changing sound, presence, or hairstyle”. OK, let’s run the list, then have a sit down, count to one hundred, and we’ll continue.

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1.�������� THE BEATLES

2.�������� THE RAMONES

3.�������� LED ZEPPELIN

4.�������� BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS

5.��������� NIRVANA

6.��������� PARLIAMENT / FUNKADELIC

7.�������� THE CLASH

8.��������� PUBLIC ENEMY

9.�������� THE ROLLING STONES

10.������ THE BEASTIE BOYS

11.������ THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

12.������ SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE

13.������ U2

14.������ RUN DMC

15.������ RADIOHEAD

16.������ THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

17.������ SONIC YOUTH

18.������ AC / DC

19.����� THE STOOGES

20.������ METALLICA

21.����� THE SMITHS

22.����� THE PATTI SMITH GROUP

23.����� N.W.A.

24.������ KRAFTWERK

25.����� THE SEX PISTOLS

26.������ PEARL JAM

27.������ THE GRATEFUL DEAD

28.������ R.E.M.

29.������ BLACK SABBATH

30.�������PAVEMENT

31.������� FUGAZI

32.������ KISS

33.������ THE PRETENDERS

34.������ RAGE AHAINST THE MACHINE

35.������ FELA KUTI & AFRIKA 70 / EGYPT 80

36.������ DAVID BOWIE AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS

37.������ BLONDIE

38.������ BAD BRAINS

39.������ THE WHO

40.�������GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE

41,������ NEW ORDER

42.������ HUSKER DU

43.������ GUNS 'N' ROSES

44.������ OUTKAST

45.������ THE BEACH BOYS

46.���� � MASSIVE ATTACK

47.������ LYNYRD SKYNYRD

48.������ KORN

49.������ PINK FLOYD

50������ RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

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Q.� What does the list say

A.� Several things. Firstly, it seems to say that the Spin writers are probably men of a certain age, and however objective their press release claims, it doesn't hold water in some cases.

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Q.� Such as

A.� OK, let's try and leave out personal favourites on the basis that they are favourites, so we'll draw a veil over the absence of Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen And the E Street Band, The White Stripes, Nine Inch Nails, and so on for some time, and have an honest and objective look at who is on the list, and where they come.

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Q.� Why so few women

A.� Why indeed�- fifty bands, just three with female personnel.

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Q.� Why so many white artists

A.� Fair comment, less than ten per cent are artists of colour, and there are no Asian artists at all.

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Q.� How come Pink Floyd are next to last

A.� Now we really get down to it don't we. Using Spin's criteria, Floyd may fall down on the dynamic hairstyle front, but so do The Beastie Boys who come in at Number 10, second in a seriously under-represented genre, rap.

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Kraftwerk can be fairly assessed as groundbreaking in a musical context, but to say that they are more relevant in that context than The Sex Pistols, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, or indeed Pink Floyd, all of who are placed below them, is really not addressing the criteria correctly. Similarly, can The Ramones really be said to be more influential, 'roof-raising', or possessed of a 'history-changing sound' than The Velvet Underground, Massive Attack, or The Rolling Stones

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Q.� Will this provoke some reaction

A.� Hopefully so. Try to resist the ''- - - - -' are the greatest band in the world!' argument, and add or subtract from the list using the Spin criteria, including a 'special emotion attachment in their fans', so let's hear what you think.

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Do you have an opinion on the Fifty Greatest Bands Of All Time

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�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Andy Hughes.