Ten WEAK Links in GREAT bands

[@craigbroadfoot1851]

A solid supporting musician who only plays what is necessary to serve the song is a huge asset rather than a weak link.

[@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747]

Someone has to keep the beat.

[@craigbroadfoot1851]

@@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747 True but a lot of these musicians like Ringo / Nick Mason also had a style and feel that was very creative.

[@michaelhutchings8599]

​@@craigbroadfoot1851 Very true. Anyone calling them a weak link better be more talented than the so-called weak links.

[@naturalrestingface1884]

Well said.

[@VictorMaxol]

Bingo. Ringo.

[@marpsr]

Ringo being on this list is particularly outrageous to me.

[@classicalbum]

I agree

[@PeterMayer]

Ridiculous

[@SpenCoTroic]

Lennon on guitar? Harrison's leads? We can argue. Ringo's drumming is iconic

[@drumhaver223]

Lennon and Harrison were obviously not weak links though.@@SpenCoTroic

[@dalegallacher7074]

Ringo was probably top 3 greatest drummers in the world at the time….fact is he’s still mentioned after 60 years stupid list

[@alankent]

Ringo was the perfect drummer for the Beatles. AND Ringo had style

[@sludge8506]

And he was the second best drummer in the Beatles.

[@allanalogmusicat78rpm]

@@sludge8506 Nope.

[@HankHopeless]

Funny enuff but if ANY other drummer had played " just the basics " on a Beatles record, it would have sounded like shite. Ringo knows WHAT to play, and WHEN. He's always right there in the groove@@HeelSection3825 . Playing circles around Ringo doesn't make any sense. It's like saying Steve Vai could play circles around André Segovia

[@BoynamedMagnus183]

Not True

[@BoynamedMagnus183]

@@allanalogmusicat78rpmhe was though

[@Stu-b3o]

Insane that Ozzy and Roth were on this list. They were both perfect leads for the bands they were involved in.

[@IusedtohaveausernameIliked]

Roth was a great salesman, but one can hardly call him a musician. We know where the music came from in that band. It depends on if you're more interested in music or sales.

[@rothed16]

​@@IusedtohaveausernameIliked lol no. Although I agree Roth is not the best singer a lot of You tube vocal coaches give him props. VH would not be the VH it became had Roth not been in there. They really had no Weak link

[@IusedtohaveausernameIliked]

@@rothed16 Roth had no skill on any instrument, including singing, but he made up for that with a hell of a lot of swagger, jumps, and kicks. It depends on what you want out of your entertainment. There's no accounting for taste. EVH was worth listening to though.

[@arloroan3168]

Roth co wrote all those songs. The melodies were his, the lyrics were his and he sang his balls off on those first 6 records. Roth was a mighty force. No one has come close to touching those first six Van Halen albums and every band in the 80's tried.

[@IusedtohaveausernameIliked]

@@arloroan3168 If that were true he would have had a great solo career writing original songs after VH. Not.

[@tbone2471]

Nick Mason is the only member of Pink Floyd to have played on all their albums, and is the longest serving member of the band.

[@classicalbum]

I agree, it is horse shit to call him a weal link

[@cl5619]

He actually plays in a Pink Floyd tribute band, which is a pretty interesting way for a legacy band member to honestly represent themselves in their late career years.

[@VI-rt7sh]

Nick Mason on that Pompeii film was a beast. Echoes is one of my favourites, and Nick Mason and Roger Waters in that middle groove are sublime.

[@Bluepilled-c5t]

Absolutely. I always loved that bit of music. The groove is astonishingly right.

[@ffjsb]

THIS!!!!

[@AbstractM0use]

And when he played A Saucerful of Secrets on that show.

[@markbarrett4440]

His coolest fill is One Of These Days where his stick goes flying and he doesn't drop a beat whilst grabbing another stick and doing a bit of showmanship. Class 👌

[@stylesb959]

Nick mason was tearing up one of these days live in pompeii

[@keithdf2001]

How did Yoko Ono not make the list?

[@michaelwilson2340]

Agree. She even made Chuck Berry wince with her "singing".

[@shaynewest8757]

What great band was she in?

[@michaelwilson2340]

@@shaynewest8757 She was an "official member" of the Beatles. As per John.

[@dexterjankaren]

You just don't understand her genius.

[@MisAnnThorpe]

@@dexterjankaren She certainly has a genius for making gullible people believe in her talent.

[@MikeCastillo-z7k]

I just read her list. Neal Schon from Journey was their weakest link? Jim Morrison from the Doors? Paul Simonon from The Clash? OMG. She must be sniffing glue.

[@МаксРогозин-е1ю]

Perry was their weakest link. Dreadful sappy voice.

[@billparker7410]

@@МаксРогозин-е1ю I have to kind of agree and disagree with that.. Band was at it's finest when they had the vocals of both Gregg Rollie and Steve Perry,

[@mperezmcfinn2511]

None of those bands make it without those three.

[@clairehelmsley6608]

What??! Jim Morrison the weak link? Next she'll be saying Ian Anderson was the weak link in Jethro Tull!

[@mperezmcfinn2511]

@clairehelmsley6608 Those two albums that the Doors recorded without Jim were so successful that she's never even heard of them. But what do I know? She's the professional. Perhaps she could write a follow-up article explaining why "Strange Days" is inferior to "Other Voices."

[@tod3msn]

Denny Laine was a pivotal member of Wings. Paul’s burst of solo creativity success was greatly aided by Denny Laine.

[@jreskin]

Mike Love. He wasn't so much a weak link as a guy with a sledgehammer trying, successfully, to smash the chain to bits.

[@revacohen]

He was also a lousy person. He liked to sue Brian Wilson, and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he badmouthed other artists.

[@peteanderson4395]

Mike Love was the most important member of the Beach Boys..... according to Mike Love!!

[@polydactylstrangle]

Mike love Loves Mike Love ..... I always remember that really old beach boys concert, grainy, black and white... and for some reason Mike kept trying to distract Dennis, RIP, whilst he was singing his solos etc, moving his mic away from him and up and down, covering his eyes, Dennis of course soldiered on and was graceful as ever.

[@ACDZ123]

Well they tried to rip Mike love off ,so yeah ...funny, mike was the only one trying to keep it all together, while the wilsons were drugging and boozing and tripping hard

[@sciwiz57]

The Beatles Had NO weak link- that’s why they’re the Beatles.

[@SeptemberChild1835]

Engage in idolatry much?

[@pythonprojectsforwindows6795]

The Beatles had a weak link, Pete Best.

[@pmoran7971]

@sciwiz To be honest, the Drummer was their best musician, not their worst, however George Martin, nicknamed the fifth Beatle was the star of this group of very ordinary pop musicians, and an excellent choice that they did not play live, however I watched the one-off recording on the roof top, apart from Billy Preston they were dreadful for the short time they actually 'played'

[@DrTomoculus]

Their weak link is PAUL MCCARTNEY. Because he has no concept of what BAND means. Harrison, Lennon and Starr DID understand what band means.

[@alicydonmeld8363]

@@pmoran7971 "Very ordinary" and "dreadful". Are you serious?

[@tomdbass1]

In an interview with David Gilmour, a question came up in regards to Nick Mason’s drumming. David said that you can have the greatest drummer in the world play Comfortably Numb and it would sound great-but it wouldn’t sound quite right.

[@JacksonAxe]

Fuckin right, 'cause great feel is something that can't be taught as easily as chops.

[@JefferyHagen]

When people say best or greatest I always that the drummer was the best drummer for that band. I love Neal Peart but I couldn’t be in a band with him because I don’t play guitar at that level.

[@djtrendsetta5766]

Kind of a backhanded compliment from Gilmour though, in' it? Implying that Nick was _not_ the greatest drummer in the world.

[@tomdbass1]

@@djtrendsetta5766 yeah, I get what you mean. In my opinion, I think he was acknowledging the fact that Mason was an integral part of Floyd’s sound and that was more important to the band and its music than technical ability. Just my opinion though.

[@Magikscore]

@@djtrendsetta5766you would be more upset if he had said that Nick was the greatest drummer. It would also sound wrong. Most drummers are not the greatest.

[@charlesheck6812]

Ringo Starr = Brilliant and musically tasteful. He swings and was perfect for the most influential rock band in history

[@HieronymousCheese]

He was a professional drummer when the others were still learning to play. And he was their indisputable choice when they started making records.

[@richo8767]

He was the ONLY drummer that would have made the Beatles what they are. Anyone else would not have been a fit. He played the perfect parts to fit the songs

[@sludge8506]

And Ringo was the second best drummer in the Beatles.

[@HieronymousCheese]

@@sludge8506 Parroting Jasper Carrott?

[@dthom212]

Ringo was a better actor than a drummer..he sucked as an actor

[@matthewmeehan9155]

To call Ozzy the weak link is like calling the heart a residual organ.

[@stephencook4694]

Correct! This guys is a complete joke! The 4 original members of Sabbath all contributed equally to that unique sound.

[@DrTomoculus]

Exactly. Ozzy Osbourne COMPOSED just like everyone else in the band. He is their melodist. He's the damn reason you know what to sing. Geezer is their main lyricist, Ozzy is their melodist. They're a team. Just like any other writing partnership that had one person doing this, the other doing that. Like Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Or Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook. Geezer wrote most of what gets said. Ozzy wrote what notes each word has. So you know what the hell to sing. @@stephencook4694

[@michaelhutchings8599]

​@@stephencook4694 They were a super group before that term existed! Fairies Wear Boots is a prime example. Awesome riff, amazing vocals, busting bassline and drum fills that inspired Metal! I've been Michael Hutchings, and that's why Black Sabbath are the pioneers of The Darkness!

[@peteanderson4395]

@@stephencook4694 spot on...Bill Ward...one of my favourite and biggest influences on the drums... nothing weak about the original four

[@panamajack5972]

Ozzy never wrote a piece of music or lyric. By definition he was the weak link.

[@topJimmyP1984]

DLR was one of the greatest front men of all time, great or shall I say, perfect on the albums and put on a very entertaining show!

[@baron_von_brunk]

It's not just Michael Anthony's bass playing that made him unique, it was his backup vocal harmonies with Roth in their heyday years.

[@JefferyHagen]

I always have to laugh when I see live recordings of Van Halen when Roth was with them. Eddie and Michael are spot on with their harmonies and Dave is lost in the weeds half the time.😂 Alex was no slouch on drums either.

[@runnerandgunner7954]

They should have booted Roth before the first album or never allowed him in at all. They should have either found a singer who could actually sing and write songs, or given the lead singer duties to Michael Anthony. I have no doubt he would have done a fine job with that responsibility. Roth was not a good front man either. He was a clown. I agree with the commenter below: in live performances, Alex, Eddie and Mike are spot on with their responsibilities. Roth is wandering around being a complete @ss.

[@ziggypop79]

Wrong. Roth has great charisma and whitty lyrics, they wouldn’t have made it without him. He also had a great look.

[@JefferyHagen]

@@ziggypop79 I agree. He was also very influential in getting them gigs. He’s very articulate and respectful when it comes to business. His lyrics and style fit the band perfectly although it’s true really couldn’t sing because he didn’t breathe properly. I never noticed until I read an article about the band fifteen years where Alex he had to punch in a lot of vocal parts because he’d run out of breath. I always liked Dave but I knew people that couldn’t listen to Van Halen because of Dave.

[@vanhalenrulz9474]

@@runnerandgunner7954 I couldn't disagree with this statement more. Are you actually Sammy Hagar?

[@phillipemery572]

If I've learned one thing from playing in crappy pub bands, it's that familiarity is everything. You may have a group of people that individually aren't that great, but if they know each other well and understand each other's playing, they can do some amazing things. That's really what rock music is all about.

[@mickmarsbar81]

Beautifully said, I agree 100% 🎸

[@johnbishop2042]

I, too, wholeheartedly agree.👍

[@kelvinwebber90]

Unless your in a band like I was...where the drummer thinks he's king shit..not bad drummer. Thought he could sing! Sounded like shit

[@cymro6537]

Yep ✅

[@toms4442]

Ditto@

[@mikenorman2525]

The idea that anyone who purports to know anything about music would describe Nick Mason as a weak link is astonishing. That sort of calls into question Amber Ward's judgement on everything else on her list.

[@canalesworks1247]

Yes, re Nick Mason. Many Floyd songs are at quarter note = 60, which, if you've ever played the drums, takes an incredible amount of skill and discipline to maintain. Nick Mason was an absolute master of slow tempo drumming and had a great feel. Also it's worth noting that Money is indeed a song that goes between 7/4 and 6/8, all again with slower tempi, thus calling for a great deal of discipline.

[@eriamjr]

@@canalesworks1247Listening to the non-remastered version of Momentary Lapse drives home how important Nick's contribution was, and had always been, to Pink Floyd's sound and vibe.

[@MrCherryJuice]

Yes, interestingly that post Pink Floyd both David Gilmour and Rogers Waters have enlisted drummers who playing within Mason's concept of straight-up, simple and spacious. True, Mason is no Carl Palmer. But then imagine what Pink Floyd would have sounded were Carl Palmer on the drums....

[@canalesworks1247]

@@MrCherryJuice Now see, despite Carl Palmer being a technically brilliant drummer I can't imagine that working well. There's a matter of feel.

[@IainFrame]

100%. I have never heard of Amber Ward but straight away that undermines any kind of credibility that she might have otherwise had. The list is pretty poor overall.

[@voronOsphere]

Thanks for standing up for Ringo and Nick Mason! I love both of their drumming! Also, I saw the David Lee Roth "Eat 'em and Smile" Tour and that was one of the most spot on LIVE shows ever! Roth, Vai, Sheehan & Bisonette all nailed it!

[@MThrow]

Saying Ozzy is the weakest link in Black Sabbath, is like saying Alice Cooper is the weakest link in Alice Cooper.

[@kendallevans4079]

Which is 100% true! Alice hires top shelf musicians but he is no vocalist by any means. It's all theatrics

[@bzfgt1]

Tony Iommi is the most important Sabster by any measure

[@WillowRedDog]

@@kendallevans4079- Cooper is a solid vocalist, especially in the genre of Rock. He’s actually got quite a bit of range, which anyone who’s ever listened to all of his albums, and not just the hits, could tell you. He also hires top shelf musicians because you want the best backing the best. You need to be top shelf to play the variety of songs he was in his catalog, and not only do them well, but also do so while doing the theatrics.

[@omnipop4936]

Anyone calling Ringo's drumming "simplistic" really needs to step off at this point. There's nothing simplistic about tailoring distinctive, "not-what-you-would've-guessed" drum parts for every song, and every _segment_ (intro, verse, chorus, fills, outro...) on such a _wide range_ of songs, such that each one of them _rockets to the top of the charts,_ delighting multiple generations ever since. Maybe the fact that the drums complement the music and lyrics _so_ well, and are so "hand in glove" with them, it starts to make some people think it must've just been "obvious" or a "given", what needed to be played. _Not so!_ That's Ringo's genius: starting from _absolute scratch,_ yet making it seem like these melodies and rhythms were destined to be together since _eternity._ Cheers!

[@normandaubry]

Very well put. I totally agree!

[@glennprangnell5767]

Well said!

[@voronOsphere]

Just one of the words to describe Ringo's drumming would be "unorthodox." Also, 100% original...

[@michaelhutchings8599]

One of the filthiest shufflers to hold the sticks!!

[@peteanderson4395]

The way I look at it.... would any of those Beatles songs sound better with a Bonham.. Moon... Mitchell.. Baker playing on them??NO!!

[@FatNorthernBigot]

I'm sure Nick Mason is crying in his Ferrari, right now. 😂

[@slidetek]

Which one?

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@slidetek that's why he's crying... The agony of choice. 😂

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

my thoughts exactly

[@boulevardblueband]

To knock Mason is highly absurd. Ignorant.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@boulevardblueband 👍

[@noncounterproductive4596]

Roth, I know, was hated by many, but Van Halen I think was a lot more exciting with David Lee Roth. He was a cartoonish wildman, and I found his vocals very interesting and different.

[@FrancoM7747]

I met him several times in the early days and found him personable.

[@TheRockinDonkey]

I don’t like him as a person, and I prefer the Hagar records, in the same way that I prefer Def Leppard to AC/DC (but like both bands). That said, Roth is not a weak link. While he has a more limited vocal range than some singers, he’s an amazing performer, and while I find his antics off-putting, it is entertaining.

[@noncounterproductive4596]

@@TheRockinDonkey I just never heard anybody in rock that sounded similar to David Lee Roth or conveyed pure id as he did. Maybe it's out there somewhere and I just never heard it. The over-the-top wildness was I think an effective complement to Van Halen's quite structured music.

[@rodsmolter5046]

Agreed. I love his voice and he also wrote a lot of the songs. The author had a point that his singing was dreadful when performing live though. He was too busy putting on a visual show to care much about the singing part, so much that he'd miss his lines sometimes.

[@Mr.wilson949]

Both front men were fantastic! Roth had a distinct voice, Hagar was actually a better singer. I'm 50/50. Not 5150.

[@DF-ee8vt]

Even though she was the weakest link, Linda added keyboards and backing vocals to some of the most iconic Wings songs.

[@kendallevans4079]

That must have been very uncomfortable for all the other musicians when you have the bosses wife "forced" upon you to play along with. Think anybody ever corrected her (besides Paul)? If I were Denny Laine or Jimmy McCullah (sp) I would have starting looking for a new gig the day Paul said "Linda will be joining us"

[@jimmilne882]

But were Linda's keyboards actually plugged in?

[@kendallevans4079]

@@jimmilne882 Doubt it. Dennis Wilson's drum kit wasn't "miked" in the later stages of his alcoholism. He was "joined" by a another drummer who's was.

[@DF-ee8vt]

@@jimmilne882 It would be impossible to know for sure.

[@MrBKuv]

Ringo created catchy drum parts. Come Together, Something and A Day in the Life

[@peterlawlor5237]

I worked (as a producer) with a lot different drummers in London for many years, some were in bands, others were session drummers. I noticed an interesting hierarchy of opinions regarding Ringo's abilities. The lower tier of drummers, the guys in bands, tended to rate Ringo if they were Beatles fans, but to express poor opinions of him if they weren't. The mid-tier session drummers tended to disparage Ringo's abilities. This was pretty much universal amongst those guys. However, the absolute top tier of session guys (and that is a small elite band) were, to a man, in awe of Ringo.

[@willpeony5534]

Because if you follow the path of enlightenment you reach the end of Peart.

[@willpeony5534]

@Steamer-ni9wv I must look up Bill Ward, believe it or not I noticed and admired the Blondie drummer (especially Heart of Glass and Rapture) but without knowing too much of their stuff. I just love drumming that's just right. Even yesterday I heard John Lennon's Woman on the radio and wondered if Ringo played on it (He didn't but it was in his style).

[@willpeony5534]

@Steamer-ni9wv It seems my education is only beginning! I've just listened to War Pigs, first time for me, and I wonder how I've missed that one for so many years. I suppose we only have one adolescence and that seems to be when tastes are set. Clem Burke next!

[@willpeony5534]

@Steamer-ni9wv Not so much in real life, I need to work on it.

[@stephenhosking7384]

Re: Linda McCartney in Wings. Denny Laine said, after the band had broken up, "Having a beginner in the band didn't work for me". Succinct.

[@jonyjoe8464]

in the end of the day, paul would have replaced every other band member before he replaced linda. Weak link or not a weak link she wasn't going anywhere.

[@ontheruntonowhere]

Yes, technically Linda was the weak link in Wings, but they wouldn't have been Wings without her. Musician or not, she was instrumental to the Wings sound, and I'd argue influential to 70s pop overall. Linda's vocals fit perfectly into every song they released.

[@grandpavanderhof]

Denny Laine, the musician who rode the coattails of the band he left, into the R&RHoF.

[@ConcertShutterbug]

Linda had a nice voice. I love her backing vocals on "Medicine Jar"

[@allanhill7179]

I agree that Linda was weak musically. Voice was not overly impressive but mccartneys talent could make a band of chimpazees successful

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

Ringo is a litmus test for me for rock musical knowledge, taste, and intelligence. If anyone knocks him as The Beatles’ drummer, I know I don’t need to hear a single syllable more of what they have to say in evaluation of rock music. As for his singing, he isn’t technically great at all, but I think his vocal tone is quite sonorous, and I enjoy it, even though the songs he sings for the band are usually their weakest.

[@phillipemery572]

Agreed. I can tell a try-hard from a mile away by how much they crap on Ringo.

[@Bluepilled-c5t]

A little help from my friends is one of their most enduring songs. No one else could’ve sung that but ringo.

[@SuprousOxide]

Regardless of technical singing talent, the songs where Ringo sings are just a blast to listen to

[@eatmysteel]

I actually find the Ringo tunes to be the most fun from them :D

[@rogerpence]

Spot on. I very much agree.

[@josephk4310]

Van Halen (1.0) would have never made it big without David Lee Roth on vocals.

[@dibdab101]

no point crying over spilt milk, what is done is done 😄

[@makeadifference4all]

I have no idea what he sounded like live, but David Lee Roth had some great vocals on Van Halen studio albums.

[@sirlordcomic]

Simplicity isn't the same as weakness. Ringo and Adam Clayton play to the song and are perfectly suited to their respective bands.

[@classicalbum]

I agree

[@dibdab101]

because a part in a mechanism is simple does not mean that it does fulfill its part in the ensemble...replace that part by another supposedly more complex or refined and the ensemble might not work as well. Successful bands have no weak links because all the different parts define their sound...that is why they are successful. Meg white is a very limited drummer, but it would not be the white stripes without her.

[@mellotronin54]

I hate it when people bash Ringo. He was empathetic to the songs not just bashing away he knew the value of space and accents he was the best drummer for the Beatles.

[@jimbarrofficial]

And had a unique voice, nothing bad about it at all - and no Autotune.

[@michaelstokes919]

The problem with making a list like this is that a weak link in a " great " band is often still really good, relatively speaking.

[@mike04574]

He didn’t say they weren’t unsurprisingly

[@johnkimsey7164]

Sid, I agree with. DLR may have been spotty live, but his vocals were very important on the albums of his Era of the band.

[@anthonylawson6955]

I’m on board with all commentary. Each critique is well stated, great work.

[@eggboy-uk]

Ringo could play a groove, his feel and timing were infectious. He it was who made those early Beatles numbers so dance-able. A proper unpretentious groovy drummer.

[@sjames304]

Good take on Ringo. His sound was very important to the end result that was the Beatles' sound. He had some innovative riffs that worked so well for the group's feel. I've never thought of Ringo as one of the GREAT rock drummers (my hero was Bonham), but he was never meant to play Zeppelin just as much as Bonham was never meant to play Beatles. Ringo was perfect for what he worked in. There's no way Ringo was a weak link in one of the best bands in history. Not a chance.

[@glenchapman3899]

@@sjames304 This is exactly at the heart of the issue. Ringo was exactly what the Beatles needed. Bonham was exactly what Led Zep needed. My favorite example of this is Phil Rudd from AC/DC. Technically competent, not a flashy drummer. But an absolute human metronome.

[@glenchapman3899]

@kevinmichael9482 And people forget that the Beatles specifically targeted Ringo as the replacement drummer for the band. So they got exactly what they wanted from a drummer

[@glennhecker4422]

And you couldn't knock him off the beat with a bulldozer! His timekeeping is IMPECCABLE.

[@glenchapman3899]

@@glennhecker4422 That's very true!!!

[@danjack-son4871]

Nick was great, especially on the Live at Pompeii.

[@apparaoapparao]

Star of the show!! So charismatic.

[@jlobiafra]

The way he loses a drum stick during one of these days and pulls out another and not lose the tempo was incredible 😂

[@danjack-son4871]

@jlobiafra totally. I remember watching Pompeii on mushrooms in 1985 and thinking the boys were talking to me and especially Nick about the pie crust.

[@jlobiafra]

@@danjack-son4871 I worked at a video store and we use to smoke weed during our break and would always play live at Pompeii at the video store while we worked

[@daringbarons]

I feel your pain in mentioning Ringo on this list. The more I relisten to the Beatles, the more I realize…no Ringo = no Beatles.

[@Theactivepsychos]

Imagine your weak link is ringo though. Now that’s a massive compliment to the others.

[@1454LOU]

Are you HIGH?

[@clairehelmsley6608]

I wouldn't go that far but they knew what they were doing when they sent Pete Best back to the bakery.

[@tarakb7606]

​@clairehelmsley6608 They certainly did.

[@peterbland7227]

I agree with you about Ringo. People forget it was 1964. Very few drummers could come up with all those creative fills while playing in the song.

[@triplejunction7073]

Diamond Dave and Eddie Van Halen were together more than the sum of their parts …Great guitarist and classic frontman, no one sounded like they did..

[@Rextum]

Also, sometimes a less technical, less gifted member can work as a glue keeping the band together with their humor or relaxed approach - or work as a Link between the technical, cold band and the excited audience. So a member might be crucial for the band chemistry even when not being musically brilliant or writing songs for them.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Adam Clayton had some wonderful bass lines on the early albums. He (like the rest of U2) have been phoning it in for years. Kenny Jones doesn't get a fair wrap, nobody on planet earth could have followed Moon, he was totally unique. Agree with Sid Vicious who was a clothes horse, he was a dickhead who blinded a girl in one eye with a pint glass even without the Nancy Spungen incident, I really don't see why he is a cultural icon. Diamond Dave was an integral part of Van Halen and nuts, he wasn't a weak link

[@MrJeepsters]

Kenny Jones était excellent avec les SMALL FACES. Van Halen sans David Lee Roth, n'est plus Van Halen.

[@greg-warsaw4708]

In Kenney Jones the Who finally acquired a drummer capable of performing a drummer's basic duty which is reliable timekeeping. Only after you've mastered this there is room for ornamentation.

[@beaudure01]

Two Hearts Beat As One is an excellent bass performance. Generally, Adam plays what suits the song. Nothing wrong with that.

[@TheBlindAndTheBeautiful]

The only part I'd disagree with you on is U2 collectively phoning it in. It pains and I can not stress enough pains me to say that The Edge and Bono definitely are. Adam's an interesting case to say the least. But I heard someone describe U2 in the best way possible in a speech at an event. The band doesn't call themselves U2 internally. They call it the Larry Mullin JR. band. Because that guy has held them together through hell and high water. Where I think the others may have checked out to some extent Larry is still going at those drums today like they owe him money

[@beaudure01]

@@TheBlindAndTheBeautiful Hopefully, Larry will recover and play with them again. He had to miss the entire residency at The Sphere, though he attended the penultimate show.

[@ChrisJKing-se4dp]

That chilling opening line on Sabbath,s first album ,What is this that stands before me , only OZZY could pull this off

[@zodiac6968]

Correct.

[@eatmysteel]

Ozzy being such a unique sounding vocalist is highly overlooked

[@daxxaa238]

Sabbath with Ozzy is by far the best Sabbath. His style vocals were perfect for what the band was doing, not to mention his energy which he still has today despite his current health issues. Ozzy is rock always will be , I miss him already.

[@keithbartholomew2990]

That song scared the crap out of me when I first heard it.

[@l.salisbury1253]

This is a scientifically proven fact: Ozzy is Sabbath's GREATEST-EVER vocalist! With Dio an INCREDIBLY close second!

[@l.salisbury1253]

5:47 - And Kenny Jones wins the not-so-coveted "Shemp Howard Award" for the thankless task of having to replace an irreplaceable performer...

[@JStrummer1]

Exactly

[@H-mu4bo]

Kenny had been delivered the poisoned chalice to replace Keith Moon.

[@patrickhogue8790]

Shemp was way better than Kenny!

[@edgarsnake2857]

Perfect comment.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Funny and true!

[@richard623]

I 100% agree on your opinion about Kiedis. He compensates his technical inabilities with personality, wit, wisdom, humor, and showmanship. Plus, in the studio he's a great singer - with lots of help by Rick Rubin, I suppose. But who cares? Love you, Anthony ❤

[@MHep-qy9yv]

Ringo didn't song-write as well as his bandmates... who were Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison. So I think he can get a pass for that

[@petergrantlloyd6754]

Wrong, he wrote their biggest song. Yellow submarine is the only song that a 3 yr old and 90 yr old both know. Therefore the most popular beatle song

[@MHep-qy9yv]

@@petergrantlloyd6754 I love Ringo a lot, but he didn't write that

[@stuunitt2947]

​@@petergrantlloyd6754Yellow Submarine was written by Lennon and McCartney - Ringo just sang on it.

[@gfoursux9]

Exactly. It's like who was the weakest link of the '71 Orioles Starting Pitchers?

[@petergrantlloyd6754]

My god I fucking hate the Beatles with the passion of a thousand burning suns being butt fucked by satan!!!! They were all shit and stole from black artists via chuck berry at the beginning and Arthur Love and jimi by the end. Excellent magpies but bloody ordinary musicians who got real lucky

[@Luthiart]

This Amber Ward person seems to know more about the craft of drumming than anybody here... I'd like to hear her play some time.

[@herseem]

Exactly. I think we would find that she would turn out to be an expert at the art of self-promotion without actual talent at anything.

[@groaningmole4338]

McCartney probably had good incentive to put Linda in the band and on stage. It informed all the female fans that Mrs McCartney would be backstage with Mr McCartney after the show was over. Good way to safeguard your marriage.

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

Also its so Paul McCartney isnt apart from her and still together. If Linda isn't in Wings, Paul is off away for long periods of time on the road.

[@dennismason3740]

In the late nineties I was waiting for parents and kids to show up at the Sunday morning A.A. meeting at Pan Pacific Park in L.A. I did childcare for A.A. meetings for decades. It was a half hour before the meeting started and, standing on the grass in Navy blue track suit with yellow piping was a very still Ozzy facing southward, just standing, staring, hardly moving. No one approached him. I took the kids to the playground. Agree on Kenny and the rest.

[@islandnites]

Excellently presented - and feel I am in agreement with your findings.

[@MrCherryJuice]

Linda McCartney was onstage for the right reasons. And imagine the pressures she endured beng married to a Beatle and having to wither the flak of criticism fired at her for being a beginner player in Wings - all while raising a family. She was a brave woman and deserves everyone's respect. Nick Mason, like Ringo, was perfect for his band. It is no coincidence that post-Floyd Gilmour and Waters have both enlisted players with simple, straightforward approaches reminiscent of Mason. I found it interesting that Roger Daltry didn't like Kenney Jones's drumming but Pete Townshend did. Fact is they were both listening in different ways. Townshend is on record saying he hated Keith Moon's playing because it mean that he (Pete) couldn't play guitar the way he wanted - he had to compensate for Moon's deficiencies (I believe John Entwistle felt the same about his bass playing role). Daltry, however, seemed to like Moon's bombast and the placement of his accents, all of which heightened Dalry's performance. Yes, Moon was a uniquely critical element for the Who's sound and a big inspiration for other drummers. But in real terms he was not a great player by any means. (Worth noting that for some time Jimi Hendrix did not like Mitch Mitchell's drumming. Mitch's previous boss, Georgie Fame, also had issues with it, particulary the amount of cymbals in the sound. He told Mitch, 'Just play the hi-hat'. Others thought Mitch wasn't heavy enough for Jimi. And Little Feat's Bill Payne wasn't crazy about Richie Hayward's drumming...yet Richie is revered by everyone from Steve Gadd to Simon Kirke. True, David Lee Roth was a horrid singer. But a fun frontman. Van Halen was a band that didn't take itself as seriously as its audience did. In which case the audience was the weak point - they didn't get the joke. Adam Clayton is excellent for U2. That isn't a band of 'players'. It's a band of friends making music. Like the Beatles and Stones. Anyone wanting great players should stop listening to rock music, because generally speaking the truly great musicians don't play rock. As for Sid Vicious, he had to be pretty bad to be too bad for the Sex Pistols.

[@fittobetiedyed5315]

There is no more musical drummer than Ringo Star. He and Charlie Watts were not about showboating and flash. They were all about music. I appreciate your rebuttal here. Honestly, Amber Ward's list says more about her than her than anything else. With people like those you mentioned being included on her list I'm left wondering how in the world she defines "weakest link" and why anyone would even bother building such a list. Its all just rubbish.

[@etamommy]

It’s all a load of rubbish! It’s all a load a rubbish! And rubbish to it all! (Name that that song- it’s a good ‘onn’. )

[@fittobetiedyed5315]

@@etamommy The rubbish is stinking, are people thinking?

[@greg-warsaw4708]

_There is no more musical drummer than Ringo Starr_. Phil Collins was at least equally musical, Jeff Porcaro too, but I agree Ringo should be defended against being called a weak link.

[@jimmilne882]

I'm sure Charlie Watts had difficulty getting the drum part right on one of the Exile tracks and someone else has to sit in the stool.

[@maagwaa3046]

For the detractors, Nick Mason on Live at Pompei is off the scale. There's the wonderful section where he's really motoring. For all those in doubt. Check it out!

[@TheTurkishKebabExperience]

Especially during "One Of These Days" when Nick drops his drumstick and gets back into the song without skipping a beat. Also, the way the drums synergize with ricks organ is so tasteful.

[@professorpsoop]

Glad to hear you're comments about Ringo. He was an absolute poet. What an imaginative and perfect drummer.

[@bookaufman9643]

I've always thought that Ozzy was one of the best vocalists in all of heavy metal history. You had a beautiful high-pitched voice and I think I've never noticed any problems with it. I don't even understand people saying he had problems with range because I don't think he did. That band was blessed with one great singer after another.

[@jeffmcfarland1499]

To come up with 300 perfect drum parts and was well liked by all -well done Ringo!

[@calebcaldwell1713]

Anyone that refers to Ringo Starr has a weak link is completely clueless. John, Paul and George have all said that Ringo was the missing piece of the band. He brought a lot to the band in his own way

[@josephbennett4236]

Yes, but in response to the question, 'Do you think Ringo is the best drummer in the world?', John is reported to have said: 'Ringo? He isn't even the best drummer in The Beatles'. Probably apocryphal, though.

[@calebcaldwell1713]

Not sure if I’d say the best but definitely top 5 in my opinion. He made drum parts that fit perfectly in the songs. He was extremely good at keeping tempo as well. As far as John’s comment, I believe it was just a joke. The Beatles always made remarks similar to that to the press

[@mmestari]

@@calebcaldwell1713 "Not sure if I’d say the best but definitely top 5 in my opinion. " Maybe you should listen to more than 5 bands. "He was extremely good at keeping tempo as well." He can't even play sloppy at speeds that would warrant saying extremely good at keeping tempo.

[@calebcaldwell1713]

@@mmestari I listen to more than 5 bands just giving credit where credit is due. There’s a reason Ringo is seen as a great drummer. He didn’t have to be flashy to be considered great. I don’t think there’s a drummer that has had more influence than Ringo has

[@mmestari]

​@@calebcaldwell1713 " I listen to more than 5 bands just giving credit where credit is due." Nah, you are just disrespecting actually good drummers. Go listen Pete Sandoval play Mozart's 25th Symphony, that's actually excellent drumming. Then listen to Helter Skelter, which according Ringo himself is at the zenith of his technical ability. Then you should realize that, realistically Ringo doesn't even make the top 10000 best drummers of the world. " I don’t think there’s a drummer that has had more influence than Ringo has" Who has Ringo influenced? Merseybeat is deader than disco. I can name more bands that Anthony Axon has influenced than you can name bands.

[@alfietomkins7829]

As a drummer, myself i love Ringo (my favorite drummer of all time) and Nick Mason and Kenney Jones, because they are not flash show boaty drummers, critics tend to knock them. I dont get it and never will. I'm grateful for an intelligent opinion like yours Barry, a true music lover, not like the person who wrote this list

[@whichgodofthousandsmeansno5306]

100% on board about Ringo. Heck he is most professional drummers favorite drummer. No one in the Beatles was expendable and they certainly had no weak links.. that is pretty much objective just based on their success and number of hits. Ringo was the perfect drummer for that band on every level... I even like his songs granted compared to the other members was quite sparse.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

Linda's horrid vocals were great, as they provided some of the flavor and feeling that made the songs great.. That particular sound of the full band singing harmonies, with her wandering around the notes, is unique and special, and part of my life.

[@brinsonharris9816]

The rock radio station I listened to when I was in HS (class of 1980) played a clip of Linda’s singing isolated on the board with the rest of the band just audible in a live Wings show. She was terrible. But it was Paul’s band, so she got to pretend to sing.

[@sanddab]

One of my favorite things about the RAM album is the blending of Paul & Linda’s vocals.

[@firewalkwithme2539]

Nick Mason. "Now this is just absolute horse shit" 😂😂😂😂 Absolutely. Nick is a fantastic drummer.

[@PhilBaird1]

Agree with your take on all of those Barry. Nick Mason's behind the beat percussive style was perfect for Floyd. Kenney Jones is best heard on those Small Faces classics - great drummer. One of my favourite Ringo performances was on Rain. Ozzy couldn't sing a note but he was Ozzy. I can't think of anybody else who got by purely on their character and presence. Thanks as usual.

[@kmhorrorbiz8706]

Good on you for defending Ringo. Zero flash, no unnecessary fills, no showing off at all. He played with taste, and his playing always served the song.

[@seamusconghaile6624]

"A Day in the LIfe" closes down all arguments about Ringo's ability.

[@glenmorgan4597]

If anything Ringo was far far better than alot say

[@cletusbeauregard1972]

I used to think Ringo wasn't that good, but then I read a piece by Kenny Aronoff about doing a transcription/run-through of The Beatles' "Rain." He was gushing nonstop about how no part of the drum part ever repeated and how it was basically a 3-minute drum solo with a song dropped on top of it. After that, I began to pick up how good he really was.

[@johndef5075]

That's high praise. Kenny deserves more kudos too

[@Bigchet1223]

The drummers in spinal tap

[@staggerlee6794]

When I saw the thumbnail and noticed that Ringo and Nick Mason were included I wasnt going to bother watching this vid. It was only when I saw it was a Classic Album Review production I changed my mind. But I have to say that the whole premise of weak links in great bands to be ludicrous. However it does generate discussion I suppose.

[@BigBri550]

I saw Van Halen live around the time of the release of their second album. I thought then and think now that David Lee Roth was the undisputed star of the show.

[@markp3046]

Spot on with your Ringo comments. It is always said that you can't have a great band, without a great drummer. No need for me to continue...

[@LaserRanger15]

The "Edge's" one-note solos are legendary (how he makes those best guitarists list, baffles me). No weak links in the Beatles. Roth isn't a good singer but was a good front man. BTW - who is Amber Ward and how many albums has she sold?

[@zosothezephead837]

Absolutely - Rattle and Hum - "Edge, play the blues!" Cue single note solo 😂

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

David Lee Roth was actually a pretty damn GOOD singer.

[@djtrendsetta5766]

He makes those lists because being a great rock guitarist isn't all about showy pyrotechnics, it's about being distinctive. And Edge is arguably the most distinctive guitarist of his generation.

[@rodsmolter5046]

The Edge had a distinctive style and sound - playing triads high up on the neck instead of conventional chords. He isn't really a lead player who played many solos. There's a lot of guitarists who make those lists mainly on band success and name recognition. I respect him for sure but he shouldn't be anywhere near the top of any list.

[@TimMikol]

As to DLR. How can you be a good front man and not meet the very first requirement, sing?

[@tomasarfert]

In my humble opinion Ringo is one of the most important drummers in pop/rock history. Inventive and an inspiration for thousands of drummers around the world.

[@b2tall239]

Nick Mason? No way. PF was a product of the 4 members....their work apart from the classic lineup proves that. Waters was reluctant (to say the least) to give credit to others, especially Mason and Wright. I believe NM's contributions to the band were far more than what's shown in the credits. I've also read quite a bit about Pink Floyd and I believe the intangibles that Mason brought to the band personality-wise were invaluable.

[@errollzastre7380]

Yes, and to lump Pink Floyd in with the "technical" progressive rock bands such as Yes is wrong. I don't think the others were itching to explore odd time signatures or more complex songs. That's not what they were about, but it seems to be a common misconception to label them as a "prog" rock band because of the era in which they became famous.

[@reginaldcampos5762]

​@errollzastre7380 they are definitely art rock leaning prog. There's just too much blues in their music to fully consider them prog, not that that's a bad thing. Their approach to progressive music is probably the only way to keep the prog scene alive today, however. In that I mean simpler guitar riffs and less obtuse concepts while still going with huge songs inspired by classical and jazz music and dramatic themes. I feel prog today is just being weird for the sake of it.

[@kevinbossick8374]

Exactly. Listen to the live stuff in the early years.

[@МаксРогозин-е1ю]

Any session drummer could replace Mason.

[@kevinbossick8374]

@@МаксРогозин-е1ю and it would be a completely different band.

[@sludge8506]

I absolutely love Ozzie’s vocals on Master of Reality.

[@infiniteuniverse9528]

To do the kind of improvisational psychedelic journeys that the Floyd did with Syd requires an excellent drummer with an instinctive sense of rhythm. The drumming in songs like "In the Flesh" where Mason made you feel the WWII bombers dropping their bombs. Or the "Interstellar Overdrive" jams that went into totally unexplored areas, Mason was the glue that held it all together.

[@24X7CARZ]

The success of and musicianship on Ozzy’s solo works in the 1980’s debunks the notion that he was holding back Black Sabbath from achieving more while he was fronting them.

[@MJEvermore853]

Amen!

[@robahrr9919]

That's because Ozzy or I should say Sharon organized all of those talented musicians to compose music and lyrics while contractually requiring the giving of writing credits to Ozzy to make him look legit. You can thank Bob Daisley for all of the iconic songs from Ozzy's solo career in the 80's.

[@williamgreer4958]

I used to not really think much of Ringo when I was much younger. As I have listened to a lot of music over the years and I now completely agree with you.

[@HarvestHome2000]

At least Sid V. did the definitive version of 'My Way'!

[@mitchsmix269]

You cracked me up with the “now this is just absolute horseshit line” regarding nick mason. Spot on

[@mikehoffler4097]

About Anthony Kiedis and RHCP: I think people tend to forget before they hit mainstream they were a punk band, and pretty underground. Punk bands are notorious for politics and not being able to play their instruments (Clash excluded, of course) and the vocals count as an instrument. There's a scene in the skateboard movie "Thrashin'" that will show what RHCP were like in their raw form.

[@macheesmo3]

"Sammy throws a party, I AM a party!"- DLR

[@mccallosone4903]

truth

[@lawrenrich-nf3ni]

Generally agree with your assessor. And yes enough with ringo bashing. He wasnt brought in as a singer… the boys just wanted to include him that way. But it was his creative drumming .. we know Pete couldn’t do it.

[@jasoncampbell3955]

As a drummer of over 30 years, I would never construe Kenney Jones as the weak link in any band. Kenney played with a clean technique that was much different than that of Keith Moon. Kenney played what the songs demanded and didn't compromise his style which I respect and the songs he performed on "You Better You Bet," "Eminence Front" are still legendary and enjoyable today! It seems like Daltrey was grieving Moon's death and that may have clouded his judgment on Jones' drumming.

[@stepanbandera5206]

You better you bet is 💩 given all the great music from the Who.

[@BlackyBlackerson]

To a great many people, DLR is THE vocalist for Van Halen. I’ve got nothing against Sammy Hagar but he’s no DLR. He was a charismatic juggernaut. Sure, you can dock points for onstage antics, but that doesn’t overshadow the appeal that he brought to their biggest hits. To say that makes him their weak link would be the same as saying that Axl Rose is the weak link of Guns N’ Roses. That dude was a nightmare to deal with, but his performance made up for it.

[@roguesgallery4228]

Liam is the most underrated lead singer, he may have been a an ego in a Parker, but his intuitive ability to know how the lyrics needed to be sung, on hearing a song once, that’s savant level front man genius.

[@kingcurry6594]

I think his vocals are complete shit. He has a voice like a crow farting.

[@johndef5075]

There live videos are awesome. Rock star attitude with killer songs.

[@mindjob]

So, this means Yoko is in the clear!

[@robertwheatley2471]

Robert Plant on his podcast actually referred to himself as the weak link in Led Zeppelin which is almost impossible to imagine. The same band and singer that influenced groups like Rush and literally hundreds of others.

[@MJEvermore853]

Plant didn’t take care of that wonderful voice of his. By 1973, most of his register was already shot. He cracked and squeaked his way through many Zep tours. Thankfully, his bandmates were so good that no one cared that much. He took half the show to warm up his vocals because he simply wouldn’t do it BEFORE the show. By the way, I’m a mega Zep fan. But facts are facts. Really wish he would have bothered to care for his throat.

[@robertwheatley2471]

@@MJEvermore853 --Plant absolutely did have did have vocal chord surgery to have nodules removed around 1973 or '74. He sounded distinctly different on Presense in '76 (which was recorded in '75). But he thrashed his voice too much in the early years and the damage was done..

[@MJEvermore853]

@@robertwheatley2471 … yep. I had forgotten to mention that surgery. I had always thought the surgery was earlier, before the Houses album, because of how different I thought his voice sounded on that album, but I was wrong. The surgery was a little later on during the time that you had stated above.

[@mooch514]

​@@robertwheatley2471the song remains the same "live" was retouched in studio

[@robertmckinnon6564]

If I was to give them all marks out of 100 I would award 100 to John Paul Jones and John Bonham, 99 to Page and 98 to Plant. So yes he was the weak link!

[@adrianm976]

Ringo was a great drummer for the Beatles..perfect, in fact. Listen to his drumming on the band's 66-70 output, not forgetting footage of his live performances. What I also loved about Ringo is that he didn't do boring drum solos..like me, he hated them.

[@jamesfalato4305]

Sounds More Like Nitpicking Than Finding "Weak Links"...

[@Darrylizer1]

Ringo was and is a great drummer. I've heard his and paul's bass isolated and it's truly an educational experience and very indicative of how much both were influenced by Motown. Van Halen would NEVER have gotten the popularity they initially got without David Lee Roth. The only people that put guitar solos over songs and presentation are musicians.

[@j.tshark3313]

My brother is a professional musician and I spent a lot if time with drummers. Ringo is a great drummer because he played with the music. Other drummers Playover the music or playunder the music. Ringo played with the music and helped move it along

[@tomflynn8007]

Ringo is a drumming legend. Loved by all.

[@skyemoz6559]

Ringo was great. When you really start focusing on the drums like A Day In the Life / Something / Come Together etc just great drum parts

[@MrJeepsters]

Il ne faisait pas de solos comme Ginger Baker ou Keith Moon, mais, c'était un bon batteur. Par contre, je pense que Dennis Wilson était très moyen.

[@k9burnouts544]

Ringo, baby !! Listen also to She Said She Said, -who else could've played that ?

[@t0mn8r35]

Another excellent and informative review. I wish I were musically more sophisticated to have an opinion on these...

[@MacPro8CoreMan]

David Lee Roth is one of the greatest front men ever. I agree - the perfect package, live or in the studio.

[@danstone8783]

Then there's Motley Crue with 3 weak links

[@Walesktf]

...and Queen with 4 weak links 😁

[@MikeGervasi]

Let's talk about Linda. To find what she added you only need to see and hear what was lost when she passed. I, for one, miss her voice in the mix. She helped Paul through tough times, made it possible for him to collect double songwriting royalties, stopped his being killed in Legos, wrote and sang "Seaside Woman", and wrote the reggea section of "Live and Let Die". Also she was a fantastic photographer. THIS is everything I realized after the fact and now feel regret that I/we underappreciated her.

[@tsitracommunications2884]

Furthermore on wings at the speed of sound she also did her first and only lead vocal on a track titled cook of the house

[@SPARKLISWEETS]

Listen to Sabotage and you can't deny Ozzy's talent as a singer. Not to mention that he came up with so many of the wonderful melodies in his catalogue.

[@The1nsane1]

I agree he was the vocalist for Sabbath in the 70's, History tells us that. However the heavy lifting was done by Ward, and especially Butler and Iommi.

[@GeoffCB]

He sounds like a tortured soul, perfect! 🙂

[@patthepilot1]

I agree, poor old Sid turned out to be a bad publicity stunt and it ultimately killed him - you can't get much worse than that. Just listen to the Pistol's demos that are featured on the album Spunk, amongst others, and it's a totally different band. Glen had a style and tone that lifted those songs to another level and, yes, he wrote a great deal of the actual music.

[@codychickadee5095]

Man I really love Ringo, never understood the hate for him. Also, for a while I was kind of rejecting Ozzy, whom I have seen twice and genuinely love a ton of his music, but he has grown on me again. Perhaps he is less disciplined than other singers (go figure) but he actually has some incredibly good live performances. Tony said Ozzy came up with the vocal melodies for most Sabbath songs, that is no minor contribution. In fact that is what most folks hear and hum along to. Fun list. "Strangulated dog" had me chuckling.