The Greatest American Rock Band Bracket!
First Round, Punk/Hard Rock Division
Van Halen (4) vs. the Black Crowes (13)
Guitar god and co. versus the hard blues gold-miners
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Van Halen:
"Van Halen simultaneously rewrote the rules of rock guitar and hard rock in general. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen redefined what the electric guitar could do, developing a blindingly fast technique with a variety of self-taught two-handed tapping, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and effects that mimicked the sounds of machines and animals. It was wildly inventive and over the top, equaled only by vocalist David Lee Roth, who brought the role of a metal singer to near-performance art standards with a flair for showmanship derived as much from lounge performers as Robert Plant. Together, they made Van Halen set the template for 80s hard rock and heavy metal." --Allmusic.com Popularity
Influence:
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The Black Crowes:
"At the time of their 1990 debut, the kind of rock & roll the Black Crowes specialized in was sorely out of style. Only Guns N' Roses came close to approximating a vintage Stones-style raunch, but they were too angry and jagged to pull it off completely. The Black Crowes, on the other hand, replicated that Stonesy swagger and Faces boogie perfectly. Vocalist Chris Robinson appropriated the sound and style of vintage Rod Stewart, while brother Rich Robinson fused Keith Richards' lean guitar attack with Ron Wood's messy rhythmic sense. At their best, the Black Crowes echoed classic rock without imitating their influences, a blend that pushed the band to the top of the charts in the early 1990s." --AllMusic.com Popularity
Influence:
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