Wonderin ...

[ericcoleman]

I was going to post this the other day, but I spaced it off.

What is a band that you dearly love (or even just kinda like) that you are amazed got big. I'm not talking bands you hate, that's too easy. What is something that you listen to that you are amazed that a lot of people get?

I can think of two off the top of my head.

Jethro Tull. Yeah, here is a formula for stadium stardom. The lead singer plays flute and acoustic guitar. Odd time signatures. Intelligent lyrics. How did they sell out stadiums in the 70s? I'm glad they did, I saw them a half dozen times or more. But really ... how did that happen?

Supertramp. The two main instruments are electric piano and clarinet. I don't really need to say more . They sold millions.

Comments

[dek9.livejournal.com]

My favorite band... Dire Straits.

Pretty big in the US (Everyone says "Oh, yeah, the Money for Nothing guys... didn't they also do Walk of Life?") but HUGE in the UK and Europe.

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

...and you have to remember that they started out in the UK in 1977, when guitar-based light rock was... very much NOT the in thing!

[ericcoleman]

Sultans Of Swing was SO against the times. It's a chuckling, bemused appreciation of a jazz band. I loved it at the time, much to the shock of my punk friends ... still do. And you want to talk the ultimate non-rock star. Mark Knophler. Brilliant astounding guitar player ... looks kinda like Woody Allen. Sings like him too.

[ericcoleman]

Remind me then that I need to make you some presents before the next time I see you. I have some cool Dire Straits stuff.