Genius + passengers

There've been quite a few groups out there who've made the big time on the back of one individual. Without that one person they'd have probably flunked big time. How about these for starters:

U2 - plodding rhythm section, dork vocalist - innovative 6-string fretwork
Level 42 - Mark King plus others
Primus - obvious
Dire Straits -obviouser
Van Halen - most obvious

Am I being unfair or are there many examples of 1 genius plus passengers?

I don't agree about Primus
They are all amazing musicians although it seems that les claypool is in the center. Tim Alexander is one of the best drummers around. And the guitar player plays some really original stuff.

I don't know what U2 albums you've been listening to, but I doubt that U2 has become a supergroup based solely on Edge's guitar work. Actually, I think that's quite preposterous, if I may say so.

Perhaps you don't like Bono's political expressions through his music or through his campaigns, but I wouldn't reduce him to "dork vocalist". He manages to come up with extremely interesting lyrics while not taking himself too seriously, and his voice is far more pleasant than, say, Blink 182's singer.

I've heard a few negative comments about U2's rhythm section... I dunno, it sounds good to me...

zappas son

It's not the change in guitars, it's the switch from guitars to synthesizers that make post Diver Down Van Halen stink so much.

I've read a lot of interviews in which EVH says something like, "the guys in the band were worried about a guitar god playing the keyboards, but the fans all loved it."

Not me. Maybe if he picked a less cheesy synth sound. Whatever he does use certainly doesn't fit what I understand to be the definition of his "brown sound".

--pb

Yeah, everyone in Primus is very talented....

I don't agree with Van Halen being on that list either. Alex has a very unique style of drumming. Of Course, Eddie is the man, but Alex should get his props too. Plus, David Lee Roth is the frontman of all Frontmen and had a great career after quitting or being fired from VH, which ever you believe. To me, Van Halen went downhill after loseing Roth.

Think about Kelly Osbourne riding her dad's coat tails. She has absolutely no talent, but she has the Osbourne name and got famous from the "reality" show The Osbournes.

All of those bands are rite except maybe u2, and Halen.... Primus wouldn't be much without his signature vocals, lyrics and his bass playing. Surprisingly Van Halen was a major contributor for his popularity, but i mean come on, who can forget David Lee Roths "singing".

Jerry Garcia- Grateful Dead
Trey Anastasio- Phish

come to mind

~Incidents

After a year and some months, I realized my original post defending U2 was not nearly strong enough. The more I listen to U2, the more I realize the genius of almost all their songs. Their "eras" amaze me... the soul era, 80's era, electronica era... U2 is definitely my favourite band of all time. You can try to dig at Larry Mullen (drums) or Adam Clayton (bass), but they are just as crucial to defining the U2 sound as Edge or Bono. This is a great example of the whole being greater than the sum of all the parts.

I'd be a little more eloquent, but I'm just about to crash out here. I don't even know if the above made any sense.