Spring Break
Web Exclusive!!! The Spin Top 50 Controversy
James Topoleski
Issue date: 1/24/02 Section: Arts and Entertainment
- Page 1 of 2 next >
SPIN magazine, has released its top 50 greatest bands of all time in it's February 2002 issue, and its drawn lots of heat over what it includes, and what it doesn't include as great bands. Artists like Korn, who have only recently entered the scene, have managed to make the coveted list, while others like Aerosmith, Van Halen, and Nine Inch Nails have been shut out.
The list, which is said to be comprised of the 50 bands that have made the greatest impact and influence on the music scene, has become controversial in the fact that many of the newer bands are felt to have been put on the list more because of popularity than because of influence to music at large. Bands like rap group Outkast, who more where influenced by rather than influenced other bands on the list are examples of the slant toward more well known, but less influential artists making the list while lesser known but more influential ones being forgotten
What has also angered people is the placement of the artists, with the Ramones beating Led Zeppelin, who many find to have been much more influential in terms of music currently being played. The only band who hasn't pulled controversy for placement has been the Beatles who just about everyone agrees was the greatest band of all time, influencing just about everyone on the list.
And it's just who influenced who which is creating the biggest amount of controversy, with the influences being assigned by the writers of Spin, rather than coming from other bands mouths. Korn for example is said to influence all Rap/Rock Nu Metal currently being played, while the fact that they themselves as well as many of the bands they "influenced" where actually influenced by Anthrax and Faith No More in the 80s.
The List
#1 The Beatles
#2 Ramones
#3 Led Zeppelin
#4 Bob Marley & The Wailers
# 5 Nirvana
#6 Parliament/Funkadelic
#7 The Clash
#8 Public Enemy
#9 The Rolling Stones
The list, which is said to be comprised of the 50 bands that have made the greatest impact and influence on the music scene, has become controversial in the fact that many of the newer bands are felt to have been put on the list more because of popularity than because of influence to music at large. Bands like rap group Outkast, who more where influenced by rather than influenced other bands on the list are examples of the slant toward more well known, but less influential artists making the list while lesser known but more influential ones being forgotten
What has also angered people is the placement of the artists, with the Ramones beating Led Zeppelin, who many find to have been much more influential in terms of music currently being played. The only band who hasn't pulled controversy for placement has been the Beatles who just about everyone agrees was the greatest band of all time, influencing just about everyone on the list.
And it's just who influenced who which is creating the biggest amount of controversy, with the influences being assigned by the writers of Spin, rather than coming from other bands mouths. Korn for example is said to influence all Rap/Rock Nu Metal currently being played, while the fact that they themselves as well as many of the bands they "influenced" where actually influenced by Anthrax and Faith No More in the 80s.
The List
#1 The Beatles
#2 Ramones
#3 Led Zeppelin
#4 Bob Marley & The Wailers
# 5 Nirvana
#6 Parliament/Funkadelic
#7 The Clash
#8 Public Enemy
#9 The Rolling Stones
Be the first to comment on this story