Tournament play to determine—once and for all—Rock’s Greatest Backing Band begins with the Legacy Conference, composed of backing bands for some of rock’s founding fathers as well as a few newer backing bands supporting artists working in similar a similar roots-rock vein. Please use this space to argue for your favorite backing band in each contest, using any or all of the following criteria, including criteria not listed here:
- Ability to support the bandleader’s musical agenda/vision
- Additional musical contribution to the bandleader’s sound/vision
- Look and other supporting “rock superhero powers”
- Catchiness of backing band’s name
You may log your vote on each contestant in the Round 1 games through the polls on the following page. Please make sure to register your support and votes for the other conferences at their respective threads:
Please review the contests and all supporting material, including any you may present in the Comments section, then cast your votes through the following series of polls.
Round 1, Legacy Conference: The Crickets (1) vs The Cruisers (16)
- The Crickets (ie, Buddy Holly's backing band) (100%, 26 Votes)
- The Cruisers (ie, Eddie's backing band) (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
Loading ...Round 1, Legacy Conference: The Blue Caps (8) vs The Rock 'n Roll Trio (9)
- The Blue Caps (ie, Gene Vincent's backing band) (58%, 15 Votes)
- The Rock 'n Roll Trio (ie, Johnny Burnette's band) (42%, 11 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
Loading ...Round 1, Legacy Conference: The Comets (5) vs The Hawks (12)
- The Comets (ie, Bill Haley and...) (54%, 15 Votes)
- The Hawks (ie, Ronnie Hawkins recordings only) (46%, 13 Votes)
Total Voters: 28
Loading ...Round 1, Legacy Conference: The Tennessee Two (4) vs Her Boyfriends (13)
- The Tennessee Two (Johnny Cash) (89%, 24 Votes)
- Her Boyfriends (Neko Case) (11%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 27
Loading ...Round 1, Legacy Conference: The Delaware Destroyers (6) vs The Starlighters (11)
- The Delaware Destroyers (George Thorogood) (52%, 13 Votes)
- The Starlighters (Joey Dee) (48%, 12 Votes)
Total Voters: 25
Loading ...Round 1, Legacy Conference: The Texas Playboys (3) vs The Honeybears (14)
- The Texas Playboys (Bob Wills and...) (88%, 22 Votes)
- The Honeybears (Black Joe Lewis and...) (12%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 25
Loading ...Round 1, Legacy Conference: The Shadows (7) vs The Jordanaires (10)
- The Jordanaires (Elvis Presley's backing singers) (52%, 14 Votes)
- The Shadows (Cliff Richard and...) (48%, 13 Votes)
Total Voters: 27
Loading ...Round 1, Legacy Conference: The Famous Flames (2) vs The Dap Kings (15)
- The Famous Flames (James Brown's original backing band) (93%, 26 Votes)
- The Dap Kings (Sharon Jones and...) (7%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 28
Loading ...
The Delaware Destroyers v The Starlighters may be a barnburner.
Check out the way the Starlighters’ drive leader Joey Dee – and drive the audience into a frenzy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFJDembk2QE&feature=related
You can’t knock the Destroyers’ ability to move a crowd, but how much of it is their work and how much is it them holding down the fort while George works the crowd?
Even though I voted for the Destroyers, I thought the same thing. You could easily swap them out for Double Trouble and no one would probably notice.
The Starlighters do a great job of compensating for Joey Dee, who appears to be into it, but is unable to make eye contact with the audience. Also, I totally forgot that Joe Pesci was in the Starlighters, which has to count for something, even if it’s retroactively.
Very nervous for the Comets right now. If they can get through this first round, I think they can upset the Crickets and roll to the Seeg-leet Eight, but this fight with The Hawks is too close for my liking right now.
Was the backing work on “Moulty” really so impressive that they can compete with the band that invented The Tempo Of Rock ‘n Roll?
Certainly, I hope Townspeople do not forget the Comets’ contribution to television as well as rock ‘n roll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SAqreFLzeM
One more push for the Starlighters over the Delaware Destroyers (and it pains me to work against my near-hometown heroes):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXTSmNvoYuM
OK, so maybe that helps the Destroyers’ cause.
I thought the Starlighters were the band McFly took over in “Back to the Future” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Cr7kxjSBs. Can’t vote for them, Michael J Fox is the anti-Elvis and he recycles Van Halen riffs.
I wish fellow Townsmen would remember that the Jordanaires were merely the backup singers for Elvis’ early hits (and some of his later — usually southern gospel — stuff. Don’t be voting for them thinking you’re supporting the good name of his awesome TCB band, or Scotty Moore and company, or even the guy that managed his scarf collection!
Voting runs through midnight; there’s still time for some hard decisions – not to mention to rectify the Jordanaires’ lead over the Shadows in the Whitebread Sweepstakes. Hell, at least the Shadows had the excuse of being English!
DISQUALIFICATION! The Jordanaires were not a “band.”
The Texas Playboys weren’t rock either. If we allow them, then Spike Jones’ City Slickers should be allowed too.
With all due respect, your outrage is uncalled for. The rules specifically disqualified singing backing groups. A few Townspeople called for their inclusion. The Jordanaires and Pips were added. This was all done on the record, not cut in a back room. The Jordanaires were invited to the tournament. Now they may win a round. I personally think it’s a disgrace that anyone supported them. Except for “Don’t Be Cruel,” which I believe they sing on, I usually can’t stand their contributions. But that’s me. The People spoke. Their request to add vocal groups was accepted. A part of me regrets allowing them in, but having done so probably makes me look like a “bigger man” and takes some heat over more important exclusions I had to uphold.
I thank you for your concern and disappointment in your fellow Townspeople.
Sure, we’ll let orchestras in too and really make a farce of this exercise!
Jeez, I hope anyone complaining at this point about the soon-to-be-narrowed-down field of 64 has watched the entire Mad Dogs and Englishmen movie.