[JessThrasher]

Which bands do you think have the best showmanship and why?

Here are my picks:

- Yngwie Malmsteen (what else could you ask for?)

- Steve Vai (Axe swinging, triple neck playing, etc etc)

- Children of Bodom (All their fancy stunts on stage!)

- The Who (not a big fan of guitar smashing,but I still like their showmanship)

- Jimi Hendrix (playing behind his back and all that stuff!)

- Dragonforce (Jumping around the stage and HermanLi swinging his 5 feet of hair around)

- Jess, I and Myself (my axe swinging!)

[coldethyl]

Do you mean showmanship OR posers? Because I definitely think that Yngwie Malmsteen (although obviously talented) is a "poser"

As far as Pete Townshend from The Who, his famous round the world, swinging arm motion is well known and unfortunately smashing guitars like he did became an audience favourite but he got sick of doing it and eventually phased it out of the show.

Jimi Hendrix did his famous playing behind his back, playing the guitar with his teeth, and on some occasions setting fire to his Strat on stage. Again it was more for show, but from what I've learned about Jimi, he was more into the music than throwing his guitar around and setting fire to it. That was why when he started with Band Of Gypsies he tried to make it more of a focus on his technical prowess and the music than the gimmicks.

Steve Vai I have seen in concert and he doesn't seem to be as concerned with all the glitz and flash of playing triple necked guitars as he perhaps used to be. He seems to like his EVO guitars with the trademark monkey grip in the body of the guitar to play now along with his famous JEM series guitar.

One thing Steve Vai has kept in his show which is a showmanship kinda thing is doing a song where he stands alongside his two other rhythm guitarists, and bass player and they play each other's instruments during the song. If you've ever seen the G3 In Denver dvd, they do it on there. It's quite clever!

Cant' say I've seen Herman Li, or Children Of Bodom, so I can't offer any opinions with them.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was another fantastic player who used to put the guitar behind his back whilst doing a solo or playing through one of his songs. But with Stevie it wasn't so much about the showy stuff, but more about the blues.

Can't think of any others apart from the one's you mentioned.

[eXperiment63]

Joe Bonamassa is one hell of a showman!

[GotDeeBlues]

Presonally I find all that "showmanship" trite. Give me a player like Duane Allman, Dicky Betts, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Keb' Mo', Rick Dreringer, Johnny Winter.

[Clancy]

Prince... No one can touch him for showmanship.

[monk]

I'll stand with GotDeeBlues. I prefer musicianship to showmanship.
Regards,
Monk

[kidhaiti]

two of the best acts I've seen in terms of showmanship would have to be James Brown and Fishbone

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by monk

I'll stand with GotDeeBlues. I prefer musicianship to showmanship.
Regards,
Monk

Me too.

But if we're going to talk ultimate showmanship, only one word needs to be said....

[starsailor]

There's a few that put on a good show, I'd put U2 near the top they put a lot of effort into their shows, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Ozzie Osbourne, Iron Maiden with Eddie, Pink Floyd are others that come to mind, it's mostly theatrics though, some of the best bands I've seen, Thin Lizzy, UFO (Michael Schenker was an awesome guitarist), Steely Dan, The Stranglers, Bob Dylan, Bad Company, Judas Priest (before Rob Halford got the Motorbike) Motorhead etc. just got up there and played and didn't really need any tricks.

The ultimate band for showmanship though is Spinal Tap, get the DVD This is Spinal Tap, that's Rock n'Roll.

[flattop6g]

Originally Posted by GotDeeBlues

Presonally I find all that "showmanship" trite. Give me a player like Duane Allman, Dicky Betts, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Keb' Mo', Rick Dreringer, Johnny Winter.

I totally agree with GotDeeBlues. Now days (IMO) these new punk and metal bands especally focus on showmanship rather than the musicianship which (IMO) takes away from not only there playing but also song quaility as a whole take for instant these bands that jump around on stage (IMO What is that). Sure I grant you alot of older bands did it but they put more thought into the music and the other stuff just went along with it. Just like Eric Clapton who is well known for his facial expressions as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan (IMO) a wonderful musician and showman with a perfect balance - who died too soon.

Now there are musicians which are one of my favorites Los Lonely Boys who are all wonderfull musicians and are an excellent live band and its worth the money you pay to see them there sound is the same in person as on cd just louder (IMO). They all play different instruments and play very well. Jojo the bass player can be seen in person or on youtube playing the bass on the stage (literally) on stage, while still keeping the excellent musicianship.

When I go to a concert, I go to listen to music not the stage show and its fine if you like that but musicianship and stage presence with respect to the music is overall for me a greater show than to watch a theatrical spectacal some of these bands that now think this is what you want to see(spitting fake blood, dressing weird, etc). (IMO).

[eXperiment63]

Originally Posted by GotDeeBlues

Presonally I find all that "showmanship" trite. Give me a player like Duane Allman, Dicky Betts, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Keb' Mo', Rick Dreringer, Johnny Winter.

Even those guys are Showman.

I don't like the guys who sling the guitar around and jump around stage like a baboon kicking the air, but a great guitarist can still put on a good show. Guitar faces, the way they move to the music, and their playing; all of those are linked to showmanship.

[scorpius]

I enjoy watching Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) doing his moves while on stage.

[twilli227]

I'll stand with GotDeeBlues. I prefer musicianship to showmanship.

Same here, but I do like Chicago's showmanships.

[Europa]

All the above or good choices.

Nirvana, for smashing guitars and stuff, easy way of not having to do encores.

[Andy S]

Joe Bonamassa is one hell of a showman!

YEH!! I've got two of his DVDs and , well, he sure isn't a "Poser!"

The man DOES poor a ton of energy and himself into his playing. So I wouldn't think of that as a poser. But can he put on a show? Absolutely. Now, don't ask me about his bass player............. poser!!

And yeh, Stevie Ray was all heart and soul in his playing, and it showed. If that's what you want to consider showmanship. Very little planned there. And I've read a couple of old interviews and the remaining two guys from the band said SRV never planned or practiced a move.

And, Clancy hit it on the money!! Prince can play as well as put on a show.

I just look at it this way, if the person can really perform on their instrument and entertain through the skill and interacting with the audience, well, then that's showmanship. Doesn't have to be practiced moves or antics.

But then, that's me........what do I know!!