After enjoying the show on Tuesday in Gateshead by another ageing legend with a failing voice I got into a pointless debate about who is the more significant talent, RD or BF? Whilst hugely preferring the music of BF, I had to say RD was more influential, etc. I would say that in his era, he is in the top flight with Lennon/McCartney, Jagger/Richards and Townsend. Whereas in his era, BF is probably at the very top of the second tier (the top tier having only one member: David Bowie).


Views most welcome...........

Sorry, did you say "top tier - David Bowie"?
Sorry, but not in my book.

No need to be sorry! Who is top, then?

Ferry/Roxy is certainly more influential than Bowie.

In my book,Bowie's Ok,but over rated. And his lyrics are crap.I could write better! Alll that Ziggy,Starman,Space crap !! Get a grip !!! And there was something about a man who sold the world!! Whaaat !! How can that rubbish influence anyone !! School boy stuff. And I wrote this left hand!!

Let's remember that Purl said he/she much prefers BF to RD, as do I. One thing's for sure, they're distinctly British.

As for influences; I think BF has had the greater impact but there's no doubt IMO that the RD/early Kinks sound influenced the likes of The Who, The Faces, Dave Edmunds, Paul Weller, Blur, and American garage bands like The Stooges, and I think RDs lyrics and subject matter influenced Morrissey and John Cooper Clarke a lot. And, strangely enough, I think Phil M's vocals sound a helluva lot like RD on 6PM, especially on I Wish You Well.

I loved the early Kinks stuff; I was about 7 when I saw them on TOTP performing All Day & All of the Night, and I can honestly say the sleazy, powerful sound, caused a strange sensation in my little heart..... and elsewhere.

I think Phil M's vocals sound a helluva lot like RD on 6PM, especially on I Wish You Well.

And I think Andy & The Metaphors were rather taken with Waterloo Sunset, weren't they?

I'm not sure that comparisons serve much purpose, but groups like The Kinks probably made those who followed in their wake in the 70s believe (when they were younger) that they could be in a band; in its own way that's very influential.

By the 70s bands were ten-a-penny and glam rock was arguably more about the look than the sound; Roxy's strength was that the group was so different and you got the look AND the sound.

Whether Bowie (or anyone else) was more influential than BF depends on what criteria you use to make your judgement; Bowie certainly cracked the USA to a greater extent.

Bottom line for me is would I have swapped a ticket to see vintage Roxy for a night with any other band? Not in a million years*!

(*OK, I'll admit to a certain jealousy of those who saw Hendrix live! )

[quote="Smudge(*OK, I'll admit to a certain jealousy of those who saw Hendrix live! ) [/quote]

Roxy every time for me too Smudge....

The (late) aunt of my former partner worked behind the bar in the Club A Go Go in Newcastle-on-Tyne for a number of years in the 60s, and I fondly remember talking to her about the music scene then and the acts she'd seen and met, (her whole gang used to knock about with the club's house band The Junco Partners, who were hugely popular, so she was obviously part of the In Crowd). She told me she had to go to Hendrix's dressing room after a gig (in '66 I think) and pay him £250 in cash from out of the till, plus a huge bottle of vodka and a huge bottle of gin!!

Funny debate
FWIW I'd rate bf, db and rd as three of my all time favourites. I'd also add lennon and cale to round it out. Each outstanding in their own way.

There's a line in the movie flashbacks of a fool (great movie showcasing ITIS), where the two main characters debate who was better, db or bf....and decide it's impossible to decide...