I'm pretty sure this has been asked in the past (perhaps by me) but it's been a LONG time and it's the kind of question where the answer could change based on the day/week it's asked.
Here is mine:
Drums: Glenn Kotche -Amazing musician, great drummer and percussionist. He seems to be always searching for new ways to make percussive sounds in studio. Plus the guy is amazing live. I chose him in spite of the fact that when I recently left my wife (last minute) to drive to NY and see them play, he signed a poster to her saying, "he wished she were there." -He knew he was getting me in more trouble.
Guitar: Since I can't very well reconstruct Wilco (I would say Nels), I'll go with Richard Thompson because the guys a bad-ass and I think he'd be a good fit with the rest of my picks.
Bass: Without a doubt Paul McCartney. -what a bulldog! Most people don't realize how hard the guy works to get a baseline perfect. Even if you're not a McCartney fan, you can't read Here There and Everywhere by Geoff Emerick and not be impressed by his work ethic. But to me, his bass lines are so melodic, in the pocket and... well, McCartney-esque. -He is his own style.
Vocals: EDIT: I'm no longer going with Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian- he's great and all but this band needs more soul and showmanship. I'm going with Mick Jagger -Doesn't get any better really.
I'd love to hear that band. What's yours?
This just shows that I've know nothing about individual bands, or even bands themselves. If you'll permit it, thenewgreen, I'm gonna come up with my favorite hip-hop collaboration. So Kanye and Lupe Fiasco (pre-crazy) team up for the first six tracks, to hype things up. Then Eminem and Kendrick Lamar go in and tear it up mid-way through. Then Chance and Childish Gambino do the last six to calm it down a bit. Daft Punk does the beats for all the tracks. Then, when you flip the disc over, you get a secret second album with all of the Wu-Tang Clan (even Raekwon!) teaming up to deliver that anniversary album that needs to come out.
Myself, on all of them. If only I could make that dream a reality by actually focusing on them for some length of time and keeping the music in my head in there long enough for me to get it on paper. I already have the training in each of them well enough to do it. Alas, dreams. Time. Focus. Motivation.
Yeah, I've done that a number of times. Literally, hundreds of songs but they're nowhere near as cool as the songs the super-group I proposed would write and play.
You certainly did ask this question at some point. I wonder if my answer's any different because I'm not trying for any consistency. Probably Levon Helm, I bet that hasn't changed. Maybe Clapton or Allman on guitar because I can't really imagine Hendrix playing without singing. Steve Cropper -- god damn he can play. I want someone a little funkier than McCartney on bass, so naturally it's got to be Larry Graham. Lastly let's stick Marvin or maybe Aaron Neville or Sam Cooke in front of those guys -- I always wondered what would happen if you'd put one of them in fronting a bunch of white dudes in about 1965. EDIT: ten dollars to whomever can find thenewgreen's old post over this subject.
Found it. It wasn't thenewgreen's original post, flagamuffin. You can donate the $10 to the Phillipines or another worthy cause.
Thank you! sounds_sound with ODB, what a wonderful choice. Mine was quite similar, I guess I haven't changed much. BrainBurner was quite consistent. Interesting to see.
I like it all, but I would definitely go with Allman on guitar. I like Clapton, but we've gotten to see him progress throughout the years. It would be nice to see Duane rocking again. I'd definitely listen to that group.
Here's an emo/screamo supergroup: Pete from Algernon Cadwallader on guitar.
John Galm from Snowing on vocals.
Jon Makowski from My Heart To Joy on bass.
Val Saucedo from Loma Prieta on drums. On paper I feel like this is a mess. But they are all so talented I think they would make it work somehow.
Drums: ?uestlove totally can keep up with anyone anytime. I don't even know how to describe how really well versed in music he really is. If you follow him on twitter sometimes he'll pull out these great esoteric musicians. I don't have examples right now but I've been blown away.
Runner up: Cliff Martinez Guitar: Johnny Thunders When I think of Rock n Roll guitar. This is the man I think of. Simple yet elegant, with the edges still in tact. Thunders makes you wish you could play with him.
Runner up: Jimi Hendrix Bass: Tim Commerford The bassist from Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Because I always get his basslines in my head. I had a few to pick in my head but he was the one who I wanted presently.
Runner Up (and by a very close margin): Les Claypool Vocals: Janelle Monáe Seriously have you HEARD The ArchAndroid ? This lady can BELT it out and from her appearance on SNL has enough energy to power a small town.
Runner Up: Joe Strummer What kind of music would they make? Probably some kind of hip hop meets punk rock collaboration. Maybe they'd change things up a bit. Questlove is quite the producer, and all of them (with the exception of Thunders maybe) make up a huge diverse musical spectrum.