So first of all, before you freak out, let’s just say this: I set The Beatles aside in this discussion. As they were a complete force of nature in a category all their own, I would never limit The Beatles to simply being a rock band. They were so much more in every way. So Beatles aside, let’s consider this argument.

First some definitions:

Seven grueling years of grad school definitely taught me one thing….if you’re going to discuss anything, first you need to start by examining your definitions. Alsmot any rhetorical argument can be supported by framing and defining the situation correctly. So let’s think about the phrase “Best Rock Band of All Time.”

1. There are multiple definitions of rock possible.
2. There are multiple definitions of what constitutes a rock band.
3. There are multiple definitions of what “best” might mean.
4. There are multiple definitions of what “of all time” might mean.

So in order to effectively make my argument for the bold statement that TP&THB are the Best Rock Band of All Time, let’s do some defining, shall we?

What Does “Rock” Mean?

If you review the literature on rock history, you’ll see that we can pretty much set aside the term “rock and roll,” as that term tends to refer to a 50s era sub genre of rock music. When you look at defining what “rock” music is, you’ll see most definitions involve a guitar based type of music which has a strong back beat. TP&THB clearly meet this definition, although like The Beatles, during their career they refused to be limited to only that type of music and worked other sounds and textures into their work.

What Is a Rock Band?

Obviously, we can define a rock band as a group of musicians that play rock music. But in this case, I think this is an area where the sum of the parts becomes so much greater. Tom’s work as one of the main songwriters in the band along with Mike Campbell, is unmatched. 28 Top Ten hits in 30 years? Who has that type of longevity or sustained popularity? Mike’s guitar playing is tremendously underrated…his ability to give each song the right texture and the right simple addition is never showy like Eddie or Steve Vai, and he’s not a blues based technician/artist a’la Clapton or Joe Bonomassa. Steve Ferrone and Ron Blair as the rhythm section are unmatched…a solid foundation that drives each tune forward. And Steve, like Mike, may be one of the best most underrated players in all of rock music. Benmont Tench’s a miracle….that Tom, Mike and Benmont would connect as teens in Gainesville Florida is nothing short of a miracle when you really think about it. Of course, add in Scott Thurston, who is like the MSG of the group…he mixes the flavors together, doing high harmonies with Tom and playing virtually any instrument to fill out the song.

But the reason why I would argue that TP&THB are special as a band is because all of the individuals are extremely talented on their own, but together they form a unit much stronger than the individual parts. And how they are able to set aside their musical egos in service of every song is something that sets them apart from bands like The Stones (looking at you, Keith & Mick), or Oasis where inter-band turmoil shortens an otherwise stellar career.

Will We Ever Agree On “Best”?

Look, the “best” of anything depends right? To say one type of art or music is the best is to take a step into pure hubris. When you consider “best” means excellent or above all others, most reasonable folks would say there can be no best, that it’s all personal opinion. But if career longevity, cultural impact, a strong catalog of melodic and popular songs, and tremendous live performances matter, then I think it’s safe to say TP&THB rank in the top three at least. To me, songs like “105 Degrees” and live versions of “You Don’t Know How It Feels” pretty much end the “best” argument in favor of the band.

All Time? Seriously? Like Forever?

If you look at music history, you’ll see that rock traces it’s roots to either the 1930s, 1940s, or 1950s, depending on what you read. So let’s call it 70 years, generally, of rock music. TP&THB had a career spanning more than half of that time, all with tremendous impact. Sure, other bands maybe burned brighter for shorter times like The Who or Guns and Roses. Or those that did last a long time had inter-band turmoil or uneven at best releases…like Van Halen and The Stones. But TP&THB were steady, consistent, and brilliant all the way til the end. And frankly, I would argue that Tom’s daughter and the band members who are stewarding the band’s legacy now after Tom left us have only burnished that reputation, with songs that Ton discarded that are still amazingly good, better than most other bands could hope for.

Conclusion

Clearly, TP&THB are a band that stands apart. For musicianship, for songwriting, for impact and longevity, the band is one of the most singular success stories in all of rock. Now we can certainly argue about that word “best” as I would expect you to….I mean, I struggle not saying The Clash are the best. Or Elton John. Or ELO. Or any one of a number of other artists I love. But TP&THB are the vinyl that just keeps landing on my turntable. Which is how I conduct my primary research in this area anyway…time to go back to the media room and study a bit more. You know TP&THB will be my primary source.