Which bands had a definite control freak among their ranks?

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I know Barry Gibb was always supposed to be a bit of a tyrant... Johnny Ramone too... Who else? Corgan?

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Monday, 20 November 2006 13:11 (eighteen years ago)

M*k* L*v*

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 November 2006 13:13 (eighteen years ago)

Paul McCarthny

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 November 2006 13:23 (eighteen years ago)

The Fall, maybe

― 808 the Bassking (Andrew Thames), Monday, 20 November 2006 13:24 (eighteen years ago)

The Buddy Rich Big Band.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 November 2006 13:28 (eighteen years ago)

Pah!

Which bands did not?

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 November 2006 13:36 (eighteen years ago)

i'm not talking about a prominent songwriter or frontman, i'm talking about serious "YOU WILL WEAR THESE PARTICULAR SNEAKERS OR YOU ARE OUT THE BAND" type mentalness.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Monday, 20 November 2006 13:37 (eighteen years ago)

corgan, yes
dave mustaine
jaymz and lars in tandem

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Monday, 20 November 2006 14:13 (eighteen years ago)

James Brown...(would fine band members for missing a beat in rehearsals)

― hank (hank s), Monday, 20 November 2006 14:14 (eighteen years ago)

^^^ yes

how about roger waters, circa the wall and the final cut

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Monday, 20 November 2006 14:17 (eighteen years ago)

I thought about posting JB also, but stopped because he wasn't in a band, he employed a band. he was the boss. crucial distinction. though of course he's frontrunner in the control-freak sweepstakes.

see also: Frank Zappa, Cap'n Beefheart, maybe PiL. Black Flag?

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Monday, 20 November 2006 14:22 (eighteen years ago)

I had always figured Green Gartside to be a big control freak, but when I saw him the other night, both he and his band seemed pretty relaxed...maybe he's mellowing in his middle age...(or maybe I've been very wrong in my impression of him)...

― hank (hank s), Monday, 20 November 2006 15:02 (eighteen years ago)

Kevin Rowland was kind of a nutcase, wasn't he?

― Good-Time Slim, Uncle Doobie, and the Great 'Frisco Freak-Out (sixteen sergeants, Monday, 20 November 2006 15:05 (eighteen years ago)

What kind of tyrant was David Byrne?

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Monday, 20 November 2006 15:08 (eighteen years ago)

"I thought about posting JB also, but stopped because he wasn't in a band, he employed a band. he was the boss. crucial distinction."

Zappa employed many of his bands out of his own pocket, at least in the later years.

― jamesy (SuzyCreemcheese), Monday, 20 November 2006 15:09 (eighteen years ago)

howso with PiL? seems like jah, keith, and johnny all had their say. i mean, "albatross" was written and recorded on the spot. Control freaks don't do stuff like that.

― Fetchboy (Felcher), Monday, 20 November 2006 15:18 (eighteen years ago)

Yes, and every track he ever wrote was always co-credited with all the musicians on the original version.

Paul Cook and Ginger Baker have earned nicely because of this..

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 November 2006 15:24 (eighteen years ago)

good call on Kevin Rowland...I understand he would lead the band in calisthenics during the Young Soul Rebel phase, and there were tales about band-wide bans on drinking and drugs...

― hank (hank s), Monday, 20 November 2006 15:33 (eighteen years ago)

oh jeeze, how could I forget Sun Ra! I knew about making all his bandmembers live in a house together and abstain from drugs and all that, but I just read this on wikipedia the other day and had a good chuckle:

According to jazz contrabassist Juini Booth, who was himself a member of the Arkestra, Sun Ra would not confront any musician whose performance he was unsatisfied with. Instead, Sun Ra would simply gather the entire Arkestra minus the offending musician, and skip town, leaving the fired musician stranded. After repeated instances of U.S. Jazz musicians becoming stranded in exotic countries, many of which enforced conservative laws incompatible with American Jazz culture, Sun Ra's unique method of dismissal became a diplomatic liability for the United States. The U.S. State Department was compelled to tell Sun Ra to bring any fired musicians stateside rather than leaving them stranded.

― Good-Time Slim, Uncle Doobie, and the Great 'Frisco Freak-Out (sixteen sergeants, Monday, 20 November 2006 16:02 (eighteen years ago)

Also, Prince, no ? (with the Revolutions)

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 20 November 2006 16:04 (eighteen years ago)

all of them with a drummer.

― space2k (space2k), Monday, 20 November 2006 21:56 (eighteen years ago)

the Fall comment up top has me laughing ....

Saw (as much as I love his music, I hate to say this...) Jason Faulkner a few years back at Double Door in Chicago and he seemed like absolute Hitler with his backing band - like they were going to replicate the string, syrup and Nigel Godrich production live in a club - very disappointing ... Could this be a contributing factor as to why there is no new label for his new record? To Jellyfish/Grays breakups? That said, his records are great, as is any time I've seen him solo with just him and a guitar.

― SonicDeath (BlackIronPrison), Monday, 20 November 2006 22:03 (eighteen years ago)

Television.

― mike a (mike a), Monday, 20 November 2006 22:06 (eighteen years ago)

James Brown...(would fine band members for missing a beat in rehearsals)

I believe that Rivers Cuomo does/did the same thing.

I thought about posting JB also, but stopped because he wasn't in a band, he employed a band. he was the boss. crucial distinction. though of course he's frontrunner in the control-freak sweepstakes.

But many "bands" are bands in name only. The Fall seem to be Mark E. Smith and whoever fits his whims at the time. I read that the memebrs of Razorlight who aren't Johnny Borell, are paid wages (though apparently thay've been helping to write stuff, so maybe that situation has changed).

― Ben Dot (1977), Monday, 20 November 2006 22:51 (eighteen years ago)

My Bloody Valentine

― Stephen Bush (Stephen B.), Monday, 20 November 2006 23:01 (eighteen years ago)

Van Halen

― tk (tk), Monday, 20 November 2006 23:14 (eighteen years ago)

I bet Bowie's a bit of a tyrant. According to legend, The Spiders from Mars didn't even know they were going to be out of a job until a half hour or so before Bowie "retired" them at the Hammersmith.

― vartman (novaheat), Monday, 20 November 2006 23:19 (eighteen years ago)

He's not! He's always given his backing musicians songwriting credit; and most of his "classic" songs post-Ziggy were written in the studio.

besides, he's not in a band.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 20 November 2006 23:25 (eighteen years ago)

Pink Floyd did. Until after "The Final Cut".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 20 November 2006 23:28 (eighteen years ago)

The Fall considered as band (whatever yr own fave lineup) >>>>>>>>> The Fall considered as MES+"yr granny on bongos"

― scriblerus (mike lynch), Monday, 20 November 2006 23:57 (eighteen years ago)

Muddy Waters was evidently fairly strict about rehearsal and dress code for live performances, but most of his bandmembers still thought he was a good guy.

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 00:12 (eighteen years ago)

Brian Jonestown Massacre certainly qualifies.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 00:17 (eighteen years ago)

^-- very true. Anton is maniacal (at least acording to 'dig'). John Fogarty would tell the other musicians in CCR exactly what to play in the studio. Apparently they were not as competent as he wished which was a cause of great frustration for him.

― jodawo (jodawo), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 01:46 (eighteen years ago)

SPIRITUALIZED

― You've Got Scourage On Your Breath (Haberdager), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 01:47 (eighteen years ago)

Dire Straits was hardly the most democratic band around.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 02:08 (eighteen years ago)

any 'young virtuoso-guided' band, i.e. the left banke

― derrick (derrick), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 02:10 (eighteen years ago)

Tears for Fears

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 03:07 (eighteen years ago)

rumor has it that Bowie was the one pulling the strings in Tin Machine...(you didn't hear that from me)...

― hank (hank s), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 04:55 (eighteen years ago)

Black Flag ?

― toe-foo (toe-foo), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 11:41 (eighteen years ago)

Genesis P-Orridge.

― R_S (RSLaRue), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 12:10 (eighteen years ago)

Black Flag ?

-- toe-foo (grapst...) (webmail), Today 11:41 AM. (later) (link)

Hmm, either Henry Rollins or Gregg Ginn wants a word with you.

You choose.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 12:16 (eighteen years ago)

KILLING JOKE following the departure of the comparatively well-balanced-if-occasionally-violent Big Paul Ferguson.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 12:37 (eighteen years ago)

Andy Partridge was control freak enough for Dave Gregory to leave.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 12:39 (eighteen years ago)

And, also, he disliked "Skylarking" strongly for a long time, after several conflicts with its control freak producer Todd Rundgren (whose solo work is often the result of one man's work alone).

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 12:40 (eighteen years ago)

I thought it was a case of disliking Him, rather than the album which he acknowledged he did a good job on.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 12:50 (eighteen years ago)

Jeff Lynne - he put everyone else in ELO on wages (except top Tory drummer Bev "Bev" Bevan), sacked the string section when they had their biggest hit without strings ("Don't Bring Me Down") and stopped the group without telling anyone. The Lynne-less ELO II I believe ended up playing places like Cromer Pier and Butlins Minehead.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 13:33 (eighteen years ago)

YYYs

― FACEBRACE (FACEBRACE), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 14:06 (eighteen years ago)

I get the impression that Weezer is one of these bands.

― richard wood johnson (rwj), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 15:46 (eighteen years ago)

would I be off-base in assuming that Stuart Murdoch is a bit of a control freak himself?

― hank (hank s), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 15:54 (eighteen years ago)

How about any band Ritchie Blackmore has ever graced with his presence? I've heard he was a really fun guy to collaborate with, a real breath of fresh air.

― Bill Magill (Bill Magill), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 15:58 (eighteen years ago)

Paul "The Guys Get Shirts" Anka.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 16:22 (eighteen years ago)

britt daniel

― pernicus (pernicus), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 17:58 (eighteen years ago)

britt's no control freak - i know the guy personally, and spoon is very much a group effort

― Jeff Edward Tom (Stephen B.), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 18:04 (eighteen years ago)

Greg Norton , Husker Du.

― Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountain Dog (Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountai), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 23:11 (eighteen years ago)

Dunno if he was on wages or not, but "Time" features more of Richard Tandy than any other ELO album before or since.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 01:35 (eighteen years ago)

Felt!!

― Ice Cream Electric (Ice Cream Electric), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 01:50 (eighteen years ago)

Charles Mingus was not be shy about letting people in his band know when he did not like their playing.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 02:48 (eighteen years ago)

britt daniel
-- pernicus (pernicuspau...), November 21st, 2006 11:58 AM. (pernicus) (later) (link)
britt's no control freak - i know the guy personally, and spoon is very much a group effort
-- Jeff Edward Tom (suckmytain...), November 21st, 2006 12:04 PM. (Stephen B.) (later) (link)

Wow. That only took six minutes.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 05:42 (eighteen years ago)

The Jam, maybe?

― Joe Isuzu's Petals (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 06:03 (eighteen years ago)

television

― wordy rappinghood (roxymuzak), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 06:04 (eighteen years ago)

The Shaggs

― The Redd And The Blecch (Ken L), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 06:16 (eighteen years ago)

oh wait

― The Redd And The Blecch (Ken L), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 06:24 (eighteen years ago)

The Wu-Tang Clan.

― Guy Incognito (Guy Incognito), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 07:38 (eighteen years ago)

The Police

― braveclub (braveclub), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 15:04 (eighteen years ago)

Wait... this is SO a list thread.

― braveclub (braveclub), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 15:13 (eighteen years ago)

it's a doglatin thread started in nov 06 so yeah

― 2 american 4 u (blueski), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 15:20 (eighteen years ago)

The Modern Lovers.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 16:01 (eighteen years ago)

Ha!
And, by that token, The Velvet Underground.

― The Redd And The Blecch (Ken L), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 16:07 (eighteen years ago)

Actually I'm getting a bit pissed off with people just listing bands with prominent frontmen. Don't list unless you got a good reason and/or can explain it.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 16:09 (eighteen years ago)

OK. Modern Lovers: Jonathan Richman started telling interviewers that he didn't want to make music that "hurt the ears of little infants." To that end, he began chastising his bandmates to turn down onstage and, generally, trying to make them into the opposite of the band that made "She Cracked" and "Pablo Picasso." Which may be why that band dispersed into the Talking Heads, Cars, etc.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

VU: Lou wanted John out, said it was either "him or me," and made Sterling fire him. Some complaints from others that he wasn't playing his parts properly during the reunion. See also: his relationship with Robert Quine.

― The Redd And The Blecch (Ken L), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 17:25 (eighteen years ago)

I didn't talk about the Jam because I don't know. Weller was unilaterally in charge enough to break the band up without giving much thought to Foxton/Buckler, but did he micromanage the band's affairs leading up to that?

Another definite control freak: John Fogerty.
It was around this time that tensions began to grow. The incessant touring and heavy recording schedules were starting to take their toll on the band. Inarguably the band's leader, John Fogerty, gradually took total control of the group, determining what songs they would record, how the other three band members would play, and where they would tour. This arrangement began to grate on the other members of CCR, particularly Tom Fogerty, who had shared singer and songwriter duties with his younger brother prior to the band hitting the big time, but who was now relegated to the role of rhythm guitarist.

Other bones of contention included John's sudden decision in the midst of one of their tours to refuse to do encores again; his growing penchant for "instructing" his bandmates in how to play their instruments; and a series of business decisions made by John in the band's name, many of which he would come to bitterly regret, and often find himself in court attempting to undo. (Wikipedia)

― Joe Isuzu's Petals (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

Regarding Sting being a possible control freak: If he was one, then we would have been saved for those awful Andy Summers songs.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 22:32 (eighteen years ago)

Andy Partridge was control freak enough for Dave Gregory to leave.

and colin moulding too, if recent rumours are true.

And, also, he disliked "Skylarking" strongly for a long time, after several conflicts with its control freak producer Todd Rundgren (whose solo work is often the result of one man's work alone).

i always found it fittingly ironic that partridge hated what was far-and-away the best xtc album. rundgren managed to reign in andy's cutesy-clever tendencies (for the most part).

― Lawrence the Looter (Lawrence the Looter), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 22:43 (eighteen years ago)

and pete townshend? granted, keith moon couldn't be controlled as such, but pete's demos (the ones starting in the late 60s, where he overdubbed himself playing everything) basically laid out everything he wanted the band to play/sing.

― Lawrence the Looter (Lawrence the Looter), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 23:12 (eighteen years ago)

Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones. Not surprising really, as the final result/songs always seemed like stuff a single person could create in the studio rather than any musician interplay.

I also love the Billy Corgan story of how he rerecorded "Siamese Dream" with just him and Chamberlin. When questioned about this accusation, he said "It wouldn't be politically correct to say."

I'm fascinated by creative control freaks. I kinda admire the singular vision they have and how being an asshole almost comes part and parcel with it.

It's neat that McCartney and Lennon were both control freaks, but they cancelled each out while in the same band. But poor George and Ringo.

― Viz (Viz), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 23:20 (eighteen years ago)

"I was always rather beastly to George"

― The Redd And The Blecch (Ken L), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 23:27 (eighteen years ago)

As for Barry Gibb, to be honest I have no idea. Can someone shed a little light?

Johnny Ramone is well documented. Other than dictating everything the band wore for 20 years (much to Dee Dee's disdain, who wanted to be more punk rock), he also more or less bullied Joey on a daily basis. A staunch Conservative, Johnny thanked President Bush during a major award ceremony (can't remember which tbh) and absolutely hated Joey's Reagan-baiting "Bonzo Goes To Bitburg". Joey was always reluctant to defend his Jewish heritage and his left-wing sympathies because of this.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Thursday, 23 November 2006 00:29 (eighteen years ago)

Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones. Not surprising really, as the final result/songs always seemed like stuff a single person could create in the studio rather than any musician interplay.

er ... weren't all JJ's recordings done by mike edwards on his own anyway? i thought the "band" only existed for touring purposes, in which case it'd make perfect sense for them to be waged musicians only.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Thursday, 23 November 2006 01:26 (eighteen years ago)

That's entirely possible. Having a "band" with "mates" seemed like the rock n roll thing to do if you were GOING TO RIP OPEN THE SEAMS BETWEEN DANCE AND ROCK.

Though I do remember seeing something on TV where both Edwards and Baker (the keyboardist) were in the studio together.

― Viz (Viz), Thursday, 23 November 2006 01:54 (eighteen years ago)

wasn't Don Henley quite the control freak when in the Eagles?

Axl Rose: Apparently one of the reason's Stradlin quit was that Axl gave him a contract which specified the parts of the stage on which Izzy was allowed to go.

― Matthew E. Armstrong (gensu3k1), Thursday, 23 November 2006 07:57 (eighteen years ago)

How about Andy McCluskey? He ended up being OMD all alone for some time, quite a sign to me.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 23 November 2006 11:54 (eighteen years ago)

That's not a sign enough.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 23 November 2006 12:04 (eighteen years ago)

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