3 fave British bands

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What are your three favourite British (incl. Irish) bands of all-time? If the favourite and the most important bands would be different for you please tell me both. This is just a kind of experiment. I'd like to know who names the same bands I'd name.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Sunday, 8 September 2002 20:54 (twenty-three years ago)

My typical, noncompelling answers are My Bloody Valentine, Pulp, and Joy Division.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Sunday, 8 September 2002 20:59 (twenty-three years ago)

The Smiths
Jesus & Mary Chain
My Bloody Valentine

― Juan Marquez, Sunday, 8 September 2002 20:59 (twenty-three years ago)

The Beatles
New Order
Wire

― paul cox, Sunday, 8 September 2002 21:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Pulp
Saint Etienne
R.O.C.

― alexfack, Sunday, 8 September 2002 21:29 (twenty-three years ago)

The Beatles

The Police

King Crimson (though I am finding it harder to enjoy them since they regrettably decided to reform)

― bris, Sunday, 8 September 2002 22:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Beatles, Rolling Stones, Clash. sorry, anti-canonists

― M Matos (M Matos), Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:07 (twenty-three years ago)

bronski beat, the orb, so solid crew

― simon trife (simon_tr), Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:16 (twenty-three years ago)

The Rolling Stones pre-1981
The Who pre-1971
The Smiths

HONOURABLE MENTION: The Clash, The Slits, Soft Machine, The Buzzcocks, Adam and the Ants

― Jody Beth Rosen, Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:16 (twenty-three years ago)

xtc
the clash
half man half biscuit

honorouble mentions: massive attack, stereolab, my bloody valentine, the cocteau twins

― angelo (angelo), Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:26 (twenty-three years ago)

oh can we dor honorable mentions now?
St. Etienne, Verve, Portishead...

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Are we talking favourite British bands or favourite BRITISH bands? Or do we just assume that the best British bands are BRITISH? 'Cos The Rolling Stones and The Gang Of Four don't seem particuarly BRITISH to me; by the same token, groups like The Kinks and The Divine Comedy aren't amongst my top3 bands from Great Britain, but if I want to revel in a strong dose of BRITISHNESS, it's them I'd run to.

― Daniel_Rf, Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Gang of Four couldn't be anything BUT British considering their timeline and everything else.

― M Matos (M Matos), Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Matos: I dunno, I could imagine them as Germans. They could switch with Die Goldenen Zitronen (c'mon, "Ich Liebe Manner In Uniform", "Liebe Wie Anthrax", it's a no-brainer!)

― Daniel_Rf, Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:51 (twenty-three years ago)

The Kinks, the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols

― Arthur (Arthur), Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:53 (twenty-three years ago)

omd, the close lobsters and moose.

omd for the most perfect nasally voice ever, close lobsters for not having a flute and moose for their cover of 'everybody's talking' and everything else.

― keith, Sunday, 8 September 2002 23:59 (twenty-three years ago)

oh wait close lobsters were scottish, so i switch to talulah gosh.

― keith, Monday, 9 September 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pulp
The Cure
Orbital

and one day, someone will form a band combining the best bits of all three...

― Charlie, Monday, 9 September 2002 00:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Black Sabbath, Motorhead, The Raincoats

― Kris (aqueduct), Monday, 9 September 2002 00:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Beatles
Sex Pistols
Roxy Music

― Burr, Monday, 9 September 2002 00:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Beatles
XTC
Stereolab

― dleone (dleone), Monday, 9 September 2002 00:39 (twenty-three years ago)

human league
stones
gang of four

― Brock K. (Brock K.), Monday, 9 September 2002 01:07 (twenty-three years ago)

- KILLING JOKE

- The Stranglers

- Gang of Four

HONORABLE MENTION: Buzzcocks, XTC, Julian Cope, Joy Division

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 9 September 2002 01:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Radiohead
The Smiths
Talk Talk

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Monday, 9 September 2002 01:28 (twenty-three years ago)

The Zombies
The Clash
The Boo Radleys

I weep to not have included Lulu, The Who and XTC. No I don't. But I like them too.

― Matt C., Monday, 9 September 2002 01:50 (twenty-three years ago)

The Kinks
Blur
Pulp

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 9 September 2002 01:54 (twenty-three years ago)

The Who
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Pulp

― Al (sitcom), Monday, 9 September 2002 01:58 (twenty-three years ago)

The Smiths
New Order/Joy Division
Depeche Mode

― mmesker (mmesker), Monday, 9 September 2002 03:10 (twenty-three years ago)

I am surprised that though the three bands I was thinking of have been mentioned several times no one has picked all three of them yet.
And I thought it would be a rather obvious choice. The last pick was the closest: two out of three.

I wasn't thinking of the Britishness of the bands. Just that they come from that island about 30km behind Calais...

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Monday, 9 September 2002 03:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Felt
Tindersticks
Pulp

― Captain Sleep (Captain Sleep), Monday, 9 September 2002 05:17 (twenty-three years ago)

The Smiths
Belle and Sebastian
Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 9 September 2002 05:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Subway Sect
Stockholm Monsters
The Honeycombs

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 9 September 2002 06:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Two by miles:

The Fall
Disco Inferno

And then lots of competition for third place: MBV, Talk Talk, AR Kane, New Order ect ect

― RickyT (RickyT), Monday, 9 September 2002 07:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I haven't heard anything of any of the bands you mention, Dr. C. That's rather weird, did I miss something?

Actually that's not quite true. I heard an mp3 of the Stockholm Monsters which didn't leave lasting memories (though it wasn't bad) and considering that The Honeycombs had some hits I possibly heard some of them on the radio without knowing the name of the band.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Monday, 9 September 2002 07:11 (twenty-three years ago)

**That's rather weird, did I miss something**

I think so, but you may not care for them.

Almost equally deserving would be The Kinks, The Zombies, Joy Div/New Order, The Raincoats, Magazine, Blue Orchids, Buzzcocks, Ludus, Sex Pistols, The Who, The Move, Human League........and on and on

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 9 September 2002 07:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't have a definitive top ten, but at various times in the past I've been certain these bands were the greatest in the World, (usually at gigs)

Gallon Drunk

The Fall (qu'elle fucking surprise-ah)

The Wedding Present

Can '2 Bad Mice', AFX or Herbert be classed as bands?

― nick.K (nick.K), Monday, 9 September 2002 07:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Beatles, Fall, does Aphex Twin count?

― Keith McD (Keith McD), Monday, 9 September 2002 08:10 (twenty-three years ago)

AMM, ascension and skullflower

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 9 September 2002 08:35 (twenty-three years ago)

The questioner did wonder if our favourite bands were different from the most important bands. I can only assume that this is the case for most of us. As for my 'ooh no-one's mentioned them yet' choices, THE BEAT, MADNESS and THE SPECIALS deserve special gongs. But, in terms of wit, tunes, influence and the whole bloody package, THE SMITHS are the best (my fave) British band of all time.

― Daniel (dancity), Monday, 9 September 2002 08:43 (twenty-three years ago)

1)joy division/new order
2)the beta band
3)the beatles

― michael w., Monday, 9 September 2002 08:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Current favourites - Radiohead, Brian Eno, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. Most important to me personally over time - Radiohead, the Beatles, Pink Floyd.

― Damian (Damian), Monday, 9 September 2002 08:58 (twenty-three years ago)

Massive Attack, Gang of Four and the Jam

― nathalie (nathalie), Monday, 9 September 2002 09:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh bugger knows. My favourite is The Smiths, other stuff rotates. I've just realised that I don't really like any British bands before 1972!! (The Beatles come closest probably). The best bands in Britain currently are Mis-Teeq, The Streets and the Beta Band.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 9 September 2002 09:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh OK if you do want 3 all-time: Smiths, Pulp, KLF/JAMMS.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 9 September 2002 09:06 (twenty-three years ago)

The Beatles
The Rolling Stones

Thinking about answering this question made me realise that I think there have only been two great British bands. This is very surprising.

― ArfArf, Monday, 9 September 2002 09:52 (twenty-three years ago)

are MBV british though?

(when answering the question i forgot that punk existed (no cofee, I woke up at 11 am) so the answer i have given does change).

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 9 September 2002 09:56 (twenty-three years ago)

The Chemical Brothers (which reminds me!), Orbital, and fuck it Jon Carter, I can name a DJ if I want to.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 9 September 2002 10:26 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm going to blatantly cheat and answer twice:

a) Underworld, Wedding Present, Pet Shop Boys.
b) Orbital, Smiths, New Order

Special prize for drawing a diagram showing the relationships between these acts.

― Alan (Alan), Monday, 9 September 2002 10:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh bloody hell I forgot the Pet Shop Boys. Scratch Pulp and put in the PSBs then.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 9 September 2002 10:38 (twenty-three years ago)

The Cranberries, U2, Gemma Hayes.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 9 September 2002 10:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Skipping 38 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

interpol

the strokes

guided by voices

― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Monday, 9 September 2002 17:53 (twenty-three years ago)

woops, looks like someone already made that joke. sorry

― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Monday, 9 September 2002 17:58 (twenty-three years ago)

I dunno, can't think of three that I really like. Teenage Fanclub and the Delgados maybe. My top three German bands would be Komeit, Kraftwerk and Hermann and Kline.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 9 September 2002 18:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Pulp and the Rolling Stones, definitely. Third place is a difficult one, with the Faces, Buzzcocks, Massive Attack, Underworld and others contending, but I think I'll go for T. Rex. Two of those are certainly not among the most important British bands ever, and plainly the Beatles would have to be in that list with the Stones and someone else, maybe the Sex Pistols?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 9 September 2002 19:05 (twenty-three years ago)

flying lizards
comet gain
tv personalities

but it´s really impossible

― Jens (brighter), Monday, 9 September 2002 19:53 (twenty-three years ago)

The best British band is The Shadow Ring.

― hstencil, Monday, 9 September 2002 20:04 (twenty-three years ago)

The Beta Band love is baffling me as well, Stars. As far as AR Kane are concerned, I'm sure they'd let you eat them if you asked nicely enough.

― RickyT (RickyT), Monday, 9 September 2002 20:19 (twenty-three years ago)

These have already been mentioned:

Autechre
Motörhead
The Sisters Of Mercy

I guess these three are the only British entries I would place in a "top 20 bands ever", surprisingly.

― Siegbran Hetteson (eofor), Monday, 9 September 2002 20:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Only 3? *sigh*

The Cure (SURPRISE!)
Depeche Mode
New Order

But where does that leave Pet Shop Boys, The Smiths, The Prodigy, Orbital, Portishead, Massive Attack, Nitzer Ebb, Soul II Soul, Radiohead, Led Zepplin, Love and Rockets, Lush, Shriekback, The The, Squarepusher, Aphex Twin and Chemical Brothers? THREE IS FAR TOO FEW (and I know I've forgotten someone).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 9 September 2002 20:53 (twenty-three years ago)

kinks
the fall
my bloody valentine

― gygax!, Monday, 9 September 2002 20:59 (twenty-three years ago)

i say:

smiths
fall
jam

but my mate says

orange juice
sex pistols
small faces

but i know for a fact we both like joy division best of all...
and that the best record of all time was confusingly made by jamc...

― kieron, Monday, 9 September 2002 21:06 (twenty-three years ago)

I too am surprised by the massive love for Pulp. Jarvis Cocker = ILM's great leveler?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 9 September 2002 23:16 (twenty-three years ago)

No there are some people who hate him. But he has pretty wide support. For some people - my girlfriend for instance - Pulp are the only 'indie'-ish band they can even bear.

In my current bands thing replace Betas with Clientele (not cos the Betas are bad Beta Hatas)

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 08:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Arrrharrrharrrharrrrhharrrr

Best Gag Of The Thread!

Welll done Tom!!!

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 08:41 (twenty-three years ago)

'60s: The Kinks
'70s: Joy Division
'80s: Cocteau Twins
'90s: My Bloody Valentine

― Fede, Tuesday, 10 September 2002 12:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I said 3, not 4, but that pick comes closest to mine. Between The Cocteaus and The Smiths it is quite a difficult choice.

The Kinks I hardly know, I always hated Lola, You Really Got Me was rather nice though. Where to start with The Kinks?

MBV had one album in the 90s which totally hit me at the time but now it sounds pretty dull.

The most memorable bands from the 90s are Blur and Massive Attack I would guess, but in Burgundy wine speak both of them are premier cru but not grand cru.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 13:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Oooh does KATE BUSH count? OK OK she may not have been a BAND but I am sure she had a regular troupe of backing singerz/instrument players hem-hem.

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 13:09 (twenty-three years ago)

**Where to start with The Kinks?**

Start with Something Else or Village Green Preservation Society. Then get Face To Face and Arthur. Then get Kinda Kinks, The Kinks Kontroversy and The Kinks (debut).

Or get any of them, they're all fantastic.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 14:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Are people mixing British and English? A lot of people are putting up Pulp and XTC who as distillers of the English experience would be in the top 5 at for many of us ... but that's another thread? ... as bands-who-happen-to-be-from-England (let alone bands-who-happen-to-be-from Britain), well...

Anyway:
The Beatles. The Clash. The Smiths. Joy Division.
I can't drop one of those, I'd rather sever a limb.

bubbling under:
The Subway Sect. Massiveattack. Tricky. Steel Pulse. Oh lord, this will just go on for ever

Anf finally:
More proof that I LOVE YOU ALL:
No one has mentioned Oasis or the Stone Roses... thanks be to god. Tho actually the Happy Mondays do have a claim...

― jon, Tuesday, 10 September 2002 15:14 (twenty-three years ago)

What Dr. C said. All great suggestions. Village Green Society is *lovely*.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 16:58 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

Q magazine staff select 50 Best British Albums
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2990572

1. Oasis – Definitely Maybe
2. The Beatles – Revolver
3. Sex Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks – Here’s the Sex Pistols
4. Radiohead – OK Computer
5. The Clash – London Calling
6. David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
7. The Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
8. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead
9. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin III
10. Massive Attack – Blue Lines
11. Van Morrison – Astral Weeks
12. Blur – Parklife
13. Primal Scream – Screamadelica
14. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
15. The Specials – The Specials
16. Queen – A Night At The Opera
17. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
18. The Who – My Generation
19. Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
20. The Jam – All Mod Cons
21. The Kinks – The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
22. Joy Division – Closer
23. Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
24. Happy Mondays – Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches
25. Nick Drake – Bryter Layter
26. The Coral – Magic and Medicine
27. John Lennon – John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band
28. Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
29. Prodigy – Music For The Jilted Generation
30. Pulp – Different Class
31. Small Faces – Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake
32. The Verve – Urban Hymns
33. Black Sabbath – Paranoid
34. The Streets – Original Pirate Material
35. Gang Of Four – Entertainment!
36. The Human League – Dare
37. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
38. Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol 1
39. Ian Dury – New Boots and Panties!!
40. The Undertones – The Undertones
41. Fairport Convention – Unhalfbricking
42. Super Furry Animals – Fuzzy Logic
43. Robbie Williams – Life Thru A Lens
44. Muse – Origin of Symmetry
45. Iron Maiden – The Number of The Beast
46. Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go
47. Steel Pulse – Handsworth Revolution
48. The Cure – Disintegration
49. Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
50. Pet Shop Boys – Very

I suppose the obvious ILM thread would be nominate the best 50 British albums not listed in this Q poll.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

1. Stone Roses
2. New Order
3. Slowdive

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Friday, 28 May 2004 22:02 (twenty-one years ago)

my bloody valentine
massive attack
blur

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 28 May 2004 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

i almost find myself in agreement with be sure to loop loop loop abuot the current state of british music in comparison to other countries music. we seem to be somewhat behind at the moment, maybe it is our teeth?

― charltonlido (gareth), Friday, 28 May 2004 22:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Funny how Oasis doesn't pop up in anyone's list, yet all these English magazines keep saying they're the best band ever (I'll never get it).

Anyway, mine:

The Cure
Cocteau Twins
Pet Shop Boys

― Seb (Seb), Saturday, 29 May 2004 04:29 (twenty-one years ago)

my bloody valentine
massive attack
blur
-- weasel diesel

otm as hell

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Saturday, 29 May 2004 05:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Led Zeppelin
Beatles
Black Sabbath

Yeah, as unoriginal a troika as any you'll find. So feel free to criticize - I'll just turn it up louder and drown you out!

(I guarantee my American choices are much less canonical. Hey - that's the first time I've ever used that word!)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Saturday, 29 May 2004 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Belle and Sebastian, Trash Can Sinatras, Jesus and Mary Chain

(+ several thousand honourable mentions, most of whom are upthread already)

oh wait close lobsters were scottish, so i switch to talulah gosh.

Did I miss the bit when independence for Scotland occurred?

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 29 May 2004 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I only get 3 choices?!?!?!?

I don't think I like this thread.

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fall, Roxy Music, Van der Graaf Generator.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

The Smiths
The Fall
The Beatles

Surprisingly easy, really.

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Sab Zep Queen

― dave q, Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

How the fuck did I forget Roxy Music?

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Sunday, 30 May 2004 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

six years pass...

The Smiths
Jesus & Mary Chain
My Bloody Valentine
― Juan Marquez, Sunday, September 8, 2002

good choices at the beginning of the thread.

― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 9 August 2010 02:13 (fifteen years ago)

1. Fleetwood Mac
2. The Zombies
3. Radiohead

― Moka, Monday, 9 August 2010 05:47 (fifteen years ago)

Didn't knew 'my bloody valentine' were british until seeing them mentioned all over thread.

― Moka, Monday, 9 August 2010 05:49 (fifteen years ago)

Also surprised I'm the first one to mention Fleetwood Mac. Thought we loved them over here.

― Moka, Monday, 9 August 2010 05:52 (fifteen years ago)

'british' 3

― J0rdan S., Monday, 9 August 2010 05:53 (fifteen years ago)

ha, didn't mean to post that 3

― J0rdan S., Monday, 9 August 2010 05:53 (fifteen years ago)

Didn't knew 'my bloody valentine' were british until seeing them mentioned all over thread.

They aren't but the first post said (controversially): What are your three favourite British (incl. Irish) bands of all-time?

― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Monday, 9 August 2010 10:43 (fifteen years ago)

The Smiths
The Fall
Half Man Half Biscuit

― Michael B, Monday, 9 August 2010 10:50 (fifteen years ago)

gay dad
cud
shed seven

― pulsing organs (electricsound), Monday, 9 August 2010 10:55 (fifteen years ago)

What, no Dodgy?

― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Monday, 9 August 2010 10:56 (fifteen years ago)

Britain does have some claim over MBV, half the band (in their popular line-up) are English and they lived in London. But yeah.

― a fucking stove just fell on my foot. (Colonel Poo), Monday, 9 August 2010 10:59 (fifteen years ago)

Talking Heads
AC/DC
Peter Andre

― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Monday, 9 August 2010 11:01 (fifteen years ago)

Van der Graaf Generator
Tindersticks
Spiritualized

― margana (anagram), Monday, 9 August 2010 11:20 (fifteen years ago)

I thought MBV were Chinese. Maybe because of Kevin Shields eyes. ;)

― Shin Oliva Suzuki, Monday, 9 August 2010 12:21 (fifteen years ago)

Beatles
Clash
Pogues

― Jazzbo, Monday, 9 August 2010 12:24 (fifteen years ago)

the fall
led zep
stones

― Zeno, Monday, 9 August 2010 12:31 (fifteen years ago)

The Beatles
Makin' Time
Shack

― meisenfek, Monday, 9 August 2010 15:38 (fifteen years ago)

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