Icons
 

In music, just as many forms of popular media you need icons. Those people with longevity or pure artistic merit. Those artists that appeal to many even if they are not a fan or those that are a perfect summation of the genre they perform in. You have to offer up someone with at least a few written lines as to why you think they are an icon and their effect on you and/or Music in general. When there is enough then I will start polls to create an MB icon gallery.

This is not a band thing, it is individuals who affect you and stay with you.

One of the few True Rock N Roll rebels to still be alive and kicking, ready to drink, smoke, inhale, intake and fuck us mere mortals under the table with room to spare.

The heartbeat of one of the finest Rock bands to ever grace our planet. The guy still lives his life to the fullest despite being in his sixties. He looks like a man half his age and has the attitude to boot.

Lemmy is THE modern day Rock n Roll icon. There is no way that he would show his chicken carcass on TV advertising Insurance (ahem Iggy Pop).

well MTV and other channels have did ICONS

Metallica
The CUre
Black Sabbath
ZZ top
Alice n chains
AC/DC


i think these bands have reached ICON status

The beach boys
Michael Jackson
Bob dylan
Frank Zappa

I'd consider Ian MacKaye a huge icon in the world of DIY music.

The godfather of jazz and the single greatest musician of the 20th century, period. His influence on the role of a musician as a performer and the use and articulation of melody is immeasurable.
Armstrong was single-handedly responsible for taking the paradigm of a music ensemble from one of collective improvisation and shifting it toward single solo melodic performance, thus bringing the musician as an individual and as a performer into the spotlight.



Known mainly today for his distinctive gravelly singing voice, his true gift was as a trumpet player. To this day no one, not even Miles Davis, has been able to imitate his level of expressiveness on the intstrument. Armstrong was capable of doing more with one strategically placed and articulated note than most performers of his time could do with a thousand. And when he did let loose it was a celebration (bitches).



On top of all this, the sheer exuberance and Jeux de vivre that he seemed to exude at all times, which was his calling card made him one of the most endearing personalities of all time, and was a reflection of his greatness.

Madonna

Being listed as the most successful female recording artist of all time by the guiness book of world records and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame cements her status as an Icon.

Over the years she has the ability to reinvent herself and stay relevant enough to have sold out concerts.



She has paved the way for many artists that have come out after her and is listed as their musical influence.

Not a King Crimson fan? Doesn't matter, considering all the different musicians he's collaborated with, chances are good he's appeared on at least one of your favorite albums.

With King Crimson he redefined the idea of what a bandleader could be, he never took the spotlight, he's known for a laid back stage presence, always in the background, sitting on a stool, letting his playing do all the work. It's his guitar playing, which ranged from the subtle to the outrageous that has been the driving force behind the band as it's lineup changed constantly throughout the decades.

He also helped bring to the spotlight many extraordinary musical talents, including Adrian Belew and Tony Levin. Many former members of KC would go on to start their own popular bands, such as ELP, Greenslade, Bad Company, Foreigner and Asia (ok maybe those last three shouldn't be boasted about).

Fripp combined elements of classical music, free jazz, medieval folk, psychedelia, avant garde atonality, ambient soundscapes and the intricate arpeggio oriented sounds of African music and Indonesian gamelan music. All these eclectic influences blended together to create a sound that makes Fripp incomparable to any other guitarist on this planet.

He has been sought after by many great music artists, having played on a variety of albums. Most notably his work with Brian Eno (with whom he developed the innovative Frippertronics tape looping system), but also David Bowie's Heroes and Scary Monsters and Peter Gabriel's first two solo albums. He's also worked with Peter and Michael Giles, Andy Summers, Jazz pianist Keith Tippett, Japan frontman David Sylvian, Talking Heads (on Fear of Music), Blondie, Van Der Graaf Generator, The Orb, Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree, The Roches, Daryl Hall, California Guitar Trio, G3 (with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani), his wife Toyah Wilcox and a side project called League of Gentlemen which included members of XTC, Gang of Four and Squeeze.

Fripp once described himself as "not a blues guitarist in style, but a blues guitarist in energy and spirit", which is a pretty good description, his influence reaches beyond just prog rock, his use of heavy, distorted riffs and repetition has made it's mark in heavy metal music, and his experimental use of timbres, polyrhythms and alternate tunings has made it's mark on alternative rock and ambient music as well.

Willie Nelson

One of the most talented, experimental, eccentric, and charismatic musicans to ever hit the country music scene. Whether he was recording controversial jazz albums, writing fifteen minute country songs, or dueting with musicians like Julio Iglasias or Al Green, he was constantly crossing lines and breaking boundries. Not conforming to Nashville standards and performing his music the way he wanted to perform it, offically made him an outlaw in the world of country music, with much success.

Not only does his trademark voice and unique guitar playing make him stand out from the rest, but also his iconic braids, bandana, and amazing accompaniment from his band, which he still has to this day.

A true icon and pioneer in the world of music.

His tourbus is legendary.
I've heard that on his bus there is no oxygen, only pot smoke.