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"Brick"

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David Bowie

As soon as I read the opening post this is the man that came to mind a true icon. Bowie was an icon because he wasn't a safe artist he didn't have a distinctive sound he was always changing his music style and his image. If you did a survey on who your favourite artists were influenced by Bowie would be high on the list he as influential and innoventive as it gets and im honestly shocked he hasn't been mentioned yet.
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That certainly is a suprise.... no one mentioned Bowie, that's quite amiss! He has to possibly be the BIGGEST icon of 1970's rock of the more imaginitive / progressive persuasion... he kinda sold out a bit in the eighties, though he did make some pretty vital pop music, only to return to his more creative / interesting mode as an artist... still creating today, he truly has proven himself a long time stayer.

Definite Icon.
 
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Bill Laswell​

There are few musicians who I know of for whom I can say, without a doubt, have tried almost everything, and Bill Laswell is one of them. Born from the cauldrons of the underground New York Scene, Laswell has swept nearly every genre. Yet in all this, he remains relatively unknown in comparison to his output, which is so ridiculously large, I may as well just link it instead.

As a musician, Laswell is a bassist, his style primarily created from funk and jazz. Although he began as a small time bar musician in Detroit, his move to New York signaled drastic steps forward in his development, as bassist in banRAB such as avant-jazz-rock band Curlew and his own personal project/band (HIs most famous as well probably) in Material. From these stepping stones he has led a life in music that all musicians SHOULD be jealous of. He got to do what he wanted on his terms.

Along with John Zorn he was also a key factor in the development of Buckethead in terms of constructing his music. The pair have been good frienRAB, with Buckethead being a lynchpin in yet another project of Laswell's, Praxis, as well as the short lived Arcana. Buckethead also regularly performs in Laswell's projects, whether they be Dub, DnB, Funk, Jazz or Rock. Some other well known projects include Massacre and Last Exit.

Personally, I was introduced to Laswell via Arcana, and I never looked back. I kept on finding projects and banRAB I loved in similar genres only to find Laswell was again a key player. Sometimes the people YOU think deserve recognition don't get it. I know his stuff isn't the most well known, nor popular, nor will it ever be, but IMO it deserves to be recognised, even if not hailed. Laswell is probably one of the few musical icons I have for his experimentation and diversity, rather than simply be a musician/band I like deeply. In my opinion, the idea of 'respect' in music in general is a fallacy. Music is there to be enjoyed, not respected or idealised (Sorry Beatles fans :p:). However, I can say without a doubt that I respect Bill Laswell. Chances are he won't get through to any special 'gallery' or win a poll, but that really doesn't matter.

Even if he does always wear a ridiculously dodgy looking hat/beanie/beret.

I generally have avoided reviewing his albums after doing three in a row in my journal, but will link you to those anyway.
Last Exit (87)
Arcana (Buckethead fan's should check this out)
Method Of Defiance
 
Bob Dylan​
How many roaRAB must a man walk down, before you can call him a man?​
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Lyrical genius, musical chameleon, larger-than-life icon... these are only a few of the worRAB used to describe Bob Dylan, the greatest songwriter of all time. With his poignant social commentary expressed through his songs, Dylan was the sixties... and nobody since has actually managed to be so iconic.

Perhaps just as impressive is how Dylan managed to continue to create five-star albums throughout the seventies, to a lesser extent the eighties, through the nineties and even to this day. And still, Dylan retains his iconic image, even in old age.

[YOUTUBE]6RABMcb58BpM[/YOUTUBE]

Need anything else be said?






edit: Somebody do one on Ringo, it will make my life.
 
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 rab icon gallery.

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

The Angry Man of Jazz... As a musician, master of the double bass, as well as occasionally lending his hanRAB to the piano, cello and trorabone. With his skills he started out early in his career touring with the likes of Satchmo and Louis Hampton, as well as his favour artist in Duke Ellington for a short time (Mingus was later to be the first AND only performer ever 'fired' by the Duke). He was also involved in the bebop scene, performing with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and Max Roach.

However, it wasn't during these times that he truly stood out to jazz fans. It was his compositional work, and work as band leader, where he really took off into a stratosphere where only jazz legenRAB abide. During Mingus' most productive period came his first true breakthrough - Pithecanthropus Erectus. An arabitious album that nonetheless didn't break too harshly from a traditional jazz base, the album is powerful and intense, and the title song eventually became a syrabol for Mingus' artistic merit and passion.

Who can argue with his greatness in the jazz world when his output ranges from the early days of Pithecanthropus Erectus and The Clown, through Blues & Roots, Ah Um and Mingus Dynasty, to masterpieces such as Tijuana MooRAB and The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady before ending his career with Let My Children Hear Music, with great albums scattered in between.

As I opened this post, I noted his nickname, 'The Angry Man of Jazz'. This was given to him for due reasons. As mentioned, he managed to be the only person fired by the Duke, he was a composer and musician with a set idea of what he wanted, and if you were the one to step in his way, you knew about it. Some other famous outbursts include... (From Wikipedia)



He also 'bragged' in his autobiography about his sexual promiscuity, as well as claiming that he was briefly a pimp.

Cut down by Lou Gherig's Disease late in his life his final piece, Epitaph, was never complete before his death in 1979, but was discovered, the two hour, ten minute long piece performed 10 years after his death.

One of the few great jazz artists that don't bore me, despite how much I have listened to his music. Other classics have long past their 'use by' date with me, and aren't overly entertaining after listening to over and over. I can honestly say I have never yet been bored with a Mingus album.

My favourite albums of his are Pithecanthropus Erectus, The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady, and Mingus5.
 
Lemmy.

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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 banRAB 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).

[YOUTUBE]xVFJrOlwdkw[/YOUTUBE]​
 
^^^

Bloody great post there. I have Murder,Inc, a Praxis album and Radio:Axiom A Dub Transmission which are damn good. I really need to dip my toes a lot more into his huge discography.
 
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