Earth, Wind, and Fire? Parliment/Funkadelic? Sly Stone? The Time?

If Prince could pick from all he worked with, and form the perfect "dream team" - Who would it be?

He's stated before Morris was a great drummer, but was too flashy. What if he wasn't?

I think if he wasn't so demanding, he could have created a band that could compete with the Beatles, Zepplin, U2, or any four piece band ever.

My pick would be...

Andre Cymone on bass
Morris Day on drums
Jesse Johnson on guitar
Prince on vocals/lead guitar

Just an opinion... I know how passionate you guys are on here! lol

Sure he would have had background singers, special appearances from other folks from the Twin Cities, but the main four mentioned would have been the real "Fab Four"...

jeanluis said:

Prince's bands have by far exceeded what those bands did live, with only a possible exception of the mighty Led Zep, and even that is debatable. U2? Please.

Both of these 2 bands were essentially four piece, and they were fantastic:

Drums: John Blackwell
Bass: Rhonda Smith
Guitar: Prince
Keys: Renato Neto


Drums: Cora Dunham
Bass: Josh Dunham
Guitar: Prince
Keys: Morris Hayes

We could add:

Drums: Mike Bland
Bass: Sonny Thomson
Guitar: Prince
Keys: Morris Hayes

Also, the phrase "Black Band"? Most classic Funk bands were integrated, along with all of Prince's bands.

Giovanni777 said:

Clearly you never saw Earth Wind and Fire in their heyday. I would say as a band EWF kicked his bands ass up and down and all around. I'm not talking songs or anything like that - I'm just saying as a full on band.

Drums: Bernard Purdie
Bass: Jaco Pastorius
Guitar: Prince
Keys: Herbie

not a complete black lineup... but when u asked about putting together the best band ever this is what came to mind.
[Edited 6/11/09 17:40pm]

Drums: Sheila
Bass: Bootsy
Keys: Herbie
Guitar: Eddie Hazel
Sax: Maceo
Trumpet: Miles
Trombone: Greg Boyer
Whatever: Prince & George Clinton

Zannaloaf said:

Songs? U mean the MOST important element?.....lol.

Graycap23 said:

I mean an individuals specific taste in songs. They have a huge catalogue of albums and hit songs - probably somewhat similar to Prince (I'm not taking the time to research this). I like their stuff as well as I like Princes (apples and oranges) but my point was as a BAND - no matter what it is they are playing - they kicked his bands ass. Since this thread was about bands, not songs.

Zannaloaf said:

EWF and definitley entertaining no question...but kicked Prince's ass? Not in my book. The ONLY band I ever saw do that was Bootsy.
[Edited 6/12/09 6:53am]

Here's a nice lineup with a few friends of mine:

Drums: Sean Rickman
Bass: Meshell Ndegeocello
Guitar: Prince
Keys: Federico Peña

D.C. comes ALIVE!

; )

Graycap23 said:

and the year that you saw EWF was?????
Cause it's true the further away you got from the 70s the less great it was. I'd love to say Parliament/Funkadelic. But I never saw a whole show where someone was clearly out of it - you know...like overly tired or **sumthin'** lol

I saw them mostly from about 1975 through about 1981.

Sly's band wasn't all black but the man was brilliant. He was also MESSED UP to the max. I think it pains everyone that he couldn't ever get his act together again. He came on the seen with his oven sound and that crazy pimpolicious look of his. As I kid I love to sing "Stand" and "Everyday People" and my daughter loves it now. His stuff doesn't die.

Graycap23 said:

78-83 for me. still think they did it best as far as a whole band.

Zannaloaf said:

They are great. I think it depends also on the music. I'll take Prince, P-Funk and Bootsy over anyone in that category.

Not saying they're the best black band ever, but I would note Mint Condition for being an incredible band. Can't really compare to earlier eras as I never saw acts like EWF live, but I have seen MC live on multiple occasions and they're the real deal. We need more real bands.
[Edited 6/16/09 7:50am]

coltrane3 said:

Now u know.....I'm going 2 agree with u.
Love those cats.

Graycap23 said:

I guess I saw P-Funk with half the band messed up on some kind of something. the two shows I saw were sloppy pieces of doo doo. The half that wasn't are the ones to go on to successful solo careers

I love Bootsy live, but I also liked the slow jams- and his never quite did it for me.

Zannaloaf said:

All P Funk shows after the70s are sloppy drug and alcohol tinged affairs. I stopped going to see them in the early 90s because it simply wasnt writ the money to see 40 black dudes wondering the stage screaming and not playing anything right.

Brofie said:

LOL.