How many music artists are you a fan of?

[mvd]

I'd say I'm a big fan of over 200. For this thread, you can estimate the amount you are a big fan of, and if you desire, you can list them. I made a list:

Big band - Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Darin, Bing Crosby (especially for his Christmas songs - no one does them better IMO)

Pop and pop/rock - Madonna, ABBA, The Corrs, early Billy Joel, Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Linda Ronstadt, Avril Lavigne, Hope 7, Shanti, Michelle Branch, M2M & Marion Raven, Butterfly Boucher, Vanessa Carlton, The Rembrandts, Aslyn, Stella Soleil, Fountains Of Wayne, Sophie B. Hawkins, Kylie Minogue, Fefe Dobson, Angela Ammons, Katy Rose, Maren Ord, Kina, Evan and Jaron, Maria Mena, Lisa Loeb, Bonnie McKee, The Effection... (Alexz Johnson and Annie soon to be added I'm sure)

Rock, alternative, and singer/songwriter - Beatles, Elvis, Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Simon And Garfunkel, Moody Blues, The Who, Bob Dylan, Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, The Byrds, Dusty Springfield, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Janis Joplin, Fleetwood Mac, The Police, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, The Cars, The Police, The Bangles, Eurythmics & Annie Lennox, The Go Gos, Blondie, Sinead O'Connor, Plumb, Jimmy Eat World, Anna Nalick, Courtney Jaye, Aimee Mann, Patti Smith, U2, R.E.M., Kay Hanley & Letters To Cleo, The Jayhawks, Nina Gordon, Chris Isaak, Wallflowers, Coldplay, Radiohead, Travis, Courtney Jaye, Tracy Bonham, Tori Amos, Garbage, Green Day, Finn Brothers, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Rilo Kiley, Courtney Love/Hole, Weezer, Postal Service, Elliott Smith, Eisley, Sixpence None The Richer, Aimee Mann, Tegan And Sara, 10,000 Maniacs, Alanis Morissette, Liz Phair, Martha Wainwright, Chantal Kreviazuk, New Pornographers, Indigo Girls, Raveonettes, Merrill Bainbridge, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Butch Walker, Foo Fighters, Suzanne Vega, Abra Moore, Bree Sharp, Dar Williams, Wilco, Penelope Houston, Cindy Alexander, Sarah McLachlan, Donnas, Melissa Etheridge, P.J. Harvey, The Painkillers, Jo Davidson, Laura Dawn, Megan Slankard, Fisher, White Stripes... (more added when I get more CDs)

Motown/classic R&B/soul: Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Roni and the Ronettes...

Country/bluegrass: Hank Williams Sr, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Jim Reeves, Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Doug Stone, Vince Gill, Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Carlene Carter, Sugarland, Sharrie Austin, Deana Carter, Suzy Bogguss, Joe Nichols, Dwight Yoakam, David Ball, Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna, Jennifer Hanson, Brad Paisley (usually,) Gretchen Wilson, Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan, Lee Ann Womack...

Alt-country: Steve Earle, Kim Richey, Lucinda Williams, Kasey Chambers, Buddy and Julie Miller, Kathleen Edwards, Mindy Smith..

Modern R&B: TLC, Aaliyah, Alicia Keys, maybe Musiq and Brooke Valentine (who has a really demented song, "I Want You Dead," but is good) if I bought their albums

Other: Loreena McKennitt, Linda Thompson..

Classical: Beetoven, Mozart, Wagner, Vivaldi...

Ok, I'm tired of listing. I left some off, but I didn't expect to get every one without really close inspection.

[crispini]

1. Goodness. Define BIG fan.

I *enjoy* lots of bands, but I'd define BIG fan as, well, having attended multiple live shows, owning all of their CDs, knowing the lyrics to many of their songs, ever having followed the band to another city to hear them play, etc. Which, in my case, would only amount to about three bands:

Old 97's
Siouxsie and the Banshees
The New Pornographers

and that would be it, as far as being a BIG fan. I wouldn't have the energy to be a BIG fan of that many bands!

[mvd]

2. I define big fan as loving the artist

Which I have a lot of time for. :-)

[Shoeempress]

4. I'm with you. 1 performer, 1 band. Marilyn Manson and Greenday.

Between a job, a life and AAR on all the time, not much time to listen. Only so much time in a day.

[mvd]

5. Music is much of what I do in my free time

And I do have some free time, at least for now.

[mvd]

7. OK, I changed it to fan

Because many might not be as enthusiastic about music as I am. Really, listening to almost all of these makes me enjoy like a big fan does.

[GOPisEvil]

12. You like The New Pornographers too?

*swoon*

Edited to say that I really like Neko Case solo a little more, but I've seen the Pornographers and liked them. I have a cd of theirs too, but I have two of Neko's. :D

[crispini]

19. Flew to Chicago to see 'em.

I like Neko solo, but prefer the loud pop stylings of the NP's more... they're just so darn much FUN!

[Richardo]

3. Sheesh! Great question, which I've given no thought to...however

Off the top of my head:

Big band - Buddy Rich, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Don Ellis, Woody Herman

Crooner/ Jazz Vocalist - Billie Holiday, Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin

Pop and pop/rock - Linda Ronstadt, Sixpence None the Richer

Rock, alternative, and singer/songwriter - Beatles, Simon And Garfunkel, James Taylor, Janis Joplin, The Police, The Go Gos, Blondie, Early R.E.M., 10,000 Maniacs, Steely Dan, Blood Sweat & Tears, Early Chicago, Little Feat, Eric Clapton, They Might Be Giants

Motown/classic R&B/soul: Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin...

Country/bluegrass: Hank Williams Sr, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Suzy Bogguss, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith

Other: Brave Combo..

Classical: Handel, Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi...

[crispini]

6. Brave Combo are WAY fun live.

Hometown band for me! :hi:

[Chichiri]

8. Aimee Mann is cool.

But I don't see Rush on there . . .

[Pale Blue Dot]

9. We could definitely hang out together.

Lop off the country/bluegrass category and our taste in music is remarkably similar.

I love the Martha Wainwright CD, and also the new Coldplay.

And thanks for the Finn mention! :thumbsup:

[mvd]

10. Cool!

As I recall, you're the one who got me into the Finn brothers. Thanks! :hi:

[fishwax]

11. delete

whoops, double post (my first :blush::))

[mvd]

16. You reminded me of some I left out

Counting Crows, Van Morrison, Tom Petty (just slightly below Springsteen/Mellencamp,) Pete Seeger, CSNY/Neil Young, Statler Brothers, The Decemberists, No Doubt, Dire Straits, Neko Case, Ron Sexsmith, Edie Brickell, The Clash, The Ramones, Nirvana on Nevermind

Also mentioned Sleater-Kinney and Kelly Willis elsewhere, and they could have made my list. Peter, Paul, and Mary, while we're talking Pete Seeger.

Billie Holiday is fantastic - I just haven't gotten a CD from her yet.

[fishwax]

17. oh yeah, peter paul and mary

don't know how i forgot them ... haven't listened to enough folk lately, i guess :)

[GOPisEvil]

13. I'm probably a huge fan of about 10 bands.

Give or take a few.

I enjoy many, many more than that.

[fishwax]

14. so, shooting for two hundred, I would say

here's an incomplete list in relatively random order within arbitrarily assigned categories. (fwiw, I think of myself as a fan of a performer whenever I get excited about seeking out new music of theirs or sharing their music with others ...)

pop/rock/alternative that most have heard of: they might be giants, pearl jam, nirvana, audioslave, the white stripes, the strokes, alice in chains, radiohead, coldplay, aimee mann, the indigo girls, ani difranco, the beastie boys, wilco, sun volt, uncle tupelo, the red house painters, U2, Brian Setzer Orchestra, cake, the cars, chris isaak, the clash, the ramones, counting crows, tom waits, cowboy junkies, red hot chili peppers, the walkmen, frank black, dire straits, fountains of wayne, edie brickell, elvis costello, the flaming lips, sonic youth, the cure, iggy pop, jesus and mary chain, sarah mclachlan, joan osborne, the velvet underground, liz phair, sade, marcy's playground, the eurythmics, bright eyes, annie lennox, kings of leon, moby, no doubt, tears for fears, pavement, stephen malkmus and the jicks, enya, r.e.m., radiohead, stereo mcs, tracy chapman, weezer, depeche mode, live, the police, cyndi lauper, nick lowe ...

pop/rock/alternative that more people should hear of: lincoln, morphine, the candles, the decemberists, the mountain goats, the extra glenns, boise central library, !!! (chik chik chik), black box recorder, crooked fingers, orange cake mix, josh rouse, steve forbert, the floating men, hothouse flowers, holly golightly, coco rosie, neko case, ron sexsmith, silicon monk, the youngblood brass band ...

country/bluegrass: johnny cash, willie nelson, merle haggard, hank williams, don williams, kris kristofferson, laura cantrell, trisha yearwood, mary chapin carpenter, the statler brothers, the dixie chicks, mel tillis, pam tillis, david grisman, garcia and grisman, old and in the way, new riders of the purple sage, the flying burrito brothers ...

jazz/big band/vocalists/blues/other: louis armstrong, duke ellington, sarah vaughan, billie holliday, dave brubeck, ella fitzgerald, miles davis, link wray, big bill morganfield, john lee hooker, neil young, pete seeger, woody guthrie, doc watson, r.l. burnside, leadbelly, django reinhardt ...

alt. country: billy joe shaver, the pistolarrows, todd snider, delorean, brian jonestown massacre, chuck prophet, burd early, j.j. cale, john prine, lucinda williams, m ward, the pines, robert earl keen, steve earle, lyle lovett, hillbilly idol, south austin jug band, kentucky colonels, two dollar pistols, steve pride ...

classic rock: the beatles, the pink floyd, the grateful dead, the stones, the band, dylan, janis joplin, bob marley, bruce springsteen, creedence clearwater revival, the doors, the allman bros, paul simon/simon and garfunkel, hendrix, zeppelin, leonard cohen, marvin gaye, van morrison, tom petty, the who, gil scot heron ...

[Jamastiene]

15. I would say that if

I had my own hall of fame type list, I'd add 3 bands to the very top of the list. Blondie, The Ramones, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. Also, right after those, I'd add Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Dead Kennedys, and Social Distortion. In the "newer/latest" list, I'd add Nirvana, Hole/Courtney Love, Green Day, Rancid, L7, the Vines, and 4 Non Blondes/Linda Perry. Rounding out the list, I'd add the Stones, the Beach Boys, and John Cougar Mellencamp.

Those are the only ones I can say I am a BIG fan of, but I do like tons more. I just wouldn't put them really high up on my list like the ones I already mentioned.

[Initech]

18. Tons!

Alt rock - A Perfect Circle, The Arcade Fire, At The Drive-In, Beck, Ben Harper, The Clash, Coldplay, Dropkick Murphys, Elliot Smith, Flogging Molly, Foo Fighters, Frank Zappa, G. Love, Gorillaz, Green Day, John Frusciante, Interpol, The Mars Volta, Modest Mouse, Muse, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Nine Inch Nails, Pavement, Pixies, Pogues, Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Social Distortion, Swans, Talking Heads, Television, Wilco

Blues - BB King

Comedy - Bill Hicks, Dane Cook, Dave Attell, Dave Chappelle, David Cross, George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Lewis Black, Mitch Hedburg

Country - Johnny Cash

Funk - Funkadelic, Issac Hayes, James Brown, Parliament

Hip Hop / Rap - Atmosphere, Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas, De La Soul, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Dr. Dre, The Fugees, Gangstarr, Hieroglyphics, Nas, Outkast, The Roots, Sage Francis, Wyclef Jean

Insturmental - Explosions In The Sky, Frank Zappa, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Liquid Tension Experiment

Industrial - KMFDM, PIG

International - Dir en grey, Buck-Tick, Ravi Shankar

Jazz - Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Charlie Parker, Karl Denson, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Bela Fleck

Metal - Agalloch, Arsis, Black Sabbath, Children Of Bodom, Devin Townsend, Dillenger Escape Plan, Dream Theater, Edge Of Sanity, Evergrey, Fantomas, Iced Earth, In The Woods, Iron Maiden, Isis, Judas Priest, Katatonia, Lilitu, Megadeth, Motorhead, Opeth, Ozzy Osbourne, Queensryche, Rage Against The Machine, Sikth, Symphony X, System Of A Down, Tomahawk, Tool

Reggae - Bob Marley

Rock - AC/DC, Audioslave, Beatles, Bob Seger, Brian Wilson, Bruce Springsteen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Deep Purple, The Doors, Dredg, The Eagles, Jack Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Buffett, Jimmy Page, John Frusciante, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Queens Of The Stone Age, Rolling Stones, Rush, Steely Dan, Steve Miller Band, Sublime, Tenacious D, The Who, Yes, Zwan

The ones in bold are ones that I have either seen live or am going to see live.