THE TEN GREATEST POWER TRIOS | Ranked 

It took a few hours after I heard he passed for it to sink in, it just didn’t seem real. Once it did, I lost it. It was like my own life passed before my eyes and how much Rush and their music was a part of it. I think I cried on and off for a week after the news. That has never happened to me ever for someone I didn’t even know. But his lyrics and that band have touched so many people on a personal level that it felt like you lost a family member or a close friend. I so miss that excitement of a new album and the tour that followed it. My oldest son is 19 and he is so into them and everything old school music. It’s so sad that he’ll never get to go through what many of us were lucky to have gone through with Rush. I would’ve loved for him to see them live just once.

We still have Carl Palmer. They were both tops in my book

Allways overshadowed by Rush, but I've allways preferred Triumph over them. Rick Emmet is a very tastefull guitar player.

@@Innerspace100 Totally agree. Rik is on my personal Mount Crushmore, Alex isn't.

@@Innerspace100 I believe they deserve equal recognition. Neil was obviously a more talented drummer than Gil, but Gil did handle some lead vocals. I prefer Rik's vocals to Geddy's and would put his guitar playing on par with Alex's. Of course, Mike can't compete with Geddy's bass chops. Lyrically, it depends upon what you're seeking and/or what mold you're in I'm a huge fan of both bands. Have all of Triumph's discography and most of Rush's.

@@jldibiase Rik has killer classical guitar chops. Didn't know until he gave a live performance/q&a session at the music store I used to teach at in the mid 00's. Great player. I love Alex Lifeson's guitar playing as well. To each their own though.

@@kevincarpenter8194 : "Ordinary Man" called - might BEG to disagree about Mike vs. Geddy.....

What an awesome album! But not enough staying power to make the list.

I'd say Crimson is the father of Prog rock as they are the ones that set Buford and his then ban Yes down the path of prog when Yes went into a pub and just happen Crimson was setting up to play and Buford said he was going to be their drummer one day

Those are the later days. There was definitely a superiority complex among Rush fans through their first 30 years - which was probably warranted! Their last few tours, you’d actually see actual, live women enjoying the shows. That was a rarity in the earlier days.

Andy said Rush could be the best rock band ever. There is an argument here for sure. Songwriting, lyrics, musicianship, cohesion, personalities, attitude, longevity, output, consistency, performance, sales, they have it all.

I had the pleasure of seeing them in their Hemisphere tour and Moving Pitchers and 4 more times including their last R40 tour seeing a Neil Peart drum solo was worth the price of admission by themselves and just watching how much fun they always seemed to be having and of course the unreal sound they produced live as a power trio like non other, or as Gene Simon's said when he's been ask to describe what type of band Rush is he'd reply Rush is Rush that's it

Agreed!👍

Bridge of Sighs is a huge album. Still love it.

A good argument!

@@heimomoilanen9654 Robin just released a 50th anniversary deluxe edition of of Bridge of Sighs!

very much so. geezer don't got them on his list makes it mush.

Grand Funk Railroad all day.

Absolutely!

I am a Hot Tuna fan but I'm wondering if (arguably) their 2 best albums -- First Pull Up Then Pull Down (5 man band); and Burgers (4 man band, minimum) hurts their trio standing. Anyways, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady a worthy mention. Great band no matter what the numbers. Plus, Jorma and Jack were the backbone of Jefferson Airplane. Not a surprise Airplane broke up in 1972 about 3 years after the duo started the Hot Tuna trio for their debut Live At Berkeley, The New Orleans House (with the impressive harmonica of Will Scarlet -- I really wanted to write that name with no apologies to Robin Hood.)😁

But were they a POWER trio?

@@impalaman9707 absolutely! Listen to their albums America’s Choice, Yellow Fever and Hoppkorv. Total power trio in every sense.

@@user-mu9cw8xe4r their albums America’s Choice, Yellow Fever and Hoppkorv definitely are power trio though.

Yep ❤

Brian Setzer is an amazing Guitarplayer. Saw him 1981 in Montreux. For some Tunes Wilco Johnson stepped in. He was there with Pearl Harbour.

@@erikheddergott5514 he certainly is. and was all of 19 at the time.

Absolutely, brilliant band!!

nice forgot about them

I saw that tour in the US. Amazing show.

Me too, saw Primus opening for Rush in Germany and in the Netherlands. In Germany they didn't like Primus, they didn't understand the music of them.

groundhogs..no1 the loudest!!

Budgie was the shizzle!

I know they weren't a power trio, but I always feel sorry for the band Bad Finger. The lead singer ended up committing suicide, they were so royally ripped off

Budgie would be on my list, a great band.

Edgar Broughton Band too

You got there before me.

James Gang are good… but not the body of work like these other bands… Trower’s Bridge of Sighs alone makes the list. I’m ignorant about Primus… I think Rush are greater than the Police, body of work, etc.. but Police did so much in a short period of time (like Hendrix)…

I agree.

it's about quality not quantity.

Had them first on my list of honorable mentions: James Gang, Toy Dolls, Grand Funk Railroad, Beastie Boys, core Genesis, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Husker Du, The Jam, The Stray Cats.

Yeah, but they needed a singer.

One of the few bands which were so bad that I departed early.

@@NelsonMontana1234 and songwriting.

@@jamesfetherston1190 True. Superstition was their best track. They had one decent original. I actually gave up on Beck after that debacle. And then...

BBA's problem was that while the musicianship was great, the material largely wasn't.

Yeah Husker Du! (also Sugar)

I remember them

And Big Black.

lol.

Great songwriting but not really a "Power Trio" i.e. Guitar/Bass/Drums with one of them also on vocals (or occasionally shared).

Lol what a suck up.

Andy hates most USA stuff. He probably never heard of GFR.

@@markhuber5981 There again--how many Americans have heard the Edgar Broughton Band? I'm sure if a GFR fan got to hear the Edgar Broughton Band, they would dig 'em (I know I do!)

Gfr crap saw them get demolished by humble pie at hyde patk

@@robertgough5804 Unfortunate that you saw it as a battle of the bands rather than just enjoying a pairing of two bands playing different styles of rock music. Concert bills are not intended to be sports competitions.

@@impalaman9707 GFR didn't get a lot of coverage in the UK and Europe. They focused mainly on the American market.

H E L L Y E S ! ! !

@@Rico_G Oh man, that's so true! Kings X!!! Wait a minute who the fuck are Kings X?

@@user-qb1sm3rk9r They're a three piece.

Now you're talking!

True. They had to keep up with Stevie. Because SRV didn't think about what to play next. He did.t lnow. The music flowed from the cosmos to his hands. And Stevie could have gotten any 2 people in the world and he wanted Tommy and Chris. Rick solid and quick..

Absolutely!

Rush getting tipsy in Beyond The Lighted Stage is a beautiful thing. Read some of Peart's books and most of Lee's and the warmth comes off the page.

Rush was as tight a band I ever saw. They were great at what they did. They along with the Moody Blues adapted their sound to match the times, flawlessly. My problem with Rush is Peart. To me - IMO - his lyrics always seemed preachy. They seemed holier than thou; like he was above it all. As a result, I rarely ever listened to them. I summation, I get an arrogant vibe with Rush.

Mahogany Rush would be number one in the list of most underrated power trios.

Oh man mahogany rush! Saw them

RUSH for the win.

This is accurate

Not important? Wtf.

@@stevemarshall3986 He said "not the most important band in this list". He never said not important. Rush is my favorite band but his statement is accurate.

Same thing for ZZ Top and Mötorhead. Long careers as power trios.

I mention them but they aren't.

ZZ Top haven't been relevant since they did that awful Elvis remake!

@@froggy556 Fair enough if that's how you feel about them. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. To be fair though, very few rock bands have been really relevant past a certain point in their career. Many of them are just doing the same thing they have always done, or they have become a 'greatest hits' live band. Anyway, I disagree on ZZ Top, but that's what's interesting. If we all agreed on everything it would be boring as hell:) Take care!

Billy gibbons is a legend, and more down to earth than anyone

@@bjornlangoren3002 when he learns to play Paganini on a guitar, you might convince me!

@@froggy556 why should he play paganini? Would YOU pay to see that? What are you, Yngwie's mother?

I had them on my list.: Police Cream Nirvana Jimi Hendrix&co ZZ top Love primus, but not sure they were popular enough to qualify

They are already first..just accept it

Absolutely. Glad I'm not the only one who commented on them here. The Warning are so great it's almost weird.

@@thespacealienssmogandgrog4283 only a handful of bands as tight as them…The Who..maybe Rush

Holy cow - MY first as well! Rory at LA's Shrine Auditorium - Thanksgiving weekend 1974. With a then - unknown Rush and Wet Willie for openers! Taste deserved a place on this list.

That's Awesome. I learned on 1980's music and MTV becoming aware of the cool blues rock sounds of ZZ Top and "She got Legs ... She know how to use them ..." with the babes and the cool ass car in the music videos but I didn't become aware of Rory Gallagher until I saw him performing on my The Old Grey Whistle Test DVD (which also includes The Police; and Edgar Winter Group performing Frankenstein -- wow-- just to name 2 of 22 performers ... U2, Bruce Sprinsteen, Tom Petty, Randy Newman...anyways ...!) Rory Gallager was amazing, wish I had heard him decades sooner. It's a shame Gallagher never got the recognition he deserved in life or death. His trio band Taste got a few shout-outs on this sight, but like I mentioned a couple days ago the fact Taste only made 2 albums keeps them off a tops Power trio list (I guess). Love to find a recording of Taste at the Isle Of Wight performance (they brokup soon after, 1970). Again great ZZ and early Rory (Lou Martin too) in concert story. Cool for you. Some NVEE. I just wrote that? NVEE. Good Name for a rock prog and/or Power trio band?

yeah, Blue Cheer were 1st gen as well.

Absolutely. I watched this video knowing that I was hoping against hope that Hüskers would be on this list. You're right - they never make any lists, but they were amazing, and I had the chance to see them three times and they always KILLED.

I've seen the Ulmer/Tacuma/Jackson iteration and they brought it big time. Same with Odean Pope. Wowsa. Here are a couple others from that side of the genre. Bill is...Bill. A complete one of a kind. Bill Frisell, John Zorn, George Lewis. Bill Frisell, Melvin Gibbs, Ronald Shannon Jackson.

@@RichardCThurston Tacuma/Weston also played with James Blood Ulmer, as with Ornette Coleman, Derek Bailey and Marc Ribot and Mary Halvorson.

I saw James Blood Ulmer open for the Clash in 79 NYC, the other opening act being Sam & Dave...a great night of music...

@@DoctorInsomnia-qw7us Wonderful, I never saw Sam and Dave nor the Clash so I had to settle with Blood for many Times in all his very diverse Bands, from Psychedelic Country Jazz to Funk, from Blues to Free Jazz, Punk Jazz and Free Funk. I would have loved to see Sam and Dave.

@@RichardCThurston I am actually puzzled that Massacre with Fred Frith, Charles Hayward or Fred Maher and Bill Laswell were not in the Video.

Give me an email Dennis and say hello andyedwardsdrums@gmail.com

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer - I entered your address a few times, put it in contacts and all, doesn't seem to go through? Maybe I'm screwing it up. I'll re-do later. Do you have an alternative email? Effin June, somebody stop this massive acceleration. I play guitar when my body ain't working. Notice how your email above should be in blue? I'm thinking: There is a rebel letter in the address. Makes no sense. Meanwhile, or nicewhile, there's YT which seems to be going tits up here and there. "Let's eff the customers, we'll make even more money!". Coyotes live pretty much live in every U.S. state except for Alaska and Hawaii. Coyotes are magical, we've sung in the hills together, long story.

Oh you are spot on there. Most overlooked band ever in my view. Well certainly one of the most overlooked. Glad you mentioned them! 👍🏻

Wow 70x!…what tour did u start? Gotta be the 70’s unless u saw them many times on multiple tours. I started in ‘83 for Signals and saw 1 show on every tour til the end for a total of 14x. Best band ever!!!

My kids have all their records.

Ha ha. Brilliant.

And fIREHOSE as well. That first album (Ragin', Full-On) was something else.

@@shma1israel Pedro boys throw down. RIP D. Boon, RIP Dancing Waters.

I got into fIREHOSE before the Minutemen due to timing but I saw them at this club in OC called the Green Door to about 10 people and they ripped it up hard. I couldn't believe no one was there. Personal favorite power trios not on this list are the Cave Dogs and Buffalo Tom.

Both deserve to there

I absolutely agree!

Having read his autobiography it seems Noel Redding was a bit of a prick. He was chosen by Chas Chandler for Jimi because he was just about the only bass player available at short notice. He was really only about adequate as a musician. Billy Cox was the bass player Jimi craved musically. Noel would sometimes play badly deliberately in concerts just to piss off Jimi.

@@user-qb1sm3rk9r I’ve seen many interviews with Noel and he always comes off as a mean, angry little man who thought he should’ve been as popular as Jimi. I can’t stand him.

@@KevyNovaIn addition to the personality clash with Hendrix his main complaint was that his manager ripped him off. He literally seemed to spend most of his post Experience life sulking about it. So what Noel, many many bands were ripped off by their managers.

Wilson, Keppel and Betty.

The 3 Amigos?

A powerful influence.....Scotty Moore, Bill Black and Elvis Presley. Also, Chuck Berry, Johnnie Johnson and drummer.

@@Birdlives247 oh yeah, "That's Alright Momma" changed everything!

Wooop whoop wooop whoop whoop!

Also a fantastic drummer. Robin has great taste!

Twice Removed From Yesterday is a stone cold classic record. Definitely one of my two favorite Robin Trower records.

I was going to comment about Triumph - I'm such a mega fan. I think they are WAY BETTER than Rush. That Rik Emmett is just OMG on so many levels. They are talented fun and inspirational. Who's Triumph you say? Find their performance at the 1983 Us Festival and you'll understand.

Thanks for the rec. I wondered how could a punk band be like Rush because the whole point of punk is to not give a crap about playing well but you have a point with the comparison.

Of course Rush songs like Anthem and Bastille Day already had some proto punk in their DNA.

Dbl Tbl had no egos and kept it tight for SRV. None of what tore Cream apart.

That's when Robben Ford was at his peak for me. Love his tone and his tasty soloing. I don't like everything from those albums and like you said, his voice is kind of bland but 'Think Twice', 'Good Thing', 'Top of The Hill', 'Running Out On Me', 'Life Song (One For Annie)' are really cool tracks. I don't know the album 'Mystic Mile', is it good?

I've seen Robin a number of times. Better live than on records. Roscoe Beck is a great bassist.

Focus were 4 piece.

I can't believe how America has been snubbed on this list we've had great power trios Grand Funk Railroad was one of the biggest bands in the world in 197071 the James gang my God was walk away funk 49 the Stray Cats you did have ZZ Top on it and I tip my hat for that George Thorogood and I'm still going to throw up Rory Gallagher put on Shane kicker and listen to that and see why Jimi Hendrix never wanted to follow him

Ireally wanted to put Stray Cats on there as I love them. I listed to quite a lot of Grand Funk as I had not really listened to them and a lot of the live videos had a keyboard player I think. I was also not that impressed...the Police are 1/3 American and Hendrix 2/3...

Never mind that Lemmy, Billy Gibbons, and Dave Grohl recorded a cover of Chuck Berry's Run Rudolph Run as Run Run Rudolph.

My dad was Irish, he came over at 18 in 1951, he never had an Irish Passport as they had ID Cards in 51 and he lived in England for the rest of his life only ever having a British Passport.

Bloody Hell , there was a picture of ELP in a sauna , check it out 😂

Yes. Triumph should be mentioned near the top of this list.🎸

@@catsclaw6648 👍

A real P3, especially on You're Living All Over Me.

@@eubique Yeah. And today, too. They’re as great as ever. Buy earplugs first, then buy tickets to see them.