The power trio is a rock and roll band format popularized in the 1960s. The traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard often featured in other rock music. In more recent years, the term has become generally applied to any sort of three-person band [Wikipedia]. This is a list of the top 15 power trios!
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, it’s hard not to have a strong opinion of Primus and Les Claypool’s groundbreaking bass styles.
Formed in 1980, the Femmes’ self-titled album brought Folk-Punk to new heights.
Peaches! Ninjas! Life is good.
While not as widely known as many of the groups listed here, their influence can be felt throughout the world of Heavy Metal. Way before their time.
The tragic death of Lead singer/guitarist Bradley Nowell came just as Sublime started to break into mainstream radio. With an enduring hard-core fan base, one can only wonder how far Sublime could have gone, if Nowell hadn’t fallen victim to his frequent drug abuse.
One of the most recent additions to the power-trio family, this Australian trio has quickly made a name for themselves by blending styles ranging from Black Sabbath, The Who, David Bowie and The Doors among others. They also seem to be popping up on just about every 3rd TV commercial and movie soundtrack these days…
The “other” Rush. This Canadian power-trio had several hits during the 80′s, but perhaps is best-known for having the “most-recognized-as-underrated-best-guitarist”, Rik Emmet.
Green Day achieved a marketing miracle by rising to the top of the charts during the 1990′s “grunge” era, and returning as a powerhouse in the early 2000′s, appealing to a whole new generation.
Lemmys gruff voice, thumping bass and “Fast” Eddie Clarke’s screaming guitar have influenced just about every metal band ever created since “Ace of Spades” was released in 1980.
While most of their songs were simple, power chord riffs with minimal leads, Kurt Cobain and Co. are credited with bringing Grunge to the masses.
The boys from Texas have been at it for almost 40 years, putting out hit after hit while never straying too far from their blues-rock base camp.
From the first moment Sting belted out “Roooooxannne!” The Police were destined for superstardom. Thankfully, Mr. Sumner has awakend from his new-age induced tantric coma, and rumors of a new album are brewing.
Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce pretty much helped define what a power trio should be with a string of hits and an influence that still grabs young’uns by the naughty bits.
No one can argue the influence Hedrix had on the electric guitar, but he accomplished his amazing guitar wizardry while simultneously singing and under the influence of some incredibly heavy drugs. Along with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, Hendrix turned the world of music upside down with his debut album “Are You Experienced?” in 1967. The world would never be the same.
Rush redefined the term Power Trio by making more music that anyone ever thought possible with just 3 people onstage. All musical virtuosi on their respective instruments, yet somehow still managing to get together and turn into a whole greater than the sum of it’s parts. Hands down, the Mac Daddy of all power trios.
Notable exclusions: King’s X, Blink-182, Meat Puppets, Minutemen, The Melvin’s
Contributor: BishopWhiteT
Muse
w00t for Rush!
Great list, I’m glad Primus is on there.
I believe it’s Kurt Cobain, not Kirk.
No Husker Du – so no use!
it WAS Kurt Cobain.
Okay – I have now corrected Cobain’s name
Sorry I missed it in the editing.
Primus Sucks! Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver is one of my all time favorite vids.
I was hoping Rush would be #1. I spend the later half of the 80′s listening to only Rush.
That’s OK Jfrater, we still love you and your listverse.
BishopWhiteT – You must be the smartest person on this site for picking the boys from Canada. Especially their early stuff and live performances. Although I admit some of their later stuff hasn’t really lit a fire under me, these guys used to do it right with some mind blowing stuff.
It’s amazing to see how one style of a band has seeped into almost every genre. It’s crazy to think that just three people are needed to create the music heard above. By the way, it’s Kurt, not Kirk, Cobain (just thought I’d let you know that). Would Blink 182 be considered a power trio? If so, haven’t they done a lot to usher a new wave of punk? I don’t know much in regards to music, just thought I’d ask.
actually the new wave of punk you are thinking of was started by Green Day which is included on this list, but blink 182 bounced right off of them(and they admit it). in terms of music, Green Day is probably more serious with writing and structure(but not TOO serious)
Tsk tsk…I don’t see Robin Trower['s band] or Mountain in there. And while they certainly weren’t a “top” power trio, do a Google search on “Kurt Winter,” “Bill Wallace,” “Vance Masters,” and “Brother” to see about their small contributions to great rock and roll in Canada.
Great List! Lots of tunes from my youth. Good pick for #1. The best 3 piece band ever.
Nirvana needs to be higher up!!!
Here’s another question. Why does the lead singer or artist have to die whenever a band is about to explode on the scene (or become one of the most influential factors to new music)? I think it’s a conspiracy (maybe). I can only think of a few artists right now, but I am sure there are more. Nirvana, Sublime, Jeff Buckley, Blind Melon, Elliot Smith, etc.
Rush sucks. The rest of the top ten all had a much wider audience and influence. Rush may have been better technical players than many, but they were never innovative or entertaining.
GREENDAY!!!
Directorxian; because they can now fund the lifestyle/excesses that ultimately kill them. A heroin addict with an unlimited supply is never a good thing.
Great picks. You can’t be serious at having jimi hendrix second to rush. and nirvana that far behind…come on. You have good taste
Steve-O; 2112 not innovative? Hemispheres? hmmmm I was around when they debuted, there was nothing else like it. Their early albums were great. Yer mistaken. I wasn’t fond of most of their music in the 80′s starting with Permanent Waves, but I like their brand new stuff. The fact that they seem like pretty cool guys is a bonus.
wow, interesting list. don’t know anything about rush other than i have heard people talk about how great they are and that neil pert is the best drummer ever.
in watching the clip above, their musical talent was evident quickly and i was thinking this is a cool jam. then that guy opened his mouth. YIKES!! i hope most of their stuff is simply instrumental or that someone else is the lead vocalist. that guys singing is terrible.
Directorixa: Because it’s better the burn out then Fade away. Look at it this way do you prefer to remember young hip Elvis or old fat Elvis.
No Alkaline Trio. You die now.
ZZTOP SHOULD HAVE BEEN NUMBER 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Susan: GREENDAY? It’s two words – Green Day! How old you, 13?! I bet you think American Idiot was their first album!
good list, but id have to move primus and sublime up over bands like greenday :-\
I think Zeppelin, Stones, and the Who are much better than Rush, and I definitely think that Hendrix should be at number 1.
Zeppelin, Stones, and the Who were not trios. Argument invalid
power trio usually takes into account the instruments only. The who and Zeppelin were. The stones for a brief period of time.
Chris; 3 pc band. 2 guitars, drums.
Sublime should be higher,much higher, but I’ll take it.
Brilliant comment Chris! In a power trio discussion you mention bands that aren’t power trios. Now that you mention it, I think the Beatles are better than Rush. Cmon peeps, read the list description and then comment.
Hendrix was probably the most talented, but it was Hendrix and two dudes he found on the street.
Okay, Rush is really one of the most godawful, ridiculous bands in history. To place them in the Number One spot is an absurdity. Especially over Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Good lord.
To leave Husker Du off this list is an affrontery.
To leave THE JAM off this list is an unforgivable sin, and combined with his other choices, means that the author has no knowledge of music. Or simply had some kind of bizarre mental lapse.
I mean come on…. THE JAM for god’s sake. Missing. Not here. Insane.
Lol Disc! Yeah, it’s been mentioned before that Geddy has a pretty crappy voice. It’s been compared to a chainsaw going through a cat. He’s toned it down recently. Which is probably why I don’t really care much for them anymore.
Mitch Mitchell, the drummer from the Jimi Hendrix Experience, wasnt exactly just a “dude found on the street”
Bucslim and Mom424: read my comment again and tell me if I ever said that any of those three bands were a power trio. All I said was that I like those bands more.
Chris, then your comment here, in a power trio list, is pointless. thats what they are stating.
alkaline trio
THE JAM….. For god’s sake!
“Down in the Tubestation at Midnight”
“Eton Rifles”
“This is the Modern World.”
“Goin’ Underground”
Good god… no Jam….. I’m reeling.
That video does not do Rush justice.
Great picks. The only one I hadn’t heard of was wolfmother. I could definitely hear the Balck Sabbath and The Who influence.
I LOVE Rush. I can not even begin to pick a better video, because I see sooo many songs I love by them.
yikes…the presidents of the us of a ahead of the violent femmes or primus? on what planet? certainly not earth.
sorry but peaches and a few other crappy songs that made it in the top 40 make this band marginally better than a one hit wonder in my not so humble opinion.
Chris – how dare you! of course zeppelin, stones, and the Who are better than Rush but were talking about Power Trios aren’t we? But still, props on putting Rush on 1. Nice work man!
Randall,
I don’t think it’s an absurdity. I really have loathed what Rush has become recently, but quite a lot of their early work is, in my opinion, quite good. You honestly can’t question their talent, as each guy has been considered at one point or another to be at the top of their discipline.
Listen, I know they don’t appeal to everyone and some consider them to be the height of Jr. High headbanging. And some of the lyrics are, well, kooky, to be frank. It’s obvious early on that they were trying to be some sort of quasi-Zeppelinesque. But you’ll never get a better drummer than Peart, you’d be hard pressed to find a better bass player than Geddy Lee. Alex Lifeson has taken a backseat in recent years, but his earlier work was pretty damned astounding. I’m giving you some credit here because I know a lot of people absolutely hate them. I really like there stuff before Power Windows. Especially Moving Pictures – that recording was damn near perfect in almost every way.
And I agree with you about the Jam.
I was about to say this was the worst list on the site until I scrolled down to see Nirvana, Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience which boosted it to a semi reasonable list. I think the Band of Gypsys deserves a mention.
Great top 3. Hendrix, however, is by far the best.
Green Day? Please.
Primus made a list !!
I wish it were a bit higher up though !
(But that’s just my own musical preference talking)
Ugh, Rush is so over. I was glad to see Primus on here, though.
Rush? Really? Them and Devo have the two Nerdiest band followings in history. Hendrixs should easily be #1
Everlast – yeah I probably was being a bit hasty with the two dudes found on the street comment. But that really could have been true. Hendrix was so talented he probably could have dragged a couple of no-talent limbless people and still make it work.
primus rules
I did not make comment # 45. I’m the real bucslim – full of himself, snarky and wit sharper than a rubber mallet. So poop on you fake bucslim. Evil false tricksy bucslim.
It’s a travesty that King’s X wasn’t included on this list.
48. bucslim – March 11th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Your name & “bucslim@hotmail.com” are showing as the default logins in the comment section.
jamie; can we not make some sort of blocking feature so we don’t have the double identity thing? Most of us have no problem making asses out of ourselves, we definitely need no help.
bucslim:
Musicianship and technical ability mean very little to me. Some, yes, but not much. To me it’s about the energy, the vitality, the power, the songwriting, and the attitude. In all these areas, Rush fails and has always failed.
C’mon bucslim, they’re from CANADA for god’s sake. You can’t take ANYTHING from Canada *serious.* Except Sarah Mclachlan maybe.
And puffins. I like puffins. They’re cute.
HexenBexen; I had another kiwi yesterday, I noticed before I posted and deleted the info.
52. Randall – March 11th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Hm, American, right? Figures.
Randall; You better damn well take me seriously. No love for The Guess Who? Liona Boyd? Jann Arden? Alanis Morisette?
Non music – Mordecai Richler? Pierre Burton? (you young guys know him, did the how to roll a conie video), geez even Trudeau is worth taking seriously.
Mom424 – I can assure you that my ass is whiter and bigger than the nasty bucslim from the parallel universe. I’m ass-tastic.
Randall – I appreciate your slant on this topic. I somehow sense you’re playing nice with me. I still like their early stuff. And Canadian Bacon. Which really isn’t bacon.
Anyway, I’ll mail you a copy of Moving Pictures and let you decide for yourself about that specific album.
I screamed for joy when i saw primus then almost flew out of my seat with excitement when i saw rush was number one.
Geddy lee and les claypool’s bass playing inspired me to pick up the instrument.
Mom:
I take YOU seriously, of course.
I love Canadians… we’re very close. Nice people. But no, I don’t take their rock and roll seriously. So sorry. American arrogance.
Where the hell are alkaline trio!!!???