Throughout rock and roll history, bands that have members from the same gene pool have also managed to craft some of the greatest rock and roll songs of all-time. From metal to southern rock, the five acts mentioned in this column epitomize the connection that siblings can have when rocking out together. It also proves that the special chemistry between brothers is something that’s hard to replicate. Check out this week’s tribute to brother bands below … and check back next week for part two of this sibling diary.
Pantera
This Texas-based act are one of the most influential metal bands of all-time, and there’s no way riffs like “Walk” and “Cowboys From Hell” would’ve sounded nearly as brutal if it weren’t for the blood connection between guitarist Dimebag Darrell and his drummer brother Vinnie Paul. While Darrell coaxed some of the most brutal harmonic squeals and skull-punishing riffs out of his axe, Paul held down the rhythm to create a unique brand of music that was equal parts heavy and melodic. Sadly Darrell was infamously gunned down at a show in Columbus, Ohio, in 2004, while performing with Paul in their post-Pantera project Damageplan. Luckily, Pantera’s recordings will assure that the band will never be forgotten.
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Stone Temple Pilots
When Stone Temple Pilots burst onto the grunge/alternative music scene in 1992 with Core, many people assumed the band was riding the coattails of acts like Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains. But the band went on to record four more albums and become one of the most recognizable acts of the ’90s. While vocalist Scott Weiland’s pipes were definitely one-of-a-kind, the band’s true secret weapon is its string section of guitarist Dean DeLeo and bassist Robert DeLeo, who consistently wrote solid, gimmick-free arrangements that still stand up today. And there still doing it today, as the band readies its first release of new music since 2001’s Shangri-La-Dee-Da, and is in the midst of the second leg of its reunion tour.
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Oasis
You can call Oasis a lot of things: temperamental, controversial and unreliable, to name a few. But it’s hard to deny the fact that the brotherly combination of Noel and Liam Gallagher has written some of the most memorable rock songs of the past few decades. In fact, everything from the band’s 1994 debut Definitely Maybe to last year’s Dig Out Your Soul has managed to channel the ghosts of legendary pop acts like the Beatles and Rolling Stones without sounding pandering or nostalgic. We think the band’s music wouldn’t be the same without the palpable tension that exists between these two brothers — and while that’s probably not always fun for them, it’s definitely a huge treat for us.
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AC/DC
Australia’s AC/DC are one of the longest-running hard rock institutions in the world, and much of their success is largely due to the double guitar combo of brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Clad in a school boy outfit and shorts, Angus gets most of the credit for his flashy onstage antics, but Malcolm’s flawless rhythm playing is the glue that holds the band’s monster sound together, and both brothers’ playing styles perfectly compliment one another. Yet the most amazing part of AC/DC today may be the fact that these two brothers can still kick out the jams despite the fact that they’re in the mid-50s, proving that there’s no age limit when it comes to performing classic songs like “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “Hell’s Bells” in front of rabid arena audiences night after night.
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Radiohead
When people look back on the most innovative acts of the last 100 years, there’s no doubt that Radiohead will be at the top of many lists. The band’s albums such as Ok Computer and Kid A changed the way people think about rock music, and the band’s use of technology — whether it’s the way that they create or distribute their music — has become as much a part of their legacy as classic songs like “Creep.” Musically, the band is lead by multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood and his bassist brother Colin Greenwood. Together they’re able to lock in to create an atmospheric sound that works just as well in a stripped-down rock setting as it does when they’re complimenting synthesizers and electronic flourishes, making them one of the most musically versatile brotherly duos on this list.
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