The Battle of the B-List Bands

Why Can't They Be Friends?
Can't decide which version of Asia (or War) to see? Our guide helps you sort through the madness

L.A. Guns with Tracii Guns Founder and guitarist Guns leads this unit, which plays L.A. Guns tunes and covers. Singer is Marty Casey — best known as the runner-up from Rock Star: INXS.

L.A. Guns with Phil Lewis Sticking to classic Guns jams, original singer Lewis and drummer Steve Riley lead this group, which includes a guitarist named Stacey Blades (clever!).

Best Bet: It's a tossup, though Tracii put the "Guns" in L.A. Guns.

War Number of original members: one. After a 1997 lawsuit, original keyboardist Lonnie Jordan ended up with the name — and hired new Warriors.

Lowrider Band Number of original members: all the other surviving dudes — including singer Howard E. Scott! They named their group after one of War's biggest hits.

Best Bet: Lowrider Band are clearly more legit.

The Guess Who In the mid-1970s, original bassist Jim Kale registered the name as a corporation after realizing nobody else had. He's toured with rotating players ever since.

Bachman Cummings Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings are the Guess Who: They wrote and sang nearly every major hit from "These Eyes" to "No Sugar Tonight."

Best Bet: Bachman Cummings. Duh!

The Temptations Bandleader and founder Otis Williams is the last surviving original member — 16 other singers have joined the group over the past four decades.

The Temptations Review Dennis Edwards, who sang lead on funky early-1970s Temps hits like "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," toured as "the Temptations" until a lawsuit stopped him.

Best Bet: Another wash. Otis is OG, but Edwards has a killer voice.

Original Asia The prog supergroup's original foursome re-formed in 2006 for a reunion tour, breaking out "Heat of the Moment" and songs by Yes and King Crimson.

Asia Featuring John Payne Ex-Asia frontman John Payne, who sang with the band for 15 years prior to Original Asia's reunion, is hitting state fairs with his own crew.

Best Bet: If you have to see Asia, go original.

[From Issue 1072 — February 19, 2009]

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