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Weekend Rock List: Best Trios

7/11/08, 4:42 pm EST

In honor of prog-rockers Rush, this weekend’s Rock List will focus on the finest trios in music history. Whether it’s the combo of guitar-drums-bass or three emcees and a microphone, tell us your favorite trifecta, and on Monday we’ll count the votes and reveal the readers’ list of Best Trios. Before you begin debating if Run DMC counts as a duo or trio in the comments, check out our picks:

• Rush
• Nirvana
• Beastie Boys
• Sleater-Kinney
• Cream


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Comments

CK | 7/11/2008, 4:45 pm EST

Jimi Hendrix Experience?

Alex | 7/11/2008, 4:52 pm EST

The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Run-DMC

Swingline | 7/11/2008, 5:00 pm EST

Primus
Motorhead
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Stevie Ray & Double Trouble
Muse
The Police

countryfeedback | 7/11/2008, 5:11 pm EST

nirvana
meat puppets
replacements recorded pleased to meet me as a three piece, does that count?

Ando | 7/11/2008, 5:15 pm EST

Nirvana
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Primus
Beastie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Jack Johnson
The White Stripes with me clapping

CK | 7/11/2008, 5:25 pm EST

SRV n Double Trouble

Joe | 7/11/2008, 5:30 pm EST

Jimi Hendrix Experience
Police
Cream
Nir vana
Rush
SRV and Double Trouble
Green Day

As much as I love Run-DMC, the Beasties, and Salt and Pepa, they have their own category.

Anonymous | 7/11/2008, 5:33 pm EST

nirvana
beastie boys
jimi hendrix experience
cream

Cheesecrop | 7/11/2008, 6:15 pm EST

The Rock N’ Roll Trio
Link Wray and the Ray-Men

Seth | 7/11/2008, 6:38 pm EST

Don’t care what any of you say…Blink 182. Their last record was fantastic.

DUH | 7/11/2008, 7:06 pm EST

MUSE!!!!!!!!!!!
THE MELVINS
HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
TENACIOUS D W/ DAVE GROHL

duh | 7/11/2008, 7:09 pm EST

MUSE!!!
MELVINS!!
TENACIOUS D WITH DAVE GROHL!

s-k rules | 7/11/2008, 7:16 pm EST

1. Sleater-Kinney
2. Nirvana
3. The Police

Dei B | 7/11/2008, 7:26 pm EST

The Minutemen!!!

me | 7/11/2008, 7:39 pm EST

wolfmother
police
jimi hendrix experience

Bucky The Mummy | 7/11/2008, 7:40 pm EST

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris. “Trio”

jim | 7/11/2008, 7:57 pm EST

cream
jimi hendrix experience
john mayer trio

Anonymous | 7/11/2008, 8:32 pm EST

you am i

Bob | 7/11/2008, 8:35 pm EST

Rush
Muse
Cream
Jimi Hendrix Experience
emerson lake and palmer
motorhead
the jam
police
zz top
nirvana
husker du
primus
sublime
and wolfmother

tincatdream | 7/11/2008, 9:31 pm EST

yo la tengo

Randy | 7/11/2008, 10:08 pm EST

Primus
ZZ Top
Dinosaur jr.
Meat Puppets
Concrete Blonde
R.E.M.

Darthdye | 7/11/2008, 10:12 pm EST

R.E.M
Nirvana

johnnyspeaker | 7/11/2008, 10:13 pm EST

Flaming Lips (three actual band members)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs!!!!

Hendrix Experience

The Police

The Jam

Violent Femmes

Beasties

and yes, Run DMC counts.

Steel Dragon in Texas | 7/11/2008, 10:16 pm EST

Jimi Hendrix Experience
RUSH!!!! (which better stay on)
The Police
Green Day
Nirvana
silverchair 9VERY underrated band)
cream

saad | 7/11/2008, 10:17 pm EST

gotta be nirvana, the police, beastie boys, green day, a tribe called quest, de la soul, the fugees, rush, the jimi hendrix experience and u all forgot the flaming lips too

bman | 7/11/2008, 10:40 pm EST

blink-182

tyler finch | 7/11/2008, 10:42 pm EST

NIRVANA
DEICIDE
POST BERRY R.E.M

TYLER FINCH | 7/11/2008, 10:45 pm EST

Nirvana
R.E.M

joe | 7/11/2008, 10:51 pm EST

Wow, cant believe I forgot ZZ Top. The cool antithesis of Rush. LOLOLOL

Kevin The Robot | 7/11/2008, 11:39 pm EST

Ben Folds Five – Best name for a trio

José | 7/11/2008, 11:41 pm EST

MUSE

jebeal | 7/12/2008, 12:15 am EST

The Jam, The Jam, The Jam, The Jam…and everyone else.

JD | 7/12/2008, 12:41 am EST

How could you not include the BeeGees? And how about Emerson Lake and Palmer? Three Dog Night? And the Supremes should be mentioned too. And when they aren’t with Young, Crosby Stills and Nash.

krantus | 7/12/2008, 2:07 am EST

jimi hendrix experience.

yeah yeah yeahs.

wolfmother.

krantus | 7/12/2008, 2:13 am EST

and rush of course.

Jakobi | 7/12/2008, 3:38 am EST

Run-DMC

Sleater-Kinney

Beast ie Boys

The Beatles after Paul died.

Ido (Israel) | 7/12/2008, 5:42 am EST

Wolfmother sucks.

Dub Trio
Monotonix
Green-day? NOT.

Brady | 7/12/2008, 9:27 am EST

Green Day
Green Day
Green Day
Green Day

Dogonroof | 7/12/2008, 9:47 am EST

c’mon guys….u have to include the Jimi Hendrix Experience.And Nirvana.And Cream.and SRV and Double Trouble.and Beastie Boys.and R.E.M.maybe even the John Mayer trio..theyre tight.

Max | 7/12/2008, 10:05 am EST

Police
Nirvana
Rush
Cream
Hend rix Experience

Max from Italy !! | 7/12/2008, 10:15 am EST

James Gang !!!! Do you remember ???

_-*-_ | 7/12/2008, 10:42 am EST

without any doubt:
THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

other:
R.E.M.
Muse
Cream
The Jam

Mary | 7/12/2008, 10:53 am EST

Supremes

Joey Coco | 7/12/2008, 11:05 am EST

Alexander Nevermind + Jamie Starr + Christopher Tracey

Blues Power! | 7/12/2008, 11:34 am EST

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Marc | 7/12/2008, 12:05 pm EST

Primus

Brian Gallagher | 7/12/2008, 12:16 pm EST

Run DMC?: ah sorry rap doesn`t count. It is not music. It is just guys bragging about their wieners over pre recorded music. I repeat rap is not music.

Hey!! | 7/12/2008, 12:42 pm EST

Hendrix Experience
Nirvana
Sublime (seems to be forgotten on this list)
Green Day
Beastie Boys
The Police

dp | 7/12/2008, 1:07 pm EST

Genesis(then there were three)ELP,Rush

thezero | 7/12/2008, 1:09 pm EST

portishead

poison the well (as of 2006)

cocteau twins

melvins

guy

casket lottery

the impressions

tlc

today is the day

unsane

whodini

leafvongola | 7/12/2008, 1:13 pm EST

Paul isn’t dead, Jakobi.

Michael Duffy | 7/12/2008, 1:16 pm EST

we can’t forget

Mountain
Beck, Bogart and Appice
West, Bruce and Laing

Brian | 7/12/2008, 1:19 pm EST

MOTORHEAD MOTHER FUCKERS!!! Lemmy at age 62 can out rock anyone on this list. Those pussies in Green Day can’t even shine his shoes…

Jam Master Jew | 7/12/2008, 2:07 pm EST

leafvongola–pretty sure that was a joke.

Brian Gallagher–Gallagher is not a comedian, just a dude smashing watermelons.

jp | 7/12/2008, 2:55 pm EST

CSN
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Cream
ZZ Top

THE DORF | 7/12/2008, 3:03 pm EST

King’s X
Rush
Triumph
ZZ Top

Gwen | 7/12/2008, 3:26 pm EST

Jimi Hendrix Experience
Muse
Nirvana
Run DMC
Police
Wolfmother

pw | 7/12/2008, 3:55 pm EST

sublime
nirvana
hendrix exp
meat puppets

Steve | 7/12/2008, 4:07 pm EST

Muse
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Run-DMC

Domino | 7/12/2008, 4:11 pm EST

roughly in order of preference:
Cream
Hendrix Experience
Taste
Mountain
W est,Bruce & Laing
The Nice
Bevis Frond
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Sun Dial
Bruce,Baker & Moore
Nirvana
Sugar
Pink Fairies
Love Sculpture
Dead Moon
Mariani
(some were trios at some point)

Domino | 7/12/2008, 4:26 pm EST

add:
Atomic Rooster

t | 7/12/2008, 4:47 pm EST

let’s not forget Ben Folds Five was a trio…

tom | 7/12/2008, 5:00 pm EST

How about the Police or REM? Those are the best 2 trios of all time.

allan | 7/12/2008, 5:03 pm EST

the police
green day
the jam
muse
the beastie boys
zz top
rush
cream
bbm
taste and why hasn’t anyone mentioned oysterhead

Jumbo H( . )( . )ters | 7/12/2008, 5:34 pm EST

The Alkaline Trio (c’mon you friggin boneheads, these guys have the word Trio in their name)
Nirvana
Primus
Your Momma and Her Two Lovers
Sleater-Kinney
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yo La Tengo
REM
High On Fire
Sodom
Destruction (that’ll be the day the above 3 will be chosen)
Celtic Frost
The Melvins
The Three Musketeers

CRUSTY UNDERWEAR GUY | 7/12/2008, 5:38 pm EST

Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top
Nirvana
Beastie Boys
Green Day
Wolfmother
Primus
Beast ie Boys
The Fugees
Sublime
Blue Cheer
Husker Du
Cocteau Twins
Morly Grey
Motorhead
Rush
Tr iumph
ZZ Top

Orgo | 7/12/2008, 5:45 pm EST

The Replacements when they were a trio round the time of Pleased To Meet Me
Big Star when they were a trio round the time of Radio City
V.Spy V.Spy
Nirvana
The Police
The Jam
Tex,Don & Charlie
The Hard Ons

Orgo | 7/12/2008, 5:48 pm EST

How could I forget The Stray Cats?

Mike | 7/12/2008, 5:51 pm EST

I love the Replacements as much as anyone but I wouldn’t count them as a trio. They never toured as such. Plus, Pleased to Meet Me featured a horn section on nearly every track. Not to mention Alex Chilton on “Can’t Hardly Wait.”

Orgo | 7/12/2008, 5:53 pm EST

Also forgot XTC being a trio for a long time after Terry Chambers left-shame on me!

robbie k | 7/12/2008, 6:21 pm EST

Sleater-Kinney
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Ben Folds Five
The Thermals
The Avett Brothers

robbie k | 7/12/2008, 6:22 pm EST

Crap, scratch that…

Crosby, Stills, and Nash

IV | 7/12/2008, 7:13 pm EST

Cream
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Nirvana
The Beastie Boys
The Minute Men
Yo La Tengo
Primus
The Flaming Lips

thatguy | 7/12/2008, 8:09 pm EST

The Beastie Boys
R.E.M.
The Police
Rush
Ben Folds Five
Run-D.M.C.
Massive Attack
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Os Mutantes
Portishead

Seth | 7/12/2008, 11:12 pm EST

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two.

nathan | 7/13/2008, 12:05 am EST

Primus, James Gang, JHE,Cream

nathan | 7/13/2008, 12:06 am EST

Primus, James Gang, JHE,Cream

Julian | 7/13/2008, 12:22 am EST

Green Day was better than the Beastie Boys…Rush sucks…my list is:

Nirvana
Cream
Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Police
Green Day
Blink-182
ZZ Top
Beastie Boys
Run-DMC
REM
The Current Led Zeppelin
Wolfmother
Motorhead

and NOT poison. Hair Metal sucks ass.

James | 7/13/2008, 12:39 am EST

Muse
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
blink-182

James | 7/13/2008, 12:40 am EST

Jawbreaker

Commissioned Clown | 7/13/2008, 12:42 am EST

Definitely the Jimi Hendrix Experience. That tops the list.
After that, in no particular order:
Cream.
Sublime.
SRV and Double Trouble.
Primus.
Nirvana.

SkyDog | 7/13/2008, 6:15 am EST

CREAM !

tb | 7/13/2008, 6:30 am EST

dinosaur jr

dds | 7/13/2008, 9:48 am EST

muse
nirvana
cream
jhi
alkalin e trio
biffy clyro

daniel moore | 7/13/2008, 10:02 am EST

plastic ono band john lennon ringo starr and klaus voormann

jo | 7/13/2008, 10:55 am EST

TRIUMPH

ZoSo | 7/13/2008, 11:44 am EST

Blink 182
Mountain
The Jimi Hendrix Experience (better be on it)

Clyde | 7/13/2008, 12:16 pm EST

Jimi Hendrix Experience (seriously)
Cream
James Gang
Grand Funk Railroad
Mountain

tijuanabibles | 7/13/2008, 12:21 pm EST

Morphine
Link Wray and the Ray-Men

John | 7/13/2008, 1:31 pm EST

The Police
Cream
REM
Jimi Hendrex Experience
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Muse

Ja | 7/13/2008, 2:33 pm EST

Cream
The Police
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Emerson, lake and Palmer
Primus
Muse
The last Genesis (Phil Collins era)

MaEchU!!* | 7/13/2008, 3:43 pm EST

Nirvana
Placebo!!*
Muse
Gre en Day
R.E.M

Hungover at Work | 7/13/2008, 3:47 pm EST

Primus
Blink 182
Rush
Beastie Boys
Jimmy Hendrix Experience

JP | 7/13/2008, 4:24 pm EST

The biggest omission so far is the Dixie Chicks. These ladies have more musical talent than most of the trios mentioned.

Ben Folds Five
The Bens

Green Day
Nirvana
ZZ Top

Run DMC
Salt N Pepa
The Fugees

Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Two
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble

Medeski, Martin, and Wood

Kim's Deeler | 7/13/2008, 4:40 pm EST

Peter, Paul, and Mary
Husker Du

your mom | 7/13/2008, 5:22 pm EST

dixie chicks
dixie chicks
dixie chicks

AND…

cream
nir vana
green day
husker du

and 2 dark horse selections:
king’s x
hanson

Chooodude | 7/13/2008, 5:42 pm EST

king’s x
gov’t mule (originally
zz top
rush
cream
primus
triu mph
jimi hendrix experience
the minutemen
g. love & special sauce
the bad plus
talas
sublime
24-7 spyz

and a note to domino, while I wouldn’t put them on this list, I think it’s awesome you picked BBM

melissa | 7/13/2008, 6:17 pm EST

hello?? silverchair are still going strong, and it’s because they are amazing and daniel johns is a brilliant songwriter.

Taft | 7/13/2008, 6:35 pm EST

Rush
King’s X
Genesis
Cream
Spinal Tap

Kliffee | 7/13/2008, 6:51 pm EST

jimi hendrix experience
zebra
motorhead

wrecksracer | 7/13/2008, 9:14 pm EST

Johnny Burnette Trio

Kirk L. | 7/13/2008, 9:16 pm EST

Green Day
Blink 182

gc | 7/13/2008, 9:23 pm EST

cream
nirvana
police

ChuckX | 7/13/2008, 10:19 pm EST

The Police

PCB3 | 7/13/2008, 10:26 pm EST

Rush

PCB3 | 7/13/2008, 10:26 pm EST

Rush

Mr. Show | 7/13/2008, 10:37 pm EST

Sleater-Kinney.

swineherder | 7/13/2008, 10:43 pm EST

the jam

jungleland | 7/13/2008, 11:05 pm EST

ZZ TOP
The Police
The Stray Cats

ChiliPepper | 7/13/2008, 11:51 pm EST

Muse
Green Day
Alkaline Trio
Nirvana
Wolfmother
Beasti e Boys
Bedouin Soundclash
Violent Femmes

Ben & Chris | 7/13/2008, 11:52 pm EST

Melissa-you’re entitled to your opinion but I’m afraid Silverchair suck and Daniel Johns is a complete tosspot

johnnie luddite | 7/14/2008, 12:12 am EST

Cream
Jimi Hendrix Experience
ZZ Top
The Jam
The Police
Crosby Stills & Nash
SRV & Double Trouble
Ten Years After
The Stray Cats
Motorhead

Orgo | 7/14/2008, 3:54 am EST

X from Australia

Frrr | 7/14/2008, 6:14 am EST

De La Soul has had ten times the career the Beastie Boys have. Show them some love.

tommy | 7/14/2008, 6:56 am EST

Nirvana

Lonesome Dave | 7/14/2008, 8:21 am EST

Blue Cheer
Pick up Vincebus Eruptum or Outside Inside. Precursor to heavy metal and hardest rocking band of the late 60’s.

IV | 7/14/2008, 9:10 am EST

Don’t know how MMW managed to slip my mind first time around, but definetly make my list…

jeff liberto | 7/14/2008, 11:28 am EST

cream
rory gallagher and his band
taste
crosby stills nash
robin trower
king crimson( red )
zz top
jimi hendrix experience
blue cheer
the jam
the james gang

Chuck | 7/14/2008, 11:30 am EST

RUSH!!!

Oh, and I guess Wolfmother

TomJ | 7/14/2008, 11:35 am EST

Tried to consider some areas outside hard rock…

TRUE TRIOS (members on relatively equal footing)
Cream (alot of people forget that if Cream had a “leader”, it was Bruce, not Clapton)
CSN
Rush
Beastie Boys
Run DMC
TLC (Gotta give some love to the ladies)
Dixie Chicks (though Natalie could be seen as the leader)

ONE PLUS TWO – TRIOS WITH ONE DOMINANT MEMBER
The Supremes (AKA Diana Ross and two other chicks)
Jimi Hendrix Experience (duh)
The Police (The other two have chops, but this was Sting’s band)
Nirvana (Grohl obviously had lots of talent, but was in the background here)
Green Day (Nobody but Billie Joe could sell an album on his own)
Ben Fold Five (No explanation needed)
Destiny’s Child (Sorry Kelly)
John Mayer Trio (you had to see them live – one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, complete with Steven Tyler coming out for the encore)

OBSCURE CHOICES:
Screaming Trees (Fat guy sandwich)
Throwing Muses (lineup after Tanya left)
Albert Collilns, Johnny Copeland and Robert Cray (on Showdown! Must have for fans of blues guitar!)

TomJ | 7/14/2008, 11:38 am EST

And don’t disrespect Jay! Run DMC as most definitely a trio…Jay was just in the background, like drummers in most of the other trios mentioned….

NIRVANA! | 7/14/2008, 1:06 pm EST

NIRVANA!!!!

NIRVANA! | 7/14/2008, 1:06 pm EST

NIRVANA!!!!

Nun | 5/16/2009, 12:34 am EST

Beasties aint a trio if Run DMC is – both groups have/had a DJ.

mark | 9/6/2009, 11:11 pm EST

I have to put Morly Grey in the top ten

mark | 9/6/2009, 11:11 pm EST

I have to put Morly Grey in the top ten

mark | 9/6/2009, 11:11 pm EST

I have to put Morly Grey in the top ten

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