1. Neil Young. This bad-arse motherfucker is still rocking and still playing louder than anyone else. He is a true rock’n’roller from way back, who is still alive and hasn’t sold out or written shit music since he was born. All hail Neil – may he live long and prosper.
2. Cliff Burton. Next up is the bass player among these five rock’n’roll legends. The pot smokin’, acid taking, Lynyrd Skynrd lovin’, best fucking bass-playing son of a bitch that ever lived. Metallica would have been nothin’ without him. Who else would have introduced them to the Misfits and Bach? As far as I’m concerned the band died when he did. R.I.P
3. Billy Thorpe. Australian rock’n’roll royalty – one of the pioneering guitar legends of the ‘60s, ‘70s and beyond. A man who played hard his entire life, playing his last show just a week before his untimely death. Known to be one of the loudest guitar players around, he once smashed a giant fish tank inside the venue he was playing at, even though he was warned to turn down. A relentless hard rocker who didn’t give a damn.
4. Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor. Motorhead’s absolute powerhouse drummer. Whether it was all the speed he was on, or just the fact that he was a maniac in general; his drumming was 100% energy and packed with power. A man who broke his hand punching someone on tour, but continued to play with a stick gaffer-taped to his hand. An excellent drummer and a downright rock’n’roller til the day he died.
5. Steve Cohen. To finish off this list we are going to go with Melbourne’s very own Steve Cohen of Flour. Steve is a rock god, not a rock legend. Steve is a road-dog. He was born for the road and born on the road in the back of a Kingswood which was on its way to a Rose Tattoo gig. No one can compare to the sheer brilliance this man radiates on stage, nor can they compete with his guitar skills or partying stamina. A final fact about Steve, he actually invented the A chord. Enough said.
Photo by Ian Laidlaw.
