Three's A Crowd: Stereoboard Look At Three-Piece Rock Bands (Green Day, Muse, Biffy Clyro Feature)
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Written by Heather McDaid
Some say two's company but three's a crowd. However, when it comes to rock nowadays, three is quite often the magic number. Many bands have taken a step away from the regular set up of four of five members, not settling for a separate drummer, bassist, vocalist, rhythm guitarist and lead guitarist.
Marking their 25th year together this year, Green Day seem a good place to start for trios of rock. With Tré Cool being the latecomer to the band back in 1990, they've consistently maintained their bass/guitar/drum line-up for over two decades with a string of live members to fill the gaps.
Still going strong and showing other bands how to maintain such a success in punk rock, the band split crowds with their latest offering 'ˇUno!'. While some enjoy it and others have found it a tad too commercial, Green Day will never really stop. With two more albums in this trilogy set to come, it's a fair assumption that they'll continue far, far past these releases.
However, their days as a trio are over (gasp!). As of 2012, their long-standing touring member Jason White is said to be officially considered a member now. Fans have been calling for this for quite a few years considering Jason's time with the band, but breaking the established set up might prove a risk elsewhere. Regardless, as threes go - Green Day is always relevant. Click Here to Compare & Buy Green Day Tickets.
Forming in the same year, but not lasting quite so long, famed grunge trio Nirvana are another vital mention. Though their time from formation to end was a mere seven years, and the success of 'Nevermind' only lasted three years before Kurt's demise, they've transcended the generation since to still be considered important today. Featuring Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, the band left a mark in the history of the industry that most bands would envy. Nirvana's rise to fame was meteoric, and the setting of which Kurt took his life are well documented. From their famed Reading performance to the string of classics that defined their success - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', 'Come As You Are', 'Lithium', Nirvana used those few years together to leave a legacy.
And the rule of three is one that has reared its head again for drummer Dave Grohl. Though he has been in many, many bands over the years - the latest of which, the Foo Fighters, seems to be taking some time off now - it's his latest supergroup that focuses on the power of three set up - Them Crooked Vultures. Alongside Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal man Josh Homme and acclaimed guitarist John Paul Jones, noted for his years with Led Zeppelin, the band haven't been on quite the same streak they were back in 2009-2010, but could still have something lurking up their sleeve.
From a secret set at Reading and Leeds festivals to performing Download's main stage, the year post formation saw them really put the band out there. Their eponymous debut also debuted at #12 in the Billboard charts and the band won a Grammy for the Best Hard Rock performance. As with most supergroups, balancing a schedule with other commitments can be troublesome, so Them Crooked Vultures has had to take a back seat of late. Maybe they'll come back to it - hopefully they do.
Sixx:AM have opted to be a trio as well, only - like others - bulking out their line-up in a live setting. Comprising of Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba - most noted for his time with Guns N' Roses and acclaimed music producer James Michael, the trio had their studio debut soundtracking Sixx's celebrated autobiography 'The Heroin Diaries'. Continuing on from this, their second record 'This Is Gonna Hurt' was an absolute blinder, and - like its predecessor - was released to coincide with the Sixx's book of the same title.
Earlier in 2012, the band played together for the first time in years at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards. Though it was only two songs, it wetted the appetite of those who had been waiting for them to tour. Though this project obviously falls behind the others being balanced, it would be nice to see them take this to the road properly.
You're deemed more than suitable for a feature on rock trios if you include that defining factor in your name - hey, Alkaline Trio. Dating back to the mid-nineties, the band had a few line-up changes, but settled in 2001 on their current suit: Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano and Derek Grant. Though the band haven't reached the same heights as, say, Green Day, they've amassed a loyal and dedicated fanbase across the world. They are growing though, ever evolving and achieving higher goals - their latest offering 'Damnesia' debuted at #11 on the Billboard charts, which is the highest chart position the band have reached in their career to date. May this rise continue!
Let's not leave all the fun for the USA. The UK has some corkers in reserve for this topic, one of particular note being English rock trio Muse. Vast approaching the 20 year mark together, Muse are famed for their live performance, that of which can blow most others out of the water. Personally, their best record lies back between 'Absolution' or 'Black Holes and Revelations', but what sets the bar for Muse so high is that each new album is a new favourite for someone out there. Since these offerings, the band self-produced 'The Resistance', and this very month saw the release of the dynamic '2nd Law'. Though they've developed their sound and pushed their own boundaries, there's always something about them that keeps you addicted, and that's why Muse are, well, massive.
Another reason is likely to be their sense of humour. Go on Youtube and look for Muse's performance on a TV show where they were asked to mime to a backing track. The presenters and producers obviously thought the performance went very well; then again they obviously didn't know who was who as the band switched positions. Matt Bellamy was drumming merrily in the background, Dominic Howard took the vocal front and Christopher Wolstenholme hit up the guitar. Pretty fantastic. Click Here to Compare & Buy Muse Tickets.
Moving north of the border, we come to Biffy Clyro. The mystery of their name still plagues us - did it really come from a biro with Cliff Richard on it? We may never know. Either way, to rock fans in Scotland, they're a pretty big deal. We've had our share of good musical exports over the years but, personally, Biffy are one of the best in many, many years. Together, Simon Neil, James Johnston and Ben Johnston have defined their own sound, utilising their Scottish accent in a string of brilliant tracks. They're one of those bands that coaxes you to emulate their vocals - not so difficult for us locals, but alas.
Luckily, we're not the only ones who think they're worthy of success. Aside from main stage performances at many festivals including Download earlier this year, the band were given the opportunity to headline Sonisphere back in 2011. Though this ruffled many feathers - ('They're not big enough!', 'They're not metal enough!') the risk proved worth it. The bands who headline nowadays have to - at some point - retire, or stop touring, and we need a new generation of headliners. Risks in giving some that opportunity early are going to be required now and then and this proved a changing point for the band, one that saw them worthy festival headliners alongside titans such as Metallica and Slipknot. Click Here to Compare & Buy Biff Clyro Tickets.
In a genre where the standard is to include a rhythm guitarist and lead, making a minimum of four members - assuming the lead vocalist can double up on an instrument - sometimes less is more, and these bands prove it. From longevity to legacy, each has something that sets them apart and, frankly, they're all pretty brilliant bands without all the added extras.
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Moving north of the border, we come to Biffy Clyro. The mystery of their name still plagues us - did it really come from a biro with Cliff Richard on it? We may never know. Either way, to rock fans in Scotland, they're a pretty big deal. We've had our share of good musical exports over the years but, personally, Biffy are one of the best in many, many years. Together, Simon Neil, James Johnston and Ben Johnston have defined their own sound, utilising their Scottish accent in a string of brilliant tracks. They're one of those bands that coaxes you to emulate their vocals - not so difficult for us locals, but alas. 
