think about bands that play behind/with the lead singer such as Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Neil Young's Crazy Horse, Dylan's The Band, Joe Walsh's Crazy Gang or Bruce's E Street Band.

Who's your favourite? I think for me it's The Band but I'm not sure if they really count as they ended up being a stand alone band. Any others I missed?

The Jordanaires?

I've seen the E-Street Band and Crazy Horse live. Both were superb, but I think the Asbury Jukes (Southside Johnny) deserve a mention. Fantastic musicians, brilliant entertainers, and they obviously play night after night for the love of playing, not for the money.

Another great backing band are the Silver Bullet band ( Bob Seger), whose album 'Live Bullet' is often mentioned as one of the best of all time.

I got to see George Thorogood and the Destroyers last summer- they played live in the hotel we stayed in( Earth Wind and Fire played the following night, so it was a good-value stay in San Diego!). They were good, but not in the same league as the above-mentioned.

The Delaware Destroyers (Thorogood) and Double Trouble (Stevie Ray Vaughn) come to mind.

Completely subjective, but I'd say it's the lead musician with the best star-power supporting him or her. Therefore, to me The Band (Dylan) with Danko, Robertson and Helm. Bunch of Canadians.

Lauren, how about the Miami Sound Machine (Gloria Estefan)?

One of the best gigs I've ever been to was when I saw James Brown, not just because of the man, but his band were absolutely superb!

The Delaware Destroyers (Thorogood) and Double Trouble (Stevie Ray Vaughn) come to mind.

Completely subjective, but I'd say it's the lead musician with the best star-power supporting him or her. Therefore, to me The Band (Dylan) with Danko, Robertson and Helm. Bunch of Canadians.

Lauren, how about the Miami Sound Machine (Gloria Estefan)?

err no not the Miami Sound Machine - not my kinda music.

But The Band stood alone as a band and made albums and toured alone so do they really count? I still think they are something else though.

Agree with Bob Segers's band being great.

I know it's old sh*t, but when Gary Glitter first made it big, he was committed to a tour that included loads of little venues in sh*tsville. The Glitter band were a very good very tight rock band and played the first hour without the kiddy-fiddler and it was mesmerising - they were fecking excellent.

That said, I'd agree with whoever said Double Trouble and the Asbury Dukes

One of the best gigs I've ever been to was when I saw James Brown, not just because of the man, but his band were absolutely superb!

james brown ALWAYS had great backing bands, whether it was the famous flames or the JBs. the JBs also made a series of solo albums, i remember the had a huge hit with gimme some more, retitled happy for the poor for james brown's slaughter's big rip-off soundtrack album. he was well known as a perfectionist, applying exactingly high standards to himself and his backing bands. also involved were people like lyn collins and bobby byrd, stars in their own right but also backing singers with james brown.

Should throw in Little Richard's band too. He had Jimi Hendrix backing him up for a time.

The Rumour were/are a great band (Graham Parker)

Lets not forget the Funk Brothers, Motown's backing band.

Lets not forget the Funk Brothers, Motown's backing band.

Good call!

Lets not forget the Funk Brothers, Motown's backing band.

indeed. one of the first singles i ever bought was 6 by 6 by earl van dyke. how's that for a forgotten classic?

Some good replies, so far. Here's a few more, whether anybody will agree or not is anyone's guess...

The Wailers (Bob Marley)

The Faces (Rod Stewart)

The MG's (Booker T.)

The Tennessee Three (Johnny Cash)

The Four Seasons (Frankie Valli)

The Crickets (Buddy Holly)

The Stooges (Iggy Pop)

Mahogany Rush (Frank Marino)

Packet Of Three (Steve Marriott)

The Mothers Of Invention (Frank Zappa)

The Amboy Jukes (Ted Nugent)

The Upsetters*

* - to be honest, I'm not sure they were ever a regular group. I think The Upsetters was the name given to whichever backing musicians were around when Lee Perry decided to lay down a track.

Sometimes it's not easy to say what counts as a backing band and what doesn't. I mean, I understand Bob Marley was originally just one member of The Wailers and then at some point they started calling it Bob Marley & The Wailers. Iggy was originally just one of The Stooges and(correct me if I'm wrong) only later on started to contribute to song writing. Wasn't Rod Stewart also originally just one of The Faces?

As for the Upsetters, I think they were a really mixed bunch with the lineups constantly changing. I think some of The Wailers were part of the Upsetters at some point.

Sometimes it's not easy to say what counts as a backing band and what doesn't. I mean, I understand Bob Marley was originally just one member of The Wailers and then at some point they started calling it Bob Marley & The Wailers. Iggy was originally just one of The Stooges and(correct me if I'm wrong) only later on started to contribute to song writing. Wasn't Rod Stewart also originally just one of The Faces?

As for the Upsetters, I think they were a really mixed bunch with the lineups constantly changing. I think some of The Wailers were part of the Upsetters at some point.

Bob Marley was just one member of The Wailers, but that changed when Peter Tosh & Bunny Wailer left.

Again, Iggy was just one of The Stooges, but then he became their focal point.

Rod Stewart began as just a member of The Faces, but he had great solo success on a different label while still with the band. He used members of The Faces as backing musicians on some of his early albums, and although The Faces toured as a band, the distance between him and the band grew, which was probably one of the reasons they split.

the Mothers of Invention released the single 'So Happy Together'. Not sure what else they did without Zappa.

No mention of Blockheads(Ian Dury's band) so far(?). Based on the live footage I've seen they seem pretty good.

the mar-keys were the original stax session band, and also had hits in their own right including "last night", "philly dog" and "popeye stroll". members of the original band went on to form booker t and the m.g.s and the memphis horns,

staying with stax, the bar-kays functioned as backup on several classic isaac hayes albums.

Mar-Keys v The Funk Brothers:

Earl Van Dyke - 6 by 6:

THE Mar-Keys - Last Night