who is the biggest nerd in rock n' roll?

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Just curious. Who do you personally think is the nerdiest musician making rock n' roll today? I'm not talking about the quality of this person's music, just their nerdiness factor. And keep it to musicians, please. Rock critics and music writers are by definition nerds, so they're not included.

And by the way, I'm in no way, shape, or form anti-nerd. That'd be hypocritical, as I'm a considerable dorkwad myself (obviously).

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 23 January 2004 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Graham Coxon

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 23 January 2004 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Rivers Cuomo. The guy even had an internet girlfriend.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 23 January 2004 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

the rock band fastball

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 23 January 2004 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Damon Gough, because he thinks those hats are actually cool.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 23 January 2004 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/ContentResources/C_2_Articles_4413_Body_Web_ArticleBlock_0_Image.jpg

Who you callin' nerd, pal?

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 23 January 2004 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Trent Reznor, even though I am a fan.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:01 (twenty-two years ago)

They Might Be Giants

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Ira Kaplan. In fact, all of Yo La Tengo.

― HRH Queen Kate (kate), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never heard a lick of his music, but isn't Atom & His Package a bit uber-nerdy?

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

If Weird Paul Petrosky (sp?) were still around, he'd 0\/\/N this thread...

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

1 Ned Raggett
918 (9)

2
stevem
807 (5)

3
Alex in NYC
625 (21)

4
Llahtuos Kcin
493 (9)

5
Tico Tico
458 (15)

― Luigi Vampa (Horace Mann), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I said no writers!

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess I should start reading first posts, huh? But Ned has an album out, so he counts.

― Luigi Vampa (Horace Mann), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Ok, I'll grant that one.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The Doctor Nerve guy that even wrote a computer program that could write songs for him.

― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Jad Fair

― That's a Goddamn Lie (Liar), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

errr...

http://www.suburbia.cl/biografias/kraftwerk/kraftwerk4.jpg

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Jason Trachtenburg

― Luigi Vampa (Horace Mann), Friday, 23 January 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

The assumption i'm making here is that in 1998-9, computer music fandom is nerdish (as i understand it). back then, david bowie did that nerdy thing of inviting fans to win lyric writes/rights to the music of one of bowie's songs, a song to appear on his new album which subsequently emerged as "hours ..". The song, a countdown 1999 scare number called "what's really happening", had that nerdy computer data panic theme.

i suppose it was a stab at 'net demographics, aimed at computer-bowie users. Perhaps the thousands of lyric submissions with the most common theme might have helped determine the mindset of didn't-win but maybe-committed purchasers and helped shape the final lyric. I don't think this makes bowie nerdy, but nerds (as i understand them) seem to like being acknowledged as nerds by other VIP nerds, and so bowie coming out to the nerds,.. it's a very nerd-oriented marketing strategy.

but by 2002 bowie had learnt how to avoid being too nerdy by hanging around with moby, a negative collaboration i suppose since no collaboration emerged (given bowie's m.o. is collaboration). bowie saw the nerd in moby i guess. bowie might have been desperate in 1998-9 compared with his relatively respectable come-back now, so i figure that in 2004 moby is kirk and thurstin moore is scotty, with bowie out of the picture or at least aristocratically and diplomatically avoiding any too-personal relationships with vulcans.

― george gosset (gegoss), Friday, 23 January 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry, moby is Mr. Sulu.

― george gosset (gegoss), Friday, 23 January 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Arto Lindsay OWNS this thread!

http://www.furious.com/perfect/graphics/arto.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 23 January 2004 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Three Day Stubble = Arto Lindsay X 3 (or 4, or 5...I forget how many members they have)

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Friday, 23 January 2004 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Darren Hayman. Even if all his songs are about having sex.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 January 2004 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Or perhaps particularly because all his songs are about having sex.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 January 2004 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Arto Lindsay OWNS this thread!
Dude! He may LOOK like a nerd, but HE KANT BE!

― nathalie (nathalie), Friday, 23 January 2004 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Mc Paul Barman

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 23 January 2004 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

C'est moi!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Friday, 23 January 2004 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

duane has the most fan-obsessive oddball record collection i've ever seen and he's drumming in a rock'n'roll band

― george gosset (gegoss), Friday, 23 January 2004 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

But Ned has an album out, so he counts.

Woo! Validation!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 23 January 2004 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

At last, Ned is a real boy!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 23 January 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Arto Lindsay is a sex god.

http://www.cucamonga.be/afbeeldingen/ArtoLindsay0602.jpg

― Marcel Post (Marcel Post), Friday, 23 January 2004 18:15 (twenty-two years ago)

The Rock Bottom Remainders -- especially Dave Barry.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 23 January 2004 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Although perhaps not Amy Tan!

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/05/27/rock.bottom.remainders/story.tan.jpg

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 23 January 2004 18:36 (twenty-two years ago)

aphex twin, you cunts

― mc, Friday, 23 January 2004 18:56 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, but he's a nerd with a tank.

― Felcher (Felcher), Friday, 23 January 2004 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

NERD!!

http://www.nyls.org/billjackets/aphex.bmp

― mc (mcutt), Friday, 23 January 2004 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow...his eyes glow like a cat's!

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 23 January 2004 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Ole Dickie James looks he's packing on a few. Stop drinking all that wine, my man! And lay off the cheese, if you please.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 23 January 2004 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Weird Paul Petrosky is still around, playing without Manny Theiner, no backing from a label. Still pretty nerdy.

― Stephen Boyle (SBoyle), Friday, 23 January 2004 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

eight months pass...

I am still around, but I'm more of a dork than a nerd! My new band is called REVENGE OF THE NERDS.

― Paul Petroskey, Sunday, 17 October 2004 02:08 (twenty-one years ago)

frank zappa
ralf und florian
nas (only he doesn't know it)

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 17 October 2004 04:19 (twenty-one years ago)

meatloaf, obv.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Sunday, 17 October 2004 04:21 (twenty-one years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002Z7O.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 17 October 2004 05:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I am surprised nobody has mentioned Elvis Costello yet.

Of course, the historic winner will always be Buddy Holly. He obviously isn't making music today though...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 17 October 2004 10:27 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.broberg.pp.se/images/plusfour.gif

― Ally C (Ally C), Sunday, 17 October 2004 12:08 (twenty-one years ago)

That picture of Darren Hayman up there looks like Celtic midfielder Alan Thompson but with nerdy specs on.

http://www.pastis.org/jade/av01/darren1.gif
http://www.avilla73.freeserve.co.uk/thompson1.jpg

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 17 October 2004 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

This thread needs a mention of Milo Aukerman.

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Sunday, 17 October 2004 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

The member of Beach Boys may not have had glasses, but there is still something nerdish about the looks of the Wilsons.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 17 October 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.smashingpumpkinstribute.hpg.ig.com.br/billy704.jpg

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 17 October 2004 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

If we are just talking looks, incidentally, surely Chris Geddes pwns this thread?

ihttp://www.lazylinepainterpage.hpg.ig.com.br/imagens/davidandgeddes.jpg

(bonus photo of geek also-ran Stuart David)

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 17 October 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

bah. http://www.nrk.no/img/305763.jpeg

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 17 October 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Come on, Buddy Holly?????

― Adam Bruneau (oliver8bit), Sunday, 17 October 2004 15:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Duh, Steve Albini. He frickin' looks like Bill Gates!

Maybe Devo.

― Sasha (sgh), Sunday, 17 October 2004 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

That Corgan photo made me snort my third coffee of the day all over my desk!

Where are all the black musicians at? Surely white folks haven't got a monopoly on nerd-dom, do they?

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Not rock, but c'mon:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000006X4B.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Doobie Keebler (Charles McCain), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Two leading delegates pictured at a major Nerd Convention in the mid 70s:

http://www.loureed.it/foto/anni70/images/1976conAndy.jpg

― Serghei Daduismus (Dada), Monday, 18 October 2004 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Wire.

They all look like Maths teachers (now...)

― Sasha (sgh), Monday, 18 October 2004 23:34 (twenty-one years ago)

NERF HERDER!!

― Mike Ouderkirk (Mike Ouderkirk), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 01:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh man, I just remembered the drummer from MxPx!

― Mike Ouderkirk (Mike Ouderkirk), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 01:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Is squarepusher a nerd, or more of a dork?

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 01:47 (twenty-one years ago)

depends whether you consider 9-string basses nerdy or dorky I guess. A bit of both I'd say.

― Elliot (Elliot), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

The drummer from Gay Dad.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

http://perso.orange.fr/kraftwerkonline/images/visuels/kraftwerk00.jpg

Ralf of course, Florian looks quite cool

― Dadaismus (Takin' Funk to Heaven in '77) (Dada), Friday, 3 November 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

Noodle Vague

― Scorpion Tea (Dick Butkus), Friday, 3 November 2006 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

Lupe Fiasco.

― dommy p is alright WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN I CAN SAY ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE (Dom, Friday, 3 November 2006 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/e/e4/150px-TonyThompson1980.jpg

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Friday, 3 November 2006 22:30 (nineteen years ago)

Ralf is super hardcore with the bicycling = not nerd

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 3 November 2006 22:52 (nineteen years ago)

http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00004UEIW.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 3 November 2006 22:55 (nineteen years ago)

Ralf is super hardcore with the bicycling = not nerd

On the contrary, he even managed to turn riding a bike into an exercise in super-obsessive nerdery!

― Dadaismus (Takin' Funk to Heaven in '77) (Dada), Monday, 6 November 2006 11:16 (nineteen years ago)

page hamilton looks very nerdy

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Monday, 6 November 2006 12:40 (nineteen years ago)

jim o'rourke?

― spectra (spectra), Monday, 6 November 2006 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

I've never heard a lick of his music, but isn't Atom & His Package a bit uber-nerdy?
-- Baked Bean Teeth (ilxo...), January 23rd, 2004.

They sing about Black Metal without being black metal. You can't get nerdier. I love them.

"Me And My Black Metal Friends"

In the mountains of Norway, where the weather is cold,
there's not much to do, except kill each other, and play guitars in the snow

Corpse paint, which is a scary name for make-up is what they wear,
They'd resemble Ink and Dagger, if Ink and Dagger had long hair

They're pretty evil, and they do not like god,
I don't care if they burn down churches,
but they'd better not fucking touch a synagogue

I befriended them
bye bye mom, it's now me and my black metal friends
I befriended them
bye bye Franklin, it's now me and my black metal friends

They have names like Igor, Meldorf, and Tor
Black metal is not like, is not exactly like Living Color,
I kinda hope they move here, so I don't have to pay import prices,
but I'm kinda fear them being near me,
because, they're not nice!

― Andi Headphones (Andi Headphones), Monday, 6 November 2006 16:31 (nineteen years ago)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=z0JkyaCrX0U

― lick_my_stereolabia (nariposa), Sunday, 12 November 2006 22:03 (nineteen years ago)

tony thompson of chic is no nerd! those bug glasses were considered slick in the 80s, believe it or not. plus he was MONSTER drummer.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Monday, 13 November 2006 01:14 (nineteen years ago)

Mark Mothersbaugh wins:

http://thesportinglife.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/devo.jpg
http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/images/mothersbaugh.jpg

― Zachary Scott (Zach S), Monday, 13 November 2006 02:50 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

The biggest nerd? Not David Byrne.

― billstevejim, Wednesday, 16 July 2008 04:47 (seventeen years ago)

two years pass...

Who is the coolest nerd in rock and roll?

I'm gonna say Arto Lindsay

― U2 the musical by Spiderman (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 21:48 (fifteen years ago)

and they have to look like a nerd

― U2 the musical by Spiderman (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 21:49 (fifteen years ago)

Does Simon Bookish count as rock'n'roll?
http://heavypencil.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/simon-bookish.jpg?w=298&h=300

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 23:24 (fifteen years ago)

Pete Townshend tried to invent the internet in 1971. I'd say that probably qualifies him for some level of nerd-dom.

― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 23:51 (fifteen years ago)

Mark Mothersbaugh gets described by Gerry Casale as "the original creepy nerd" on the Devo videos DVD commentary.

― Looking Man (Abbbottt), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 23:51 (fifteen years ago)

gary wilson

― Love, M.D. (electricsound), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 23:53 (fifteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igKufjUCJZg

(Arguably Rubinoos doing a Devo pastiche)

― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 23:54 (fifteen years ago)

Henry Rollins

― m0stlyClean, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 03:15 (fifteen years ago)

i vote steve albini

― jumpskins, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 12:23 (fifteen years ago)

I like the 'sb' just above Geir's username there

― glumdalclitch, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 12:52 (fifteen years ago)

kanye west. not even close.
maybe lady gaga when she talks about her fans aka the 'little monsters'

― nicky lo-fi, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 16:22 (fifteen years ago)

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