Ok - you have the opportunity to write and record an album with any three people (alive or dead). Who would you choose?

For me it would be:

Paul Kelly
Mike Oldfield
Neil Finn

For a rock album, there's no question I'd want John Bonham pounding the skins.

Keeping it rock, I'd still need guitar and vocals. If the singer played an instrument, I could get some keys in there, too.

Realistically, I don't think I'd want to be the fresh meat behind a big star guitarist, and get myself "produced" into a vapid, boring part in his shadow. So that crosses a few names off the list.

Clapton's used to working with Jack Bruce. He can sing, too. And he's a sound songwriter. Ok, he's in.

Now, who would fit in with those two?

All I can think of off hand is Gregg Allman. I think we could all lock in on a heavily blues-influenced rock and pull it off. Again, Gregg sings and writes, so this is a good thing.

I'll give John Paul Jones an honorable mention. The only reason he doesn't make my final three is because if I have two guys from the same band it looks more like a reunion than a new group. Obviously Jones could rock with Bonzo. And if he wanted to play bass on some tracks I could always move over to rhythm guitar. Or he could play guitar or mando. And he'd arrange some great strings and be a great addition to the songwriting. But, I'm not giving up Bonham, I'm not taking two from the same band, and so alas I have to pass on JPJ. (If he called me tomorrow for a collaboration I'd be on a plane before the phone was hung up.)

My final three:

John Bonham
Eric Clapton
Gregg Allman

I must say I had to look these chaps up. Looks like you plucked Paul and Neil a little closer to home, eh David? I'm sure that'll lead to a good vibe.

I was like, "Mike Oldfield? Oh, 'Tubular Bells' from The Exorcist. Sure, I know that." Didn't know he did 20-some instruments on that. Good call on getting such a versatile multi-instrumentalist.

So you get vocals, guitar, harmonica and songwriting from Paul? Neil adds vocals, guitar, and songwriting?

You're on keys, so Mike will cover, um, drums?

Dave Stewart (the guy who played with Bruford, not the Eurythmics guy) would be cool.

For me:

Phil Keaggy
John Elefante
Happy Rhodes

Interesting choices all.

Mine would be:

Todd Rundgren
Steve Winwood
Sting
Mark Knopfler(honorable mention)

I would still need a drummer but I think the music would be killer and the vocals unbelievable!

I'd actually just write with em and then let the masters do the playing

1. the misfits
2. manson
3. disturbed

Warren Haynes guitar
Nathan East bass
Steve Winwood keys

Gone but not forgotten: SRV & Django Rheinhardt

Cool thread. I'd have to say:

David Gilmour - guitar
Neil Pert - drums
Sting - bass, vocals, and lyrics

I would play keyboards and write the music.

Actually after some consideration I'm changing drummers. Neil is amazing but the stuff I write is not really his style, so I'm changing drummers to Ringo Starr.

Too hard...

but perhaps...

Stevie Wonder - vocals, drums, keyboards & songwriting
James Jamerson - BASS
Jeff Beck - Guitar.

Took a long time to think of a guitarist that would work, but I think SRV or Clapton could also pull it off.

However, with those three I think I would end up making the coffee and getting the pizza in..

Linkin park
Rammstein
Fly leaf ?