It doesn't necessarily have to be "one." That isn't the point.
Yes, it is. I was speaking in general terms, about trying to do your job while two guys are telling you what to do, and someone said that there's only one voice that counts. So I asked who that one person would be. I got lots of answers, but no one actually answered the question I asked. So I restated it, and still no one answered it. Look, I wouldn't even give a shit, but I made what I thought was a general statement, and someone started talking about Dave and Brian and Marty or whoever, and how there's only one voice that counts. I would just like to know who that one person is. That is the point I was making.
If you're splitting hairs on the "one", well, that's my fault. I don't know that it has to be ONE and only ONE. It can be two. My point is, it's not an equal democracy, and the vocalist has final say on all things vocal, and the bass player has final say on all things bass, etc. The real leader may also defer certain things to another (this is how Maiden works; it's all Steve, unless it's Bruce, but at the end of the day, it's Steve. There are two Maiden albums after Bruce first joined without Bruce, there are NO Maiden albums without Steve. You can do the math.)
In Dream Theater, I think it's now John, I think back before 2010, it was Mike and John on musical matters, Mike on everything else. I think it says in Lifting Shadows that if there was a time that Mike and John disagreed
And I think you're wrong that it "sucks" to have someone tell you how to do your job. I could be wrong, but I just don't think most people in established bands that write original music look at it that way.
I never said that, either. I said it would suck to be trying to do your job while two people are telling you how to do it. Because it does.
This has gone on far too long, and I obviously am the one lacking in communication skills here, since no one seems to understand what I'm saying, no matter how many different ways I phrase it, so I'm out.
I think that's down to the person. Dave Murray, Bill Wyman, Adam Clayton, Alex Van Halen, Mike Anthony, Brad Whitford... none seem to have much problem being told what to play. I know when I was in my band in Philly, I played what I was told. I was sometimes asked what I would do - and I would tell them - but if another idea won, I played it. Boom.