The hottest band in the world?
They inspired huge amounts of musicians and put on the best show around.
They decidedly did not suck.
I agree .
Their goal was to put on the show -as much visual as aural- that nobody else was and they still do. They have admittedly gone on a decade or more too long , but to me that doesn't diminish their legacy.
A few other points:
- to me each of their albums had a good dose of (basic rock) filler but many of their best songs were far from simple in terms of songwriting IMHO
- when they tried to get too "smart" it generally WAS a big failure
- as far as Gene and Paul go..............the more I learn the more I am believing that Gene is a kindhearted guy playing the character of an asshole and (at least until he released his book and it became more obvious
) Paul is an asshole playing the nice guy.
I wouldn't say that a lot of the best material of the Stones , Beatles or even Michael Jackson was "complex" , so outside of a prog forum I am not sure that simplicity is a valid critcism
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid