@mrcompletely I think in the long run, Jerry and Hunter will be keepers of the Great American Songbook, alongside Dylan. But in terms of a “band” as a specific unit, and what a “band” sets out to do when they form, and what Phish has accomplished… if you are a new American rock band, how could you want anything less than what Phish accomplished?

Unfortunately, the consistent loss of band members hurts the GD here. All four members Phish still being alive after 40 years gives them an advantage.

@maxellxlii90 I just don't agree with that either. I think the transpersonal gestalt nature of the group, the fact that the GD were a *family* that extended beyond the band members, and one that changed over time but kept the same core, is more interesting and more powerful.

The next actually great rock band will certainly, like GD/Ph, not be thinking of their future or path in terms of any other band but only in their own terms. That's why all jam bands are boring. They'll never be anything.