Here’s an interesting exercise/challenge for those of you with TMTOYH (Too Much Time On Your Hands):

Create a seven-member international all-star band in which no two members can come from the same country. I suggest the seven members be drums, bass, keyboards, guitars, male vocalist, female vocalist, and a seventh, “wild card” member.

You may create any of the three variations: a 60’s & 70’s (and, I suppose, 80’s) “classic” lineup, a 90’s & 00’s “modern” lineup, and/or an all-time all-star lineup.

For example here are my “classic” and “modern lineups:

            “Classic” Lineup

Drums—Bill Bruford (UK)

Bass—Tony Levin (USA)

Keyboards—Flavio Premoli (Italy)

Guitars—Jan Akkerman (The Netherlands)

Male vox—Gino Vanelli (Canada)

Female vox—Stella Vander (France)

“Wild card” player—Pedro Haldemann (Switzerland)

            “Modern” Lineup

Drums—Richard “Huxflux” Nettermalm (Sweden; Päatos)

Bass—Péter Pejtsik (Hungary; After Crying)

Keyboards—Lalo Huber (Argentina; Nexus)

Guitars—Miroslaw Gil (Poland; Collage, Believe, et al.)

Male vox—Marco Glühmann (Germany; Sylvan)

Female vox—Anneke van Giersbergen (The Netherlands; The Gathering, et al.)

“Wild card” player—David Langdon (UK, Big Big Train; et al.)

Good Luck! We’re all counting on you!