<p>Are any bigger than MGMT?</p>
<p>(Feel free, as I always do, to use a broad definition of “rock” as long as it isn’t so broad that it could conceivably encompass Justin Bieber.)</p>
<p>The two biggest rock bands with ties to Wes in my mind are The Grateful Dead and MGMT. John Perry Barlow, class of '69. was song writer for the Dead for many years and was a childhood friend of Bob Weir. Barlow was a legendary figure while a student at Wes, and graduated with High Honors in Comparative Religion. MGMT formed at Wes and were graduates of the class of 2005.</p>
<p>not exactly a rocker and maybe even not a “big name” but Santigold was also a Wes alum</p>
<p>idk if i’d even say MGMT’s really a ‘rock band.’ </p>
<p>but um, amanda palmer (dresden dolls) went to wes, as did vic vazquez and himanshu suri from das racist, boy crisis (vic vazquez and some other people i forgot the name of)… etc. check out wikipedia’s page on wes alumni.</p>
<p>MCMT is a lot famous than the other bands mentioned. I had only heard of MGMT and Grateful Dead before coming here. Never heard of the others outside Wes-related contexts.</p>
<p>well yeah, MGMT’s more famous (thank you columbia), but the dresden dolls have been active longer and have an entirely different following. think coin operated boy? it was so popular a few years ago.</p>
<p>From my son at Wes…</p>
<p>“there are none bigger than mgmt. francis and the lights is another band, they opened for drake on his national tour. Then there’s Dar Williams and Amazing Baby.”</p>
<p>Thanks all (and perilous’ son)!</p>
<p>das racist in the New Yorker: [Das</a> Racist and Odd Future take names : The New Yorker](<a href=“http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2010/11/22/101122crmu_music_frerejones]Das”>http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2010/11/22/101122crmu_music_frerejones)</p>