I still think this is the dumbest thread on the entire forum.

No instrument is essential. It's what you say with the ones you have that's important.

Your words have inspired me to close this thread. It is rather inane.

Different instruments are more important for different bands. People are being completely biased and simply voting for their favourite instruments rather than actually considering their function within a band.

And it is stupid to throw around examples of bands which don't use bass like the White Stripes as a basis for argument, when there are bands which use synths instead of guitar like Kraftwerk and bands which use bass instead of guitar such as Lightning Bolt and Death From Above 1979. Obviously instrumental bands don't require vocals. There are also bands which are devoid of rhythm, and hence don't require bass/drums.

It completely depends on the kind of band - different strokes for different folks.