Best short-lived band?

The Rolling Stones

(just kidding)

Never mind the bollocks, how about the Sex Pistols? Or the Gram Parsons-era Flying Burrito Brothers?

Hard to argue with Blind Faith.

The Beatles were surprisingly short lived for all the great music they produced.

I'll add The Knack.

Happy the Man

I see someone remembers Steve Still's Manassas...
The 1st double album is a great album I still have and love...
Kind of odd sound what with the 'cuban bluegrass' arrangements.

Xiekitchen, you are so right! Stephen certainly assembled an all-star band to play virtually any kind of music. That album featured standard rock, country, cuban bluegrass (Stephen grew up in central america) and great blues.
The musicians:
Stephen Stills - vocals, guitar, keyboards
Chris Hillman - vocals, guitar, mandolin
Dallas Taylor - drums
Paul Harris - keyboards
Fuzzy Samuels - bass
Al Perkins - vocals, best peddle steel I ever heard
Joe Lala - vocals, percussion

I don't think any band played so many different kinds of music so perfectly and not lose a double album flow!

A truly amazing album that for me stands alongside "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" and the "Are You Experienced" as my favorites.

Lust Pollution