License to Rock…Or Not

By: Kendall | in: General, Music |

Driving around the cities and highways lately it has come to my attention that after a certain age you should be forced to take a yearly driving test, in the car that will determine if you should be able to keep your license. I realize that driving is important, but it is a privilege, and if you are not deemed safe, you need to get off the road. Thinking about it further I realized that the same should apply for bands.

Yes, so many of us go to see The Rolling Stones every other year or so because, well… they are the Rolling Stones. Same thing applies to Paul McCartney, and Neil Young. This is not to say that the music is irrelevant, or that the musicians can’t play, but isn’t Rock N’ Roll the music of youth and culture? Shouldn’t your show be full of energy, and exuberance, and not just a fancy light show and some crazy video background? Yet somehow, bands far beyond their prime and usefulness sell out stadiums around the world. And this hurts my feelings. Really it does. Some would say that it is an amazing site to see Fathers and Sons and even grandsons at these shows together. Some would also insist that young people need to be exposed to this music. You need to know your roots, and how the music you have filling your iPod came to be. But, it’s almost like sex or porn. If you are going exposed for the first time, wouldn’t it be better to watch a porno from the 60’s instead of watching the same people reenacting the same scene 40 years later? The thought disgusts me, and I’m all for porn. And I’m all for Rock N’ Roll, but for heavens sake, just listen to the records. They don’t have the same sagging flesh. Current musicians have influences from previous decades and they wear it on their sleeves, and they do their best to put their own spin on it. Some for instance, take this music and try to be THAT music. Let’s look at Jet for an example. If AC/DC and The Beatles weren’t around, there would be no Jet. If we look at the Killers; they gave heavy nods to great 80’s bands like New Order, and on their latest album, Bruce Springsteen, but, don’t actually try to be the E Street Band. They don’t try to be them because it’s not relevant in our new commercial music world. Retro is cool if it adds flavor, but it is not cool if you are immersed. You don’t want to be your parents, but it’s cool to have a little bit of them in your style. There needs to be a vigorous criteria to keep your Rock N’ Roll license. Maybe even an entire panel. This panel should be filled with both old and youthful musicians, critics, public, and the media. If you get voted down, you don’t get to perform again until you get put in the Rock N’ Roll hall of Fame. If you aren’t great enough to get in, you don’t deserve to play again, because you are dangerous, and can hurt people’s feelings. There is nothing worse than seeing a once amazing band clawing for life.

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Posted on January 1, 2007

Comments

3 Responses to “License to Rock…Or Not”

ruxa2na on January 1st, 2007 9:56 am

You’re joking, right? I mean how else can you be such a bad person - you notice I’m choosing carefully my words - to put porn and rock in the same place? I don’t want a reply, I just want to make things like that go away and stay there. Are you that young, or just not got over your childhood?

Kendall on January 2nd, 2007 9:45 am

Please don’t read so deep into this. Overall this was meant as a joke, and was meant to be a bit offensive. I’m sorry to hear that you feel I am a bad person for this, but hopefully you will give my more serious writing an opportunity!

Lindsay Graham on June 16th, 2007 8:25 pm

I totally agree with everything you wrote. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there that thinks like me. Sagging flesh, exactly. My husband decided, at the tender age of 45, to start a rock and roll band since he had been cut off from that fun at the age of 23 to be responsible for his family. Frankly, I am embarassed for him and the geezers up there with him. And I do dig the comparison with Porn. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE Rock n’ roll and grew up with the Beatles blasting on my cassettes and records, HOWEVER, no more than I want to see 50 year olds if I were to rent porn, I want to see youth. Excellent comparison , really.
Finally, I’d rather have my excellent and happy memory of the young Mick Jagger, not the sagging jag! I’m with you!