Why Can’t Rock Musicians Collaborate?

By: Kendall | in: Music |

Not to say that it never happens, but what would the rock world look like if more rock artists did collaborations? Further more why isn’t there more of them like we see in modern hip hop songs, or old school jazz? In those genres it’s almost like one of your hits HAS to include other big name artists.

Hip Hop and Credibility
Old School hip hop grew out of New York City block parties at the advent of break-beat DJing. Early DJ’s would take the breaks from funk songs and extend them to make the songs more danceable. Hip Hop started to grow with the emergence of acts like the Herculoids and Afrika Bambaataa. These groups were known to introduce other members of the group, and even certain audience members. If you could join this list of shout outs, you were guilty by association. Over time, this lead to rappers guest appearing on tracks of more experienced and popular acts. Nowadays it seems all you have to do to hit it big as a rapper is appear as a guest on a hit song, and your album, when released, will fly to the top of the charts.

Rock N’ Roll and Ego
Rock has been always been about rebellion and youth. Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Elvis led the way with hip swinging and piano fires. As the fury of the crowds grew, and the ego was fed, these acts grew more rambunctious. Eventually, even in band situations, the lead singer has consistently grown to be the center point. Maybe it’s the poet in the singer that has catapulted stars like Jim Morrison and Sid Vicious to stardom. Maybe it’s the fact they tend to out in front flinging themselves about the stage.

Collaborations Between Genres
There has been much success over the ages with Hip Hop and Rock acts sharing the spotlight together. Maybe it’s the fact that they don’t see each other as a threat. Maybe it’s the fact that they new both sides could sell more records. Run DMC kicked it all off when they teamed up with Aerosmith and had the first hip hop song to crack the top 5 in the hot 100 with “Walk This Way”, and peaked at #1 on the hip-hop/R&B charts. Flee did the bass line for “Bust a Move”. Public Enemy teamed up with Anthrax and delivered “Bring the Noise”. Over time Hip Hop and Rock have turned into Rap Rock acts like Linkin Park who eventually teamed up with Jay-Z and Korn. It seems like an almost natural progression for the two to join.

So Why So Few Rock Collaborations?
There has been some. Let’s look at “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, who wasn’t on that one? David Bowie and Mick Jagger teamed up to deliver “Dancing in the Streets”. There has been others, but it seems most rock starts don’t collaborate on other Rock Star albums unless it’s for a good cause. Yay Live Aid! Sometimes we see a super group team up to unleash some kind of two headed rock monster that tends to leave listeners feeling like something is missing. Groups like Velvet Revolver, Army Of Anyone leave listeners confused. How can parts of parts of two huge bands not form something immense? These bands are good bands, but neither is the sum of their parts. Carlos Santana has teamed up with other artists to create a couple different albums, but let himself take a back seat to the vocalists he teams up with.

It seems that the ego in rock music has pushed artists apart, and kept them from creating something together once they have started to feel the taste of celebrity. It’s easy for them to team up in super huge groups (as long as each gets a line of their own), and to work with artists that are outside of their genre who seem to pose little threat, but can boost sales. It would truly be a cool thing to see more artists team up to create something new. A full album is not needed… a song or two would do.

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Posted on April 25, 2007

Comments

13 Responses to “Why Can’t Rock Musicians Collaborate?”

Lior on April 25th, 2007 9:20 am

It may not be a high profile pelvic shuffle by Shakira vs. Beyonce but I do think Rock artists collaborate, often inviting guest stars to the stage, touring with a string orchestra, jamming with a sitar player, Afro-Cuban percussionist, choirs, two drummers, opera singers, stick player or anything a la George Martin - often building an entire tour on such musical concepts. I think the Rock generation is surprisingly open to cross-overs and ideas, no?

I hope Puff Daddy doesn’t come to mind.. I mean P Diddley.. P Diddy.. or just Diddy.. just daft really.

Charbarred on April 25th, 2007 9:32 am

OK, I got one - Temple of the Dog. 2 major groups coming together to pay tribute to their departed friend. That’s one hell of a collaboration.
In fact the whole Seatle scene had some cool collaborations, I just can’t remember any of them…I want to say Mad Season…?

Kendall on April 25th, 2007 10:08 am

Now I wouldn’t call Shakira or Beyonce ROCK stars. By all means they are pop stars (many POP stars do collaborate). It is much more rare for actual rock stars to hook up with other rock stars. For some reason though, they will step outside of their genre (sitar players, operah singers) to work on other projects.

Kendall on April 25th, 2007 10:10 am

Temple of the Dog is a good one though!

Charbarred on April 25th, 2007 11:01 am

I got a better one. Queens of the Stone Aage. They are single handedly bringning back the original spirit of rock n roll
- The Desert Sessions: Each year they get all their friends to jam and record it. Some very nice songs came out of it.
- Dave Grohl and Mark Lanegan guested on their last album
- They are now preparing a collaboration with NIN

Kendall on April 25th, 2007 11:08 am

NIN is has gotten together with BOWIE also. I’m Afraid of Americans is killer.

DThompson on April 25th, 2007 11:55 am

I was thinking of Firewater, guys from four separate groups made up that band.

Charbarred on April 25th, 2007 12:11 pm

I thought Firewater was just the guy from Cop Shoot Cop and some musicians he gathered. Or are you talking about a different Firewater (all music guide lists 6 of them)?

Lior on April 25th, 2007 3:08 pm

Audioslave
Coverdale & Page
Queen

DThompson on April 25th, 2007 4:12 pm

the Firewater who’s first CD is “Get Off The Cross, We Need the Wood For The Fire” had members of Cop shoot Cop and also New Pornographers and two other indie bands that I can’t recall as I’m at work. You have me at a disadvantage Sir Charbarred!

DThompson on April 25th, 2007 4:14 pm

OK, members offoetus, Soul Asylum and….cr*p…I forgot again…

DThompson on April 25th, 2007 4:17 pm

OK, Soul COUGHING, Jesus Lizard, Elysian Fields and Foetus (but not Jim Thurlwell I’m sure) and lately the lineup’s changed to include a guy from New Pornographers.