This past week, while listening to
Howard Stern during my commute into work, Howard and Robin had a brief discussion about how it would seem that rock n’ roll is truly dead. This stemmed from Howard’s observation that there are very few – if any – radio stations classified as “terrestrial radio” actually playing rock n’ roll. His observation was also supported by what he saw being presented on this year’s
Grammy Awards broadcast. It would appear that Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Cee-lo Green, a variety of hip hop artists and R&B artists now dominate the airwaves and garner most of the coverage and dollars when it comes to the business of music. I have to admit that I have observed this trend as well. Back in the 70s and 80s, and even into the 90s, there were more rock bands. There was no MySpace, no Facebook, and no ability to record your own music from the relative comfort of your own home. If a singer or band wanted to get noticed, they toiled long and hard, writing and performing, playing anywhere and everywhere anyone would allow them to play, sometimes even doing without being paid to do so, all to get out there and build a fan base. This was more often referred to as “paying your dues”. Even acts such as Madonna – whom I would never put in the same category as rock – worked quite hard to get to where she wanted to be. In this age of technology, however, the focus has changed.
A good point that a couple of friends of mine made with regards to the Grammys, however, is that the Grammys are really only for “popular” (or “pop”) music. When reviewing what is considered “popular” music, do those of us who just want to rock really want to fall into that category?
Rock n’ roll – by definition – is dangerous. It is a contact sport, sometimes violent, always fun, and inherently sexual in its overall presentation. This doesn’t mean that rock cannot have a conscience or be socially aware, but when it is it is sort of, well…boring (listen to anything Pearl Jam recorded after Ten). Now, going back to my Madonna reference: Madonna came about as close as anyone categorized as “pop” could get to rock. Everything Madonna did (up to the end of the 90s, perhaps, although I know some who would argue she is still) was dangerous. And sexual. I personally would have loved to see her pull a Courtney Love and just do a pure rock n’ roll album, rocking out with a stripped down band, guitars, bass, and drums, maybe reworking some of her bigger hits into more glam/hard rock screamers. C’mon, you KNOW that would be awesome. A great musical hybrid in the business? Prince. Yeah, go ahead and laugh. But Prince can rock the shit out. And pretty much falls into every aspect that defines rock n’ roll. So, kiss my ass if you don’t like him. I remember getting laid to “Little Red Corvette” when it first came out and it will always hold a special place in my heart. And other places...
Even someone like Eminem comes closer to rock than some of those that have been inducted into the so-called
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Michael Jackson? Neil Diamond? ABBA? Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five? Really? Seriously?). Get this straight, fuckers: Rock n’ roll is music, but not all music is rock n’ roll.
Rock is not dead. It does not appeal to the masses because the masses are – for the most part – followers and generally stupid, needing to be spoon-fed their art and told what is good. Rock perseveres because it simply doesn’t give a fuck. This is another reason why it is called “the Devil’s music”. Rock n’ roll rebels against anything and everything that tells it what to do and how it should be in “polite” society. It feeds off of the energy of the audience and flips a middle finger to society as a whole. And while many may disagree with me, it is part of our nature as humans to rebel, to fight, to enjoy chaos on some level. Life is only truly worth living the closer ones gets to the danger. Some dance closer than others, but we all do it to one degree or another.
So, fuck society. Fuck the Grammys. Fuck “popular” music. Let the weak and uninteresting suck down their bottles filled with mediocre dance, electronica, R&B, and such that changes with each year based on which Mickey Mouse Club star the studios wish to cash in on. Rock has always been here and always will be. Suck on that, bitches.
