Greg's latest post got me thinking; he talks about what artists will be remembered for. It brought to mind something that's bothered me for quite some time now. No one can name band members anymore and by anymore, I mean roughly the last 15 years or so. I know that the average person these days can't name every member of most bands or even their favorite band, but they used to be able to get one or more for certain. John, Paul, George & Ringo. They'd make a fine band wouldn't they, wonder what they'd be called? I bet if Mick & Keith joined up, they could make a good band too. Steven & Joe from Boston could really give blues rock a kick in the ass if they formed a band.
Besides the above examples, the list goes on. I bet you can name more than one member from each of the following bands; The Eagles, Nirvana, KISS, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac, Mötley Crüe, U2. How'd you do? I'd be surprised if you weren't able to come up with a MINIMUM of two from each of those acts. Maybe even more right? Well let's move on to the hitmakers of the last 15 years or so. Can you name more than one member of any of the following bands? You may find it tough to even come up with one band member name in some cases: Lifehouse, Buckcherry, Matchbox20, Hootie & The Blowfish, Theory of a Deadman, Maroon 5, Hinder, Creed, Fall Out Boy, Daughtry, How'd you do?
Now, one could make the argument that "the average Joe" doesn't really know the names of many band members outside of the lead singer and some guitar players. But I beg to differ, I think that rings true in some cases but for the most part, people are compelled to remember something "real". And I believe that this is the biggest mis-step the music industry has made in the past 15 years. Nothing making it's way to the average consumer is real, they aren't compelled to make a connection, so they don't consume it. I truly believe that if the record industry was pushing out compelling, organic product, that people would still purchase it if it was priced right.
I don't want to tackle the "downloading demon" just yet, but I do care to make the point that I believe people aren't buying music these days because nothing is compelling them too. From the first time Elvis swung his hips on TV and sold a hundred thousand albums the next day, all the way down to when Kurt Cobain sold a million copies of Bleach by opening Nirvana's Unplugged set with the line "This is off our first record, most people don't own it", people have purchased music because they were compelled too. Over the course of the last decade, not one single artist has stood out as "the next...". There's nothing to look forward to anymore. There's nothing keeping us excited about what's next.
When The Beatles hit, they were "the next Elvis". When The Rolling Stones hit, they were "the next Beatles". When Led Zeppelin hit, they were "the next Stones". When Guns N' Roses hit, they were "the next Zeppelin". I could keep this up and/or provide an example from just about every genre but it all ends in the same place; it all dies out somewhere around the last 15 years or so. I could list out how Jackie Wilson and James Brown lead up to Michael Jackson, but again that lineage ends on June 25, 2009. No one even remotely on the horizon to pick up, be influenced, go further and carry it on.
I truly believe that when people identify with something because it's real, they are more compelled to purchase it. In an age where I've watched the record industry literally trip over itself to do quick cash grabs, cutting it's nose to spite it's face (crushing mom & pop record stores, making exclusive deals with Big Box retailers, churning out manufactured acts at record pace, etc) it's unbelievable to me that someone hasn't figured this out yet. For the love of all doesn't suck, STOP releasing half an album of crap, only to follow it up with the same album six months later, now enhanced with more forgettable shit, charging more and calling it a "Special Edition". Stop turning out these crap acts that no one can remember, with songs that were meant to last six months tops.
It all has to come back to something real, identifiable and valuable if they expect it to be memorable.
-Russ
It is interesting that your exact same view on real feeling in music is spoken so often by someone you don't like...
ReplyDeleteKid Rock
What are the last 3 records you actually purchased? Paid for, that is. Not to start the download argument, but because I think it's interesting to know what's "real, identifiable and valuable" enough to inspire spending of hard earned cash.
ReplyDelete-Shelly
The Guitar Song by Jamey Johnson, Relapse by Eminem and Croweology by The Black Crowes.
ReplyDelete-Russ
Asylum by Disturbed, Band of Joy by Robert Plant, and Brothers by the Black Keys....
ReplyDelete-MD