Comments on: Dave & Eddie Back Together Again: Best News All Decade Or Too Little Too Late? http://metropolisofmind.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/5/ Information in Modern Times Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:57:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: jushi http://metropolisofmind.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/5/#comment-5 jushi Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:04:05 +0000 http://metropolisofmind.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/5/#comment-5 G, right on re: Brian Jones. Similarly the Police. Originally Copeland's band, but Sting took it over with his songwriting. Stones led by Jones was needed to organize originally, but Mick (and Keef) took over by leveraging their songwriting abilities, leaving Jones in the awkward position of being a hanger-on in his own band. Speaking of Daltrey, he's still got the chops, even at his age. He was the highlight in the show in TO this summer. But, as Stef has mentioned, it's not the same without Entwistle's base (not to mention Moon's drumming, though Ringo's son captures the Moon style pretty effectively). G,
right on re: Brian Jones. Similarly the Police. Originally Copeland’s band, but Sting took it over with his songwriting. Stones led by Jones was needed to organize originally, but Mick (and Keef) took over by leveraging their songwriting abilities, leaving Jones in the awkward position of being a hanger-on in his own band.
Speaking of Daltrey, he’s still got the chops, even at his age. He was the highlight in the show in TO this summer. But, as Stef has mentioned, it’s not the same without Entwistle’s base (not to mention Moon’s drumming, though Ringo’s son captures the Moon style pretty effectively).

]]> By: G http://metropolisofmind.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/5/#comment-4 G Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:18:41 +0000 http://metropolisofmind.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/5/#comment-4 So long as the reunion doesn't go the way of The Eagles or The Sex Pistols, they'll be fine. From what I've heard, the old magic is still somewhat there - largely because Roth's persona hasn't really changed. You're right - it is always the magnetism of the lead singer which sells the band. Quick example (more from my time than VH): Velvet Revolver is basically the former Guns N Roses with a different lead singer, Scott Weiland, formerly of STP. Now, Velvet Revolver has been very successful, but they will never reach the heights of GNR - even though musically they are every bit as good - solely because Weiland doesn't have Axl Rose's charisma. Rose is probably the only rocker of the past few decades who could perhaps match Roth's ability to charm, attract, self-promote, and offend - all at the same time. And that's the recipe for success. If Brian Jones had won out and fronted the Stones, they'd have just been another 60s blues band. They'd have never achieved the heights they did without the bad-boy with the ability to charm, and the arrogance to self-promote so shamelessly. Now, can it be done without the self-promotion? Sure, but not without the charisma. Lennon, Plant, Daltry, Ozzy, Bono ... all the leads of the most successful bands in rock, each had that certain charisma about them, that je ne sais quoi which made people want to pay attention to them, to listen to them, and to feel a part of what they were doing by seeing the show, getting the album, etc. Those guys had/have magnetism. Not enough leads have it today, which is why we simply have bands now, doing the same run-of-the-mill crap as everyone else. The rock world is in desperate need of that magnetism, and that in and of itself is a large reason why the VH reunion has been, and will continue to be, a huge success. People want to see that, and if the talent and chemistry are still there (and by all accounts they are), who knows where it could go? As far as the band wants it to, I imagine. Good post, man. Nice to write about music for a change. Later G So long as the reunion doesn’t go the way of The Eagles or The Sex Pistols, they’ll be fine. From what I’ve heard, the old magic is still somewhat there - largely because Roth’s persona hasn’t really changed.

You’re right - it is always the magnetism of the lead singer which sells the band.

Quick example (more from my time than VH):

Velvet Revolver is basically the former Guns N Roses with a different lead singer, Scott Weiland, formerly of STP. Now, Velvet Revolver has been very successful, but they will never reach the heights of GNR - even though musically they are every bit as good - solely because Weiland doesn’t have Axl Rose’s charisma. Rose is probably the only rocker of the past few decades who could perhaps match Roth’s ability to charm, attract, self-promote, and offend - all at the same time.

And that’s the recipe for success. If Brian Jones had won out and fronted the Stones, they’d have just been another 60s blues band. They’d have never achieved the heights they did without the bad-boy with the ability to charm, and the arrogance to self-promote so shamelessly.

Now, can it be done without the self-promotion? Sure, but not without the charisma. Lennon, Plant, Daltry, Ozzy, Bono … all the leads of the most successful bands in rock, each had that certain charisma about them, that je ne sais quoi which made people want to pay attention to them, to listen to them, and to feel a part of what they were doing by seeing the show, getting the album, etc.

Those guys had/have magnetism. Not enough leads have it today, which is why we simply have bands now, doing the same run-of-the-mill crap as everyone else. The rock world is in desperate need of that magnetism, and that in and of itself is a large reason why the VH reunion has been, and will continue to be, a huge success. People want to see that, and if the talent and chemistry are still there (and by all accounts they are), who knows where it could go? As far as the band wants it to, I imagine.

Good post, man. Nice to write about music for a change.

Later
G

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