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February 8, 2010
Super Bowl 44 In The History Books: Perhaps The Who Should Follow
My objectivity concerning this story will surely be questioned by fans of The Who, however, where that group is concerned, I’ve always considered myself more neutral than not. I’ve never considered myself a fan. They’re music just never did anything for me, so I pretty much ignored them.
Still, there’s no way to be unfamiliar with hits like “My Generation,” “Baba O’Riley,” or “ Pinball Wizard,” and I do recall how those songs sounded when The Who was in their prime, and Sunday’s half-time performance at the big game didn’t cut it– or even come close.
There are a number of writers on the internet that are accusing the NFL of playing it safe after the infamous and family-unfriendly Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” a few years back. Sticking to classic rock acts like The Who or Springsteen is seen by some as the league’s way of keeping things predictable and G-rated for the NFL’s family-friendly image.
Normally, I would be the first to come to the defense of a classic rock act being showcased at an event like the Super Bowl, but only if the performers are still capable of performing. I thought the vocals delivered by both Daltrey and Townshend were sub par at best. Personally, I would have much rather seen Daughtry instead of Daltrey.
The stage was cool, the lasers were cool, and, unfortunately, the performance was cool as well – as in “not hot.” There was talk that the veteran rockers would be accompanied by some pre-recorded material. I was left with little doubt after a performance that seemed to feature the two rock stars, a drummer, and a few other musicians in the shadows who may as well have been sleeping as far as I could tell.
Kudos to whomever synched up the timing on the pre-recorded version of Daltrey’s signature scream during “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” however. Even so, I don’t think too many people with a fully-functioning pair of ears were fooled into believing that it came from the 2010 version of Roger Daltrey. Some of those keyboard passages were a little too pure and true to the original to be believed as well.
To no one’s surprise, I often find myself in disagreement with those who take shots at classic rockers with comments that declare that they are too old to walk without assistance, or will require oxygen after their performance because they’re in their late 50’s or 60’s, but as I watched yesterday’s half-time show, I found myself afloat in the same boat.
Sure, there are aging rock stars out there who are still able to get up there and put on a good show. A good many of them are still recording as well. The demand is obviously still there, and I’m happy to go along as long as the artists hold up their end of the deal.
I’m not saying they should throw Daltrey and Townshend in jail or anything, and I’m not even going to touch the whole pedophile scandal thing – as far as I’m concerned, people have to decide for themselves on that one, since the authorities in the U.K. kind of left the world hanging regarding exactly what went on.
Besides, we have Townshend’s own comments – regarding Yoko Ono, of all people – as evidence that perhaps he’s gone ’round the bend, as they say.
Following their performance, Townshend was, of course, asked about the pedophile thing, and answered as one might expect. What was really interesting, however, was when the duo was asked about their experience at the “Rock and Roll Circus” – a 1968 event that included The Who, The Rolling Stones, John Lennon and, of course, Yoko Ono.
While Daltrey spoke with sadness about his last meeting with The Stones’ Brian Jones before his death, Townshend ceased the opportunity to gush about Yoko Ono, declaring that he thinks she’s “amazing,” and insisting, “No really, I am one of the select [band of] Yoko Ono fans.” A statement that, according to The Times, even prompted a “mutter of disbelief” from Daltrey.
Well, at least Daltrey got that right.
February 5, 2010
Rush Making Preparations For Next Project (They Mean It This Time!)
As we reported towards the end of last year, Rush had planned to get together in Los Angeles to begin planning their next project. Apparently, that meeting may not have come to fruition. According to the latest from Neil Peart, the group is on the verge of gathering to begin the serious work of writing and recording. According to Peart, Rush is “in action.”
More specifically, Peart revealed that he has sent some lyrical ideas up to Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson who are said to be working together on the musical side of things; a process that is described as pretty much the norm for the group. “That’s what I’ve found in the past; if Geddy says, ‘I like these four lines,’ that to me is great. It’s not a rejection of the rest of it; it’s that those four lines happened to reach him. So I’ll build on that,” Peart explains.
The kind of project Rush will be working on still seems to be very much up in the air. Peart talked last year about how the group may go off in a different direction this time, and do something that reflects the changes in the music industry we have seen in recent years. That approach may steer them towards the production of a smaller-than-normal collection of new material followed by a tour.
Then again, they could also go in the opposite direction. Peart describes his thoughts about a band he recently saw that may lead them back towards more theme-oriented work. Perhaps it would be something more like 2112 or Hemispheres.
Peart continues: “I went to see a band called Porcupine Tree not long ago. And I was talking with (singer-guitarist) Steven Wilson. They just put out a 55- minute piece. That’s a finger to the whole iTunes shuffle thing, and he intended it as such. And I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s another way of rebelling against it — by just saying no.’ There’s too much lost in giving up the integrity of an album — what it represents to you as a musician, and as a human being, for that matter. So I like that approach. That’s very possible for a band like us. So there are no limitations; we might go big or we might go small.”
So at this point, things really are up in the air for Rush; leaving fans to wonder what’s coming next from the Canadian trio. Many will not care, as long as they are still working. Others may find themselves at odds with something that’s viewed as too much of a departure from the past. With such a loyal fan base, however, they might have to actually work at alienating any significant number of them.
This fan can safely be counted as someone who is happy to hear they are planning new material, and yeah, it would probably take something well outside the box for me to lose interest in them – you know, like switching to hip-hop or something. A pretty unlikely move for three hockey-loving Canadian boys.
Whatever direction they decide to go in, I think it will be something that does not disappoint, will keep fans engaged, and have them ready to line up for the next album, iTunes download or live show that’s available.
The full story can be accessed at The Intelligencer.
February 4, 2010
Chris Squire on Yes – Past, Present and Future
As the only member of progressive rock group Yes who has remained on the roster throughout the group’s enduring history, Chris Squire is the go-to guy if one wants to learn about their history, evolution and influences. Those are exactly the kinds of things Squire talked over recently with Kevin O’Hare of MassLive.com.
It’s actually quite a good interview, and I picked up on a few things about the group that I had not previously heard about. For example, citing the 5th Dimension as an early influence is a bit of a surprise coming from the member of a progressive rock group, but I suppose it just further demonstrates the similarities that exist among various genres you can find if you care to dig deep enough.
Squire’s love for harmonies was shared by Jon Anderson and early versions of Yes actually covered some 5th Dimension material back in the late 1960’s when they started paying club dates, as they were both quite fond of the 5th Dimension’s The Magic Garden album.
More well known, but perhaps no less influential for Yes during their formative period was the music of Simon & Garfunkel. The Yes version of the duo’s well-known song “America” is said to have earned the the approval of the original writers.
The status of Jon Anderson appears to be unchanged according to Squire. Although Anderson has been out performing as a solo artist recently and has scheduled some dates in Canada next month and in early April, according to Squire his struggles with respiratory illness are still preventing him from touring with Yes, which is much more demanding in terms of material, as well as the number and frequency of shows.
Another surprise for people who may not be uber Yes fans is the relationship between Squire and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. They briefly formed up a group entitled XYZ during 1981, following the death of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. Although Robert Plant was supposed to have joined with Squire and Page, that never quite came to fruition and XYZ was written into history with just a few demo recordings to their credit.
With regard to the variety of material Yes has produced over their long career, Squire reveals a little bit about his feelings regarding some of the group’s more diverse work, particularly the them-oriented album Tales from Topographic Oceans. Asked whether he thought that album “went too far,” Squire indicates that he thinks it did (I have to agree), but was also quick to point out that he thinks it gave the band credibility, and being that it was such a “bold out of the box move,” it contributed to the group’s longevity.
Currently, Squire seems quite content performing with the current incarnation of Yes. He’s particularly impressed with Rick Wakeman’s son Oliver, who has demonstrated a determined effort to remain true to the original material; something his father may have had a tendency to “bluff his way through” if he was so inclined.
With a tip of the hat to Jon Anderson, Squire confirms that stand-in frontman Benoit David will never sound quite like Anderson, but acknowledges that he has been well received by the fans and is holding his own.
It’s probably widely known that David was discovered via YouTube, but what may not have been detailed as publicly was the fact that during his first look at David performing with his Yes tribute band Close To The Edge on the video sharing site, he actually thought it was footage of Yes and wondered which performance it was from.
Yes continues their tour with a stop at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA on Monday.
February 2, 2010
Scorpions Set to End Career on a High Note
At first I thought he was nuts. In the days of my youth back in the early 1980’s, I had a friend who introduced me to a rock band from Germany called Scorpions. First I’m thinking “A rock band from Germany?” It just didn’t make sense to me at the time. Everyone knew all of Europe’s great rock groups came out of the U.K., right?
Well, after riding around in his car listening to Scorpions cassette tapes for hours, I started to get it. These guys actually are pretty good. That was my introduction to the best-known rock band ever to come out of Germany. I won’t lie and say they are among my all-time favorites, but I still give their albums a listen once in a while, and usually end up enjoying their material more than I had anticipated.
After a wildly successful career which earned them a loyal fan base around the world, the Scorpions have decided to call it quits. They will, however, not be leaving quietly by any means. A new album entitled Sting in the Tail is in the works, and will be followed by a two-year tour spanning five continents.
Some fans may be wondering why they are throwing in the towel while they are still able to rock their fans like a hurricane, but as guitarist Rudolf Schenker describes it, “You can’t think about Scorpions at 70, not moving on stage, playing ‘Rock You Like a Hurricane’ — but on stage it’s not like a hurricane, it’s a very small wind," he says. "There’s no stinger, and that’s not good. You’re going back down hill, from big hall to small how, small how to club…Everything has it’s end; the question is it a good end or bad end? In this case we want to do these things and make it a good end.”
Man, I just love the way those guys put things sometimes. A “very small wind.” That’s not mean to be demeaning or to belittle their English skills in any way. It just comes out sounding rather amusing, but in a good way, and strangely endearing at the same time. Maybe it’s just me.
At any rate, Schenker is also quick to point out that they have no intention of disappearing altogether, and he eludes to all the film and other material they have accumulated during their career that they can continue releasing. In fact, the upcoming two-year tour is set to be filmed for possible release as some point.
It’s hard to blame them for wanting to go out on top. He’s very right about the “small wind.” Eventually we all reach the point where we would need a hand just getting up on a stage, and perhaps even a walker to move about once there!
It appears that these German rockers don’t have to worry about turning into a “small wind,” and will indeed be departing the scene like a hurricane. Venues around the globe are bound the be filled to capacity as they close out a pretty damn impressive career.
And to think I was doubtful about German rockers.
More details are online at Billboard.
No End in Sight For Aerosmith Drama
With each passing day, the future of Aerosmith seems more uncertain. This rollercoaster ride for fans of the Bean Town rockers seems to have started when Steven Tyler took that much-publicized tumble from the stage during the group’s summer tour with ZZ Top.
Surely there had to be a lot going on behind the scenes well before the incident, but the fall seems to have been the turning point which opened the floodgates, and confirmed a lot of speculation regarding the status of the band and the relationship between Tyler and the rest of the group.
There were reports from inside the Aerosmith camp that Tyler’s behavior had taken a turn for the bizarre, and some recent public actions on the part of the iconic frontman seem to confirm the allegations.
Recently Tyler delivered an impromptu performance by singing over the P.A. system of a Home Depot store in Rancho Mirage, CA. He belted out versions of “Dude Looks Like a Lady” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” while shoppers roamed the aisles, probably wondering what new classic rock radio station the store’s management had tuned in to.
A week or so prior to his Home Depot debut, Tyler took to the stage at a club called the Tilted Kilt in Palm Desert, and finished up a karaoke rendition of "I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing." The previous two performers had not been well-received by the audience, so Tyler apparently decided to show them how it was done – much to the surprise of the club’s other patrons no doubt!
Tyler is reportedly still in rehab for his pain-killer addiction, but is said to have earned privileges that allow him to take trips away from the facility after 30 days of treatment. Tyler’s management company says that the 61-year-old singer is still in rehab and is set to continue with the 90-day program.
As for the Home Depot performance, the same source says that Tyler just happened to be shopping there, and pointed out that Tyler is a performer 24/7, whether he’s on stage or at Home Depot. Who knows? Maybe the guy was just happy to be through his first 30 days of rehab and decided to share the joy with his fellow shoppers.
Unfortunately, more recent news developments may be putting a bit of a damper on Steven Tyler’s mood. The rest of the group is said to be continuing their efforts to find a replacement singer with names such as Billy Idol, Lenny Kravitz, Paul Rodgers, and Chris Cornell being bandied about.
As a result, it appears the relationship between Tyler and the rest of the group may deteriorate even further in light of news regarding possible legal action. Billboard reported that Tyler’s lawyer has contacted Aerosmith manager Howard Kaufman and advised the group to “…cease and desist from engaging in acts and conduct to the harm and detriment of your own client, Aerosmith, and our client who is one of its members.”
Tyler reportedly has every intention of returning to his post with Aerosmith and wants to release a new album and tour with the group in Europe and South America as originally planned.
The letter from Tyler’s attorney to Aerosmith’s management also states that, “Contrary to all common sense, you are seeing to bring about the replacement of Steven Tyler. Aerosmith without Steven Tyler is like the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger, or U2 without Bono. While this management strategy may get the band on the road a few months sooner, it ultimately could destroy Aerosmith.”
Clearly the rest of the group is anxious to get back to the business of being a band, whether than includes Steven Tyler or not. Tyler’s ability to complete rehab successfully may be the deciding factor regarding the future of the group. It’s hard to imagine his band mates turning him away if he cleans up his act, but this could be his last chance to hold the group together and continue on as Aerosmith.
More recent details can be found in People magazine.
