ABBA Is In, KISS Is Still Out

That place out in Cleveland has done it again. You know the one I’m talking about. I’ve pretty much sworn off mentioning the name of the place here – after all this is Real Rock News – but since that’s a bit silly, I’ll just go ahead with it.

The fact that 70’s Swedish pop stars ABBA have been given the nod for inclusion in the so-called “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and KISS is still awaiting their invite has reignited the debate about what kind of institution they are running out there. We’ve been down this road before, and it probably won’t be the last time.

Before I go on, it’s important to understand I actually like ABBA. At least I did back in the day when they were all over the radio and I was a young teenager. It didn’t hurt that I thought the blond one was really hot!

Be that as it may, it’s important to note that I still give a listen to some of ABBA’s hits on occasion. It really brings back memories. Classic rock is my favorite, but there are other kinds of music I enjoy as well. ABBA were quite the influential pop group back in those days, and that’s exactly my point. ABBA was clearly a pop group, and wasn’t even close to what I consider rock and roll.

Even though I’m really not a KISS fan, there is no denying that they are enormously popular, and have sold a whole lot of records. Rock and roll records.

“Hall of Fame” is an interesting name. What exactly is fame? Dictionary.com defines fame as, “widespread reputation, esp. of a favorable character; renown; public eminence.”

I’d have to say that KISS certainly justifies the association of that word with their enduring career. I may not be all that crazy about them, but they do have an enviable fan base, and they do indeed play rock and roll music. While ABBA certainly passes the “fame” test with flying colors, they don’t quite score a passing grade on the “rock and roll” test.

Each time we get word on the latest inductees into that institution, it seems like they drift further and further away from rock, and into genres that clearly don’t meet that criteria. There’s no sign that they will put an end to this nonsense, and I won’t deny that some of the non-rock artists that have been honored there are very talented, and quite deserving of recognition on a grand scale. However, not under the banner of “rock and roll.”

I think there’s a simple solution to all of this. I have no illusions that this could actually ever happen, but I think they should rename it something like “The Music Hall of Fame,” or something else that is more inclusive, if they are going to continue giving the nod to groups like ABBA while ignoring KISS, Rush, Yes, and a host of other bona fide rockers.

Isn’t inducting the likes of ABBA and Run-D.M.C. in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” akin to someone opening a car dealership with a big sign out front that advertises Toyotas, and then filling the lot with Fords? Should we start calling hot dogs hamburgers? If we subscribe to the logic they are using to decide who gets the coveted invite to the “Rock Hall,” we may as well.

Although I may be the only one, I believe I will begin to refer to that institution as the “Music Hall of Fame” instead of the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” from now on. It certainly makes a whole lot more sense to me.

Tags: Abba, KISS, Rock And Roll Hall of Fame

Neil Peart Stares Down The ‘Eye of Satan’

No matter how busy I am or how many tasks I have ahead of me, news of an update on Neil Peart’s personal website always stops me in my tracks and enthralls me as I sit and digest his discourse in one sitting. Granted, this is not War And Peace we are talking about here, but Peart is quite generous with his prose and it may take me 30 minutes or perhaps even more to digest it all.

This most recent update on Peart’s site is a bit more amusing than others, though I won’t spoil it for my fellow followers of his site. Suffice to say that the final photograph actually made me laugh out loud as I sat here alone in my home office.

Winter sunset as viewed from my back deck

Like Peart, I am also a lover of nature, although I don’t indulge myself as enthusiastically with as many solitary journeys through the woods as he obviously does. I live in the woods as well – a very deliberate and conscious decision on my part, one that my wife has happily come to appreciate as well. Although as any married man would know, the decision to live here was not mine alone, and I’m happy to have an understanding and generous partner in life.

My isolation does not compare with Peart’s cabin on the lake in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec but I’m happy to be shrouded among the trees with no view of neighboring homes during the summer months when the trees provide a welcome curtain of green that affords us the privacy that the vast majority of the modern population does not seem to crave.

Peart’s latest update chronicles his determined quest to track down an unwelcome intrusion that has made itself well known in a landscape that is otherwise dominated by the creations of mother nature. In the words of a famous (should be infamous – sorry, Neil!) U.S. President, “I feel your pain.”

We enjoy dark skies here as well, despite the dim glow of the more populated areas to the south in Massachusetts. The view of the Milky Way and other heavenly bodies from our property on particularly clear nights can be awe-inspiring, however, to my northwest, I also endure my own “eye of Satan,” in the form of a neighbor who insists on illuminating that area of the horizon with a bright white light – the kind you might see in a shopping center parking lot.

Although he does have some equipment related to his business on his property, our experience in this neighborhood suggests that crime is virtually non-existent, so I am at somewhat of a loss regarding what he fears that inspires him to spoil a nearly perfectly dark night sky every night of every year.

In fact, the previous owner of our home had installed his very own “eye of Satan” at the end of our long driveway nearest the house. It is more of an orange color, but no less obnoxious and intrusive on an otherwise dark night here in the woods. One of my very first acts upon moving in was to hit the “Off” switch on that evil eye, which was set to come on automatically at nightfall. I don’t know what inspired the original owner to install it. We have not had a single problem with any vandalism or other crimes in the 10-plus years we have lived here. Perhaps he wished to light the way for the local critters who do not enjoy the superior nighttime vision of the owl or the red fox.

I too have contemplated various ways to re-darken our sky, but beyond the fact that my unwitting antagonist would most likely replace the light easily, civilized behavior does not really allow me to indulge my occasional fantasies about how the eternal white light might be extinguished. And what little I know about my neighbor’s personality has convinced me that he’s not really the type one would consider “approachable,” so any polite requests to turn off the light would most likely be met with a terse denial, with a few profanities added for emphasis.

Recognizing that my own writing does not hold a proverbial candle to Neil Peart’s, I readily acknowledge that readers who have paused here may be losing interest, so I will sum it up by directing fellow fans, and just about anyone else who appreciates nature and fine writing to visit Peart’s site for his most recent update.

Tags: Eye of Satan, Neil Peart, Update

Metal And Mullahs: Rocking The Middle East

Once in a while a story comes along that reveals some surprising cultural similarities between our culture here in the U.S. and another one in some far-flung location on our planet. In this case, we’re talking about young people in places like Iran, Lebanon and Egypt, who appear to be as dedicated to their love of heavy metal rock music as any fan in the world.

A new book entitled Heavy Metal Islam by Professor Mark LeVine from the University of California, Irvine reveals some surprising facts about the heavy metal scene in the Middle East. Just the phrase "heavy metal scene in the Middle East" doesn’t sound like it makes sense from what most of us know about that part of the world.

The images we see from that region of the world would probably not compel one to imagine that there is a growing movement among the young people there that finds them gathering in large numbers to attend concerts featuring home-grown heavy metal rock bands.

As one might expect, metal fans are more free to indulge in the consumption of the music they love in certain countries of that region more freely than in others. While a group may be free to perform for 100,00 fans in Lebanon, and rock the house with Pink Floyd cover tunes, the situation in Iran is very different where the basij, otherwise known as the "morality police" (I’m still trying to get my head around that one) are on the lookout for those who are caught acting in a way that is not in line with the rules imposed upon them by their Islamic leaders.

LeVine’s book also reveals some incidents that have taken place that would shock the people of most western cultures, such as the jailing of children as young as 13, when photos surfaced of fans at a concert who appeared to be holding crosses upside-down, which was perceived as "devil worship" by the authorities.

There’s no doubt that the religious leaders in some of the countries in the region see the popularity of western music as a threat to their way of life, or more specifically, their iron-fisted control of the citizens who are unfortunate enough to live beneath the shadow of these fanatical regimes.

It would appear that things might be starting to change in that troubled region of the world. It will no doubt be a slow process, but wouldn’t the sight of Arab and Israeli kids all rocking together at the same show be something to see?

The mullahs and their puppet regimes will not release their grip on power easily, but nobody lives forever, and this up-and-coming generation may be poised to change the character of that region of the world, where conflict has virtually been a way of life for a very long time.

For more on this, click on over to Slate.

Tags: heavy metal, heavy metal islam, mark levine, middle east

New York And Boston Top StubHub’s List of 20 Most Rockin’ Cities

StubHub is said to be the world’s largest ticket marketplace, which puts them in an excellent position to gauge the interest in live music in various major U.S. cities. This year, the list has shifted a bit and it’s nice to see Boston move from position four last year to position two this year, just behind New York City.

I do have to take issue with the name of this list however. I assumed, at first glance, that a list of "Most Rockin’ Cities" would be limited to live performances that would fit well within the boundaries of the rock genre. Yeah, I’m probably picking nits just a little bit here, but for me, Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett are not rockers, although with regard to Chesney, I do have an appreciation for country music’s evolution in recent years that has given it more of a rock feel.

Also mentioned as contributors to the artists that helped these cities earn their position on the list were the Jonas Brothers and I’m afraid that is where I have to draw the line. Call me an old classic rock curmudgeon, and perhaps I am, but I don’t see the teeny-bopper sensation Jonas Brothers as rockers. I congratulate them on their success and ability to attract crowds of screeching 12-year-old girls, but rockers they are not.

I suspect not a lot of serious consideration was contributed to the process that was utilized when StubHub selected the name "List of Most Rockin’ Cities," but I suppose it is their list and they can call it what they like. That does not mean that classic rock curmudgeons like myself have to agree with it.

I see that there are some actual rockers included in the top-selling shows, and I wonder what the list would look like if it were based on ticket sales to acts that actually do "rock."

By the way, isn’t "SFBay Area" a bit of a cheat? How would San Francisco and Oakland fair on the list if they had to go it alone?

Maybe I’m just in the mood to complain about stuff today.

In any case, here I present to you, StubHub’s "List of Most Rockin’ Cities."

2008 City Rank   (2007 Rank)  Top Selling Shows:
1.  New York          (1)     Billy Joel 7/18, 7/16, Bruce Springsteen 7/31
2.  Boston            (4)     Kenny Chesney 7/26, Bruce Springsteen 8/2,
                              Neil Diamond 8/23
3.  Los Angeles       (2)     Radiohead 8/24, 8/25,
                              Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers 6/25
4.  Philadelphia      (5)     Kenny Chesney 7/19, Jimmy Buffett 6/14,
                              Coldplay 7/25
5.  Chicago           (3)     Kenny Chesney 6/21, Coldplay 7/23,
                              Jimmy Buffett 7/26
6.  SFBay Area        (6)     Kenny Chesney 6/8, Coldplay 7/18,
                              The Police 7/14
7.  Hartford         (10)     Dave Matthews Band 6/14, Coldplay 8/2,
                              Billy Joel 5/31
8.  Detroit           (9)     Kenny Chesney 8/2, Jimmy Buffett 6/10,
                              Bon Jovi 7/7
9.  Richmond         (17)     Jimmy Buffett 8/30, Dave Matthews Band 6/28,
                              Jonas Brothers 8/18
10. Dallas            (7)     Radiohead 5/18,
                              Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 8/27,
                              Jonas Brothers 7/9
11. Atlanta          (12)     Jimmy Buffett 6/5, Kenny Chesney 7/13,
                              Eagles 5/17
12. Las Vegas         (8)     Coldplay 7/19, Kenny Chesney 6/6,
                              The Police 5/23
13. Indianapolis    (N/A)     Kenny Chesney 9/13, Jimmy Buffett 7/29,
                              Dave Matthews Band 7/26
14. Atlantic City    (19)     Jimmy Buffett 8/24, American Idols Live 8/2,
                              Killers 8/1
15. Seattle          (16)     Dave Matthews Band 8/30, Radiohead 8/20,
                              Dave Matthews Band 8/31
16. Denver           (13)     Jack Johnson 8/17, Rush 6/25,
                              Jonas Brothers 7/19
17. Houston          (18)     Radiohead 5/17, Kenny Chesney 8/16,
                              Dave Matthews Band 8/15
18. Washington, D.C. (15)     Coldplay 8/3, Eagles 7/26, Pearl Jam 6/22
19. Miami            (11)     Dave Matthews Band 7/12, Pearl Jam 6/11,
                              Dave Matthews Band 7/11
20. Cleveland       (N/A)     Kenny Chesney 5/24, Radiohead 8/4,
                              Jonas Brothers 8/22

For more details visit CNN Money.

Tags: 20 Most Rockin Cities, StubHub

Rocking Their Way To The Other Side

Some people believe in life after death, reincarnation, Heaven, Hell and probably a whole lot of other things I have never heard of. Personally, I don’t know what to believe when it comes to the subject of death, but it’s a fact that some people are choosing to depart this world to the sound of their favorite rock songs.

Funeral directors in Australia are reporting that Queen’s "The Show Must Go On," Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven" and AC/DC’s "Highway to Hell" are among the most popular funeral songs in South Australia. This information comes to us by way of Centennial Park, which is the state’s largest provider of cemetery, crematorium and memorial services.

Other varieties of music are also well represented when it comes to funeral music. Other popular choices include Frank Sinatra’s "My Way" and and Louis Armstrong’s "What a Wonderful World," which seem to make sense under these circumstances.

However, some of the more creative choices made for their funerals by the departed include "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" from the Wizard of Oz, Queen’s "Another One Bites the Dust" and Willie Nelson’s "Hit the Road Jack." Those have to be people with a sense of humor or perhaps even some that were not too well-liked by whomever made the decisions regarding funeral arrangements.

I remember a kid I hung around with back in the old neighborhood in Massachusetts who always used to say that he wanted "Magnum Opus" by Kansas played at his funeral. Sadly, a few years later, he committed suicide. I never did find out if they played "Magnum Opus" at his funeral, since it was a very private affair, and attendance was strictly limited to family members, but I’d like to think that the sounds of Kansas filled the room on that day.

Tags: Australia, Funeral Music, Rock