Too old to rock? (ROCK'N'ROLL IS DEAD)

Chicago Tribune ^ | May 10, 2009 | Mark Caro | Tribune reporter

[Chi-townChief]

Let's first acknowledge that we've moved well beyond the irony of "I hope I die before I get old" and the fact that the Who's Pete Townshend, who wrote the lyric, did get old, though his band's drummer didn't.

Let's also let Mick Jagger off the hook for famously declaring, "I'd rather be dead than singing 'Satisfaction' when I'm 45." With the Rolling Stones singer turning 66 in July, he has had more than 20 years and several world tours to eat those words.

We will, however, give consideration to Robert Plant's explanation earlier this year that he shot down a Led Zeppelin reunion in part for fear of fans' "disappointment" and "the comparisons to something that was basically fired by youth and a different kind of exuberance. ... It's very hard to go back and meet that head on and do it justice."

Or as he told a reporter backstage at the Grammys: "You try to do 'Communication Breakdown' in these pants."

mailto:mcaro@tribune.com

[Tainan]

No...Rock ain't dead... the reports of its demise are wrong.

While it my have gone thru some changes and mods over the years....basic Rock 'n Roll lives on.

With props and apologies for slightly misquoting him, Dave Be(a?)rry did the best definition of what Rock 'n Roll really is back in the '80s in a column he wrote. Something about stumbling into an unknown bar on a hot summer night and hearing a band you never heard of and never will again play music that makes you want to drink too much beer, dance with a woman you don't know, get sweaty, maybe drunk and call for an encore when its 'Last Call - Hotel, Motel just get the hell outta here we're closing' time ...thats Rock 'n Roll.

And that ain't dead. Nope, as long as bar bands, beer and hot summer nights are around. Rock 'n Roll will be there.

[fredhead]

It died on August 27, 1990. Alpine Valley, Wisconsin.

Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash.

[Caramelgal]

There’s a funny line in the movie Almost Famous, about a fictional rock band circa 1973. The band’s new manager is trying to convince them to add more concert dates and make all the money they can – strike while the iron is hot. The manager says:

“If you think Mick Jagger will still be out there trying to be a rock star at age fifty, then you are sadly, sadly mistaken.”

[pdunkin]

Have you caught the new group that James Iha formed with Bun E Carlos, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, and one of the Hanson kids. Power pop that’s not too bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1OV5YbM3k8

[Caramelgal]

I’m listening to Bush ‘Machinehead’ as I type. I’m a fan of radiohead, the Smashing Pumpkins, as well as just about anything that’s Classic Rock (I went to college in the ‘70s). I don’t care if I’m 55, I like rock and will be playing Zeppelin and Ozzy in the retirement home.

Still, it often shocks me to run into ‘older people’ online who also like rock - until I realize they are my age. : )

I was born in the early 60’s and I like many different types of music – from many different types of classical and jazz, blue grass, blues, big band, Motown, classic rock, alternative rock, some pop and even a few artists who incorporate some hip hop; my music collection is quite eclectic to say the least.

I find it amusing that I know some people my age whose musical taste runs in a narrow band consisting only of anything recorded and popular from 1975 through 1985.

While I like “classic rock”, I like a lot of newer bands too. I like Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins. I also like Death Cab for Cutie and the Raconteurs (especially the Raconteurs – their last release really kicked!). And I like the Dave Matthews Band – saw them in concert twice. I also like Counting Crows, Evanesance, Tool, Staind…

BTW - I have a great niece who is 15 who loves the Beatles and Rush and my 14 year old great nephew knows all the lyrics to all the classic Beachboys songs.

I like that I can talk music with these kids – both classic rock and the newer bands.

[AppyPappy]

If you think rock has died, try listening to the Foo Fighters, Seether and Disturbed.

[a fool in paradise]

Depends on the meaning of “is” and “rock”.

[a fool in paradise]

Stadium tours killed rock and roll.

The Beatles stopped touring when they got that big. Things didn’t stay “large” until after the success of Woodstock’s media hype. That’s when the norm became big event shows.

It got corporate.

[CholeraJoe]

[Caramelgal]

If you think rock has died, try listening to the Foo Fighters, Seether and Disturbed.

I don’t think rock has died. To quote Mark Twain: “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” And I like the Foo Fighters. :),

[KevinB]

So who does (or did) good rock/rawk?

Old 97's

[KevinB]

So who does (or did) good rock/rawk?

Let's try this again with the correct link:

Old 97's

[evets]

SUMMER 2009

[ConservativeStatement]

I am going to see AC/DC this summer, my one show for the calendar year.

[radiohead]

Thanks for the link. I listened to it and a few other songs on iTunes. It’s OK, not great - and this from someone who has ‘Mmmbop’ on her mp3 player. : ) I think it sounds a little too pop for me to take it in big doses; just personal taste.

There’s a movie called ‘Catch and Release’ that has some great new music that I ended up downloading, including something from Deathcab for Cutie (cited on this thread). I never hear new music on the radio anymore. Mostly I get it from a movie or trailer music, or I’ll hear something on campus and look it up on iTunes. I’ve learned about a lot of new music that way, but it kinda has to find me, I don’t go looking for it.

[GSWarrior]

the newly reunited Feelies...

Cool. Feelies are a great band.

[ncdrumr]

I agree. I saw the Stones in ‘06 and thought it was absolutely the best concert I’ve ever been to. Mick was extremely impressive. I for one am glad these “geezers” are out there still rocking and showing the younger kids how it’s done.

[Vigilantcitizen]

What y’all said.

[pdunkin]

No problem. Mrs P isn’t too fond of it either. If you like Soul Meets Body by Death Cab, you might also want to try “Crooked Teeth” which is on the Plans album. I think it was the follow up single to “Soul Meets Body”.
p

[Blind Eye Jones]

She’s a great fusion bass player, not exactly Rock & Roll, but a solid player. Bowie also has a chick on bass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gy460jacbk

And he just may be handing the baton to the next generation — the singer of Blur. And just where has that baton been?