Rock and roll creation
“Hello, Cleveland!”
Kids today have no idea what they’re missing:
Today’s instant sensations can find themselves ill-prepared to work crowds, says Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mike Campbell, lead guitarist in Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers band. They headlined a sold-out concert last month at Blossom Music Center.
“When we started out, we played a lot of bars and drove around all over . . . just to play,” Campbell says.
“It seems like nowadays people just want to get their computer and put their record out and be rock stars overnight. What happens is, they don’t learn those skills you need to become a performer and to present your music live.”
“Just to play.” Three words, one very powerful statement. If you’re not driven “just to play,” sell your instrument and buy a tie. The world doesn’t need any more fakes.
By “fakes” I trust you don’t mean The Jonas Brothers. Those boys have paid their dues.
I quote the New York Times, June 17 of this year:
“Despite their seeming overnight success, the Jonas Brothers have labored in the lower ranks of the music world. As recently as 2005 they were playing 20-minute sets with two other bands as part of casting-call events for a tween girl band.
‘It helps that they struggled a while before it started to work,’ Mr. Jonas said. “They’ve carried their own equipment. And when you’ve seen 10 people in a concert hall, you’re genuinely thankful that a room full of people would show up for you.’ “
I mean really now, think about it. What’s a bigger Rock and Roll Hell, a larger Rock and Roll Damnation from which to emerge to conquer the musical world like you’re Gandalf after wrestling The Balrog?
1) playing for a couple dozen really drunk people, half of which are your closest friends at a dive bar in San Antonio where you were most likely almost shot and/or stabbed in the parking lot unbeknownst to you?
OR
“playing 20-minute sets with two other bands as part of casting-call events for a tween girl band.”
Sheesh, the horror.
As they so proudly sing in this year’s big summer sensation, “Camp Rock” –
“We rock. . . “
Indeed they do.
And sadly in my hear I fear, Pete was quite wrong, the kids aren’t alright.
I can proudly proclaim my ignorance: I’ve no idea who the Jonas Brothers are . . . and, thanks to you, I’ve no plan to discover them.
You are right and Pete is wrong. The kids, indeed, are not alright.