Salutations™!!

Eugene had posted an article on my Facebook wall in reference to the death or, slighting of Heavy Metal.  The posting of the article was more his stab at why I shouldn’t use Rolling Stone as a source for my listening list.  There are plenty of reasons why I use that list.  In my response, I included the list of probably over 1000 poll voters that helped comprise the content of the list.  90% of them were not part of Rolling Stone. The contributors took the information and compiled them into this list.  Also, people that I admire and trust their judgement in music (mostly), Keith Wilson, Doug Davis and Ed Bumgardner specifically. Granted, Bumgardner and I don’t always agree but I respect his overall intentions and at least the energy that puts into the views.

I agree with Eugene that RS is mostly a bunch of douche bag blowhards, but that’s not the point of me using the list.  I admire Eug’s passion on what he feels as well.  I try to take stock in his suggestions, as much as he denies this, and sometimes we hit, sometimes we miss.  As far as what the article said about the death of metal/hard rock, well, it too has its point and it has its misses, as well.  A local radio personality, Bob Campbell put it boldly, write better music and get better recognition (I’m paraphrasing).  That’s true to a point.  But it is kind of skewed knowing that, even today, in the time of independent producers, YouTube stars, etc., our mainstream music is dictated by money, record companies, radio stations (not independent stations but the big boys like Clear Channel) and “music lobbyists.”

To the point of my response to what Bob said, I’m going to copy and paste my Facebook reply.  I apologize for the cop-out but it’s still my words, so there.  Here’s my reply:

Every genre from every age fell into the cracks to make the surface smoother. It leveled it out and became what it was. Music had to evolve and evolution doesn’t always mean for the good. As much as I love going back and listening to my ’70s and ’80s hard rock/metal. I know it’s dated. Does it rock any less? No way. But I also go and listen to what KISS tried to do, go back to “roots” and the result is mostly crap (no cracks on them always being crap, I loved them). The point there is that when the ones doing changed to adapt, it was clear that it isn’t them that must evolve, but the music. They had already filled that crack. Their place was cemented, stepping outside the box wasn’t an option. Change has to come. I’m hoping that a) I’m not becoming my parents (I’m afraid that is the answer, though) and b) that the future of rock hurries up its cycle and we revisit a much better source of “good” music. But, the “veterans” (to put it nicely) aren’t the answer, just the influence.

What are your thoughts?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“If heavy metal bands ruled the world, we’d be a lot better off.” – Bruce Dickenson