When Is It Time for a Band to Retire?

I've been thinking about retirement a lot lately. I just turned 31 and with each passing birthday, I reflect on my past and future. My husband and I have some very aggressive, concrete goals for our future. Here's a hint: we don't plan on working until we're 80! In fact, we'd like to be done "working for the man" by 50 and if I can swing 45, great. This will take a lot of discipline on our part, but we're giving it a shot. All that said, I wonder if musicians ever really create a retirement plan?

This thought comes into my mind after watching the slow death of one of my favorite bands. Great White is a group of great musicians but singer Jack Russell is very ill and he just can't perform at the same level anymore. Lately, the band has been using guest vocalists to fulfill contract duties. Why not cancel the dates and reschedule when Jack is better? Obviously that's a short term solution - but what about the long-term?

The sad fact is that our favorites won't be able to tour endlessly for the next 20 or 30 years. At what point do bands hang it up? That's a hard thought for someone like me to handle. I find it comforting to know that Poison will be out on the road next year. That another Crue Fest is in the works. That Van Halen will likely tour again soon. But these bands are on a different level than the likes of Great White or Dokken.

How does a band like Great White bow out? There's a fan base there for sure. There's also the lasting stigma of the Station Nightclub fire. There's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and then there's painful YouTube clips of Jack clearly in agony at Rocklahoma '09, trying his hardest to perform. He gets my respect for fulfilling his duties and doing his job but it can't go on. At some point, it's degrading the legacy of the music.

Or maybe I'm wrong.

Maybe the band can keep on as they are, grabbing guest vocalists and waiting for Jack to heal. I really don't think so, though. I have to believe the other guys in the band want to retire like "normal" people someday. Sure, musicians choose a different path and generally shudder at desk jobs...but at some point, even performing for crowds of people night after night becomes work and the road wears even the most grisled guy down. Rest is rest.

Do I think Great White will hang it up anytime soon? No. But I do think we need to brace ourselves for a long list of retirements within the next five to ten years. As it should be.

So Metal is a Fashion Trend Now?

So in every store in any mall across America it's easy to find clothes festooned with skulls and rhinestones. This is true of clothes for both men and women. Anything with the word "rock" is hot. Add "rock" and rhinestones and suddenly the shirt costs an astronomical hundred bucks and people have to have it! Stores like Metropark cater to rock fans with the tag line "Fashion. Music. Art."

I don't remember seeing skull belts in Macy's five years ago. Granted, maybe I wasn't as aware but I swear - within the last year or so - anything rock related is hot, hot, hot.

Why is this? Is metal finally mainstream again - but only in concept? By this I mean the idea of black leather clothes and studs are hot but the music is largely secondary? Sure, our favorite Glam bands have enjoyed a renaissance the last few years thanks to nonstop touring by Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and Def Leppard. But most new bands are having a hard time gaining a massive following and I highly doubt if random people on the street know anything about Opeth or Soilwork let alone a band as niche as Hardcore Superstar. So what gives? Are designers really showing their love of metal through their clothes - or is metal more trendy than I thought? While I'd rather see 50,000 people at a Sevendust show versus Celine Dion I'm realistic to the popularity of certain genres of music. That said, I've never seen a random person in a Celine Dion T-shirt. I see people in metal band tees every day. Odd.

Maybe music and fashion really do coexist and metal just happens to rule when it comes to the hot style of the day? I still refuse to pay a hundred bucks for a T-shirt - even if a skull is involved.  

Digging TNT Right Now

Holy Glam! I go in phases where I completely forget about bands I love. It sounds insane but this is my life - it doesn't make sense. Clicking around YouTube, I came across TNT and the video for "10,000 Lovers in One." I love that song!

The guys in TNT are working on a new album right now - I have high hopes it will be awesome! The Norwegian band has had its share of ups and downs and member changes, so you can read all about those on your own time via Wikipedia.

What is your favorite TNT tune? A couple of my favorites are below. TNT is real Glam people - I love the guitar work!

What Makes a Song Heavy?

What makes a song heavy?

I have a cool idea for a multi-day event here on BBG! I've noticed you like when a theme carries over many days and I have fun writing that way, too. But, before I can write about what I want, I need a clear understanding of what "heavy" really is...keeping in mind that all art is subjective.

I think a pounding rhythm section (with overt bass) tends to make a song heavy. A band doesn't have to be "metal" to create a "heavy" song. In fact, there are random pop songs that include heavy sections. I think the lyrics need to be serious or dark. A singer that has a very powerful, booming voice or soaring scream helps. Muted chords on the guitar don't hurt, either. Divebombs are good. Downtuning is good. Distortion helps. Perhaps even the length and general complexity of a song adds to a heavy vibe.

What do you think? What - to you - makes a song "heavy?" Your responses will help me write this website next week.

Dreaming of Europe (the Band)

The older I get, the more bands I attempt to scratch off my “see live bucket list.” This has been a good year concert-wise for me. I checked quite a few bands off my list including the Green Day, Lady Gaga, Soundgarden, Scorpions, Michael Schenker Group, Slash, ZZ Top, Sevendust and more.

This year, I hope to add some very specific bands to my “I’ve seen ‘em live” list. Those bands include Europe, Saigon Kick (they reunited), Damn Yankees (it could happen), Metallica and Iron Maiden. On the latter two, the bands have been touring but they didn’t come around me and the dates didn’t line up for me to travel.  

Now, let’s say I could pick just one from the list above to see live. If that’s the case, I choose Europe. I actually hope Europe plays M3 next summer. I’ve made a conscious decision to not do as many festivals next summer because, well, it’s expensive and this summer has been nuts.

I wish Europe would come to America for at least a short run. A European fest is definitely on my list of things to do, but that won’t be happening for quite some time (see reason #1 above: expensive).

Show of hands: how many of you have seen Europe live?

Push Comes to Shove - Aerosmith Style

Things are never dull in the Aerosmith camp. The other day, Steven Tyler fell off the stage in Toronto. TMZ says Joe Perry pushed him. Others are saying that it was staged and the guy Steven fell into was a plant. I've watched the video clips over and over and I can't decide.

Here's a long clip that sort of sets up the vibe of the night. Quality isn't great. That TMZ link above has a super close-up of the fall.

So what do you think? Was it a push by Perry or a trip by Tyler? Perhaps the biggest question of all: why is Aerosmith using Nelly's "Hot in Herre" as their banner drop song?

So I'm Attending the Rockstar Uproar Festival

After a summer of festivals...what's one more? On a whim last night, I decided I'd go to the Rockstar Uproar Festival in Columbus, Ohio next week. The main reason is to see Avenged Sevenfold - so I'll get to hear some of the new songs live and I'll have a review and photos for this site. Other bands playing include Stone Sour, Disturbed, Airbourne, Halestorm, XFactor1, Jackie, New Medicine and Hail The Villain.

Any other Ohioans going to this show? It's always fun to meet up and hang out in between bands.