New People in Old Bands

Name drop time.

Phil X is back in Bon Jovi!  Which is very kick ass!   What I loved about this, is how fast I found out.  Phil tweeted a picture of himself getting on a random private jet.  Less than 24 hours laters, a friend told me Richie quit in the middle of the Bon Jovi tour.  Boom, Mystery solved.  Gotta love the age of information!

 

What comes along with the perks of an internet connected society, is the instant feedback.  Positive or Negative, it’s in your face right away.  The day after I found out, the whole world knew.  People who dig Phil thought it was great news!  People who are attached to Ritchie were very disappointed.  I won’t mention who, but a friend immediately offered to sell me their tickets, at $255 each!  They felt ripped off, Ritchie wasn’t going to be there.

Negative feedback is something that used to be buffered from artists.  They at least had time to give something a shot before critics or fans tore them apart. Nowadays, it’s in your face so fast, it might stop you in you tracks.  You might never pursue anything if you took it all too seriously.  I often think about and give props to Wolfgang Van Halen.  We never met, but that kid mastered every Van Halen song and gets in front of thousands of people and does a great job.  I only know two people alive capable of pulling that off.  But according to what you see via youtube comments.  People just tear him apart.  Attacking his weight.  Claiming he’s not worthy of being on the same stage as the other members of Van Halen.  But he is.  He’s doing a damn good job!  You complaining losers are probably siting on your asses, sour that the world doesn’t give you enough attention. Meanwhile,  he’s touring the planet Earth with Van Halen.  He worked very hard to be apart of that.

Right now I have a handfull of good friends touring with older bands.  By older I mean, bands that have not had a hit record or single in 10-20 years +.  Let’s see, Glen Sobel and Tommy Henrikson are in playing for Alice Cooper.  Marty O’Brien is playing for Lita Ford. Phil’s in Bon Jovi.  Jeff Pilson is in Foreigner. Ron Thal’s in Guns N’ Roses.  All these acts are touring big arenas.  Very few original members in the bands.  Where do we draw the line?  When do fans stop buying tickets?  When do we stop caring?  Easy answer.  When it’s no longer entertaining or fun.   If you truly love the songs, You’ll probably love seeing a band regardless of who’s still in the band.  If the emotion is still there, if excitement is the still there, that’s what counts!

What does all this mean for the future of music?   As long players have the energy and drive to be a part of bands.  As long as music delivers emotions and songs we can enjoy.  Fans will still pay attention.  A lot of these younger guys are breathing new life into fading bands.  That’s a good thing!  Don’t forget all styles of music need a community to survive.  This is all part of the circle of life for Rock.  Carrying the baton!

But, I do see a dark future as well.  Successful bands become brands and brands are big business.  Eventually, all original members will be out or dead.  That band will then become the worlds best tribute band.   Still touring because they own the rights to the name.  Anyone want to see Kiss?

How do we avoid this bleak and horrible future?  We all do our best to grab a baton and start making some new music.  Maybe a new style, maybe a retro style.  Just do it.  Even if your the first to carry the baton.  Go for it.  Make something for yourself.