Impertinent Thoughts on Pertinent Subjects #53Mar 29 '08 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line 2 years + is a long time... After a long 2+ year hiatus, I am pleased to reignite the often imitated, never duplicated, most popular musical musings column in Epinions history. Yes folks, Impertinent Thoughts has returned. Hide the children, this won't be pretty. Off we go... * Watching the benefit concert for victims of the Station Nightclub fire on Vh1 last weekend, I gained a whole lot of respect for some artists, and lost a whole lot for others. Firstly, Tesla deserves a lot of praise. Despite the fact that their lead vocalist was obviously struggling with a cold or flu or something, they went on and poured their hearts into a often fiery performance. What their singer lacked in healthy voice, they made up for in enthusiasm and gusto. Then there's John Rich (from Big and Rich), Dierks Bentley, and Gretchen Wilson, country artists who wouldn't seem to have a whole lot in common with the victims of the fire. But as Dee Snyder said, it wasn't a "hair metal" problem, it was a "people problem," and those people needed help, and those 3 came thru. With all that said, it's a shame the concert didn't sell more tickets, no doubt due to the lack of a true blue heavy hitting headliner. Both Bon Jovi and Aerosmith were approached, and according to what I've heard, they did everything but get down on their knees and beg Jon Bon Jovi to play this gig. And he refused. And why? Because he doesn't want to "be associated with that scene." Forget the fact that the 100 people who died, and the other 200 who were injured all probably owned at least one Bon Jovi CD. And forget the fact that his band's appearance would have helped raise a lot more money. He's more worried about his image. Well I have news for Mr Bon Jovi: your image amongst rock fans was already at an all time low, what with your switch to watered down pop-country. And while you preach you've always loved country and all this BS, you're too high and mighty to do what a lot of other people from Nashville weren't. That scene showed up to help people who probably don't own very many of their CDs. If you had a legitimate excuse as to why not to play the gig, hey, no biggie. But you didn't. I can say right now I've bought my last Bon Jovi disc. Go to hell Jon...and put your drunken guitarist back in rehab before he kills his own kid. * Staying on the 80s hair band scene, it was a shame to learn that Poison drummer Ricki Rockett was arrested this week and accused of rape. Poison's music was always fun if nothing else. Here's to hoping Ricki is found innocent of all charges, and that this is nothing more than a cash grab. * "You're watching the last tour by Velvet Revolver" announced Scott Weiland last week at a gig in Scotland. This has led to an angry exchange of online words between drummer Matt Sorum and Weiland. Sorum says that Weiland doesn't appreciate the life he's been given, while Weiland says Sorum has been nothing but a hired gun before his time in VR. It's no secret Sorum still partakes in the hard partying ways that have adversely affected the other members of the band. I can't imagine having a guy like that around is the best thing for Scott. With that being said, here's hoping they figure things out. Even with the STP reunion this summer, I really hope Velvet Revolver soldier on, as I thought Libertad was one of the few rock cds worth a damn last year. * So Dr Pepper wants to give a free can of it's product to everyone if Guns N Roses releases Chinese Democracy this year. You know, I've been hoping to hear Democracy for a while, but Dr Pepper? Couldn't a GOOD soda have stepped up and made the offer? Dr Pepper tastes like someone took rancid p&ssy, liqufied it, bottled it, and marketed it for mass market consumption. * Where were all these great summer tours last year? Outside of Velvet Revolver and Alice In Chains, nothing appealed to me last year. Meanwhile, this year REM, Stone Temple Pilots, Iron Maiden, Tom Petty and Pearl Jam are all hitting my area in the same month. Sadly, I can only afford one of those shows, and yes, Pearl Jam is it. I'll say this though: given the setup of Maiden's tour (an all 80s setlist, with staging apparatus reminiscent of their legendary "Somewhere in Time" tour), it was a much harder decision to make than it might usually have been. * Speaking of Iron Maiden, how is it they can lease a private jet, have this gigantic stage setup, and fly from gig to gig (granted, singer Bruce Dickinson is the pilot), and their top tickets are only $50, while everyone else pretty much gouges their fans. Even friggin Pearl Jam is $60 this tour (a hefty $74 after service charges). * Kudos to the Raconteurs for essentially forcing their record label to release the album only 3 weeks after it was turned in. They are a band that essentially gets it. Why do the whole record company promotion thing when all that happens is it gets leaked and sits on a record company's shelf for 4 more weeks after the fact. Get the music out there and make it available. Don't sit on it for months after it's done. * Can someone explain to me why Bret Michaels needs a reality TV show to find a S.O.? I mean, Flavor Flav I can see (and honestly, I'm shocked they've been able to find 3 or 4 seasons worth of women who want to f&ck friggin Flavor Flav), but it's not like Michaels probably has trouble finding a date. * Insomniacs everywhere can rejoice...a new Coldplay album is being released in June. Has it been long enough of a time since the last one that people will have finally forgotten about this overrated, terrible band? * How scary is it that David Lee Roth might be the most sane one in Van Halen right now? I think the first leg of that tour did him the most good, since it made him appreciate what he didn't have for a long time. Meanwhile, a certain member can't keep his sh*t together, not even when his son is with him on the road. * Call me crazy, but that version of Imagine that David Archuletta did on American Idol a few weeks back was AWFUL. Words cannot even begin to describe how bad it was. * And lastly, I'll inject some positivity into the procedings. About a year and a half ago I reviewed the latest disc from Buckcherry. Since then, with every listen I've given it, it has grown on me even more. I say this because the rock market has been pretty lean lately, so if you're looking for a new disc, but aren't sold on Buckcherry from the singles, I'm telling you, give it a chance. It's not mind blowing, but it's a great CD for highway driving in the car. When will IT #54 pop up? That's unclear at the moment. With a move to Maine/NH in the offing, a new fiancee, a wedding next May, and a 20 month old future stepson, life is bound to be busy. But rest assured ITOPS will continue on in some manner, even if it is another two years before the next column.  |
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