Is it time to ban imposter, poseur rock?
Allow me to explain.
I never had a problem with crooners like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald or Tony Bennett performing well into their sunset years and beyond. Sure it was lame and all when they’d forget some of the lyrics and sad and disappointing when their voices didn’t hold up, but the senior citizen-esque nature of the music was relatively forgiving.
Because they were doing things largely as they’d always done them – in an easy going, low libido manner
Then again, those artists didn’t begin their careers by smashing drum kits, lighting guitars on fire, trashing hotel rooms and the like. They were always kinda sleepy.
But rock n roll bands bring an entirely different set of expectations.
Unfortunately time has taken severe tolls on the relative athleticism exhibited by many rock bands in their hey days rendering them shadows of the performers they once were ( as they hobble through their stage shows like Brewer & Shipley at the Uptown last week.)
Hey, best I can tell Barbra Streisand and Robert Goulet never played air guitar, so the drop off in on stage exuberance tends to be far less noticeable than it might be for artists like Joan Jett and Pete Townsend.
So what’s my point?
There’s far too many oldies acts mailing it in – cashing in on the nostalgic naiveté of aging fans – ripping off the public.
As often as not, not even suiting up the key original artists.
Take Three Dog Night that will be ripping off area concertgoers in October to the tune of $98 plus service charge for the best seats.
Case in point, top Dog Chuck Negron wasn’t allowed back into the “club” after recovering from years of heroin addiction.
That despite Negron singing lead vocals on the band]s biggest hits, including, “Joy to the World,” “Easy to be Hard” and “One.”
Also missing in action is the No. 2 Dog, Corey Hart who checked out for that dog pound in the sky three years back.
Wells sang lead on, “Eli’s Coming,” “Mama Told Me (Not To Come),” and “Shambala.”
That leaves bottom dog Danny Wells cashing everybody else’s paycheck by continuing to use the band’s deceptive name, having made the relatively minor contribution of singing lead on “Black & White.”
In other words, One Dog Night.
Could be worse though, right?
When’s the last time you got a gander of local senior citizen Beatles cover band Liverpool?
Someone needs to hook these dudes up with KU coach Bill Self’s rug maker.
And it’s getting worse all the time.
I remember shaking my head in 2003 when I head the Moody Blues were playing the Lawrence Welk Resort Theater in Branson.
Know what though? It was undoubtedly a good fit.
Better than snake swallower Alice Cooper playing Kauffman Center.
I can’t wait for Marilyn Manson to play Julia Irene Kauffman‘s 80th,
Maybe it’s just me…
But is anybody else up for hitting Arrowhead later this spring to watch Len Dawson and members of the 1967 Chiefs take on Joe Namath‘s Jets in a flag football, old-timers outing?
With 50 yard line tickets on sale for just $98 plus service charge..
I gotta agree with the overall sentiment, and it expands way beyond the bands you mention. I’m a child of the 70’s/80’s/90’s. The music I loved (and still do) ranged from Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, to the Sunset Strip bands (think Motley Crue, Ratt, Van Halen etc) to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (think Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Ozzy), to the 90’s grunge movement. (Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam). Only in rare cases can any of these bands still tour and be worth the money. And the place where they really fall off is vocally. Rob Halford (Judas Priest) hasn’t lost anything. His pipes are legendary, but he’s the exception. Vince Neil (Motley Crue) is a bloated caricature and can’t sing anymore. Awful. He wasn’t really that good to begin with. Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) is an embarrassment. Steve Tyler does just an ok job, but just looking at the guy freaks me out. Enough plastic surgery already. Ozzy Osbourne, (God bless him) should stop touring as well. His voice is gone. Many of the above mentioned bands are having to de-tune their guitars down a half step (if they weren’t already) or play songs in a lower key, just so these washed up singers can attempt to perform. It’s sad.
Actually Vince sang great as proof Theater of Pain which showcased his vocals and your not up to date Motley Crue wrapped up their fare well tour last year and are retired and maybe the reason these bands keep going is because todays music is so terrible they have to hang around ! And what caused the terrible music we have today ? Grunge because it made it good to listen to terrible music ! The person who really cant sing anymore is David Lee Roth !
Point well taken old buddy, however guess they all want to be doing something they like and enjoy plus many still need the income, so I get it, two way street. We all know we ain’t gonna see what was but what is and its diminished.
I go back and forth on this, Hearne. My wife and I just saw Little River Band for the fourth or fifth time – her choice, not mine. There is no one left from LRB’s first few years, and only one band member left from their later hit-making period, but it’s still a fun show. Our daughter performed with Kansas several years ago in a supporting role. They still had lead singer Steve Walsh at the time, so it was an enthusiastic and worthwhile night. A few other bands still pull their weight. REO is decent enough. Chicago’s horns still sound good.
Then we saw Kenny Rogers last winter during his farewell tour. His poor physical condition was enough to make my wife cry, even though he joked about it. It made me wonder how many of these acts are in it because they need the money. Steve Walsh said as much a few years ago when asked why he continued to tour.
But still, they aren’t the same. I guess I can say the same for myself, though.
Actually, Paul, Steve Walsh retiring from Kansas gave the band new life. Sure, there are only a couple original guys left (and a bass player who’s been with them for 30 plus years) but they sound phenomenal. Go check’m out if they swing through any time soon.
For most of the rest of those
I just checked out some of their post-Steve music, and you are right. They sound great! Appreciate the tip.
Actually, Paul, Steve Walsh retiring from Kansas gave the band new life. Sure, there are only a couple original guys left (and a bass player who’s been with them for 30 plus years) but they sound phenomenal. Go check’m out if they swing through any time soon.
For most of the rest of those bands mentioned you’re correct. They suck.
“There’s far too many oldies acts mailing it in – cashing in on the nostalgic naiveté of aging fans – ripping off the public.”
– probably as much (or more) an indictment the public… Kerouac saw ‘Chicago’ 1969 when all the original members (and song stylings) were intact. Having ‘hit’ the charts big in ’70, not just on FM but by then AM, they probably decided they were able to do whatever versions their songs the way they wanted to (reportedly, the late Terry Kath exclaimed not so humbly – “we can s**t on a record and sell a million copies.”)
By ’73 when next I saw them, were not playing their hits in original form. Majority the audience wasn’t pleased, evidenced by one member the band actually saying on mic in response the subdued reaction – “what’s wrong with you people?” Whether a new band member(s) or newer version(s) original songs, someone is always displeased; Kerouac did not fall for it a $econd time.
“As often as not, not even suiting up the key original artists.”
– would that said prevent the ’50 year old tribute band’ called Chiefs from playing bad modern football versions theirs (or ‘Chicago’, which today numbers but 4 the original members their 7 member unit started 1967.)
“is anybody else up for hitting Arrowhead later this spring to watch Len Dawson and members of the 1967 Chiefs take on Joe Namath‘s Jets in a flag football, old-timers outing?”
– wait a minute HC, still deciding 🙂 weighing the merits/demerits watching said compared the current/last half century worth imposter’s the Chiefs trot out annually; apologies Yankee Doodle: stick a decal on their hats and call it KC football.
“Maybe it’s just me…”
– no, it’s ‘them’… we have seen them the enemy, and it is ‘us’. Why the desire go home again, prefer football 1960’s and/or cars, music and band members style/abilities and other thence same, remains the bane… knowing ‘when’ to say when’, or just cry uncle.
😎
Corey Hart? He was probably like 4 or 5 years old in the early 70s. Don’t switch the blade on the guy in shades oh no.
I don’t believe Corey Hart has bitten the dust yet.
Believe!