Chinese Demockery: The New Record Not By Guns N' Roses
Come 11/23, we all finally get to hear Chinese Democracy. You know the new Guns N' Roses CD. The one we've been waiting to hear since the television premier of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. I want to know why anyone cares, especially self-respecting Guns N' Roses fans. Axl Rose has embarrassed you and disrespected you for 17 years. 23, if you count the years he was actually in a band called Guns N' Roses. Now, we are supposed to be excited over this bogus new CD?
Shouldn't we all be more excited about the new Beatles album? I don't mean that unreleased, 14 minute psychedelic track that Sir Paul agreed to release. I mean, the new Beatles album, "Haymans Green" by Pete Best. What about The Kinks' album that came out earlier this year? You know, Working Man's Cafe by Ray Davies. Chinese Democracy is as much of a G N' R CD as these two CDs are Beatles and Kinks CDs.
It seems as if this mockery of a sham is accepted all over the music world. Thin Lizzy has been touring as Thin Lizzy since the late nineties, even though the its leader, singer, songwriter, bass player and poet Phil Lynott, died in 1986. What about Chicago? 3 horn players. That's it! All lead founding members, the singers and songwriters, nowhere to be found.
It's one thing to tour for nostalgia's sake. Or more accurately, money. There are bands on tour with no original members at all. (See: Molly Hatchet) But what really gets the agita in action is the way the media and the music industry is treating this new "project" from Axl Rose.
In fellow Huffington Post blogger Mike Ragogna's excellent piece, he says this:
Chinese Democracy, finally will be issued in a little over a week. However, this really, really long-awaited release had better turn out to be bigger than any November surprise Obama or McCain could have dropped since the weight of the music industry's future just might be resting on the shoulders of Axl Rose.
Maybe my head is in the sand, but 2008 had some of the best music released in years, and still the industry is struggling. It's a real sad state of affairs, when an entire industry is counting on some lunatic hermit and his fake band to save the fourth quarter.
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For the record, Robert Lamm, keyboard player who sang Saturday In the Park, Beginnings and other Chicago classics, is still a member of Chicago.
If he is, he was nowhere to be seen this summer at a local music festival. Just the horns. They started sucking when Terry Kath, the original guitar player died and they started making weenie pop tunes.
This is nothing more than a joke, or at least it should be. After all, the album took $13 million to make--$13 MILLION! It won't even get back half of that. The only sector of the music industry that is making any money is Country music. My theory is that the redneck Wal-Mart crowd is too stupid to steal it, and probably don't have a computer either. The industry needs to face the fact that normal people aren't willing to pay $20 for a disc that cost $1 to make. Especially when the artist barely sees any money from the sales. They get theirs from touring. And that's why I haven't bought a CD in years. But my iPod is nice and full.
Did it ever occur to you that the casual condoning of theft of music is not something most Country music buyers would be in to, instead of the reason being that they're "rednecks... too stupid to steal it"? The industry is suffering, and for various reasons deservedly, but trying to say it's okay to steal is a mistake. You haven't bought a CD in years? Have you purchased tracks online? Or have you been one more person who has rationalized that wholesale public theft is okay? If it's the latter, then why don't you come on over to Times Square with a bucket filled with whatever cash you have and allow whoever walks by to partake of it? Let me know if and when you'll be there, and bring your nice and full iPod too.
It's called the music BUSINESS for a reason - that's because it's a BUSINESS! Band names are essentially brand names, and as long as the brand attracts an audience, it will be used to sell product. Also note (no pun intended) that musicans have to make a living and if working under a brand name pays the bills - why should they be denied sending their kids to college, paying a mortgage, or putting food on the table? You want art? Go to an open mic at your local watering hole on a Monday night and put a dollar in the bucket. Axl is a smart business man. Democracy will go muti-platinum, then the original band (brand) will fetch mega-millions for a reunion tour in a few years. That's the music BUSINESS for ya.
wait a minnit. are you saying i shouldn't be excited about Working Man's Cafe (cuz i still am)? are you really comparing Ray Davies' solo work and Axl Rose's sham GNR crud? shame on you.
that wasn't the point...
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No no, TBX. What I was saying is that Ray Davies excellent solo release is not a Kinks record. This new project by Axl Rose is NOT a Guns N Roses record. Not comparing anyone's music.
While it certainly wasn't heavy metal, most of you missed one of the best releases of the year. James - Hey Ma.
Everyone makes music. Many are really talented. It was an historical aberration that the packaging, delivering and managing of music was "profitable". The technological constriction in distribution that caused this to happen is over. Musicians don't need to let someone who doesn't make music take part of the money. I don't need to listen to the radio or watch mtv to know what is new in any genre of music I am interested in and musicians don't need these resources to be known.
Art and commerce are very different things. Your ears will tell you about the art. You're getting caught up in commerce and ego. If that's important to you, then fine. But listen to the music without prejudice. Axl Rose has never disrespected me. Every time I put on Appetite for Destruction, its the same great ride. And, in 20 more years, if someone wants to put on his Use Your Illusion t-shirt and catch Axl at the Ramada with a bunch of musicians who weren't even born when Sweet Child o' Mine came out, let him go. I won't be there. They're selling nostalgia. Also fine, if you're willing to pay for it. I see the Rolling Stones and The Eagles with all those extra musicians on stage. Is that any different? Can you be a Mets fan when not a single member of the '69 Mets is currently on the team?
What concerns me is that you are up to date on Molly Hatchet's current touring line-up...you are flirting with disaster indeed!
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Just good investigative journalism!
Sorry, but according to their website cross referenced with the mighty wikipedia, founding member Dave Hlubek is still in the band.
I've always thought they were an awesome act... well, certainly no worse that the twaddle that's out there now. Sort of a heavy Allman Bros. Southern Metal if you will.
I agree with everything you wrote and its completely ridiculous that ANYONE would even care at this point, and its NOT Guns 'N Roses, BUT, im listening to it now and its REALLY F'N good.
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It may be! Going to attempt a listen soon. Just wish it wasn't called "Guns & Roses," and that it was released...I don't know...8 years ago, and that other artists would get the same coverage and proper recognition without the aid of controversy.
My suspicion always was that "Chinese Democracy" was a code word for "does not exist." Mostly, I'm just shocked to find out there actually IS an album.
How many versions of Steppenwolf and The Guess Who have there been? Or Deep Purple?
You hit the nail on the head. Every good band has its time. And too many of them turn into pathetic pantomimes once they have hit a dead end artistically. Axl Rose's era is now passed. I just wish he would realize it.
While I'm not sure of Steppenwolf or The Guess Who, Deep Purple still packs 'em in in Europe, and has retained a roster of founding and long time members. The exception being one of the US's most technically brilliant guitar players Steve Morse instead of Blackmore.
yeah I've been waiting for a long time too but I have no doubt that Axl will find a way to f*** it up. Not that Velvet Revolver (Slash and the rest) is any good either.
It's too bad, I thought Use Your Illusions II def. had some of their best material.
I don't know Guns N' Roses at all.
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