But that's the way I like it baby I don't wanna live for ever
October 27, 2015 5:41 AM Subscribe
But when it’s done—and it’s almost done—there will be no more Anguses, no more Lemmys. The bloody-minded, death-demolishing longevity of AC/DC and Motörhead cannot be counterfeited or repeated. Lemmy once roadie’d for Jimi Hendrix; these days, retiring postshow to his tour-bus bunk, he reads P. G. Wodehouse.Twilight of the headbangers.
There's an abundance of fantastic new rock & metal coming out these days. I love all the older stuff, too, but my desire to see Metallica (again) or Slayer (again) or AC/DC (at all) or hear anything new from them flagged about a decade ago. The new Clutch record is fantastic, and they're probably the only "old-school" rock/metal band whose been at it for 25 years, and keep getting better.
posted by xiix at 6:01 AM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by xiix at 6:01 AM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
When he dies, Lemmy's skull, still adorned with bits of rotting flesh, will be used as the mascot on the album covers of the next wave of rock. And the cycle of metal continues.
posted by Cookiebastard at 6:04 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 6:04 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Lemmy being a fan of Wodehouse is such a bizarre, wonderful thing to have learned of. It brightens the whole week up, hearing something like that.
I'm practically buzzing with the desire to spread this information around, but I don't think my office compatriots are likely to know who Lemmy is. Or Wodehouse, for that matter.
Jeez. Just sitting here, smiling to myself as I think about it.
posted by Ipsifendus at 6:18 AM on October 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
I'm practically buzzing with the desire to spread this information around, but I don't think my office compatriots are likely to know who Lemmy is. Or Wodehouse, for that matter.
Jeez. Just sitting here, smiling to myself as I think about it.
posted by Ipsifendus at 6:18 AM on October 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
I have to wonder how many of these musicians tour because it's what they want to do, or if they tour because, like Dick Dale, they need the money to stay alive.
posted by SansPoint at 6:20 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 6:20 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
"We make a fragile pair in John’s Mini Cooper: me, nibbling fennel seeds to soothe a grumbling tummy; him, munching lorazepam for the management of big-crowd anxiety."Lorazepam isn't metal at all. He should've stuck with the traditional 'ludes and beer.
("Hi, this is the rock and roll doctor. You're on the air ...")
posted by octobersurprise at 6:23 AM on October 27, 2015
When he dies, Lemmy's skull, still adorned with bits of rotting flesh, will be used as the mascot on the album covers of the next wave of rock. And the cycle of metal continues.
I assume in this scenario that Lemmy's moles will be preserved in ornate reliquaries and venerated as objects of unknowable power.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:25 AM on October 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
I assume in this scenario that Lemmy's moles will be preserved in ornate reliquaries and venerated as objects of unknowable power.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:25 AM on October 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
How can you do an article on heavy metal icons losing their health and not mention Rock's biggest secret, that all the elder Gods of pop and rock are deaf or nearly deaf?
posted by Beholder at 6:29 AM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Beholder at 6:29 AM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
There's a bar down the road from me, Brick by Brick, that pumps out live metal bands every night. It's mostly bands I've never heard of but they seem terrifying enough, and occasionally a random once-huge name (George Lynch e.g.) will play to packed bar - so while the longevity and arena days may be fading (across all genres), the scene certainly isn't.
I'm fairly dialed in to the guitar community, the kids looking to play brain melting 7 string open B riffs is alive and thriving, more so I'd wager than the desire to sound like Hendrix clones. The new gods are Jim Root and Tosin Abasi, not Gary Clark Jr.
Kinda shitty to make fun of Lemmy's (et al) lack of partying. Touring is exhausting, and you have a job interview every evening. John Mayer recently said he is going tee-total for the duration of the Dead & Co shows so he can be focused and give fans a fantastic evening - tough to do when you are hungover and have a cheesesteak and 4 bottles of Gatorade rumbling around in your tummy.
posted by remlapm at 6:31 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm fairly dialed in to the guitar community, the kids looking to play brain melting 7 string open B riffs is alive and thriving, more so I'd wager than the desire to sound like Hendrix clones. The new gods are Jim Root and Tosin Abasi, not Gary Clark Jr.
Kinda shitty to make fun of Lemmy's (et al) lack of partying. Touring is exhausting, and you have a job interview every evening. John Mayer recently said he is going tee-total for the duration of the Dead & Co shows so he can be focused and give fans a fantastic evening - tough to do when you are hungover and have a cheesesteak and 4 bottles of Gatorade rumbling around in your tummy.
posted by remlapm at 6:31 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm fairly dialed in to the guitar community, the kids looking to play brain melting 7 string open B riffs is alive and thriving, more so I'd wager than the desire to sound like Hendrix clones. The new gods are Jim Root and Tosin Abasi, not Gary Clark Jr.
this. dead bang on the mark.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 6:38 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
this. dead bang on the mark.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 6:38 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
The other night I was at a friend's place, and this show was on. I don't have cable and hadn't heard of it, so it was really bizarre seeing Brian Johnson (and I know famous people are not their public images, but still) tool around the English countryside in a vintage Rolls Royce like the genteel English aristocrat I suppose he is by this point.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:47 AM on October 27, 2015
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:47 AM on October 27, 2015
The descriptions of Lemmy having to leave the stage were very touching. I couldn't stand more than 5 minutes of his music but he's a very thoughtful guy. His favourite band has always been The Beatles.
posted by colie at 6:54 AM on October 27, 2015
posted by colie at 6:54 AM on October 27, 2015
How can you do an article on heavy metal icons losing their health and not mention Rock's biggest secret, that all the elder Gods of pop and rock are deaf or nearly deaf?
This is a secret?
posted by soundguy99 at 7:07 AM on October 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
This is a secret?
posted by soundguy99 at 7:07 AM on October 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
I'm practically buzzing with the desire to spread this information around, but I don't think my office compatriots are likely to know who Lemmy is. Or Wodehouse, for that matter.
Jeez. Just sitting here, smiling to myself as I think about it.
Somewhere in the Lemmy documentary is a scene or two of him sitting down with some literature in the tour bus. Can't remember what exactly he was reading, but he talks about what he likes to read somewhere in there.
In the recent brilliant pairing of Richard Thompson and Lemmy on WTF, you can really hear Lemmy struggle to talk at times, but with so much godammit much Lemminess. It was great.
I think the last time I'd seen or heard interviews with him was from the Lemmy doc, and that was made five years ago. I had listened to the WTF with him on and was kind of taken aback by how he's sounding at this point. But yeah, still Lemmy.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:09 AM on October 27, 2015
Jeez. Just sitting here, smiling to myself as I think about it.
Somewhere in the Lemmy documentary is a scene or two of him sitting down with some literature in the tour bus. Can't remember what exactly he was reading, but he talks about what he likes to read somewhere in there.
In the recent brilliant pairing of Richard Thompson and Lemmy on WTF, you can really hear Lemmy struggle to talk at times, but with so much godammit much Lemminess. It was great.
I think the last time I'd seen or heard interviews with him was from the Lemmy doc, and that was made five years ago. I had listened to the WTF with him on and was kind of taken aback by how he's sounding at this point. But yeah, still Lemmy.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:09 AM on October 27, 2015
Is deafness that much of a disadvantage in loud rock-based music? If Beethoven could get feedback from feeling the vibrations of his piano, surely a hard rocker whose hearing went some time in the past three decades could still feel enough of the kick drum and power chords to perform (both technically and psychologically).
On a slight tangent, Rachel Goswell of Slowdive suffers from a similar hearing problem; apparently when on stage, while she can't hear the music as a non-hearing-impaired person would, she hears enough of the bass and/or overtones to work with.
posted by acb at 7:15 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
On a slight tangent, Rachel Goswell of Slowdive suffers from a similar hearing problem; apparently when on stage, while she can't hear the music as a non-hearing-impaired person would, she hears enough of the bass and/or overtones to work with.
posted by acb at 7:15 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
My son is eleven years old and is learning to play guitar. His teacher is awesome and gives him everything: Chet Atkins and the Monkees and Kansas and some centuries-old Spanish number and also the Mario Bros. theme. He even lets the kid play his Les Paul-autographed guitar in a big amp without getting all mother hen about it. And what does the boy love? Finger-picking, and Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" album.
He thinks Jimi Hendrix yells a lot, but is happy with the song "Evangeline." [SLYT] He likes Pat Donohue [SLYT] and early Beatles.
In conclusion, young people with guitars are a land of contrasts.
(MetaFilter: Should we riot? Are we sad?)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:17 AM on October 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
He thinks Jimi Hendrix yells a lot, but is happy with the song "Evangeline." [SLYT] He likes Pat Donohue [SLYT] and early Beatles.
In conclusion, young people with guitars are a land of contrasts.
(MetaFilter: Should we riot? Are we sad?)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:17 AM on October 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
The new gods are Jim Root and Tosin Abasi
I have it on good authority that Yngwie Malmsteen is your new god.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 7:18 AM on October 27, 2015
I have it on good authority that Yngwie Malmsteen is your new god.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 7:18 AM on October 27, 2015
I have it on good authority yt that Yngwie Malmsteen is your new god.
And Steve Vai is your beekeeper.
No seriously. He's an apiarist when he's not busy shredding.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:25 AM on October 27, 2015
And Steve Vai is your beekeeper.
No seriously. He's an apiarist when he's not busy shredding.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:25 AM on October 27, 2015
How can you do an article on heavy metal icons losing their health and not mention Rock's biggest secret, that all the elder Gods of pop and rock are deaf or nearly deaf?
I SAID "HOW CAN YOU DO AN ARTICLE..."
posted by Paul Slade at 7:31 AM on October 27, 2015 [7 favorites]
I SAID "HOW CAN YOU DO AN ARTICLE..."
posted by Paul Slade at 7:31 AM on October 27, 2015 [7 favorites]
I can see where the author is coming from. And you could certainly make a case that heavy metal is approaching the levels of calcification, fragmentation, and fixation on days gone by that you see in, for instance, blues music. Because blues music still exists, obviously. But its foothold in popular culture has long since weakened, and the bulk of its continued commercial existence revolves around trotting out the same aging stars or, at best, younger ones who slavishly imitate the old familiar sounds. (I can certainly recommend blues artists who do much more than this, but I don't think even other blues fans would disagree with me about the current footprint of the genre; the vital, innovating artists are a niche interest, comparatively.) Who would argue that heavy metal music is getting to be the same way?
The thing is, though, blues receded a bit in the popular consciousness as its spiritual descendants R&B and rock took its place. But I don't know that heavy metal lacks the big stars because its being superseded by newer genres. I think it's as likely or not that it's yet another case of the continued fragmentation of music in the digital age. Being able to hunker down with other fans of your preferred sub-sub-sub-subgenre may just lead to a splintered audience, even as the overall interest in heavy metal may still be fairly strong.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:36 AM on October 27, 2015
The thing is, though, blues receded a bit in the popular consciousness as its spiritual descendants R&B and rock took its place. But I don't know that heavy metal lacks the big stars because its being superseded by newer genres. I think it's as likely or not that it's yet another case of the continued fragmentation of music in the digital age. Being able to hunker down with other fans of your preferred sub-sub-sub-subgenre may just lead to a splintered audience, even as the overall interest in heavy metal may still be fairly strong.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:36 AM on October 27, 2015
Well, regarding deafness and guitar gods....one of the most respected - and visible, he's everywhere - shredders right now is Paul Gilbert, who proudly wears ginormous noise cancelling headphones on stage.
Though I don't think he's trying to make TinnitusAwareness cool, at this stage his hearing is mostly gone and he's just trying to preserve what's left, even if he kinda looks dorky, which people have come to respect.
posted by remlapm at 7:39 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Though I don't think he's trying to make TinnitusAwareness cool, at this stage his hearing is mostly gone and he's just trying to preserve what's left, even if he kinda looks dorky, which people have come to respect.
posted by remlapm at 7:39 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Lemmy Waiting Until End of Tour to Announce He’s Dead
posted by disconnect at 7:56 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by disconnect at 7:56 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
This is a secret?
Are rock concerts handing out free earplugs at shows?
posted by Beholder at 8:02 AM on October 27, 2015
Are rock concerts handing out free earplugs at shows?
posted by Beholder at 8:02 AM on October 27, 2015
If Beethoven could get feedback from feeling the vibrations of his piano
Not sure this is a really useable comparison, because AFAICT once his hearing was gone Beethoven did little or no performing or conducting (see: Was Beethoven Really Deaf When He Wrote His Music?). Composing via piano vibrations + imagination + knowledge of music theory is a different kettle of fish than actually performing.
could still feel enough of the kick drum and power chords to perform (both technically and psychologically).
Just because they can, doesn't mean they're actually good at it or enjoy it (which in turn means that they can definitely be assholes about it.) Plus on top of that it's the high frequencies that tend to go first, and then the mids, and these are the frequencies that humans rely on for clarity and sense of pitch and direction. IOW, if all you're hearing is the low frequencies, you're pretty much hoping you can figure out what's going on from hearing an amorphous rumble. Which I think would be pretty damn tough.
So, yeah, playing loud rock music with serious hearing loss is no walk in the park.
Plus a lot of times hearing loss due to volume includes tinnitus, which is a whole other set of horrible symptoms.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:13 AM on October 27, 2015
Not sure this is a really useable comparison, because AFAICT once his hearing was gone Beethoven did little or no performing or conducting (see: Was Beethoven Really Deaf When He Wrote His Music?). Composing via piano vibrations + imagination + knowledge of music theory is a different kettle of fish than actually performing.
could still feel enough of the kick drum and power chords to perform (both technically and psychologically).
Just because they can, doesn't mean they're actually good at it or enjoy it (which in turn means that they can definitely be assholes about it.) Plus on top of that it's the high frequencies that tend to go first, and then the mids, and these are the frequencies that humans rely on for clarity and sense of pitch and direction. IOW, if all you're hearing is the low frequencies, you're pretty much hoping you can figure out what's going on from hearing an amorphous rumble. Which I think would be pretty damn tough.
So, yeah, playing loud rock music with serious hearing loss is no walk in the park.
Plus a lot of times hearing loss due to volume includes tinnitus, which is a whole other set of horrible symptoms.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:13 AM on October 27, 2015
Are rock concerts handing out free earplugs at shows?
Actually, yeah, lots of venues are doing this now, or at least have a big stash of pre-packaged plugs so you can buy a pair for like a dollar.
And of course a lot of the reason the Elder Gods of Rock are deaf is because they spent decades playing at a time when the only way for ten thousand people to hear your guitar was to have a giant pile of amplifiers turned all the way up. (That, and it probably never occurred to most of them to think about hearing things at 70 . . . . )
posted by soundguy99 at 8:19 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Actually, yeah, lots of venues are doing this now, or at least have a big stash of pre-packaged plugs so you can buy a pair for like a dollar.
And of course a lot of the reason the Elder Gods of Rock are deaf is because they spent decades playing at a time when the only way for ten thousand people to hear your guitar was to have a giant pile of amplifiers turned all the way up. (That, and it probably never occurred to most of them to think about hearing things at 70 . . . . )
posted by soundguy99 at 8:19 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
And what does the boy love? Finger-picking, and Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" album.
you done good
posted by thelonius at 8:29 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
you done good
posted by thelonius at 8:29 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have tinnitus from too much rock and roll too loud years ago, and I would give almost anything to restore my hearing to what it once was. It is my one major regret that I didn't take care of it better.
Turn down your headphones, wear your earplugs, or do what I do for the most part and just don't go. Live shows are still too goddamn loud, but that's the "party" mindset, I guess.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:50 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Turn down your headphones, wear your earplugs, or do what I do for the most part and just don't go. Live shows are still too goddamn loud, but that's the "party" mindset, I guess.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:50 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I saw Lemmy at Riot Fest this year and was legitimately relieved he didn't die on stage. He looked like shit. He had to keep taking breaks. It was more than a bit like when I saw Johnny Cash in 1996, not long before he gave up touring for good. It was not at all unclear this is a very sick man.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:54 AM on October 27, 2015
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:54 AM on October 27, 2015
There's always Rammstein.
posted by lagomorphius at 9:09 AM on October 27, 2015
posted by lagomorphius at 9:09 AM on October 27, 2015
For certain values of "always".
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:15 AM on October 27, 2015
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:15 AM on October 27, 2015
Its already become apparent that the heavyweights of metal and rock will not be replaced. Ive been seeing metal bands for the past 25+ years and there's almost nothing that even approaches the gravity of what AC/DC , Moorhead, early Metallica, Slayer, etc did, much less Zeppelin or Sabbath. We've got a lot of imitators, and some are good, but none of them are better than the original. There are some great newish bands out there of course but it's not in this category.
The new Clutch record is fantastic, and they're probably the only "old-school" rock/metal band whose been at it for 25 years, and keep getting better.
Really? I don't mean to hate on them if you like em, but I walked out on their set recently because they were so embarrassingly awful. They sounded like 90s jock rap/rock. It was remarkably bad. But then again I never liked them in the 90s either. Sorry to talk trash.
posted by Liquidwolf at 9:19 AM on October 27, 2015
The new Clutch record is fantastic, and they're probably the only "old-school" rock/metal band whose been at it for 25 years, and keep getting better.
Really? I don't mean to hate on them if you like em, but I walked out on their set recently because they were so embarrassingly awful. They sounded like 90s jock rap/rock. It was remarkably bad. But then again I never liked them in the 90s either. Sorry to talk trash.
posted by Liquidwolf at 9:19 AM on October 27, 2015
Liquidwolf: They sounded like 90s jock rap/rock. It was remarkably bad.
To each his/her own, I suppose. I think their transformation from hardcore punk featuring uninspired lyrics to the bluesy-stoner-metal/rock underpinned with erudite storytelling is unusual in the genre. I think it parallels their own personal (collective) maturation from hardcore punk kids into seasoned musicians who write music and (especially) tour because it's their passion. I'm about the same age as those guys, so maybe I'm projecting a bit.
That said, they often play popular songs from their earlier releases when their sound was so much different. The fans love the old stuff not because it's better music (it's not), but because of nostalgia. Everyone remembers the first time they heard Spacegrass live.
For my own personal education, what is 90s jock rap/rock? Korn?
posted by xiix at 10:04 AM on October 27, 2015
To each his/her own, I suppose. I think their transformation from hardcore punk featuring uninspired lyrics to the bluesy-stoner-metal/rock underpinned with erudite storytelling is unusual in the genre. I think it parallels their own personal (collective) maturation from hardcore punk kids into seasoned musicians who write music and (especially) tour because it's their passion. I'm about the same age as those guys, so maybe I'm projecting a bit.
That said, they often play popular songs from their earlier releases when their sound was so much different. The fans love the old stuff not because it's better music (it's not), but because of nostalgia. Everyone remembers the first time they heard Spacegrass live.
For my own personal education, what is 90s jock rap/rock? Korn?
posted by xiix at 10:04 AM on October 27, 2015
I wonder if anyone has taken a serious look at the economics of rock. It probably has been dying economically just like big bands died, as circumstances changed and no one but established acts could make money touring. At the low end of the band food chain, times seem hard. The drinking age is 21, which cuts out at least half of the people who might possibly pay real money to see a no name band in a bar on the weeknights. Gas is expensive. Ticket prices are expensive and people have many more entertainment options than they did a generation ago. The DJ business has, I assume, eaten heavily into the frat party and cover band market.
posted by thelonius at 10:07 AM on October 27, 2015
posted by thelonius at 10:07 AM on October 27, 2015
theolonius The drinking age is 21, which cuts out at least half of the people who might possibly pay real money to see a no name band in a bar on the weeknights.
It might just be me, and where I live (NYC), but there seems to be an uptick in all-ages shows than there were just a few years ago. Anecdotal point, of course, not hard data.
posted by SansPoint at 10:33 AM on October 27, 2015
It might just be me, and where I live (NYC), but there seems to be an uptick in all-ages shows than there were just a few years ago. Anecdotal point, of course, not hard data.
posted by SansPoint at 10:33 AM on October 27, 2015
The DJ business has, I assume, eaten heavily into the frat party and cover band market.
That and young people are going to fewer parties than their predecessors, because some of (they can socialise on Facegram/Instasnap, they're flat out from working several casual jobs and too broke to party, aware of the precarious economic situation they're diligent about burnishing their credentials and disinclined to get hedonistically wasted as the welfare-pampered boomers/Xers did, they have videogames/Netflix/“Netflix and chill” to fill the needs previously catered for by face-to-face partying/socialisation). Whatever the cause, it has been documented that fewer people in their early 20s are going to bars/parties/nightclubs/band venues, and the knock-on effects for the live music ecosystem are not good.
posted by acb at 10:38 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
That and young people are going to fewer parties than their predecessors, because some of (they can socialise on Facegram/Instasnap, they're flat out from working several casual jobs and too broke to party, aware of the precarious economic situation they're diligent about burnishing their credentials and disinclined to get hedonistically wasted as the welfare-pampered boomers/Xers did, they have videogames/Netflix/“Netflix and chill” to fill the needs previously catered for by face-to-face partying/socialisation). Whatever the cause, it has been documented that fewer people in their early 20s are going to bars/parties/nightclubs/band venues, and the knock-on effects for the live music ecosystem are not good.
posted by acb at 10:38 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
xiix, Sorry I should keep those opinions to myself, I didn't mean to come off disparaging a band you like. I don't like it when others do that. it's just an opinion obviously. Apologies for being harsh.
I did see them back in the early 90s when they were on Earache, they're probably about my age also. Maybe I didn't give them a chance at the show recently, I was there to see the opening band, and was quickly disinterested when they came on. I guess they reminded me of a style of a style of 90s metal sub genre that I didn't like. I do think they they're much different and far better than Korn and all that stuff. Clutch is much more respectable than those goofy rap rock bands but there seemed to be a similarity at this reunion tour show with all the backwards baseball hats and fist pumping, possibly because at this point the fans of that Korn style of music have blended with older Clutch fans, and younger kids who don't know any better.
Anyhow, Lem-my!
posted by Liquidwolf at 10:41 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I did see them back in the early 90s when they were on Earache, they're probably about my age also. Maybe I didn't give them a chance at the show recently, I was there to see the opening band, and was quickly disinterested when they came on. I guess they reminded me of a style of a style of 90s metal sub genre that I didn't like. I do think they they're much different and far better than Korn and all that stuff. Clutch is much more respectable than those goofy rap rock bands but there seemed to be a similarity at this reunion tour show with all the backwards baseball hats and fist pumping, possibly because at this point the fans of that Korn style of music have blended with older Clutch fans, and younger kids who don't know any better.
Anyhow, Lem-my!
posted by Liquidwolf at 10:41 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Iron Maiden are still doing well after all these decades. Their new album is very good IMO and they're touring again next year.
posted by all the versus at 11:58 AM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by all the versus at 11:58 AM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
I wonder if anyone has taken a serious look at the economics of rock.
It's just one band's experience, but Pomplamoose provide some 2014 figures here.
The band's Jack Conte sets the scene like this: "Pomplamoose just finished a 28-day tour. We played 24 shows in 23 cities around the United States. It was awesome: Nataly crowd surfed for the first time ever, we sold just under $100,000 in tickets, and we got to rock out with people we love for a full month. We sold 1129 tickets in San Francisco at the Fillmore. I’ll remember that night for the rest of my life."
Bottom line? Even at that level of success, they lost close to $12,000 on the tour as a whole. Conte rejects any notion of self-pity and he's quick to say they view this $12,000 as a worthwhile investment in what is effectively their own small business. The detailed breakdown of all the tour's income and expenditure he gives in the article is fascinating. "We are not rich, and we are not famous," he closes. "We are the mom and pop corner store version of 'the dream.' If Lady Gaga is McDonald’s, we’re Betty’s Diner. And we’re open 24/7."
posted by Paul Slade at 12:41 PM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's just one band's experience, but Pomplamoose provide some 2014 figures here.
The band's Jack Conte sets the scene like this: "Pomplamoose just finished a 28-day tour. We played 24 shows in 23 cities around the United States. It was awesome: Nataly crowd surfed for the first time ever, we sold just under $100,000 in tickets, and we got to rock out with people we love for a full month. We sold 1129 tickets in San Francisco at the Fillmore. I’ll remember that night for the rest of my life."
Bottom line? Even at that level of success, they lost close to $12,000 on the tour as a whole. Conte rejects any notion of self-pity and he's quick to say they view this $12,000 as a worthwhile investment in what is effectively their own small business. The detailed breakdown of all the tour's income and expenditure he gives in the article is fascinating. "We are not rich, and we are not famous," he closes. "We are the mom and pop corner store version of 'the dream.' If Lady Gaga is McDonald’s, we’re Betty’s Diner. And we’re open 24/7."
posted by Paul Slade at 12:41 PM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
"Rock?"
"Pomplamoose."
Heh. I think you might have a bit of a point here -- I find that punk, hard rock and metal seem to move a lot more merchandise (T Shirts in particular) than a pop group would, or at the very least I see a lot more people sporting their shirts. T Shirts tend not to be very cheap so I suspect that's not an insignificant source of revenue on tour for a metal/hard rock band. I see it a lot in town here when a big show is on. When it's Madonna, I only notice a larger crowd of people downtown heading to the arena. When it's ACDC or Iron Maiden, you know who is in town because everyone downtown is wearing the T-Shirt. Also U2. Saw a lot of grey-haired men with old U2 tour shirts tucked into their crisp and clean dad jeans that day. But I digress.
posted by Hoopo at 2:07 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Pomplamoose."
Heh. I think you might have a bit of a point here -- I find that punk, hard rock and metal seem to move a lot more merchandise (T Shirts in particular) than a pop group would, or at the very least I see a lot more people sporting their shirts. T Shirts tend not to be very cheap so I suspect that's not an insignificant source of revenue on tour for a metal/hard rock band. I see it a lot in town here when a big show is on. When it's Madonna, I only notice a larger crowd of people downtown heading to the arena. When it's ACDC or Iron Maiden, you know who is in town because everyone downtown is wearing the T-Shirt. Also U2. Saw a lot of grey-haired men with old U2 tour shirts tucked into their crisp and clean dad jeans that day. But I digress.
posted by Hoopo at 2:07 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Rock" is still alive, it's just pushed to the fringes a bit and it isn't like anything from the 80's. That's not weird at all, considering rap isn't like anything from the 80's these days either. I don't think rock is dead when an emo revival band named "The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die" can get to #3 of Billboard's vinyl sales with their debut album (right underneath Sigur Ros and Daft Punk), or people like Mac DeMarco and Mikal Cronin are releasing awesome records, alongside Tame Impala, Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett, Chelsea Wolfe, etc., etc. The list goes on. Just because it isn't like Motorhead and Motley Crue or anything doesn't mean rock is dead, it's just changed. This is such a weird point of view that people have with guitar-based music in particular. You don't find many people being purists about rap anymore, yet you'll always find someone who swears by 80's punk, or 90's punk, or this rock band or that rock band, what decade did it better, etc. It's so weird.
posted by gucci mane at 2:10 PM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 2:10 PM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
I have tinnitus from too much rock and roll too loud years ago, and I would give almost anything to restore my hearing to what it once was. It is my one major regret that I didn't take care of it better.
It really is no laughing matter. Deafness is crippling. It's dangerous and it makes social interaction exhaustively difficult. It literally shrinks your world, yet people joke about it. Notice there are no jokes in this thread about dementia or cancer, both discussed in the article, but musicians (and their fans) going deaf is fair game? Like I said, hearing loss (both in music) in our society is easily the most ignored public health crisis, and it is a crisis.
posted by Beholder at 4:07 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
It really is no laughing matter. Deafness is crippling. It's dangerous and it makes social interaction exhaustively difficult. It literally shrinks your world, yet people joke about it. Notice there are no jokes in this thread about dementia or cancer, both discussed in the article, but musicians (and their fans) going deaf is fair game? Like I said, hearing loss (both in music) in our society is easily the most ignored public health crisis, and it is a crisis.
posted by Beholder at 4:07 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Are rock concerts handing out free earplugs at shows?
When I saw My Bloody Valentine a few years ago there were earplugs EVERYWHERE.
Which was good because the last 10 minutes or so was basically a sonic massage (and was AWESOME).
Well, regarding deafness and guitar gods....one of the most respected - and visible, he's everywhere - shredders right now is Paul Gilbert, who proudly wears ginormous noise cancelling headphones on stage.
I don't quite understand why he's not using custom in-ears, which would work as well or better and not look nearly as dorky. Unless he's trying to make a point, which would not be a bad thing.
After 15 years of working sound and DJing at electronic music events, I'm not quite sure why I don't have tinnitus.
I should get my hearing checked. We like it just as loud as metal.
posted by flaterik at 11:05 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
When I saw My Bloody Valentine a few years ago there were earplugs EVERYWHERE.
Which was good because the last 10 minutes or so was basically a sonic massage (and was AWESOME).
Well, regarding deafness and guitar gods....one of the most respected - and visible, he's everywhere - shredders right now is Paul Gilbert, who proudly wears ginormous noise cancelling headphones on stage.
I don't quite understand why he's not using custom in-ears, which would work as well or better and not look nearly as dorky. Unless he's trying to make a point, which would not be a bad thing.
After 15 years of working sound and DJing at electronic music events, I'm not quite sure why I don't have tinnitus.
I should get my hearing checked. We like it just as loud as metal.
posted by flaterik at 11:05 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Around 1994 a friend offered me an extra ticket to a Black Crowes show -- and unselfconsciously handed me a package of disposable earplugs when we walked into the Orpheum. I hadn't worn earplugs at a concert before, but I was damn glad that I had them that night: pulling one out for a second left me head ringing.
Yesterday my wife had her post-op visit with the local ear surgeon, who restored hearing in one of her ears. It seems like a miracle to us that she had a reversible condition, and I have HUGE sympathy for anyone whose hearing loss is permanent.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:12 AM on October 28, 2015
Yesterday my wife had her post-op visit with the local ear surgeon, who restored hearing in one of her ears. It seems like a miracle to us that she had a reversible condition, and I have HUGE sympathy for anyone whose hearing loss is permanent.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:12 AM on October 28, 2015
I'm fairly dialed in to the guitar community, the kids looking to play brain melting 7 string open B riffs is alive and thriving, more so I'd wager than the desire to sound like Hendrix clones. The new gods are Jim Root and Tosin Abasi, not Gary Clark Jr.
this. dead bang on the mark.
What? Tosin Abasi and his ilk wouldn't be anywhere without Fredrik Thordendahl and Meshuggah, dammit! But yeah, hard rock and metal are still very healthy, splintered into dozens of scenes and genres with passionate fanbases.
It's just one band's experience, but Pomplamoose provide some 2014 figures here.
Counterpoint from Santos Montano of Old Man Gloom, demonstrating it is possible to make a profit from touring.
this. dead bang on the mark.
What? Tosin Abasi and his ilk wouldn't be anywhere without Fredrik Thordendahl and Meshuggah, dammit! But yeah, hard rock and metal are still very healthy, splintered into dozens of scenes and genres with passionate fanbases.
It's just one band's experience, but Pomplamoose provide some 2014 figures here.
Counterpoint from Santos Montano of Old Man Gloom, demonstrating it is possible to make a profit from touring.
All the figures Conte provided to show just how unsuccessful he is, are actually showing something else. Now, one take away from this is that these young people are horrible with money, and/or really, really bad at booking and planning a tour. Morever, what is evidenced is not how hard it is these days to be a touring band, but what happens when a band is bad at managing their own expectations.posted by Existential Dread at 8:49 AM on October 28, 2015
That Pomplamoose Medium article has been discussed on MetaFilter previously.
posted by soundguy99 at 9:21 AM on October 28, 2015
posted by soundguy99 at 9:21 AM on October 28, 2015
flaterik: When I saw My Bloody Valentine a few years ago there were earplugs EVERYWHERE.
Which was good because the last 10 minutes or so was basically a sonic massage (and was AWESOME).
I saw them in 2013 at FYF Fest and the holocaust section of You Made Me Realize was measured at 130db, and it went on for about 10 minutes. Everyone had earplugs in. The festival was selling the earplugs until they ended up giving them away because there'd probably be a lawsuit if some kid lost their hearing and said "well I didn't have enough money to buy the ear plugs." Anyway, according to this link from Purdue, 130dB is a "military jet on take-off from an aircraft carrier with the afterburners on at 50ft". 130dB is twice as loud as 120dB, which is labeled as "painful".
I've definitely been more cognizant of taking earplugs to shows nowadays, especially since I'm not going as crazy at them as I use to. I have a really hard time hearing my own voice and sometimes hearing other people in party situations due to my teenage years of going to hardcore metal shows and standing right next to cranked amps almost every weekend ages 14-19.
posted by gucci mane at 9:44 AM on October 28, 2015
Which was good because the last 10 minutes or so was basically a sonic massage (and was AWESOME).
I saw them in 2013 at FYF Fest and the holocaust section of You Made Me Realize was measured at 130db, and it went on for about 10 minutes. Everyone had earplugs in. The festival was selling the earplugs until they ended up giving them away because there'd probably be a lawsuit if some kid lost their hearing and said "well I didn't have enough money to buy the ear plugs." Anyway, according to this link from Purdue, 130dB is a "military jet on take-off from an aircraft carrier with the afterburners on at 50ft". 130dB is twice as loud as 120dB, which is labeled as "painful".
I've definitely been more cognizant of taking earplugs to shows nowadays, especially since I'm not going as crazy at them as I use to. I have a really hard time hearing my own voice and sometimes hearing other people in party situations due to my teenage years of going to hardcore metal shows and standing right next to cranked amps almost every weekend ages 14-19.
posted by gucci mane at 9:44 AM on October 28, 2015
Depending on what plugs you have, too, it STILL is probably not good enough. Some cheapo plugs are only rated at like 22 db reduction, and even if you have some good ones at 32 or so, prolonged exposure to REALLY loud noise (like, say, a rock concert) can still cause hearing loss, especially if you go to a lot of concerts.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:49 AM on October 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:49 AM on October 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Looking at the post title makes me wonder. Ace of Spades came out, according to a brief googling, in 1980, when Lemmy was about 35. Even that seems a little old for that to be a really heartfelt sentiment!
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 11:27 AM on October 28, 2015
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 11:27 AM on October 28, 2015
130dB is a "military jet on take-off from an aircraft carrier with the afterburners on at 50ft"
In case anyone is wondering, American military jets used to pass over my apartment in Japan late at night on their way to land (they weren't technically supposed to be doing that after 8pm or something, naughty naughty). Much higher than 50 ft, too. You could literally feel it inside you, in every bone and every organ. It sounded like someone was dragging a shovel across a driveway inside your head. I've been to concerts where I could feel the bass rattling around in my guts and my ears rang for days after, but the jets were unlike anything I've experienced before or since. Jesus H Christ they are loud.
posted by Hoopo at 2:01 PM on October 29, 2015
In case anyone is wondering, American military jets used to pass over my apartment in Japan late at night on their way to land (they weren't technically supposed to be doing that after 8pm or something, naughty naughty). Much higher than 50 ft, too. You could literally feel it inside you, in every bone and every organ. It sounded like someone was dragging a shovel across a driveway inside your head. I've been to concerts where I could feel the bass rattling around in my guts and my ears rang for days after, but the jets were unlike anything I've experienced before or since. Jesus H Christ they are loud.
posted by Hoopo at 2:01 PM on October 29, 2015
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