The anniversary has passed but the thoughts linger. And then it occurred to me. So, that's what Don McLean meant. The quick replacement for Buddy Holly on the next night of the tour was Bobby Vee. Now, I was a big fan of Bobby Vee back in the day... way back in the day. But Rubber Ball will never take the place of Peggy Sue. Never. And how do you explain the alleged successor to Buddy Holly through the lyrics to Stayin' In...
I punched my buddy in the nose after lunch
Now I'm in trouble 'cause the dean saw the punch
He was tellin' things that were not true about her
So I let him have it in the cafeteria
Now I'm stayin' in, stayin' in
My, my baby's walkin' home with him
They passed my window hand-in-hand just then
But what can I do? 'cause I'm stayin' in
Really. Bobby Vee. Bobby Rydell. Fabian Forté, etc etc etc. Gene Vincent was in a near-fatal car accident in 1959. Eddie Cochran was killed. Elvis went into the Army in '58 and came out in '60. Between the time in and the infusion of amphetamines, he was a changed, blandified and addled, never to shake his hips quite the same way. I saw and heard the best and lived through the worst. We may not have started the fire but we let it go out... or smolder until a couple brave souls, loud voices and nihilistic futurists had their way with Fender guitars and Vox amps... but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Rock is dead, they say,
Long live rock.
Long live rock, I need it every night,
Long live rock, come on and join the line,
Long live rock, be it dead or alive.
Landslide, rocks are falling,
Falling down round our very heads,
We tried but you were yawning,
Look again, rock is dead, rock is dead, rock is dead.
12 comments:
There was that very ugly time frame from '59-'62 that was full of the Jimmy's, Bobby's, and Tommy's. The saccharin days of rock. The black influence had given way to teenyboppers for the first time although not the last.
Then when the Beatles hit reviving everything that we loved, we were back off and running like never before. Whew, what a relief from that starchy crap. The Crickets enlisted in the army in 1960 and did 2 years and when they got out, they all moved to L.A. to get their mojo going again.
I was just learning to play from my friends brother in 1960. Jerry Bland had a Gibson ES-175 and it was very intimidating but he had the basics down....Chuck Berry,Buddy Holly, the stuff you need. There was that guy that came out with "I fought the law", which was written by Sonny Curtis. Jerry Fuller was a Buddy Holly clone as it were, so Sonny made and still makes a nice coin from that. The Crickets learned and always told me that the songwriters are the smart guys and especially if you keep your pub.
We did some of those rock shows with Bobby Vee, his kids, the Vees, Brian Hyland, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lewis and others....sock hop stuff. J.I. with his half smile and his great attitude...."be nice to everyone, you never know who you'll be working for."
Oh, and I forgot Tommy Roe's plagiaristic "Sweet Little Sheila," replete with vocal hiccups and reverb.
Do you mean Jerry Lee Lewis or Gary Lewis (he of the Playboys)?
Oh, and, without getting too deep into it, I think, with the luxury of time, the jury may be called back in to review and perhaps revise the verdict on the Beatles. But, if I choose to open up that tangled can of worms, I will do so formally. Don't get your hackles up yet...
Jerry Lee Lewis...sorry not the funny guy.....only a fool would dispute the Beatles.
I knew that would raise your blood pressure. Delay your aggravation. I'll state my case... in due time, my friend, in due time.
Ha, you're not that fool.....I know you like to beat up what's respectable, but you're not a fool. I mean, you would be going up against songs and recordings that are going to be revered for the next 200 years. Ask, J.I., Bernstein, John Williams, Clapton, Dylan, fuck, anybody.
But, if you need to play the spoiler just to fill some hole in your heart.....go ahead, do your worst.
Now, go, sharpen your pencil.......
Actually, I am that fool. I began my treatise on "The Case Against the Beatles," and, wanting to make it scholarly, thoroughly researched, annotated and basically ironclad. Before I knew it, I had three entries with no end it sight. I'll write the book. Opinions are like assholes-- everyone has one, even such lofty musicians as John Williams (yawn). Remember, even John Lennon disliked the Beatles. But, for now, I will drop the topic other than to quote Beatle fan, David Bowie:
Now my brother's back at home with his Beatles and his Stones
Never got it off on that Revolution stuff
What a drag
Too many snags
You poor man. Why do research if you're just going to commit rape 40 years later. Take it, take the low road. It leads to Silverton, Or. I guess. Don't worry, I'll still be here for you. Bowie....tripe.
Spoken like a true, er... Davaudian. Don't take it personally... and don't tempt me. I'm leavin' it alone for the moment. As for Bowie-- when I heard Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes," I thought it captured a moment in time perfectly. Ian Hunter's vocals are so much better than Bowie's (in this case).
Ha, my skin's pretty thick. I don't have a problem with anyone's opinion and I've always been open to other's ideas even if they sucked. There's only one thing in the world that doesn't grant tolerance or opinion and that is.....
Clue, it's a BIG part of music.
Wagner?
WRONG grasshopper.... mathematics.
Here's some ordinary crap for you......
http://bluesguitarunleashed.com/index.php?gclid=CJ_Gubjaz5gCFRlcagodrjoF2w
Post a Comment