To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
"Start Me Up"? How About "Retire Already"
Yesterday, the Rolling Stones announced their 2005 tour (and new album) with a 3-song set outside of Julliard in Manhattan.
I guess I just don't understand the resurgence of old bands. Everyone's doing reunion tours or new albums or whatever. For some reason (I blame the Baby Boomers, but I'm willing to blame them for a lot of stuff, so... ), people feel the need to relive their youth. OK, granted, for the most part, music today pales in comparrison to the songs of the past (there's only so much you can do with 3 chords and a synthesizer). But still...
It's not just music. People just refuse to grow up. When I look at The Greatest Generation, and even the older Boomers, I don't see this behavior as much. They have their own diversions, but they just seem more... well, grown up to me. Younger Boomers, Busters, Gen X, etc... we grew up with video game arcades, and then we just moved them into our homes. We're too lazy to lose weight and get in shape the old fashioned way- why should we when we can just visit a plastic surgeon and have the fat sucked out and everything tucked back where it used to be? Wrinkles are zapped with lasers or lifted, hair is colored (yeah, yeah... if you don't know what my original hair color is, I'm not telling), skin is tanned (by UV lamps or sunless sprays). We watch old movies (or the new remakes of old movies and tv shows), listen to the music of our youth, and pretend that we're still in high school or college.
I'm not saying that the Stones (or Styx, or Mötley Crüe, or whoever) shouldn't release new music (especially if they still have the ability to create good music and put on a good show) or go on tour. This isn't about them. This is more about our inability (as a culture) to go beyond our youth. Maybe some of us need to grow up.
Although... I did find it quite humorous that one of the songs the Stones played yesterday was "Oh No, Not You Again" from their new album, because that pretty much the first thing that crossed my mind when I heard about this. That, and Charlie Watts would make a great spokesperson for Geritol.
Just sayin'...
The year-long tour begins Aug. 21 in Boston and comes to the New York area Sept. 15 at Giants Stadium. Tickets for that show go on sale May 23 through Ticketmaster. Dates at smaller theaters and clubs are also planned. Prices will be about 10% higher than the previous tour in 2002, said tour promoter Michael Cohl, ranging from $99 to $110...I'll admit it- I've never been a big Stones fan. Appreciate them, sure. Like them? Not really. They were on the classic rock station in St. Louis before I even started listening to rock music.
After the performance, singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, both 61, joined drummer Charlie Watts, 63, and guitarist Ron Wood, 57, to answer questions. Jagger said the band will "dig into the catalogue" for this tour and also play songs from its upcoming album.
Jagger wouldn't say whether this would be the band's final tour. "We take every tour as it comes," he said.
I guess I just don't understand the resurgence of old bands. Everyone's doing reunion tours or new albums or whatever. For some reason (I blame the Baby Boomers, but I'm willing to blame them for a lot of stuff, so... ), people feel the need to relive their youth. OK, granted, for the most part, music today pales in comparrison to the songs of the past (there's only so much you can do with 3 chords and a synthesizer). But still...
It's not just music. People just refuse to grow up. When I look at The Greatest Generation, and even the older Boomers, I don't see this behavior as much. They have their own diversions, but they just seem more... well, grown up to me. Younger Boomers, Busters, Gen X, etc... we grew up with video game arcades, and then we just moved them into our homes. We're too lazy to lose weight and get in shape the old fashioned way- why should we when we can just visit a plastic surgeon and have the fat sucked out and everything tucked back where it used to be? Wrinkles are zapped with lasers or lifted, hair is colored (yeah, yeah... if you don't know what my original hair color is, I'm not telling), skin is tanned (by UV lamps or sunless sprays). We watch old movies (or the new remakes of old movies and tv shows), listen to the music of our youth, and pretend that we're still in high school or college.
I'm not saying that the Stones (or Styx, or Mötley Crüe, or whoever) shouldn't release new music (especially if they still have the ability to create good music and put on a good show) or go on tour. This isn't about them. This is more about our inability (as a culture) to go beyond our youth. Maybe some of us need to grow up.
Although... I did find it quite humorous that one of the songs the Stones played yesterday was "Oh No, Not You Again" from their new album, because that pretty much the first thing that crossed my mind when I heard about this. That, and Charlie Watts would make a great spokesperson for Geritol.
Just sayin'...
