But my point is more about being able to relate to music these days. I can't relate to the stones anymore...I mean I can't even fathom what their lives must be like...ozzy too...I think the recording industry is missing out on a huge market place here...though today's country may fill some of that void. I do notice that people in my area my age, if they have a newer cd it's usually today's country.
But let's face some facts....many of us have worked hard to be where we are, our kids are growing up and we're not saddled by "the kids" as much. Even if your kids are still at home, baby sitters, scheduling a life and such is a thing of the past.
But I dont know about you guys, I would surely rather see a middle aged overweight woman get a start then another plastic barbie Doll. The musicians we grew up with gave up music years ago and traded it in for enterprises. But from retail I can say that there are a lot of us out there...a lot. Far too many seem to try to live out their childhood dreams by pushing their kids to follow suit.
But let's do a mock study of two guitarists (cause that's what I am and it's my post
) Guitarist A was in the local high school band, went on and joined a band that went on to fame, fortune ect. Guitarist B is the same age but played his guitar as an outlet. He worked hard all day, first in school, then at his profession...still playing his guitar, writing and enjoying music.Now A has gone onto being more then a guitar player, but an entity. Where B has just kept plugging along (kinda the turtle and the hare when I think about it). A has to be more then a guitar player, in fact in the scheme of things his talent as a guitar player often takes a backseat to the image he presents. He goes on tour for a whole year, partying and playing the same show night after night. B is working and looks forward to his time with his music, it seems he might have more reason to experiment more then A, who would be concerned with image. A can't try something totally out of tradition because his fans expect to hear those hits...seems too me that becomes a rut. B can experiment and if it really sounds awful who cares he can erase it and no one will ever hear it...he has more freedom of expression imo.
Now of course one could argue that A could do the same in his "time off" and that does happen with some. But we have seen many others get caught up in the lifestyle and I wonder if they even pick up their instruments, or did the tour burn them out...meanwhile B keeps moving along slow but steady, learning and having fun.
So now both reach say 50, does it not stand to reason that B may have grown more over those years then A? Therefore isn't it possible we are listening to so-so musicians, while very talented artists are complete unknowns?
Along the same token, if you take some older bands that had success early then faded away...did they peak in their life before their life got started? It makes me wonder what we are missing out on. Fortunately the internet gives us a way to get to hear some of that and I think my theory can be easily proven.
I think I would like to see music go back to more local scenes and less big stage. The funny thing is I wouldn't want to be touring, I wouldn't want to be famous...and I can honestly say that if music had of lead down a path of fame, it would of been lethal...I wouldn't of survived. As it was I spent too many years with a straw up my nose..I wouldn't of survived.
Now think about the radio, back in my day we heard all the newest songs through a mono 3 1/2" speaker on a clock radio. Today it's MTV and VH1, the radio waves are still very geared to the younger generation. Meanwhile we the the rebels and youth of yesterday seem to be expected to pull our trousers up to our chins, listen to talk radio, watch this week and washington and move to Florida...who here is ready for that? In the words of the Nuge himself "I said I know there isn't anybody out there who came to be even a little bit mellow tonight, those who came her to be mellow can turn around and get the F out". Now who here is ready to leave?
So what I'm saying is, I think local radio stations could do themselves a favor and target us...not with talk radio, not with political shows...but with music from our peers, our coworkers, our neighbors, our friends...people we can relate to..sorry I can't relate to jessica Simpson, to be honest I wouldn't even date her if I was isngle and she was oddly infatuated with me. I also can't relate to say Steven Tyler though I know where he lives..
I'm not talking riches, fame, stardom...just plain having fun and having a outlets for that fun...I think a whole concept is being glossed over for the next plastic fake to come along...I think those of us who have stuck to our dreams and art form deserve to let our peers see what we've done (not the world).
I really think that there is a market for radio stations that they are ignoring. Back in the day if we wanted to hear non-mainstream music we turned to college station...huh? I know many heads are nodding now
...but now where can we turn? I'm sorry I don't want to see EVH now, I wouldn't want to see the stones now...look at Mick Mars...no thanx....I dont want to see the artists I liked in my youth now all old and falling apart..I'm sorry the just depressing. But if I heard an old high school Friend was in a band and they were playing at a local club I would want to see that.I have wanted to get opinions and I hope more come but I ma pleased with the replies so far. From retail nad special crap we did with radio stations and such I have a few friends that are ex on air personalities turned program directors. I know that the radio scene is dropping and more and more the stations go talk radio...I'm not my father..I dont want talk radio....I also dont want to see a bunch of snot nose overpaid hacks...but I would love a station I could put on that specialized in local music, promoted shows of local acts at local clubs, a station for the community, and with musicians from the community...in fact I am considering pitching the idea to some radio stations. Remember internet radio hits the whole world. IMO for old fashion radio to survive they need to reach out to those in their listening range and the hell with anything beyond that.
One of my two associate degrees is in Public Communication. I got it from a local community college, I went because it was the closest thing I could find at the time to what I wanted. I wanted to learn music production, but that wasn't exactly a popular college curriculum then. I didn't learn what I wanted though.
If you've read through both these huge posts of mine, I just wanna say thanx for your time..as always I welcome more input...
