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The problem with the Rolling Stones
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I dunno... The real problem in my mind is that they're a good 35 years past their "sell by" date (anyone remember "Some Girls"?) and while I still love them – maybe more for memories of them sucking in the 70’s than the brand, multi-national corporation, and institution they are today – it seems their continuing popularity is as much predicated on that amazing back catalog as a chance to witness Keith Richards’ gradual but inevitable transformation from the world’s most elegantly wasted human being to sarcophagus fodder.
Smoke and mirrors can’t disguise the fact that they just can't deliver the goods on stage any more. Don’t get me wrong; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with growing old. It’s part of life. But aside from Charlie Watts, Ron Wood is the only one of these pensioners who doesn’t look completely ridiculous trying in vain to keep the ferryman at arm’s length with six strings and a prayer, and he only looks SLIGHTLY ridiculous, apparently still dipping from what has to be the biggest bottle of Miss Clairol blue black ever made.
It goes without saying that retirement, not to mention irony and/or humility, are entirely out of the Rolling Stones’ wheelhouse. Don't they have enough money yet?
Smoke and mirrors can’t disguise the fact that they just can't deliver the goods on stage any more. Don’t get me wrong; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with growing old. It’s part of life. But aside from Charlie Watts, Ron Wood is the only one of these pensioners who doesn’t look completely ridiculous trying in vain to keep the ferryman at arm’s length with six strings and a prayer, and he only looks SLIGHTLY ridiculous, apparently still dipping from what has to be the biggest bottle of Miss Clairol blue black ever made.
It goes without saying that retirement, not to mention irony and/or humility, are entirely out of the Rolling Stones’ wheelhouse. Don't they have enough money yet?
The stuff I like the best from them are from the 1970s. A lotof what they do seems kinda lame, but they have some real moment of pure beauty. I'm in love with the the guitar intro of 'Give me shelter' for instance.
Raymond wrote: "Or maybe they're just a lab experiment. Of their '70s stuff I have a thing for "Emotional Rescue" because it stinks of Studio 54."
Well, you got the "stink" part right. As one of the Stones' ex-staunchest supporters, even I have my limit and I have to draw it with if not that entire album then at least the title track.
If Mick's falsetto isn't enough to make you hope he comes down with laryngitis before the song ends, there is the spoken section to contend with: "Umm, yes, you could be mine. Tonight and every night. I will be your knight in shining armor coming to your emotional rescue." It's quickly apparent he's no John Houseman, babbling about crossing the desert on a "fine Arab charger."
There's no doubt the Stones had a rough time in the 80's, but it's hard to believe even all of the cocaine in Manhattan could cloud their judgment this much.
Well, you got the "stink" part right. As one of the Stones' ex-staunchest supporters, even I have my limit and I have to draw it with if not that entire album then at least the title track.
If Mick's falsetto isn't enough to make you hope he comes down with laryngitis before the song ends, there is the spoken section to contend with: "Umm, yes, you could be mine. Tonight and every night. I will be your knight in shining armor coming to your emotional rescue." It's quickly apparent he's no John Houseman, babbling about crossing the desert on a "fine Arab charger."
There's no doubt the Stones had a rough time in the 80's, but it's hard to believe even all of the cocaine in Manhattan could cloud their judgment this much.
Mod
I mean, he's obviously a fine showman live, but when it comes to recorded work, there's really not much going on there.
And I don't know if I should be ashamed or proud of the fact that I was able to quote part of that Jagger babble.
Yeah, its basically impossible to sing "I'll be your knight in shining armour coming to your emotional rescue" at 70 years of age and not look like a total dipshit.
Raymond wrote: "Then again, Roger Daltrey on Stern last week said he'd hate to have to sing Stones lyrics at his age."
But he's OK with "Hope I die before I get old"?
But he's OK with "Hope I die before I get old"?
Mod
The Stones also had to be aware of a similar incident that happened just months prior to their humilation on the Dean Martin show in which Bob Dylan walked off the Ed Sullivan show because he was prohibited from playing "Talkin John Birch Paranoid Blues". Dylan of course went on to become the voice of a generation, an icon in authenticity, the rebel who refused to compromise his artistic integrty.
The stark contrast between Elvis and Dylan couldn't have been more clear. The Stones knew what was at stake here. Together, as a Rock band, did they have the balls to stand up against the corporate powers that be? Or were they just another spineless, gutless pop act who worshipped the charts and bowed down to the corporate masters? Would they follow the money or their muse?
The Stones of course decided to follow the money. Mick and Kieth sang the entire song, changing the lyrics from "Let's spend the night together" to "Let's spend some time together". Watching the clip on You Tube today is a hard pill for anyone who has every believed in the powers of Rock music to swallow. You can almost see the soul seeping out Mick Jaggar's eyes as the manufactured and forced words protrude from his lips even as he struts about like a chicken on pcp, playing up to the camera, camping it up, doing his Barney Fife version of the hippy-hippy shake.
This was not the first time nor would it be the last time the Stones would sell out. In fact their entire career can be seen as just one big sell out, sprinkled with bits of musically inspiration creativity. But that isn't really very special or interesting.
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