Fuck. It's been almost 2 months since I did anything here. No, that's not true, I started 2 posts but deleted them, because they weren't relevant when I got back to them.
I've got a bunch of stuff on my mind, but I haven't untangled it yet. So, I'm going to go easy on this one. It's a plain list of the most influential bands or musicians in my life. Enjoy...
1. Motley Crue. Nikki Sixx is in this band, need I say more? No, but I will anyway. Motley gave a release valve to the rage I had bottled up when I was younger. They also gave me new rage when Vince killed the drummer of another band on this list. The effect of Nikki Sixx on my life has been dissected here endlessly, so I won't go into it again, but that effect makes them the absolute top influence. Nikki wrote the songs and and was chief dictator, so essentially he IS the Crue. There would have been not Crue without him and I wouldn't be who I am without him and the Crue.
2. The Rolling Stones. I remember lying in the bathtub and my mom put on an album and I just started screaming "Who is this?" It was the Stones, and I fell hard. They were my very first music obsession, and oddly it was Brian Jones who was my first Rolling Stone love. Dead rock star love started with Brian and continues to this day. I eventually drifted into loves of Mick and Keith ( both when they were young and beautiful), but Brian still holds my heart. I loved how easily they mixed the rough bluesy stuff with the sweet Ruby Tuesday type things. I also learned from them a lesson that would in handy in later life. Don't expect a guy to care much beyond himself. It's an odd lesson to take away from a band, but it's one of the best lessons I've ever learned and I use that lesson every single day. My roots start in the Stones and every band I ever loved is somehow wrapped up in those roots.
3. The Ramones. Thank God for The Ramones. It's something I do quite often. I don't even want to picture a life where they never existed. It's bad enough that Joey and Dee Dee are gone. What it comes down to is if there were never any Ramones or Crue, there would be no me. It's just that simple.
4. Hanoi Rocks. The second blonde singer I ever fell for, Robin Zander was the first. I had to work to hear Hanoi. I'd known of them before Two Steps came out and way before the Vince Neil murder of Razzle, but when I finally got hold of their music, I never let go. The only hatred I have at all for my friend Kevin is that he got to see Hanoi, and in Berlin no less grrrr. I think Hanoi is the only band on this list I haven't seen. I might be wrong, but if I am, I'll edit that line out so no one will know anyway. The worst of Hanoi was the best of so many bands who came after. They are just that good. Andy McCoy, for all of his insanity, although everyone in that band is certifiable, is just one of the most underrated musicians. Once I pushed my way past the delicate beauty of Mike Monroe's looks, and the fantastic strength of his voice, I discovered the intricate melodies that Andy put together and his rock solid arrangements and was just amazed. I still listen to something Hanoi almost every time I listen to music.
5. Heart. Ann Wilson can make me cry, and has many many times. There is no voice like hers and through her I learned the power of what music can do. I heard Dreamboat Annie when it first came out (yeah I was really young) and that was my first exposure to the power of music and how it influences you and your moods and I learned to use that power very quickly and it's still where I get a lot of my strength. Thank you Ann.
6. Boy George. He was the epitome of so many things that I loved. His voice is the standard to which I compare all other male singers. Most don't even come near it. His album Cheapness & Beauty makes me want to find him and slap him around until he agrees to put out another like it. If you haven't heard that album, listen to it, just once. I promise you will understand why his decision to stop singing makes me want to kill him. You don't have to like Culture Club to love that album. While we're on the subject of Culture Club, I love good pop music, guys in makeup, and someone who can really sing. George nailed it. When all the girls in my class were arguing over who was cuter, Simon LeBon or Nick Rhodes, I was cheerfully arguing that Boy George was a much better singer than anyone out there at the time. If I got sucked into the Duran argument, my answer was always John Taylor, but then I'd go back to fighting the vocal talent fight. I still agree with myself.
7. Guns N Roses. Appetite gave me hope for the future of music. The aggression and odd sense of hope that drips from that album is still some of the strongest I've heard. For awhile that band was the perfect collision of people. That comes along so fucking rarely, we should all just appreciate the hell out of it, because we're not going to see it again for a long time. Axl could sing his ass off and looked pretty damn good in a kilt. Slash and Duff were the perfect foils for each other and the band in general, and Izzy and Steven and Gilby and Matt just worked too well, especially Izzy. I've seen every variation of GNR that has toured and even without anyone else, Axl can still rock any of the old songs. I love Axl and always will. I cut him slack on everything.... just because he's Axl.
8. Prince. Astoundingly talented. Prince has left me speechless a few times with some riff or turn of a lyric. The guy is just a genius. I can't say enough, so I just won't say any more.
This could go on a few more, but this is just way too long. Write your own reasons for Chris Whitley, early Aerosmith,Freddie Mercury, Johnny Thunders (especially him, since I don't really know why he's influenced me, I just know I buy his stuff when I get upset. I have a large collection), Tommy James, Courtney Love, the Bee Gees, Jack White, and Jeff Beck. For all you smart asses, I am 100% aware that Stiv Bators is NOT on this list. I didn't forget him, he just wasn't as influential as others.
later-
Me
14 years ago
