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Rock and Roll Never Forgets

You know what’s awesome? Music. And boobs, of course. But I’m gonna go ahead and talk about music in this post. Pop music, folk music, even classical (as long as it’s got some feeling) is, without a doubt, the fucking shit.  I don’t know how I’d get through the day without it. Most of my days involve less than three hours of meetings, conference calls and actual human interaction. The rest is filled with research and writing – awesome, but at times boring. The answer? Pandora, iTunes, last.fm and the plethora of other places you can go in this glorious digital age to access literally any piece of music ever made.

Music, more than any other art form or form of expression is universal. You show me someone who says they’ve never been moved by a piece of music, I’ll show you a fucking liar. Everyone can relate to the songs we hear, it’s why we sing along in the car, it’s why no matter where we go, one of the three or four things we pretty much always have on us is a music player of some kind.

About a week ago I was having a shitty day – just broke, bored, whatever you have to be for a few days to really get bummed – I was there. So I’m leaving work late and I get in my shitty car, ready to sit in a bunch of LA(suckmycock)traffic on my way home to my shitty apartment. Sounds awesome right? Then all of a sudden – bam: THREE LITTLE BIRDS comes on the radio. Instant fucking smile baby! You know why? Because Bob’s right. Every little thing is gonna be alright.

Nothing about my situation had changed. I was still sitting there, late at night, broke, bored, in my shitty car, stuck in traffic on my way back to my shitty apartment and that was fucking great. Why? Because if Bob Marley could be so damn positive about everything, why couldn’t I? As the Nappy Roots told us: “Another day above ground and that’s a reason to pray.” See? More answers in music!

Music can sympathize (or empathize?) with us (don’t lie, you have a mixtape that includes FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK, FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES,  and the entire first side of 808s AND HEARTBREAK). It can rationalize the way we’re feeling. Head pounding with that hangover? Uncle Johnny’ll take care of that with a portrait of SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN. Music gives us a glimpse of what’s possible. Whether we’re envisioning a vacation in PARADISE CITY or a roadtrip featuring ME AND BOBBY McGEE, anything can happen as long as you’ve got some good tunes. Perhaps most importantly, while music accomplishes all these (and a number of other) things, it makes us feel great. We connect with strangers because of a shared experience or feeling evoked by a piece of music. We see the world differently through music and as long as music is played, reinvented and shared, it’s something we’ll all have in common.

I watched a replay of last year’s Hall of Fame Show on HBO last night and as acts like Metallica and Lou Reed took to the same stage as Paul Simon, Sam Cooke and Buddy Guy, it occurred to me that we get too wrapped up in what kinds of fans we are. Whether you get down to death metal, pop, classic rock, hip hop, bluegrass, Motown, or anything in between, it all stems from the same melting pot of ideas, sounds and influences. The show closes with what I consider to be one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever written: Jackie Wilson’s HIGHER AND HIGHER. I defy anyone to listen to that song and not smile from ear to fucking ear. The same can be said for Stevie Wonder’s FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE and just about anything Darlene Love belts out. The moral of the 4 hour epic is that you can’t put labels or restraints on music – it’s rock and roll. Deal with it.

Music enhances everything we do, without us even noticing. It affects our moods, helps us celebrate, helps us forget. One minute, you’re running around stressed out by this or that – and the next, you’re William Miller, being put at ease by a groupie singing Elton John on a tour bus somewhere in Kansas. Think about it – is Forrest Gump as compelling without its 3 decade spanning soundtrack? Are Hawks games as intense without the blaring of GNR and The Dropkick Murphys between the whistles? No. And your life would be dull and bland without the constant bombardment of sound, sex, love and emotion that is rock and roll. So whether your iPod is sporting The Boss, The Pogues, The Beatles or The Killers this month, don’t forget to take the time to celebrate and appreciate the great gift that is rock and roll.

I could go on for days about my favorite acts and bands that changed my life, but that could take years, and cost thousands of lives. I’m so musically schizophrenic that any attempt to break down why I like the music I like would be an exercise in futility. What I do know, without a doubt is how music makes me feel. Rock and Roll kicks us in the dick and reminds us we’re alive. It reminds us we’re not alone and it reminds us that life is short so we might as well rock while we can. In lieu of trying to break down my musical tastes, below is a list of my top 5 moments in live rock. Not top 5 shows or favorite bands, or even songs, but moments in time when rock and roll slapped me in the face and went “Life is good!”

5. Summer, 2000, The New World Music Theater, Tinley Park, IL: The Who, including John Entwistle (who would pass away just two years later) played BABA O'REILLEY. It trumped even my wildest expectations. Pure energy. Pure rock and roll. Pure magic.

4: Spring, 2004, Eagles Ballroom @ The Rave, Milwaukee, WI: OAR, joined by Robert Randolph and the Family Band (who by the way, stole the show from the headlining Maryland band with a set that included I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU CAME TO DO, I NEED MORE LOVE, BILLIE JEAN and PURPLE HAZE) performed their now famous rendition of Led Zeppelin’s FOOL IN THE RAIN. This rock classic lends itself perfectly to the jam band sound and Randolph’s absolute shredding of the slide guitar was showcased beautifully. This has become commonplace at OAR shows, but I’d never heard anything like it at the time.  In fact, I'd never heard Robert Randolph except through the tiny computer speakers in Sean_Hef's room.  Hearing him play that laptop for the first time I felt the way people must've felt when Hendrix took the stage at Woodstock and Altamont.

3: June 12th, 2004, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN: The Dead played THE WEIGHT. Most of this weekend is “hazy” but hearing Weir and Lesh rock out such an iconic song with Warren Haynes filling in for Jerry stands out as the most memorable part of a weekend filled with great music and great moments.

2: September 25th, 2002, United Center, Chicago, IL: Sean_Hef and I went to see Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band and The Boss closed the show with BORN TO RUN and LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS. Life doesn’t get much better when you’re 17.

1: November 30th, 2001, Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL: Coldplay closes the show with a cover of HERE COMES THE SUN in tribute to George Harrison, who had passed away the day before. I don’t think I fully understood the significance of this until later. It was pretty clear at the time that the band was on the rise, but nobody knew they’d be another U2 and I don’t think I could yet comprehend George’s importance as both a member of the Beatles and as a solo artist (although he was always my favorite Beatle). But I knew it was special and important and I knew it would be an experience I’d never forget.

Reading through this list, it occurs to me that all of these moments (along with countless others) took place before my 20th birthday. Mick said he’d rather be dead than sing SATISFACTION at 50. He’s 66. He’s still singing it. You’re never too old for rock and roll because ROCK AND ROLL NEVER FORGETS.

Hef – If you’re reading this, DO YOUR BEST JAGGER!

RIP Malcolm MacLaren

Got a killer rock story?  Sound off in the comments.

-Wild