Rock & Roll Is Dead…

Ok, not really... But how many times have we heard that quote? It seems like every year, every decade, every generation, some rock critic, or rock know it all says rock is dead.

I'm reminded of a great scene from the film "Almost Famous".Actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman as rock guru "Lester Bangs" & actor Patrick Fugit as the young "William Miller" (based on the real life of writer/director Cameron Crowe).

Lester - "Your writing is damn good. It's just a shame you missed out on rock n roll. It's over."

William - "Over?"

Lester - "It's over.You got here just in time for the death rattle. Last gasp. Last grope."

William - "At least I'm here for that."

For me, rock n roll will never die, at least my rock n roll, or so I'd like to think. I grew up on Aquanet, big hair, Camaro's, Firebird's, mom & dad's station wagon, mullets, jean jackets with pins & patches, cassettes, vinyl records, 8 tracks, stone washed jeans, bell bottoms, Alva skateboards & checkered Vans (my youngest son & I share about 25 different pairs to this day). My music... KISS, Queen, Led Zep, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Scorpions, Dokken, Journey, Pink Floyd, Bad Co. & Guns & Roses.This music is/was the soundtrack to my life. 1st concert, 1st date, 1st dance,1st kiss,1st kegger etc... You get the point. I respect any artist regardless of the genre who can "make it" in this biz. I'ts tough. I've been on both sides of the coin, both as musician & now a "radio guy". But most of all I'm a true fan (some say "fan boy"). I say damn straight! Music is my world, it's been there for me through the good, the bad, and the ugly. It makes me happy & sad all at once. Most of all it makes me feel. I'm proud of the era I grew up in, although my wife thinks I should have been a teen in the 70's, either way I got to hear & see the best of the best. I feel bad for kids today who missed out on my rock n roll. In my day you learned your instrument, you had to learn to sing & write & perform, no auto-tune, no computers, no drum machines, real voices, real harmonies, sweating it out in the basement or the garage, not in your office or bedroom with a Mac & Pro -Tools. This list is subjective, but it's very true in many ways...Aerosmith, Van Halen, Motley Crue, KISS, Journey, The Stones, Guns & Roses, Whitesnake, & Ratt. These bands are still making records, yeah I said it , records! I'm old school that way, no IPOD, no Mp3, no WAV file (I still rock my Sony Walkman). These bands still tour, weather it be theaters, arena's or stadiums, they still rock. Some are still very relevant, although some could argue they're   mostly nostalgic, maybe, maybe not. I believe a good song is a good song, regardless of the decade.I often wonder if my kids will go see "their bands" in 20 or 30 years. Will the bands they grew up on be relevant, still making music, still touring...I doubt it, am I cynical? Maybe a little, but just think about the state of music today. Will we go see Limp Bizkit when Fred Durst is 64, Nickelback's Farewell Tour in 2025? Steven Tyler is 64, you tell me who's cooler... that's what I thought. Next time I hear someone say rock is dead, I'll tell them maybe yours is, but my rock n roll will never die. Happy 40th! KISS (1973-2013).