Highway's Revisited: 10.30.02: Madonna, Ryan Adams, Cobain And The Stones
Posted by James Marshall on 10.30.2002
All you ever wanted to know about absolutely nothing!
Hey all, not that anyone probably even read it - but I’m taking a major
departure away from the writing style I wrote with last week and serving you
up some pure junk! I just had a huge week at Uni and another piece of
focused writing would kill me. But luckily there’s plenty of junk about.
From here on out I think I’ll do the big journalistic piece on a specific
band fortnightly and do rants every other week, doing the proper columns are
a bit of a strain to do every week, so I’ll do this filler stuff every week
just to make sure I don’t lose my ‘audience.’ I’m sure it’s huge. Plus
ranting actually gives me a personality. Anyway let’s get started with
everyone’s favorite top story.
The Kurt Cobain diaries – I’m going to read them just like everyone else who
gave a crap about music in the 1990’s and I’m sure they’ll a damn
interesting one-time read. Or who knows maybe they’ll be better than I
think. One part of you has to say, well it’s more than a bit immoral and you
have to wonder how much ‘Love’ Courtney is showing, I mean one of his diary
entries that’s been ‘previewed’ went as follows;
‘Within the months between October 1991 through December 92, I have had
four notebooks filled with two years worth of poetry and personal writing
... The most violating thing I've felt this year is not the media
exaggerations or the catty gossip, but the rape of my personal thoughts.
Ripped out of pages from my stay in hospitals and airplane rides hotel stays
etc. I feel compelled to say f--- you F--- you to those of you who have
absolutely no regard for me as a person. You have raped me harder than
you'll ever know."
That’s obviously in direct opposition to ever even thinking about releasing
the journals.
Then… there’s the other side. He’s freak’n dead anyway, what’s he gonna
care? I’m definitely with both sides depending what mood I’m in.
Either way, everyone will get over it in the end, and just keep listening to
their albums over and over again. So everything is still find and dandy
really.
Keith Richards Interview – This is a few weeks old but with the new Stones
tour underway Keith did a big interview with Rolling Stone that was just as
interesting as everything he ever does. I’ll just give you a few teasers.
On the issue of the Stones being too old to rock, ‘We play rock & roll
because it's what turned us on. Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf -- the idea of
retiring was ludicrous to them. You keep going -- and why not?’ – Too true –
the only way to stay relevant in rock is too just keep changing as you
change. That’s why Nickelback and Limp and every other useless band being
thrown at you on MTV won’t last. They’ll still keep trying to sing in the
same voice. Their music sucks to start with too, but that’s part of the
reason they won’t evolve.
On writing songs clean or slightly inebriated, ‘I wonder about the songs
I've written: I really like the ones I did when I was on the stuff. I
wouldn't have written "Coming Down Again" [on 1973's Goat's Head Soup]
without that. I'm this millionaire rock star, but I'm in the gutter with
these other sniveling people. It kept me in touch with the street, at the
lowest level.’ – It’s obligatory for the rock star to write the classic
albums when they’re taking enough drugs to befall a small horse, then later
sober up and write worse music and say that the music’s better than ever.
Nice to just hear someone tell it like it is.
And one last one, ‘My reaction is to get ice cold. And that makes me mad. I
have to worry about this. This red curtain comes down, and then I'm liable
to do anything. But fear? As a kid, I knew it real well. I'm this little
squirt, and everyday when I go home from school, no matter which route I
take, I'm gonna get beat up. It was around then that I banished it -- fear.
I learned how to take a beating and how to get a good one in now and again.
It taught me to toughen myself up.’ – On has he got any fears.
The amazing thing about the 2 people above is that some people still won’t
go a day without thinking about one of these guys, or some kid playing and
old lick. I love a lot of the Stones and a lot of Nirvana but neither are
one of my all time favorite acts. Sometimes its ‘just rock and roll,’ but
then you think about how much it comes into peoples lives and it’s pretty
mind blowing.
Head over to Rolling Stone and you can find the rest of the online portion
of the interview, or even better go and buy the magazine and get the stuff
they won’t let you read for free.
Ryan Adams frenzy – There’s been lot’s of stuff reported about how he kicked
out a fan for requesting a Bryan Adams song. I mean really, in the history
of rock that’s pretty small time, I don’t think the guy’s falling apart. I
have no idea why he’s copping such bad press, jealousy of his success I
suppose. Robbie Fulks says he can’t represent ‘roots’ music. And someone who
encourages people to call out something which obviously pisses someone off
is really find ‘root’s in the world; a real grounding in life. ‘Gold’ is one
of the only classics to be released in the last few years, you can listen to
it over and over and there’s not a bad song on there.
Madonna’s new video – I don’t think the song or the video is anything
special. Her new movie is apparently the fastest movie to ever be pulled
from cinemas ever. The press and everyone will be saying she’s crashing and
burning, and ra ra ra. News flash; Madonna’s had plenty of failures in her
time but what makes her so good at what she does is that she gets back up
every time, re-invents herself and makes more money then you’ll make in ten
life times all over again. Live with it.
That’ll do me; I’ll be back with another ‘Highway Revisited’ - probably on
Oasis next week. I’ve got a couple of weeks off before exams so I’ll have
plenty of time to churn out a classic. Go and search for my piece on Pearl
Jam and Seattle I wrote last week if you haven’t read it I’m sure you’ll
find it if you care.
I’ve been keeping tabs on Alexa and the 411mania section has gone from #75,
367 to #63, 404 this week in the rankings. If everyone keeps plugging away
it’ll keep moving up and on. Personally, even though I’ve done on this week
I want to end doing ‘columns’ as random stuff. I’m pushing Widro to start up
a daily news style thing like in the wrestling section so everyone can still
enjoy themselves babbling crap while still keeping a personality.
Anyway, to my 2 readers, wherever you are, thanks for reading.
