411 Music Fact Or Fiction 8.22.08: Week 67

Posted by Dan Haggerty on 08.22.2008

Mikey MiGo and Rob Samuels take on your music news : How great would a Lenny Kravitz fronted Velvet Revolver be? How is DMX still a free man? Do you even care about the Video Music Awards? Plus we take on Rolling Stone magazine, Noel Gallagher shooting his mouth off, and how much you care about the politics of musicians!

Greetings one and all to the column that gets you through the midweek ah… Weekend! Yes. Just in time for you to enjoy a cold one and relax with the sharp minds and cutting wit of 411's crack writing staff. Or at least, get a good buz and hit the comments section. I'll probably do both.

Some great classic hands return to the 411 studio to take on the news and views that make music such the wonderful cluster we love. First is none other than movie producer and music writer extraordinaire, Mike MiGo. He's the Savage Animal and you can check him out every Wednesday! Returning from the English bar scene, is musician and music reviewer Rob Samuels, always dishing out the complex hooks and views like no ones business!

As always, I'm your host. I ask the questions, insure the guests get their drinks, and keep score; even though the score doesn't seem to really change anything. Yep – The score doesn't really change peoples behavior or motivations. Sort of like Winehouse in Rehab or DMX getting arrested. But hey, I'm getting ahead of myself. On with the show!


Round 1!


1. To bad the Lenny Kravitz/Velvet Revolver rumor was a bust, because that would have been gold.

Mikey MiGo: FACT I am fully aware that in most circles it's the census that Lenny Kravitz is lame. I've still enjoyed his music and am always curious to what his next single will sound like. That and I was a Guns-N-Roses fan from a very young age on. So this rumored collaboration had my ear to the ground. While I don't think I'd be too big on hearing Lenny sing the prior albums of Velvet Revolver, I was also sorta excited to hear what it would have sounded like. Slash and Lenny are obviously friends so it would have been a chemistry that had money written all over it.

Rob Samuels: FICTION It would have been an interesting collaboration, I'll admit - but I really don't know how Kravitz's vocal style would have fit over some of Velvet Revolver's harder, grungier stuff. I like Kravitz - I think he's a genuine talent, but I just can't see how it would have worked.

Score : 0 for 1


2. You're surprised DMX is still walking around a free man.

Mikey MiGo: FICTION He's famous and I'm sure his financial situation has him sitting in a tax bracket that many of us will never see. He might not have Snoop money, but he has enough to buy himself out of trouble when needed. The thing that always gets me is that most of the time his legal problems are somewhat humorous or just completely bizarre. I think they could make a whole episode of "Stupidest Criminals" just on DMX. I don't want to get down and dirty with the math, but I think 14% of all news items involve DMX.

Rob Samuels: FICTION I agree with Mikey, the guy has enough money to buy his way out of trouble. DMX's criminal defense lawyer must be making a fortune. I really don't have a whole lot more to add, as we don't hear any news about DMX over here in the UK (shame).

Score : 1 for 2


3. As Rage Against the Machine has proved with their move to play during the Democratic convention, we really do care about the political activism of musicians.

Mikey MiGo: FICTION Defining who "we" is is what holds me back either way. I know plenty of RAGE fans who don't care about politics and a few that do. I also know a few people who are fans of Lamb of God who are also political activist. I think it proves for the billionth time that RAGE is political and they're siding with Obama. Good for them, so am I. It doesn't change the fact that when I saw them last year they didn't impress me much at all.

Rob Samuels: FICTION I usually dislike the combination of Politics and Music - mainly because most wannabe political bands don't have a clue what they are talking about. I'm not for a minute suggesting Rage are one of these bands, as their political endeavors across the globe are well-known. I personally like Rage, although I don't agree with ALL of their political views. Like any celebrity endorsement, does it really matter that much? Will you be voting Obama because Rage told you to?

Intermission Score : 2 for 3


FACT OR FICTION OPEN CHALLENGE

Let's see what you guys think – Do you care about the politics of musicians? Do bands like Rage Against The Machine influence your opinion at all? Speak up and let us know!


SWITCH!


And We're Off For Round 2!


4. You could give a rat's ass as to who wins at the MTV Music Video Awards.

Rob Samuels: FACT I canʼt even name the location, the host, a category or even a nominee. Apologies to anyone who was expecting an informed insight on this topic, but youʼre reading the words of a man who has just spent a week on a canal boat listening to Charles Mingus, and discussing Black Sabbath with a middle aged midlands gentleman I met in a pub, who saw them in 1969 before they were big. He was cool.

Mikey MiGo: FACT Not at all. I don't even care who's nominated. I'm sure WHEN I watch I'll feel old and not know half of what's going on. But I still want to watch. Purely because this year's host is Russell Brand. I was introduced to him in the movie "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" this past winter and haven't not laughed at his stuff since. To be fair, I'll probably watch for like the first twenty minutes and then the downward spiral of interest will bring me to turn the channel for fresh programming at the half hour mark.

Score : 3 for 4


5. Put a fork in rolling Stone Magazine, because the change in format is the beginning of the end.

Rob Samuels: FICTION The best way to bolster sales is to remove your USP (Unique Selling Point) and conform to the same format as all other magazines, thatʼs textbook marketing. In all seriousness, people tend to have certain loyalties when it comes to publications. A few years back in the UK , two of the countries biggest tabloids went into a price war figuring they were targeting a similar demographic (People who buy a paper for tits and crosswords as opposed to news). No matter how low the prices went, selling patterns barley changed - because people buy a publication based on their history and trust for the product, as opposed to price or format. If Rolling Stone started printing on Toilet roll people would still buy it (Plus it then has multiple uses).

Mikey MiGo: FACT I have been a subscriber for a few years now. Out of the 26 or20so issues they put out a year, I'd say that I'm normally at least content with 18 of them. So that's good. But then, there's always the issue of storing your magazines somewhere. With the odd size of Rolling Stone it has always been a task. I would not trade that for standard sized pages though. The size of Rolling Stone's pages gives a "newsier" and more official feel to it than the glossy pages of your normal VIBE, Maxim, or SPIN. Many people, including myself, look at the cover of Rolling Stone as something special and historic. The covers have always been like a snap shot of modern history. Content aside, I just think the perception of prestige will be wiped completely with the change.

Score : 3 for 5


6. Someone needs to tell Noel Gallagher to shut the hell up.

Rob Samuels: FICTION On one hand Noel Gallagher is an arrogant, jumped-up arse hole. Whereas Mark Ronson, on the other hand, is an arrogant, jumped-up arse hole. Noel criticising anyone for structural complexity is a tad hypocritical, particularly considering the man has made a career ripping off the chorus from ʽI am the Walrusʼ. However the prick has written several Internationally recognisable hits. Whereas all Ronson does is slap a trumpet line over the top of last weeks forgotten number 1 and suddenly heʼs hailed as a musical genius. I think we just have to accept that ʽmusiciansʼ (I use this word in the loosest sense imaginable) sometimes have quite large egoʼs (ask Ginger Baker). If they feel the need to have a public spat, then we should sit back and laugh at the inevitable idiocy that ensues. Plus, hasnʼt Noel got a new album to promote soon? Heʼs got to get his face in the paper somehow. I think some sharp promoter
somewhere should pair these two with Bono and Lars Ulrich to create the least super Super-group of all time - whereʼs Geldof when you need him?

Mikey MiGo : FACT And that person is his record label, friends, family, and last remaining fans(outside of the UK ). I mean seriously shut up. Like never speak or sing again. Go out and take a vow of silence. No more feuds, rivalries, or controversial statements. He's like a teenager who will do and say vulgar things to get attention. He just wants to be loved. I'm sure he's not really a bad guy. This is his PATHETIC way to get the attention he craves. He only proves how insecure he is in own life as he continues to go out and try to edit others. Mark Ronson is a douche that makes douchey music. Picking a fight with him is like picking a fight with your little sister. Noel Gallagher is SO cool. Someone tell Sir Paul to get in a band with this guy. He's SO genius he can do John AND George's parts. YEAH!

*if that didn't reek of sarcasm please check your pulse*

Final Score : 3 for 6

Last week we asked if Axl Rose should just hang up the mike and call it a day. A few answers were ambiguous (saying Fact or Fiction helps people!). But we had a clear trend towards Fiction, by a margin of 3 to 1. Many of you think that the man has still to offer, and at the very least we should wait and see what he finally delivers when Chinese Democracy comes out.

Quotable quotes:

Fact. I think that Axl should hang it up, and I am willing to give up my free Dr. Pepper for him to do it. I feel that Axl has pretty much just taken a big dump on his fans. While he has been doing that his whole career this one is pretty inexcusable. The record will probably do pretty well at first from the few die hard fans, and some other people's curiosity. It would have to be the best written, produced, and probably longest album of all time to live up to the hype it is receiving. But after a couple of months sales will dry up, no one will care, and it will end up becoming the Waterworld of the music industry. The only thing that could possible save it is an actual Guns ‘N Roses reunion with some heavy touring, and Axl actually showing up on time to the gigs. The long running joke has now been Chinese Democracy will come out when there actually is democracy in China. It is time to stop wasting time and money and move onto something else.

Posted By: Jay (Guest)


Fiction.

No, I do not think Axl Rose should retire. Why? Because the man can still sing like it's 1989, people still pay money to see him on stage and we wouldn't be discussing Chinese Democracy here for the umpteenth time if it didn't matter. I mean, (as much as I love them), Just how many "Is the new Journey album worth it?" rounds did we have in F-or-F lately?

I have heard the leaked demo tracks from the album and can say without a shadow of a doubt that it's definitely worth it for anyone who grew up listening to G'nR.

Is the "Wait" worth it? Is he "Wasting" our time? That depends on what you do with your life on a day to day basis:

Did you, as a fan, set everything in your life aside and do nothing but wait for the album for the past 14 years? If so; then Yes, he was definitely wasting your (non-productive) time. On the other hand, if life went by (more or less) normally for you, then Chinese Democracy will be a pleasant addition to your G'nR collection.

That's all I got to say about this. And yes, put the goddamn "Real" G'nR back.

Posted By: synn

And with that we wrap up another fine edition of Fact or Fiction. I'd like to thank Mike and Rob for stopping in and dishing out some great answers. I'd also like to thank you for stopping in and making us part of your day. You guys are an important part of this column, so don't forget to hit the comment section and sound off with some fact or fictions!

I'm out of here so we'll see you Friday in the The Mosh Pit and we'll see you back here in seven five.