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i highly suggest reading this in its entirety....i know it's long...but come on
THE DEATH OF THE ROCK STAR
An Essay on the Extinction of the Species
By Sean Foran
Shamefully watching an “Osbournes” rerun the other day, I wondered if The Prince of Darkness, nodding off on a massive bed in a mansion that could shelter a third world country, ever pondered what happened to his decadent days of biting off bat heads, snorting ants, and barking at the moon. His former band, Black Sabbath, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year alongside The Sex Pistols, who briefly employed a legendary hellion of their own named Sid Vicious. The bassist could barely play his instrument, channeling his energies instead into shooting smack, carving his chest with rusty razor blades and staggering into infamy as the moronic yet iconic face of punk.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
In the new millennium, rock stars are far from the legendary rogues of years past. Bono was just named Time magazine’s “Co-Person of the Year” for campaigning to erase the debt of developing nations. Chris Martin lends his celebrity to lobby fair trade. And environmental activists have even baited Thom Yorke out of the recording studio- the Radiohead frontman was recently asked by the Friends Of The Earth Campaign to meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about global warning. (The only thing Ozzy was warming in his heyday was the Alamo…was his urine.) Musicians are even taking better car of their own bodies. Backstage tour riders loo0k like Whole Foods gracery lists and Sheryl Crow’s in better shape than her fiancé. The pagans all turned vegan, trading pills for Pilates and strong weed for good deeds. But before you sell your signed Hammer of the Gods hardcover on eBay or tear down that Iggy Pop poster (props to you if it’s the one with him rubbing peanut butter on his nipples), sober up and realize the extinction of the mythical rock star didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a slow creep rooted in introspection, modernization, and survival of the species.
AIN’T FAME A BITCH
Throughout the ‘90s, the grunge movement chipped away at the rock star myth. Serving as the soundtrack to Generation X, bands turned their backs on the flamboyant, misogynistic world of hair metal, striving instead for a deeper connection with their fan base. These newly anointed idols were apostles of despair, making self-loathing vogue and giving rise to the anti-star persona. The disenchantment and skepticism of their growing fame forged strong ties with an audience that viewed the new brand of rock star as more accessible and socially relevant. Arrogant showmanship and groupie conquests became taboo, with Kurt Cobain sporting the occasional sundress onstage to blur gender lines ans starkly contrast the “cock-rock” image of his predecessors. Yet the Grunge Gods were obviously no choirboys. Heroin cut short the lives of Cobain, Layne Staley (Alice in Chains), Kristen Pffaf (Hole) and countless others. Their habits, however, were never worn as badges of bravado, but rather elixirs to quell the pain and alienation they claimed to deeply harbor. In an era that brought mass awareness to the tolls of drug addiction, grunge exposed the tragic downside to the world of chemical excess that The Stones and Lou Reed were canonized for.
Grunge also cast a spotlight on bands that were previously under the mainstream radar. Bestowed with critical blessings from their flannel-clad brethren, alrternative bands such as Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. were able to carve out a niche for modest success without the aid of heavy radio play. Genres and generations to follow still maintain this personal relationship with their core audience. Although millions of fans worship an artist like Conor Oberst, he openly cringes at the rock star label. Instead, the singer uses his Saddle Creek label to unionize a talent pool of regional musicians, promoting and collaborating on records that have put a little city like Omaha on the musical map. Canada’s rise to indie-rock royalty has taken his model of community to the next level. Fans of Toronto-based Broken Social Scene know the group spreads its talent thinner than a coked-up supermodel, swapping bands and democratizing their talent for art’s sake, not for fame. With this many master chefs in the kitchen, who needs a fucked up rock star to ruin a band’s collective dynamic?
TUNE IN, LOG ON, AND FIND OUT
Another important factor in the death of the rock star is the tech boom and modern splintered media environment. Rolling Stone and Spin no longer monopolize music journalism as more narrowly-focused indie music magazines have proliferated, and print communication in general has taken a backseat to the web for accessing material on your favorite bands, MTV’s foray into reality telebision has also devalued the need to invest heavily in your visual image. Epic rock videos like “September Rain” where Axl and crew acted out a lame “Dynasty” episode have become passé. Independent stations Fuse and current not allow artists to economically reach a segmented audience without relying on big bucks from record companies to compete for airtime on major outlets. In addition, we have individual band web sites with e mail access and bulletin board postings, community band sites like MySpace.com, DVD documentaries, blogs and plenty of bandwith to immerse ourselves in whatever highly specific music environment we choose. This allows us to “know” our favorite bands better than we ever have, bringing them down from their mysterious pedestal and exposing their core humanity.
Rewind to 1977 when Kiss fans rabidly awaited the television airing of the movie Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. Unless you had the privilege of seeing Kiss live, this was the first chance most fans had to enjoy an extended view of the biggest rock stars on the planet. The buildup carried enough excitement to rival the first moonwalk (Neil’s, not Michael’s). Today, we can download pictures, videos, and mp3s for most major artists, creating a sense of ubiquity that broadens our access but lessens a band’s mystique. Consider this flashback: Doors fans still debate what happened at the now infamous 1970 Dinner Key Auditorium concert in Miami. To this day it remains unclear if a wasted Jim Morrison exposed himself to the crowd, ultimately resulting in his arrest. In out modern, digitally equipped society, every cell phone camera close to the stage would have captured Morrison’s member. Doors fans around the world would have known the truth within hours, watching it on the net and debating via chat rooms whether the singer’s lizard was king-size or just a salamander. There’s simply nothing about performers that can’t be unearthed immediately on the information superhighway…including their dirty laundry.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
Tom Petty once said in an interview that Guns and Roses frightened him on tour, calling them “the last dangerous band in rock and roll.” He’s probably right and maybe the statement signifies that it’s time for music fans to evolve with their idols and leave the tabloid fodder to the US Weekly crowd. Does it really matter if Bowie and Jagger has a Brokeback Mountain moment or if keith Richard really did swap out his toxic blood in Switzerland for a fresh supply? There’s a lot of scary shit going on in the world, and if musicians want to use their clout to help, I’m in full support. Can we just balance it out with a little naughtiness now and then? I’m not asking anyone to asphyxiate themselves on their own vomit or carve pentagrams into small farm animals. Just give me a couple of news stories to use when warning my kids about the evils of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. On that fatefull night in Miami before the Reverent Jim, excuse the cliche, “partied like a rock star” and blacked out in front of a stadium full on onlookers, he delivered a call to arms, slurring, “I’m not talking about a revolution and I’m not talking about a demonstration, I’m talking about having a good time. Are you ready?” I’m ready, Jim- as long as I’m home by 10 o’clock for “The O’Reily Factor.” I heard Bono’s on tonight.
Jan. 16th, 2006 @ 05:33 pm
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so it's been a long time, a really long time. i can't believe it's already 2006...it doesn't even feel like christmas has passed, except for the pile of christmas presents in the middle of my floor. i'm kinda bummed that i haven't seen people (cough, danny, cough). but i have a feeling that it's my fault. i've been hanging out with my sister lately and i'm loving it, we just sit and talk and watch movies. we've never been that close so this bonding deal means a lot to me. i wish i could see more of alipants, krys, and brit...and wish i could see them all at the same time, but for that to happen is nearly impossible. but it sure would make things a lot easier and not make me feel like such a middle man in our friendships. i also miss people up at school...boo. when i'm at school i miss those back home, but then when i come home i miss those at school. things with the boy are slow but getting better every day...if i keep this up i may have a date for valentine's day...which would make me a very happy little girl. but my parents took away my text messaging priveledges so i can't really talk to him right now...boo. i miss my brother and the fact that he doesn't live at home and has a wife now makes me want to cry...things will never be how they used to, but i just have to accept that.
just know that even though i may not have recently talked to/hung out with you...i still think about you and love you. you have impacted my life and for that i am thankful.
Jan. 8th, 2006 @ 12:31 am
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i win!
Oct. 5th, 2005 @ 04:11 pm
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| » i love you |
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so it's been seven months since sean died. i never thought that something could impact my life as much as this has. i can't think about it and my eyes not immediately well up with tears. people tell me to take comfort in the fact that he's with god now and that he wasn't in pain...but i have no comfort. i want him here, or at home. i want to see him, hug him, talk to him again. but i will never be able to do those things...ever. i know it's selfish, but i really don't care. the only thing that i am hopeful for is that the soldiers in iraq get done what they went there for. if we pull out before their mission is complete, it is deemed a failure, and lives were lost for NOTHING.
there's no more future for him...only memories left for me.
r.i.p. sean patrick maher 2/2/2005
freedom isn't free...
Sep. 2nd, 2005 @ 11:08 am
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today was amazing...
slept til 12:30 then alipants came over and
we swapped ipods. got lots of new cds/songs
thanks to chad and him putting together ace's
ipod. then we spent 2 hours reading notes that
she had written me during like senior year of
high school...it was craaaazy. we couldn't help
but make fun of ourselves. and my, how things
have changed since then...oh but we haven't-
we're just as obnoxious and freaky...but YOU
LOVE IT!!! that is why this girl is my best
friend.
then we met up with krys (who i hadn't seen in
forever, seriously) and went to chili's. oh...soo
soo good. but ate way too much.
the wedding date is an amazing movie...go watch it!
SHE'S DOESN'T LIKE YOU!
that's all for now...one week left bitches
<3 col
Aug. 18th, 2005 @ 11:03 pm
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so it's been a while. the show at summerfest went well, at least for having to dance in hundred degree weather. went to warped with alibaby...that was fun but we missed krystina like crazy. brit's summer glogg party was amazing as usual...got to see HT which made like my year. i miss that girl, and we need to have sleepovers at her apartment...correction: we MUST have sleepovers at her apartment.
threw my brothers surprise bridal shower. i can't believe that he's going to be getting married, it's so surreal. he's not mature enough to be getting married...i'm not mature enough to have a brother that's getting married. i got him a ladder...oh yea, i'm the best gift-giver ever.
this week consisted of a bonfire with danny, kyle, and krys and playing many games of phone tag with allison...who i have to see asap because i think i'm going through some withdrawl.
just got back from milwaukee....oh my. saw charlie and the chocolate factory, dude so much better than the original. johnny depp is hilarious and that little freddie kid...so cute. anyways, after the movie me, kat, aaron, and justin go to the delta chi house to meet up with annette for some cool whip wrestling. i've come to the conclusion that i shouldn't wrestle girls unless they want to get hurt, i don't know how to play nicely. went back to kat's and slept on her futon, woke up, came home, and am now washing the whipped cream out of my clothes. amazing night.
i miss:
allison
krystina
brittany lee
kristina rago
and many more...i can't belive that i have to go back to school in almost 3 weeks...crazy. i still need to see lots of people before i leave for milwaukee...
<3 cok
Aug. 6th, 2005 @ 11:53 am
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so for those of you who are awesome and are going to summerfest on sunday july 10th come watch me dance at 1:50 and again at 4:30...i'll do my best to turn you on...oh baby!
Jul. 8th, 2005 @ 12:35 am
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summer...i love it.
spent the majority of the week with al and chad. i'm the third in the relationship. went to the bottom lounge with alipants to see the academy play last night...they impress me more and more every time i see them. i can't belive how much they've improved since that first show at knights...crazy shit man. went to millers tonight with al and her cousin who's super kickass. ended up taking care of her on the hamock...but i don't mind. tristan and adam tried to do pole dances...it was amazing.
krystina's on a cruise and i miss her...
kristina rago...I MISS YOU
<3 cok
Jul. 3rd, 2005 @ 01:17 am
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so ireland was good: green and wet. it didn't feel like i was in another country though, minus the accent.
started my summer job: babysitting...incredibly boring but better than last summer. except that i come home every day with new battle scars.
my health is getting better. turns out that i only have 17,000 platelets to clot my blood when i'm supposed to have +150,000. SUPLISE! but i'm on major dosages of steroids to help that out...i'm gonna be so ripped.
got in a car accident yesterday with the lovely brittany lee. some old lady hit my car while trying to turn left. then tells the police officer "i was just following the car in front of me, i don't know what color the lights were." are you kidding? she got the ticket (booyah) and has to be retested for her liscense because she's so old. at least i took one old driver off of the road...be thankful.
i need to see alipants and krystina like whoah...damn girls.
today: warped milwaukee to see the lovely kiley peters...oh so sassy
Jun. 19th, 2005 @ 09:54 am
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i've been going through a lot lately...all i know for sure is that something's wrong but the doctors won't tell me what it is and neither will my parents...it sucks not knowing, but i guess they just don't want to ruin our trip.
i leave for ireland tomarrow night at 5 pm and come back monday night to go to the doctor again tuesday. i'm pretty excited for the trip. it's our last trip as a family before my brother gets married, ireland has no idea what's about to hit them...gear up.
i miss my alipants and krys...
i miss sean, his smile, his laugh....
i went to memorial park today where he's buried. i'm glad i'm not going to be here on memorial day, the day on which you remember all of those who have fought for our country...it'd just be too hard. i still can't think about it without crying, and then i get angry because i feel as though it shouldn't be affecting me so much. why is this so hard?
i'm just so tired
wont you sing me to sleep
and fly through my dreams
so i can hitch a ride with you tonight
and get away from this place
have a new name and face
i just aint the same without you in my life
late night drives, all alone in my car
i can't help but start
singing lines from all our favorite songs
and melodies in the air
singin life just aint fair
sometimes i still just can't believe you're gone
and im sure the view from heaven
beats the hell out of mine here
and if we all believe in heaven,
maybe we'll make it through one more year down here
feel your fire,
when its cold in my heart
and things sorta start
remindin' me of my last night with you
i only need one more day
just one more chance to say
i wish that i had gone up with you too
you wont be comin' back
and i didn't get to say goodbye
i really wish i got to say goodbye
i hope that all is well in heaven
cause it's all shot to hell down here
i hope that i find you in heaven
cause i'm so...
lost without you down here
you wont be coming back
and i didn't get to say goodbye
i really wish i got to say goodbye...
May. 20th, 2005 @ 11:33 pm
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i'm leaving...in my station wagon. last hour in milwaukee for 3 months. i'm sooo excited to come home and see everyone and make up for everything i've been missing the last 9 months, but at the same time i'm really gonna miss my friends up here and living on my own. maybe i'll just move in with my brother for the summer...that'd be so awesome. so yea, see all of you fools in 2 hours...get excited!
<3 cok
May. 13th, 2005 @ 07:10 pm
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yesterday was a good day. started with my brother calling me at 9 in the morning and then laughing when i answered because he knew he woke me up. he said that if he had to be up that early he concluded that i had to too. so we talked for 20 minutes...well...we ripped on each other for 20 minutes. i had dance at 11...jc's car fell down and went boom so we were late. came back to take a nap and wait for ms. brittany lee to come and visit. she came and we listened to music, drooled over kate bosworth's sexy surfind body, and talked until 5:30 in the morning. slept through the alarm. she left at 11 this morning...i woke up at 5:30 tonight. went to panera, and now my tummy hurts because it's so full. krystina called me at 3 in the morning...that made me smile, even though it was 3 in the morning. i doubled the music on my itunes because i jacked all of brit's from her ipod. i love that. so, that's about it, EXCEPT:
HYPERFORMANCE DANCE SPRING SHOWCASE @ UWM ON SUNDAY, MAY 1ST @ 7PM...COME OR I'LL NEVER TALK TO YOU AGAIN...AND THAT'S A PROMISE BITCHES
<3 colleenypants
Apr. 24th, 2005 @ 08:35 pm
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sooo...it's been a while.
hyPE showcase was amazing. i had so much fun, and we totally kicked ass. i'm home for the weekend because i had to get fitted for my bridesmaid dress for my brother's wedding. it's kinda scary. i know that i'm not gonna totally lose him when he gets married, but things will change, and i don't want them too. me and krys hung out with him and nicki friday night, that was pretty cool. and had chili's chips and ranch dressing ((oooohhhh....see previous entry for details)). went to surprise danny and kyle at work...but i think they were busy. or didn't seem happy to see me. that kinda upset me, but i let shit like that roll.
i got a dress today for the hyPE banquet that i look amazing in...if i do say so myself. it's black and white. i figured that that'd be a safe bet as i am escorting eddie and he is wearing a white 70's suit...or so he tells me. we'll see how that goes.
i miss allison...i come home for the weekend, and she is in florida...what's up with this sunshine? i also miss brittany lee...
but i did get to hang out with krystina!! booyah bitches.
i've been missing sean a lot lately. i think it comes in waves, of me being ok and then being upset and sad. i just wish i could be ok all of the time, you know? i wear his picture next to my heart everyday...a lot of people don't notice that, but then again, a lot of people haven't lost someone like that....and i hope you don't have to go through this.
<3 col
Apr. 16th, 2005 @ 10:35 pm
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so i come back to school to find my computer hissing at me..seriously, hissing like it was nobody's business but its own...which it obviously was. today i almost killed my fish. i was trying to change its water and ended up somehow dropping it on the floor. so i started screaming for my mom to pick it up because let's be honest, this is a betta fish and i don't want it to bite me so i'd rather have my mom do it. she gets it in the water and it bobs around for an hour. by the time we got to milwaukee it was swimming...crazy i tell you, just plain crazy. i'm sick again, what else is new...i'm always sick. i don't want to go to school, i just want to sleep all day in my bed and then go to dance at night. speaking of dance:
if you're cool you'll be in the weasler auditorium at 7 pm on saturday for the hyPE spring showcase...that's right...you best be there bitches!
allison...your jamisonparker shirt is still at my house as you didn't call me today to come get it. but: i still love you and so do my parentals so feel free to go pick it up any time my dear. krystina: you let me leave without taking your killers ticket. but: you can prolly email it to me as long as you didn't delete your email. if said action was taken, mail it bitch.
chili's chips and ranch dressing makes me go: oh-oh-ohhhh
thank you to all i saw over spring break, i love you and had fun. to those i didn't: i still love you and will have fun when i get back from ireland at the end of may.
<3 colleenypants
Mar. 29th, 2005 @ 10:15 pm
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| » trying to make up for past mistakes |
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dear danny,
i am sorry...please try and understand. i do miss you and want to hang out with you. trust me on this one. things have been pretty fucked up lately. next time i am home i am calling you pronto...try and trust me on this one too, even though i know that i have let you down in the past.
love,
colleen
Mar. 27th, 2005 @ 01:42 am
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happy birthday sean...i love you and miss you.
::freedom isn't free::
Mar. 19th, 2005 @ 08:37 pm
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i am sick...fever (102.1), aches, cough, sicky thraot feeling...the works. come make me feel better, please?
so this weekend basically rocked. thursday i saw jamisonparker and tsl ((which brought back some AMAZING memories)). i almost wet my pants during jamisonparker's set. friday i went to the bars with the ladies and danced my bootay off. saturday was taste of chaos. i went with my girl laura, but missed brit, krys, and al like none other. krys...no one was there to pull up my pants for me, i was kinda upset. anyways, the used and my chemical romance encored with david bowe's under pressure...INSANE! that was the highlight of the whole evening, besides minorly spraining my ankle. newsflash: if you're in a skirt and decide to go crowd surfing...i will personally beat the shit out of you. after the concert went to the sweat party and danced my bootay off some more. sunday, i ate chinese...it had been far too long since that happened. then went to interpol. they played for an hour and a half, it was so awesome.
i have realized that i never talk to anyone when i'm at school. now, seriously, don't take this personally, i love you all dearly, i just never call anyone anymore and i always have an away message up. i'm trying to be better at this, i promise. for anyone who got hurt by me not talking as we usually do...just know that i am sorry and plan to make it up to them over spring break...BE READY!!!
i had the craziest dream last night...if you're lucky i'll tell you about it. but i woke up crying, but not a bad crying...i just wanted it to come true so much and when i realized it was only a dream...yea, it sucked.
--i love you all--
Mar. 15th, 2005 @ 03:51 pm
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this weekend was AMAZING! went to the cd release show for my boys the academy and then to henry and brad's for the after party. it was sweet until a fight ruined the party, but i met a lot of new people who are pretty sweet. took way too many pictures. got nick 504 drunk off our liquor. we brought the good stuff. ended up having a sleepover at chad's with al, krys, amanda, bill, joe, jer, emo dave, amanda, and chad. deep conversations until 7 in the morning, breakfast with krys, chad, bill, the butcher, emo dave, and tom, and nap time with al and krys. joe left at 6 in the morning and i had to give him directions to 90/94...not sure if he made it home...it was only 1:30 and my day was complete. came back up to milwaukee slept for a bit and went to the afterset for some show at the best western with the hyPE crew. danced until the wee hours of the morning and then passed out from my lack of sleep the last couple of days. woke up about 3, went to panera...and here i sit. best news of the day:
MY BROTHER PROPOSED TO NICKI AND THEY ARE ENGAGED!!!! me and courtney are super excited to have a new sister, and she's a pretty sweet one to get.
<3 cok
Mar. 6th, 2005 @ 06:21 pm
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| » chris rock is my hero |
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yea...so 3 out of 5 of the last comments were from my family?? what?? anyways, this weekend i came home for the orchesis show. not too bad. it was weird sitting in the audience and watching it though instead of dancing...i'm not gonna lie, i kinda miss it. jess combs stole the entire show. got to see ht, emmy, and kasia. went to coldstone and had trouble eating my ice cream...more like missing my mouth. hey, it's all good. went to tori's, met her man...danced in her front lawn and talked about all the weird shit we used to do in middle school...ahhh...memories.
saturday i came back up to milwaukee because i had a dance rehearsal at 10 in the morning. came back around 2 and went to lunch with krystina. went to dinner with the family (after my 5 hour nap), and then hung out with brittany, seany, and emily latte. brit wanted to dye her hair so we did that...without reading the box. turns out you're not supposed to use herbal essances if you have blonde hair, so it came out orange. sucks for her, but kinda funny when you think about it. didn't get to see danny...sorry about that one, i didn't think i was gonna sleep for that long.
back at school...i pulled my calf muscles and i have try-outs tomarrow for certain pieces for hyPE. anyways, if you want any hyPE gear get back to me because we're selling it.
i get to see my other lovers on friday!!! BE EXCITED!!
oh, and michael...are you planning on pulling into a station any time soon?
<3 cok
Feb. 27th, 2005 @ 08:05 pm
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| » singles awareness day all around |
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so yesterday basically RULED...minus the fact that i went to dance and half an hour later we decided to go home...this is what went on:
--gave a boy a valentine that said "you make me wet"
--listened to the new backstreet boys song thanks to ms. brittany lee
--talked to ALL of my lovers
--went to all of my classes
--saw "him"
--GOT ANOTHER SONG WRITTEN FOR ME...GOD I LOVE MY 5 EAST BOYS...
--made sexy, sexy valentines with a picture thomas the tank engine on them that said "i choo-choo-choose you to be my valentine!" am i a genious or what?
all in all good valentine's day...minus not having a valentine...but who needs a valentine when you have a vibrater, right? haha...
but it doesn't come close to last valentine's day when i got spoon with alipants and watch serendipity
Feb. 15th, 2005 @ 12:54 pm
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justbreakaway's journal