Main Stage

Dugout Chatter: Pink Floyd Edition

Oct 282010

To celebrate Roger Waters‘ revival of The Wall for a tour that will likely lead to a Glee episode dedicated to the album, a smash Broadway musical, and a film version of the Broadway musical starring Justin Timberlake in the role originally occupied by Bob Geldof, let’s have some Pink Floyd-themed Dugout Chatter. As always, your gut answers are all that matter. If you’ve been following proceedings within the Halls of Rock for some time but have not yet jumped in with a comment there’s no better time to shine on, you crazy diamond.

Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?

Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?

In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?

Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Has any band member’s initial burst of creativity and subsequent long-term suffering provided as much critical tolerance and interest for the surviving band members’ slow recovery?

In the years that have followed punk rock and teenage John Lydon‘s legendary, homemade Pink Floyd SUCKS! t-shirt, what established powerhouse band’s t-shirt would tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon wear?

Next to Roger Waters, what once-irascible rocker comes to mind when you think Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock?

I look forward to your answers.

Once and For All: Mick Jagger’s Most Egregious Fashion Faux Pas

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 282010

Mick Jagger, acknowledged by even straight guys as one of the Sexiest Men in Rock (and yes, even sexier than Chris Squire) – not to mention among the coolest, in his prime, has nevertheless committed some of the most egregious Rock Crimes in history, many of them involving poor choices in fashion.

Early Jagger, when his hair was merely shaggy and he was supported by an energetic Keef and a silken-haired Brian, was nothing but cool. Even when he looked like he’d just gotten the shit kicked out of him in one of those “kitchen-sink dramas” of England’s early ’60s film movement (eg, any film based on a story by Allan Sillitoe and/or involving Tony Richardson), he looked as comfortable in his clothes as in his skin. He was so cool, in fact, that he made an Oxford shirt and sweater smolder. In 1964, not even a proto-mullet could bring the man down.

I don’t think Jagger had a bad rock fashion day until he and his mates attempted to jump onto the psychedelia craze. Although this 1967 Look is not a terrible Look by any musician’s standards, it’s among the first signs of Mick’s worst fashion impulses. Although Mick’s flirtations with androgyny are a key facet to his Rock Superpowers, the bright colors, silken fabrics, and general blousy-ness of the psychedelic era would bring out his inner-Linda Richman. No one asked for a Rock ‘n Roll “Babs.”

Although psychedelia wasn’t the best fit for Mick, it was some of his stage wear for the initially aborted Rock ‘n Roll Circus event that first fully crossed the Egregious Fashion Faux Pas Line. Nothing says “smacked ass” like Mick Jagger in a top hat.

When he wanted to – or needed to – Jagger could always recover from his most egregious fashion faux pas to date by throwing on a stylish suit. In 1971, for instance, following this disastrous Look, Mick went formal to great effect. His new bride’s choice in bridal wear didn’t hurt matters. (It should be noted, however, that the ill-fitting, mustard jacket worn on his second wedding day to an equally oversized-bride may have been Mick’s most egregious fashion faux pas in terms of formal wear.)

Do you agree this is enough background reading? Let’s get to the heart of the matter!

Once and for all…What is Mick Jagger’s Most Egregious Fashion Faux Pas?

Contenders surely include the following:

Don’t Ever Change

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 282010

Change is good. Change is necessary, right? Everyone knows that for creativity to blossom change is essential. We love change! But should all things be open to change? Do Cheap Trick fans really want to see Rick Nielsen in anything but his standard goofball get-up? Led Zeppelin‘s In Through the Out Door Look had to make long-time burnout fans squirm just a little before Bonzo died prior to the band’s next appointment with the stylist. And did anyone want to hear Bo Diddley play an augmented chord?

What things in rock ‘n roll should never change?

Songs That Unironically Debuted With Outdated Catchphrases

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 262010

Here’s Van Morrison doing “Wavelength” on Saturday Night Live. Check out this video while it lasts, because the rights holders to musical performances on SNL are obsessed with wiping this stuff clean off the Web.

This is the last Van Morrison song I love, and one of the things I love about it is how corny it is, throwing around that mood ring-worthy “wavelength” jive just a few years past its due date. It was perfect for me, a kid coming of age on the tail end of hippiedom and free love. To this day it still makes me feel like that era saved a morsel of peace, love, and understanding for my own enjoyment.

Can you think of other songs that unironically debuted with outdated catchphrases?

RUSH Don’t Walk to Win a Classic Albums DVD of Rush’s 2112…
Or Last Man Standing: Al-bums Edition

Posted by The Back Office

Oct 262010

Three copies of this DVD have been provided by our pals over at Universal Music to give away. The task is simple: Name (link to if possible) an album COVER that includes a naked bum on it. Male, female…this contest swings both ways. We’ve installed a PlugIn called “Comment Timeout” and have set the comments to close at a time only known to us here in The Back Office. As this contest is pretty much automated the Guest Judge will be…

Cash for Cash

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 262010

Just what I was hoping to find!

Just what you’ve been waiting for: your chance to bid on Johnny Cash’s personal items! But guess what, that item you were most counting on landing may not be available through this auction. Here’s a link to 13 pages of the man’s belongings. Is your dream item on that list? Tell us what you were hoping to buy.

Battle Royale: Understandably Self-Absorbed Musicians Listening to a Playback of Their Latest Recording

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 252010

I was never a fan of the Rolling Stones’ documentary Gimme Shelter, but I forgot how gripping and realistic this scene of understandably self-absorbed musicians listening to a playback of their latest recording was. There may be no better scene of this sort captured on film or video—or at least that’s the claim this scene is making as it shuffles triumphantly around the squared circle, arms raised, proclaiming inevitable victory before the bell has rung on this Battle Royale!

Do you have a studio playback scene to top this one? It can be from a real rock film, a fictional one, or even your own experience. All challengers for the belt will be judged on soulful gazes, knowing nods, off-mic banter, cans, artful couch slouches, wise producers/engineers, gear porn, cool observers, band members singing or air-playing along to the music, studio tans, tracking beards, Oriental rugs, and so forth.

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