Remember this?
Abbie Hoffman’s counter culture, textbook that was chock full helpful hints for use in sticking it to the man. Maybe, it really wasn’t “counter culture” because an awful lot of people subscribed to the premise. Hoffman once said…
“It’s embarrassing when you try to overthrow the government and you wind up on the Best Seller’s List.”
The book ended up on the best seller list even though a lot of bookstores wouldn’t carry it because, well…a lot of people stole the book.
If you think about it, it’s not unlike the Radiohead business plan that our friend Gene Simmons was so upset with.
“That’s not a business model that works. I open a store and say ‘Come on in and pay whatever you want.’ Are you on fucking crack? Do you really believe that’s a business model that works?”
I don’t know why I get such a hoot out of cantankerous Gene-”Are you on fucking crack?” For some reason that makes me belly laugh.
Anyway, Kid Rock is now on the soapbox. Kid released a video of a faux public service announcement. Kid Rock says…
“The whole debate on downloading music has gone too far,” he said. “There are record companies suing kids. You can illegally download my music, steal it if you will. Because I’m fucking rich. How can I bitch about you downloading a song or two?”
“What I would encourage you to do? Let’s level the playing field. Steal everything. If you want a new MP3 player or a computer… Do you know how much money Apple and Microsoft have? Go in there, get a new laptop and run. You need a new car? Go steal a Toyota.”
Hey Kid, are you on fucking crack?
Kid Rock says go steal a Toyota. Nice.
What is Kid Rock trying to do here? I don’t think he’s trying to “overthrow the government” like Abbie Hoffman. And, aside from the fact that he lacks Simmons’ eloquence, he isn’t directing his wrath at anybody in the industry like, Gene was.
I think Kid Rock is attempting a little satirical wit in an effort to scold consumers. There is irony only in that, the people that Kid Rock is upset with, are a manifestation of the “counter culture” aesthetic that Abbie Hoffman was promoting back in the early ’70s.
Here’s the video of Kid’s rant.
As always, with the YouTube, just click pause on the music player to your left.
A while back, I had a post, “Radiohead Encourages Cycling Journalists”, about the band’s effort to diminish their carbon footprint on their current tour, and their urgings to fans and journalists to do the same.
One idea was to only issue 50 press passes for the Paris show and, only to journalists who came a begging for them on bicycles.
I said…
I wonder how many showed up. I wonder how many reporters raced to the record label office, on bikes, and didn’t get a press pass because they weren’t one of the first fifty.
Well, the results are in. From The Sun.
The egghead rockers, known for their right-on eco credentials, came up with a potty ploy to test our Continental cousins’ commitment to green issues.
And they were roundly ignored for their troubles.
There’s no byline on the piece but that is fabulous. “Egghead rockers”, “potty ploy”; Man, that’s good, right there.
Anyway, only 15 of the 50 passes were claimed; 15 out of 50!
Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead. I know that you guys are the second most important band in the world but, you got to get wise. French music journalists don’t care about your noble cause and, they aren’t going to pedal down to your label’s office just for a chance to see your show. French music journalists want the same things all music journalists want; free booze and free food. Duh!!
Here’s what you should have done, Radiohead; hired 50 scantily clad women to ride bicycles to the music journalists and had them hand deliver the passes along with some organic goat cheese and environmentally friendly bottles of wine. That’s rock and roll, babies! Start thinking like that and you will promote the cause and get good reviews.
Start thinking like that, and icons like Gene Simmons will start to respect what you are doing.
Gene, discusses Radiohead’s, “In Rainbows”, promotional strategy.
“That’s not a business model that works. I open a store and say ‘Come on in and pay whatever you want.’ Are you on fucking crack? Do you really believe that’s a business model that works?”
I tell you what, that Gene Simmons has been too quiet for too long. But, just in this last month he’s gained some considerable ground on Keef in the “Wrinkle Rocker Says Whatever The Hell Comes To His Addled Brain/All Press Is Good Press” sweepstakes.
But, back on point. Radiohead, I like what you are trying to do, saving the world with rock and roll and all. But, you could use a little Sam Phillips/P.T. Barnum in your game.
Just because you were wondering……
The Current “Wrinkle Rocker Says Whatever The Hell Comes To His Addled Brain/All Press Is Good Press” Standings
1. Keef
2. Gene Simmons
3. Steve Miller
4. Sammy Hagar
Does ZZ Top have one more magic track in them? Do they have one more song that can capture the interest of the masses?
BW&BK (Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles-great name) says ZZ Top is bringing in Rick Rubin.
Arguably the world’s greatest living bluesman, Billy Gibbons, spoke to BW&BK recently about ZZ TOP’s upcoming DVD Live In Texas, the reissue of Eliminator, and also work on the band’s first record since the highly entertaining but somewhat ignored Mescalero album from fully five years ago.
“That starts pretty soon,” says Billy. “We just inked a deal with Rick Rubin that will be announced shortly. And I’m sure he’s got plans to make way to drag us off the touring trail back into the studio, which will be a nice excursion.”
Given his reputation for paring things back, would you be moving in the same direction, going for a back to the roots thing?
“Could be. Rick and I have been friends for a couple of decades now. And we both like a lot of the same things. And mostly it is that rootsy kind of sense of realism. That’s his genius.”
Here’s the thing, they don’t need to do this. They aren’t an arena act anymore but, they can go on playing casinos, fairgrounds and big time biker gigs like Sturgis endlessly. They can sell their merch, sell fan club memberships, sell meet and greet packages and the die hard fans are going to participate.
Bringing Rubin in is a sign that they want more. They want to be large again. And, the legend is that Rubin brings his own hype. Probably adds a bit of legitimacy up front too as far as deals go, as far as branding goes. Who knows, maybe some corporate tie-in happens because of a perception that Rubin still knows what is relevant an what is not. And, that he has a reputation for resurrection.
And, Rubin is a song guy. He knows how to eek the best out of a song. If it’s close but, not quite there, he’ll make the guys go back and write another verse or, whatever it lacks. You got to have the song first and then you go get the track.
And, those guys will get a good track. They know how to get guitar sounds and drum sounds. Hell, if their going for “that rootsy kind of sense of realism”, it shouldn’t be rocket science. After all, ZZ Top is a “blues” band, right?
Something about the whole thing just seems kind of whacked up to me. Evidently, ZZ Top wants to make new music and be relevant but, they’re not going to be Coldplay or Radiohead. And, they aren’t Neil Diamond or Johnny Cash, for that matter.
You know, Dee Snider and Twisted Sister have a business model that goes something like this; we’re going to wear the spandex, the wigs and the makeup, doesn’t matter how old or fat we are and we’re going to play that same batch of songs we played in the ’80s the same way we played them then ’cause, that’s what the fans want-that’s what they’re paying for. And, it works for them. They are a nostalgia act.
Now, if Billy Gibbons and Co. don’t want to be a nostalgia act, is going in the studio with Rick Rubin for a few months and recording a full length CD the ticket? That, seems like nostalgic thinking.
I went to Top’s website and looked at their tour schedule. They’re booked up. They’ve got core fans. I don’t, for the life of me, know why a band in this position wouldn’t just keep doing what they’re doing and along with that, record singles. Go in, do one song, release it digitally, get their XM mileage, go play a casino or biker gig and repeat. Hell, they charge $40.00 a year for a fan club membership. Release it to the fans for free and let it get viral. I think you got a better chance of chasing down Radiohead that way than putting the pressure on with a high concept album that could end up being an albatross.
What’s funny is, that’s actually real old time thinking there. That, isn’t all that different than the way Muddy or Wolf went about their business. Release a song, try and cause a stir and do some more gigs.
That’s thinking like a bluesman Billy.
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