I notice that the editor of zeitgeist was on duty at the BBC's coverage of the Reading* festival this past weekend. Why is is that there was blanket coverage of the event on Friday and Saturday nights but only two and a bit hours on Sunday? Do you think that could have anything to do with the Metallica being the headline act?
When the BBC covers Glastonbury they usually show about an hour of the headlining act. Why not the same with Metallica than? Is it because somewhere in the BBC's music department they don't like heavy metal? They showed just four songs from Metallica's set; the same amount as they showed for the lead 'singer' of the Arctic Monkeys' hobby band. Of course the Last Shadow Puppets are big news in the NME, aren't they? How silly of me. I don't suppose the fact that Metallica have sold over fifty million albums and sell out stadiums wherever they go had any bearing on the decision to only show four songs, instead of an hour's worth of material.
It's always the same with these music snobs though. If you watch any BBC music documentary, the general consensus is that the period 1970-1976 was ruled by prog rock bands with their slow and ponderous workouts. That's usually accompanied by tired stock footage of Genesis-era Peter Gabriel doing a jig in a pixie's hat, Keith Emerson shoving daggers into a Hammond organ and Roger Waters knocking seven shades of shit out of a gong. If it was such a bad period for music, how come those bands sold so many records? Then, of course, you're told this tale of how punk blew everything away. Which is funny, because in 1977 - supposedly punk's year zero - Yes, ELP and Pink Floyd all released massive-selling albums.
I'm not under any illusions here; a lot of prog rock was dross (and here I'm looking at ELP and anything Yes did between 1973 and 1976), but some of it was good, in some cases very good. I love punk, but I think these documentary makers have re-written musical history to suit their own tastes. What are they going to do now that even Johnny Lydon has come out of the closet about his admiration for Van Der Graaf Generator?
One good thing about the BBC's coverage of Reading though was Zane Lowe, a man I'd never really had much time for until this weekend. His enthusiasm and fondness for Metallica was enough to even make the most ardent metal hater soften their stance.
If it was Laverne, Jupitus or Whiley on presenting duties you could guarantee there'd be lots of devil's horn gestures towards the camera while gently mocking it. I've still not forgiven Jupitus for an awful 'ironic' interview he did, on his 6Music breakfast show, with Rush when they were on their 2004 UK tour. Wanker.
What is worrying though is the amount of crap British bands there are out there. I'm mean you The Wombats, Babyshambles, The Subways, The Enemy, Dirty Pretty Things, Foals etc. Only two really stood out for me: Anglo-Australian drum 'n' bass 'n' metal outfit Pendulum (who are what The Prodigy would have been if they hadn't let that Keith Flint idiot write songs) and The Cribs (even though the guitarist comes over as a dick). Where are the next Led Zeppelin or Iron Maiden going to come from?
*I used to go out with a girl who once informed me that she'd received a prospectus from *Reeding* university. I stopped laughing about six hours later. I got dumped about two days later. Ho-hum.
When the BBC covers Glastonbury they usually show about an hour of the headlining act. Why not the same with Metallica than? Is it because somewhere in the BBC's music department they don't like heavy metal? They showed just four songs from Metallica's set; the same amount as they showed for the lead 'singer' of the Arctic Monkeys' hobby band. Of course the Last Shadow Puppets are big news in the NME, aren't they? How silly of me. I don't suppose the fact that Metallica have sold over fifty million albums and sell out stadiums wherever they go had any bearing on the decision to only show four songs, instead of an hour's worth of material.
It's always the same with these music snobs though. If you watch any BBC music documentary, the general consensus is that the period 1970-1976 was ruled by prog rock bands with their slow and ponderous workouts. That's usually accompanied by tired stock footage of Genesis-era Peter Gabriel doing a jig in a pixie's hat, Keith Emerson shoving daggers into a Hammond organ and Roger Waters knocking seven shades of shit out of a gong. If it was such a bad period for music, how come those bands sold so many records? Then, of course, you're told this tale of how punk blew everything away. Which is funny, because in 1977 - supposedly punk's year zero - Yes, ELP and Pink Floyd all released massive-selling albums.
I'm not under any illusions here; a lot of prog rock was dross (and here I'm looking at ELP and anything Yes did between 1973 and 1976), but some of it was good, in some cases very good. I love punk, but I think these documentary makers have re-written musical history to suit their own tastes. What are they going to do now that even Johnny Lydon has come out of the closet about his admiration for Van Der Graaf Generator?
One good thing about the BBC's coverage of Reading though was Zane Lowe, a man I'd never really had much time for until this weekend. His enthusiasm and fondness for Metallica was enough to even make the most ardent metal hater soften their stance.
If it was Laverne, Jupitus or Whiley on presenting duties you could guarantee there'd be lots of devil's horn gestures towards the camera while gently mocking it. I've still not forgiven Jupitus for an awful 'ironic' interview he did, on his 6Music breakfast show, with Rush when they were on their 2004 UK tour. Wanker.
What is worrying though is the amount of crap British bands there are out there. I'm mean you The Wombats, Babyshambles, The Subways, The Enemy, Dirty Pretty Things, Foals etc. Only two really stood out for me: Anglo-Australian drum 'n' bass 'n' metal outfit Pendulum (who are what The Prodigy would have been if they hadn't let that Keith Flint idiot write songs) and The Cribs (even though the guitarist comes over as a dick). Where are the next Led Zeppelin or Iron Maiden going to come from?
*I used to go out with a girl who once informed me that she'd received a prospectus from *Reeding* university. I stopped laughing about six hours later. I got dumped about two days later. Ho-hum.
2 comments:
I wouldn't worry about them trying to rewrite musical history: over time that will even itself out. Back in the 80s people like the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin and Johnny Cash were treated as jokes. Nowadays, Pet Sounds would be a perfectly respectable choice for a favourite album.
The Beach Boys thing is one of the reasons I started No Remorse.
Good Vibrations is one of the greatest pop singles ever though.
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