“I look at rock music as kind of a dead form in a lot of ways”
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has bemoaned the state of rock music today, after being interviewed by Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready on SiriusXM’s Pearl Jam Radio.
During the interview, Flea talks about what it was like to play in a band in the 90s and then goes on to discuss the state of rock music today.
Transcribed by Alternative Nation, Flea says the he “looks at rock music as kind of a dead form in a lot of ways.”
“I just remember being so excited that we were playing with [Pearl Jam] and with Smashing Pumpkins, because it was just an exciting time for rock music. A lot of times, especially recently, I look at rock music as kind of a dead form in a lot of ways. Nothing to take away from us and [Pearl Jam], because obviously I believe we’re relevant bands that come with a real energy,” he continued.
“But if you’re a kid today, and you get in a rock band, it’s like – when we were kids, when I said I want to be in a rock band and that’s what I’m doing for my life, that’s what I was going to do, no question. You’d get: ‘You are a fucking lunatic, you are crazy. You’re never going to get a decent job in your life. What are you doing? You’re ruining your life.”
“I was like fuck it, I don’t care, this is what I want to do, this means everything to me, I found a home. I’ve been a weird, neurotic, loner kid all my life, I was always the kid you called fag in high school, punk rock gave me a home. But nowadays, you decide you want to be in a rock band it’s like, ‘Oh great, let’s get you an image consultant, and a lawyer, and a manager, and let’s see what we can do here. It’s a great money making opportunity for you junior.”
Via the NME
Has he got a point? Tell us what you think…..
“Rock” has been dead for years. It came to an end sometimes in the 1980s. Since then it has been just tribute bands and empty Rock pastiche. Looking back at the history of this form of music, I say – why did we get caught up in Rock music ? It has turned out to be a musical dead end, a blind street, an illusion and a deception. It has brought evil on society and this evil outweighs the “music”.
Every form form of music is born, evolves, matures, declines, evolves again and dies only for it to be potentially reborn again at some point under a different name.
Equally there is a progressive tail-off in ‘quality’ (or perhaps originality) that became more apparent in the early 1980s but, to my mind, began in the early 70s. It didn’t affect every group – and still doesn’t because there have been & are still many great groups around. However, the mainstream (defined as who gets airplay), is on the whole ‘dead’, whatever genre is represented. Accordingly, rock is not alone in that and true music lovers have to search outside what is shown on TV/radio and experiment and take risks to find those gems. Just as we had to in the early 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s & 10s.