Ah, it's the old "my generation was the only one that meant something" schtick. Socrates said the same thing.

I agree with this headline

What does Radiohead mean as a band? I liked some of their music but I never felt they were a band that meant something. Not like Weezer, anyway.

So some old guy thinks that music from his day is better than music today--shocking.

I completely agree with the headline, unfortunately

You_mean_Im_gonna_stay_this_color: I agree with this headline

HappyHarryHardOn: I completely agree with the headline, unfortunately

You sound old.

Nirvana sucked and so does Radiohead.

Some people have a hard time explaining rock 'n' roll. I don't think anyone can really explain rock 'n' roll. Maybe Pete Townshend, but that's okay. Rock 'n' roll is a lifestyle and a way of thinking... and it's not about money and popularity. Although, some money would be nice. But it's a voice that says, "Here I am... and fark you if you can't understand me." And one of these people is gonna save the world. And that means that rock 'n' roll can save the world... all of us together. And the chicks are great. But what it all comes down to is that thing. The indefinable thing when people catch something in your music.

Cobain was the last rock star.

Whoa whoa whoa. Maybe you've heard of him: Chad Kroeger.

You_mean_Im_gonna_stay_this_color: I agree with this headline

HappyHarryHardOn: I completely agree with the headline, unfortunately

I see where you're coming from (yes I am old), but I do have some faith in independent music. Perhaps we just need a paradigm shift regarding what a "Rock Star" and "Rock Band" are in order to make it through this new musical cycle.

Fark that farking farkstain upon the farking ass of farking humanity known as motherfarking Kurt farking Cobain. God farking damned overfarkingrated no talent farksmeared assclown. The only farking favor that farkwit did for the farking world of music was fellate a farking 12 gauge. "Corporate rock sucks"... burn in farking hell with a cold farking cock up your farking ass, you farking corporate cum guzzling crackwhore.

/Not a fan of Nirvana

Cobain was pretty much the OPPOSITE of a rock star and that's the way he liked it.

Triumph the Comic Dog once shot a zinger at Kurt Loder saying something to the effect of, "Yeah, teenagers are going to look to some 50y.o. guy for what's cool and hip in music today". That's how I felt reading this guy's rambles. Not a big hip-hop fan, but I'd say Eminem was just as big a "rock star" as Kurt Cobain. I also agree with one of the article's commenters that The White Stripes made just as big an impact as Radiohead.

if you agree with any part of this headline you are an embarrassment to humanity.

jiaxiaobo: Triumph the Comic Dog once shot a zinger at Kurt Loder saying something to the effect of, "Yeah, teenagers are going to look to some 50y.o. guy for what's cool and hip in music today". That's how I felt reading this guy's rambles. Not a big hip-hop fan, but I'd say Eminem was just as big a "rock star" as Kurt Cobain. I also agree with one of the article's commenters that The White Stripes made just as big an impact as Radiohead.

While I like The White Stripes and respect their music, I see them as more of a new spin on a throwback, well done, granted, but not quite innovational.

Radiohead took their music to a new place that I cannot so easily link with their past and their influences.

I'm listening to Unplugged in New York right now so I'm getting a kick out of these replies. Especially the 12 year old called ne2d.

Jack White is a good argument for a modern Rock Star.

Chad Kroeger sucks (and he's not really a "rock star" anyway, he lacks the influence...probably because he's so incredibly generic)

Chris Martin could be another argument for a modern rock star...a weak one though...
and so is Kanye West (LOL, I know he's not rock, but his antics are those of a rock star). Funny because they've worked together.

Pete Wentz is a wentz and that's that.

music is still alive, but rock and roll is dead.

Not really a fan of Cobain, but he is right: Nirvana was the last.

mahavishnunj: if you agree with any part of this headline you are an embarrassment to humanity.

Actually, I think it's the other way around. I can't stand Cobain, but I know what the author's saying... there can never be anything like Elvis, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and so on. The days when there were only four musical genres are long, long gone. Given the wide range of music available from all over the place, via every possible medium, everything has fractured -- there really isn't any possibility for any one band or individual to make a huge impact anymore.

As an aside, one of the best Nirvana songs was Come As You Are... as performed by the Charlie Hunter Trio.

Here's an idea, and it's a crazy one I know, but just hear me out: try listening to a genre of music that ISN'T rock. There's plenty of them out there. Some of them are pretty good.

/I listen to both kinds of music: rock AND roll.

FTFA: it's not a judgment on this band or that band. I'm simply saying that the shock value, the countercultural impact, the feeling of being electrified by pop music isn't what it was. It's been incorporated into mainstream popular culture and lifestyle to the point of where it's not even that relevant anymore. There's no way you'll ever have a band like Led Zeppelin or the Sex Pistols -- bands just won't attain that level of infamy or impact.

He's not criticizing the quality of current or future artists. Sure, there's good music out there, but he's talking about the Wow Factor, and it's pretty hard to disagree. It's pretty much been done - what's left to shock or surprise anyone anymore?

Shenanigans!: FTFA: it's not a judgment on this band or that band. I'm simply saying that the shock value, the countercultural impact, the feeling of being electrified by pop music isn't what it was. It's been incorporated into mainstream popular culture and lifestyle to the point of where it's not even that relevant anymore. There's no way you'll ever have a band like Led Zeppelin or the Sex Pistols -- bands just won't attain that level of infamy or impact.

He's not criticizing the quality of current or future artists. Sure, there's good music out there, but he's talking about the Wow Factor, and it's pretty hard to disagree. It's pretty much been done - what's left to shock or surprise anyone anymore?

Meh. They probably said the same thing when Elvis started shaking his junk on stage, or when Morrison sung about getting high on the Sullivan show. The future still has room to surprise, don't give up hope yet.

If you only look to the mainstream BS then yeah, music doesn't mean anything anymore

El Freak
Here's an idea, and it's a crazy one I know, but just hear me out: try listening to a genre of music that ISN'T rock. There's plenty of them out there. Some of them are pretty good.


yeah, no kidding! crazy kids these days...
music that isn't rock:
how about folk/rock, like Fleet Foxes or Sufjan Stevens?

Here's the thing: I like good music journalism. As a teen, I bought Tom Waits' "Frank's Wild Years" based entire on an article I read. Everything the article evoked, and especially Waits' direct quotes, made me know that I had to check his music out.

That said, this writer is out of touch. He's basing his understanding of the state of regional scenes entirely on his experiences in LA? I almost stopped reading at that point. Having lived in one of those "scene" towns, I have a hard time believing that the internet will limit future regional scenes from developing. Just the fact that bands have to practice somewhere, play their first shows somewhere, hell, even buy their guitar strings somewhere - means local bands will interact with each other; these are all things that help give rise to regional scenes.

And how long have we been hearing "Rock is dead"? And this guy thinks he has a novel take on it? Everything is cyclical. Some kid will hear a Zeppelin or Replacements album or whatever, form a band, and start the next wave of rock and roll. And that's who always controls these things anyway - the kids. There should be an age limit when it comes to writing about rock - or at least when it comes to making pointless proclamations like this. Jesus, I'm in my 30s and I already feel like people 10 years younger than me are into stuff I could never enjoy. fark it, it's for them. I've got my Big Star albums and whatnot - and I could really give a shiat if the next Led Zeppelin ever forms.

The Wack: Shenanigans!: FTFA: it's not a judgment on this band or that band. I'm simply saying that the shock value, the countercultural impact, the feeling of being electrified by pop music isn't what it was. It's been incorporated into mainstream popular culture and lifestyle to the point of where it's not even that relevant anymore. There's no way you'll ever have a band like Led Zeppelin or the Sex Pistols -- bands just won't attain that level of infamy or impact.

He's not criticizing the quality of current or future artists. Sure, there's good music out there, but he's talking about the Wow Factor, and it's pretty hard to disagree. It's pretty much been done - what's left to shock or surprise anyone anymore?

Meh. They probably said the same thing when Elvis started shaking his junk on stage, or when Morrison sung about getting high on the Sullivan show. The future still has room to surprise, don't give up hope yet.

Doubtful. How many rock n roll artists were around during Elvis' heyday? Ditto for Morrison.

Let's not mention genres or tendencies...back then everyone listened to the same artists. Nowadays? Not even close.

I think the noted reviewer has an interesting point about rock music no longer having shock value because of a sense of a fizzled out counter-culture...

HOWEVER, there's is a consideration that no one knows what will happen in the future and future technologies could usher in a new kind of rock star.

For example (although possibilities are endless); holographic concerts playing in living rooms across the world that might revitalize the medium through the internet (the technology that's been alleged to have fizzled out rock stardom).

There could be other possibilities through technology we can't even fathom yet. Technology aside; there have been plenty of rock stars in the past 15 years since Cobain's death. I think the reviewer may be equating dead rock star: i.e. Morrison/Hendrix to being a "rock star" in Cobain's case.

Maybe Cobain will be the last dead 27 year old rock star anyone will give a shiat about...
Maybe, in the future, all rock stars will be killed at age 27 a la Logan's Run.

/*shrug*

Kurt Kablam was the most over-rated hack in RnR history and Radiohead isn't even an amalgam of passable musicians.

FueledByEthanol: Fark that farking farkstain upon the farking ass of farking humanity known as motherfarking Kurt farking Cobain. God farking damned overfarkingrated no talent farksmeared assclown. The only farking favor that farkwit did for the farking world of music was fellate a farking 12 gauge. "Corporate rock sucks"... burn in farking hell with a cold farking cock up your farking ass, you farking corporate cum guzzling crackwhore.

/Not a fan of Nirvana

Really? I never would've guessed.

Todays reading is from the Psalm of St. Jello-

Ever wonder why commercial radio's so bad?
It's 'cause someone upstairs wants it that way
If the Doors or John Lennon were getting started now
The industry wouldn't sign 'em in a million years

Jello Biafra- 'Triumph of the Swill'

(I know that he's a liberal loud-mouthed deuche now, but he really said shiat that needed to be said when we were kids in the 80's. He is not a rock star.)

I think that there won't be another Rock Star, not because of the culture or lack of inspiration, but because of the medium. Being an iTunes Rock Star just doesn't have the same appeal as selling albums does. It also leads to huge diversity in favored artists rather than the old days of a handful dominating the genre.

Without the rabid appeal over a small number of bands, you can't have the Rock Star. Instead you'll get back to localized rock stars, which will be a couple of people who stand out in the local underground scene.

Dude. The last real rock star Mick Jagger because he still has a band.
MTV killed the rock star. Were you even born then?

Fark you.

Inescapable Future of Humanity: I think that there won't be another Rock Star, not because of the culture or lack of inspiration, but because of the medium. Being an iTunes Rock Star just doesn't have the same appeal as selling albums does. It also leads to huge diversity in favored artists rather than the old days of a handful dominating the genre.

Without the rabid appeal over a small number of bands, you can't have the Rock Star. Instead you'll get back to localized rock stars, which will be a couple of people who stand out in the local underground scene.

Perhaps this explains the rapid rise (in the last ~15 yrs) of the "Big Shows" ala Ozz Fest, Lalapalooza, etc. It does make sense.

On the other side, there are not-quite-mainstream "Rock Stars" (for lack of a better term) that are less than localised and who enjoy a pretty wide following, like Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, and other independent bands that may not have as wide a following, but are certainly not localised because of the Internet, like Maktub.

Inescapable Future of Humanity: I think that there won't be another Rock Star, not because of the culture or lack of inspiration, but because of the medium. Being an iTunes Rock Star just doesn't have the same appeal as selling albums does. It also leads to huge diversity in favored artists rather than the old days of a handful dominating the genre.

Without the rabid appeal over a small number of bands, you can't have the Rock Star. Instead you'll get back to localized rock stars, which will be a couple of people who stand out in the local underground scene.


I don't think the method of delivery changes anything. I also believe that most people can only juggle so many bands - they want and need some third party to filter all of these bands and pick out the "best" for them. It could be radio, it could be something else. But I don't see the majority of people wading through the diversity on their own. Most people simply don't care enough about music to hunt through thousands of bands - they just like that song they heard on the radio/at Starbucks/wherever. And if you have someone filtering the results for you, you return to having a handful (or large handful) of bands still dominating the scene.

zvoidx: I think the noted reviewer has an interesting point about rock music no longer having shock value because of a sense of a fizzled out counter-culture...

HOWEVER, there's is a consideration that no one knows what will happen in the future and future technologies could usher in a new kind of rock star.

For example (although possibilities are endless); holographic concerts playing in living rooms across the world that might revitalize the medium through the internet (the technology that's been alleged to have fizzled out rock stardom).

There could be other possibilities through technology we can't even fathom yet. Technology aside; there have been plenty of rock stars in the past 15 years since Cobain's death. I think the reviewer may be equating dead rock star: i.e. Morrison/Hendrix to being a "rock star" in Cobain's case.

Maybe Cobain will be the last dead 27 year old rock star anyone will give a shiat about...
Maybe, in the future, all rock stars will be killed at age 27 a la Logan's Run.

/*shrug*

Yeah...somehow "new alternative distribution channels" just doesn't sound particularly sexy, but I see what you're saying.

The Jonas Brothers in 3-D wasn't a terribly thrilling prospect, because...it's still the Jonas Brothers.

It has to come from the music itself; otherwise it's all just marketing.

Matthew Bellamy is a rock star.


Deal with it.

I couldn't disagree with his points more.

Not that I love them or anything, but the guys in Green Day (oh, that's right, I said it.) are UNDENIABLY rockstars.

One could also make an argument that they just (american idiot...too soon to call with there newest) put out an album that "mattered"...or at least resonated with many, many, people, world-wide.

I am sure there are dozens more like this, they are just the first band that popped into my head.

/not punk, etc.

Can you pick out the rock star ?

I've never heard much of Nirvana, but I gotta say that dying when he did was the best thing for Kurt's career and reputation. He died right at the top of his career, which means he will be deified for years to come. Same thing with Marilyn Monroe, really.

ArturoBandini: I don't think the method of delivery changes anything. I also believe that most people can only juggle so many bands - they want and need some third party to filter all of these bands and pick out the "best" for them. It could be radio, it could be something else. But I don't see the majority of people wading through the diversity on their own. Most people simply don't care enough about music to hunt through thousands of bands - they just like that song they heard on the radio/at Starbucks/wherever. And if you have someone filtering the results for you, you return to having a handful (or large handful) of bands still dominating the scene.

It does in the short term. In the long term, it depends if the record companies can adapt and how Apple deals with it. The thing is that Apple has no reason to push select bands the way that record companies do. Considering that internet distribution is the future of music, then if it remains more profitable to have a wide array of artists then Apple will keep it as such. However, if it becomes more profitable for them to have a select few, expect to see them copy the record industries' tactics.

If Record industries can get into the digital distribution business then you can expect to see the Download 100's, just like the Billboard 100. But if they can't, or if Apple has no fiscal reason to pursue that route, things will stay as they are.

First, we really have to define rock star. Are rock stars the people who make great, innovative music, those who perfect music that has been around for a while, or those who are masters of media and sensationalism?

He will never have the "wow" impact that Cobain had on popular culture as a whole, but I have seen the White Stripes live several times, and on stage Jack White is a farking rock star.

I totally agree with the headline. And yes, I'm old.

Wow, what a maverick. All those underground, non-commercial bands like Nirvana and Led Zepplin are just soooo different than the shiat that's being released now.

Cobain killed himself because he's a selfish mopey prick.

MisterLoki: He will never have the "wow" impact that Cobain had on popular culture as a whole, but I have seen the White Stripes live several times, and on stage Jack White is a farking rock star.

This is why music is dying.

FueledByEthanol: Fark that farking farkstain upon the farking ass of farking humanity known as motherfarking Kurt farking Cobain. God farking damned overfarkingrated no talent farksmeared assclown. The only farking favor that farkwit did for the farking world of music was fellate a farking 12 gauge. "Corporate rock sucks"... burn in farking hell with a cold farking cock up your farking ass, you farking corporate cum guzzling crackwhore.

/Not a fan of Nirvana

I'd never have guessed.

solokumba: Can you pick out the rock star ?

No, but they are the 2 people that run the local bottle & can redemption center.

Now is a good time for music.

All the guy is saying is that those huge levels of artistic AND commercial success, of era-defining artists, of musicians being stars at all, are a thing of the past. I think we're better off for that - the internet has made the star machine irrelevant.

Inescapable Future of Humanity: In the long term, it depends if the record companies can adapt and how Apple deals with it. The thing is that Apple has no reason to push select bands the way that record companies do. Considering that internet distribution is the future of music, then if it remains more profitable to have a wide array of artists then Apple will keep it as such. However, if it becomes more profitable for them to have a select few, expect to see them copy the record industries' tactics.

If Record industries can get into the digital distribution business then you can expect to see the Download 100's, just like the Billboard 100. But if they can't, or if Apple has no fiscal reason to pursue that route, things will stay as they are.

First, we really have to define rock star. Are rock stars the people who make great, innovative music, those who perfect music that has been around for a while, or those who are masters of media and sensationalism?

But again, IMO you overlook the listener's need to have the diversity of artists pared down to a more manageable level. The labels ultimately have no role in that - take them out of the equation, and most people still don't want to (or don't have the time) to wade through all the bands.

Not to mention that most people seem to be drawn to what others are listening to, anyway. They want to check out what's popular. Which means it is in Apple's interest to offer a "Top Downloads" list - such a list will sell more mp3s, which makes more money for Apple. The long tail is fine for some, but if you can direct people towards content, you probably have a better chance of making a sale.

That said, I don't think the label/promotions/etc industry behind music will ever fall apart. I know many bands who don't want to, or can't, do it all themselves. They want to write and play music - they want someone else to worry about getting the money together for them to record and release material. They want (or need) someone else to handle their promotion, and their booking. Being a talented musician doesn't mean you're good at promoting your material or booking a tour. As long as there are other people involved in the equation, there's more people interested in making sure a band is profitable and popular.

As for "what is a rock star" -- the subject of this interview states that it is about the "shock value, the countercultural impact, the feeling of being electrified by pop music" so the purpose of this discussion, I'd say "rock star" is more about the image and reaction, and less about talent and innovation.

Josh Todd from Buckcherry is a hundred times more of a rock star than Cobain ever was. Cobain HATED rock stars.