“Rock and Roll is dead, Rock and Roll is dead”-- Jim Morrison

As a child of the 80’s I have witnessed first hand the slow agonizing death of rock music. The days of originality and substance have started to fade away and what we’ve been left with is an industry built on looks and fabrication. Am I wrong to say that most of the new bands of today seem like they have been built in a factory and all from the same mold. What happen to doing things your way and not letting someone else tell you how to dress, how to play and what songs to sing. Don’t get me wrong, I know there is still a hand full of bands out there that break the rules but would we ever see these bands on T.V.? Probably not!!!

I think Mtv nailed it years ago with the release of their first video called “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles. After that, rock music has turned into a runway for supermodels and the days of stars built on talent and not looks came to a crashing end. Do you think Janis Joplin would have made it in today’s music industry? How about the other musicians from the 60’s and 70’s that could absolutely blow the roof off the building with their vocals, but would probably crack the mirror if ever placed in front of one? Even the bands that established themselves years ago feel the pressure of our growing thin society. Ann Wilson is one of the best female vocalists ever placed in front of a mic, but her weight issues have made her reluctant over the years to go back on tour with Heart. I’m glad to see that she is finally back out there sticking it to the man.

Now my second lash at the current music industry. American Idol. I’m sorry, but this is some of the biggest crap ever put on television. Yeah, most of the people on there are nice to look at, but I wouldn’t pay to hear them sing. This show is Karaoke at it’s finest. How about letting these kids sing songs that they want to sing and not a night of Barry Manilow? Even the ones on there that have talent are forced to sing crap week after week. Come on people, Taylor Hicks over Chris Daughtry, give me a break. Then you have the three judges or should I say the Three Stooges. It’s one thing to tell these kids that they are bad night after night if you have some credibility, but I don’t think “Vibology” and “Opposites Attract” make you an expert in music. And where in the Hell is Paula getting her drugs? She says the same thing every night and none of it makes any sense whatsoever. The only one that gets it right on there is Simon. I don’t know where he teleported from, but he at least tells these kids what they need to work on, not constantly telling them they are great like Paula and Randy.

Mtv killed the radio star and Simon Cowell and American Idol threw it in a coffin and buried it 6 feet under! Lets’ bring back the substance of Rock & Roll before it turns into a total machine like Jim Morrison predicted almost 40 years ago.