Alternative rock is an odd place for odd people
The rise is never a given, but the fall is inevitable. History is a horrible thing that always seems to make sense, lock in perfectly, and belong to some other species, one less forgiving than others. In truth, it not only shapes who we all are, inevitably. These are stories that we could all have been villains or heroes in.
Uncredited musicians, or ghost musicians, make the music industry go round. Or, at the very least, they make the job of the producer’s life a whole lot easier. Recording iconic albums seems to involve plenty of requirements – talents, inspiration, showing up. Unreliable and sometimes unremarkable, some famous rockstars needed to be cut out of their own songs.
“Black” by Pearl Jam was meant to be a deep cut off of the juggernaut album “Ten,” one of the most important of the grunge era. Instead, it became one of the group’s most famous and enduring tunes, not least of all because of the emotionality introduced by singer Eddie Vedder in the performance and lyrics.
Oasis compared themselves to The Beatles in the way that a crazy person would convince you that they are the reincarnation of Napoleon or Jesus Christ. But the bold statement didn’t get them locked up or banned from ever visiting Liverpool. It made them Britain’s most successful group of the 90s. Yes, some people hate Oasis with a passion.
Motley Crue, the famous American pop-metal band, can be appreciated in one of two ways. The first, is to listen to the band’s music, and this is usually the least popular. The second, and much more glamorous, is to read/listen to the non-canonical mythology of Motley Crue’s Head PR and bassist Nikki Sixx.
Rock songs about dogs are often written as those about cars, girls, or even losing your job. But they call them “man’s best friend” for a reason, and eventually, most songwriters will attempt to write a tune about their four-legged, furry companion. Or, they’ll use them as inspiration or a metaphor for something more sinister.
Nickelback was the last of its kind – a rock band capable of taking guitar tunes to the top of the charts, yet seemingly hated by everyone who loved guitar songs.
A certain segment of the public saved for Nickelback the kind of loathing usually reserved for someone who runs over your dog with their pick-up truck. The Canadian foursome made being the biggest band in the world seem unappealing. They were internet punchlines and online sensations.
Pearl Jam songs always had an anthemic quality to them. Either when played behind rushing electric guitars or half-whispered by singer Eddie Vedder, the tunes could pull at the heartstrings of fans. “Just Breathe” is one those songs, and one whose meaning has been debated over the years.
Led Zeppelin, as the premier rock band of the 1970s, received royal treatment wherever its band members went, while stories and myths accompanied them also. Of those, few are more famous than the mud shark incident.
The image of the “Hermit” found “Led Zeppelin IV,” the hard-rock band’s most successful album, has only helped lend to the band’s mysterious image over the years. The decision to package the album with artwork that did not even mention the band’s name was a calculated risk.