Why don't rockstars die out gracefully?

Matthewthebig

I just started this thread because i was wondering why don't rockstars die out gracefully? It just strikes me why do people release best of albums with a new track or another live album or in the worst case a seriously sub par album or in the case of Ozzy start a ****ing ,scripted, tv show. just fade into normality. does anyone agree

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

money.

..
i don't mean to cause offense, but that was a very stupid question.

mike65

Yep there's always the comeback tour, rapper collaboration, best of comp. to plug on tv. It never ends.

Mike.

mp3guy

nah, the commercial rock stars don't die out gracefully. Cliff Burton, now theres a way to go

Robbo

Somehow, I think telling a record company that "through the window of a bus" was your exit policy might irk them a little...

Karl Hungus

It all depends really... I mean, there's loads of people who say the likes of Iron Maiden and Saxon should call it a day, but there's loads more who think that they still rock hard as they did 20 years ago.

ferdi

http://www.betterguitar.com/Thoughts/Thoughts5.html

Doctor J

Why should they? As long as there are ignorant saps to exploit who'll buy your action figure I say EXPOLIT THE IGNORANT! People that stupid don't deserve money, so why shouldn't Ozzy make money off American ignorants and American ignorant wannabes worldwide. He's gone through enough hard times, he deserves a break. Now that he gets it people start whining and complaining. **** it, bless you Ozzy, you've given me so many good times, you owe me nothing. Plus, if you enjoy staggering on stage to sold out arenas and rambling through your greatest hits while the merch stand cha-chings then let the good times roll. Lap it up. I wouldn't begrudge any musician success and good fortune. Ozzy has been in the game long enough to know to ride the good wave, it's taken long enough to arrive.

Anyone who expects a middle aged man to write music with the same quality and intensity as they did when they were in their late teens or early twenties is always going to be disappointed. Rich old men don't think and feel the same way poor young men do. It's just how it goes. I mean, Metallica these days are just an embarrasment, but the first four albums are among the finest I can think of. Much as I hate anyting they've done in the last ten years I wouldn't begrudge them their current success. I vainly hope they will one day put out something good again but I don't expect it. They've put out enough quality in the past, more than most bands could ever do. Fair play to them. I'd rather they sold another **** record than Westlife.

Karl Hungus

Metallica is a bad example there Doctor J. Look at the last Exodus album, cracking feirce stuff right there.

Doctor J

I see your Tempo Of The Damned and I raise you The Art Of Dying

A fair point. But Exodus put out the limp Force Of Habit too. Both Death Angel and Exodus split up for the best part of ten years before returing to their heavier roots. Even Chuck Schuldiner had moved away from extreme music towards the end, favouring a more melodic approach with Control Denied. Slayer's quality dipped alarmingly during the 90's and a lot of the other great Metal bands of the 80's just dissolved. I think there are few bands out there who can keep together and keep a high level of quality control whicle maintaing a steady output over the course of 20 years.

I mean, Metal is possibly the most physically demanding style of music to play. It's like a pro footballer staying at the peak of their game for 20 years, it just doesn't happen that often. You have to expect that people will develop physically and mentally and, as a result, their music will change too, sadly for the worse more ofthen than not. Most of the bands who are still putting out harder music never met with much success (ie the level where they don't have to get a day job) in the first place. Those who are truly professional tend to mellow with age, that's just the way it seems to go. Still, there isn't a Metal band out there who've not paid their dues big time by the time they meet with even limited success so if they make it big, get rich and sell out, I TBH couldn't hold it against them. I may despise their current music and how disrespectfully they play their old tunes but hey, they're only human (and frequently American, it's in their culture to sell out).

For an eye opening read, check out Jason Ward from Flotsam & Jetsam and his 20 Questions from a few years back on Metal Sludge. Hard ****ing times man, most people don't realise just how hard the average Metal band has it.

Don't get me wrong, I hate it when a formerly great band serves up slop and goes for an easy life, but I'd never hold it against anyone.

luckat

Mostly they don't grow old at all - they damage their hearts by taking cocaine, and so die young.

Sarky

Karl Hungus wrote:

It all depends really... I mean, there's loads of people who say the likes of Iron Maiden and Saxon should call it a day, but there's loads more who think that they still rock hard as they did 20 years ago.

You were at Iron Maiden last December too, and I think the term you used was "F*cking awesome!" (for the record, that was still the best damn playing of Fear Of The Dark I have ever heard...)

Some bands manage it, some don't. I think the likes of AC/DC or ZZ Top are still very good bands, and they've been going for, what, 25 years or more? It might be down to how well the members get on with eachother.