Nice to see that those superannuated rock legends, the Rolling Stones, brushed aside the dictates of Chinese censors and bashed out some of their naughtiest tunes at a concert in China. Mind you, I cannot really see these guys going on much longer.
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You cannot keep a good rocker downApril 9th, 2006 |
 39 comments to You cannot keep a good rocker down |
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The concert did appear to be big news. I saw it advertised everywhere when I was in Shanghai last week. I didn’t realise it was their first concert in China though.
Why would the Chinese turn out to see a rock concert played by old guys singing in a language they don’t understand?
In the West, the only people who go to Stones concerts are in the same age group, feeling as rebellious and smug as ever. The only thing worse than seeing 60-something rockers up on the stage would be seeing an audience full of 60-somethings holding up lighted matches. A ghoulish thought.
Verity, give it a miss would you? You are so predictable: were you ever actually young?
I have never liked the Rolling Stones. And in the main, I don’t like rock ‘n’ roll and all that absurd “rebellion”. It is just so crude. I like wossname, though, the one from Chicago. The Silver Bullet Band. Bob Seger.
But if it irritates you, Johnathan, I will stay off this thread. It’s irritating to be enjoying a thread and have a spoiler start haunting it, so out of here. No offence.
The irony is that the Stones are probably playing better now than they ever have before.
The equipment, the experience, the fact that they are still alive and relatively drug free these days adds up to a value for money entertainment.
Not rebellion.
It never really was that rebellious. They were/are more middle class than the Beatles.
No China has nothing to fear. Popular music has gone from pure entertainment, through essential lifestyle statement, back to bung it all on your Ipod mix and match entertainment again.
Bob Seger!!!!
Remember what I said Verity.
Mick Jagger is only one year younger than Cher… incredible.
Seems to me (good) musicians in general are older than ever. Rammstein’s lead singer is 43, and those guys aren’t consider a band of oldies. Its all about look.
I was on the local crew at the Shanghai show and worked as a production runner. To a man every roadie that was asked said that the Stones were playing better shows than they had in years and these guys had to sit through each show for the past year. As far as the crowd was concerned, i would guess that the average age was no more than 40, 70/30 Foreigner to Chinese. There arent that many 60-plus expats in China…
The show itself was excellent, if only too short. I was amazed at what good shape Mick is in, although Ronnie Woods is showing the years just as much as Keith Richards.
Verity, i’ve given the Stones a miss several times over the years dating back to the early 80’s. Seeing them play to 8000 people in Shanghai is much different than going to a show at Giant’s stadium or the like. Everyone at this show knew that this was history in the making. To assume that most Chinese are ignorant of the Stones betrays your own ignorance of China. All the standard hits have been blasting out of pubs in the major cities for years.
In sum, the crew and the band were blown away by Shanghai and all had a great time. The word from the Production Manager was that the Stones adhered to the song ban because they want to come back again.
Datou – I fear you are correct that I know little about the pubs in China. Or the pubs anywhere else, come to that.
“To assume that most Chinese are ignorant of the Stones betrays your own ignorance of China.” No, I read quite a bit about the politics and business scene in China. I didn’t assume they were ignorant of the Rolling Stones. Being trend, stylish people themselves, I assumed that, they would prefer something more trendy – although the Chinese do tend to mimic the West even when they don’t understand it. I remember when The Chippendales came to Singapore. Old grannies with their grandchildren and a babe in arms held by the Filippina maid, young couples sharing a snack, a few single women, everyone watching the gyrations in glum, bored silence.
“Verity, i’ve given the Stones a miss several times over the years dating back to the early 80’s.” Whoaaah! Hold the front page!
Everyone at this show knew that this was history in the making. Is there anything shallower and more provincial in the world than rock ‘n’ roll?
Is there anything shallower and more provincial in the world than rock ‘n’ roll?
I can think of a few. But in any event, that is a strange comment, since rock n’ roll has appealed to young folk all over the world. (The Japanese Elvis impersonators are one of the Wonders of the World).
And when people say “shallow”, what do they really want from music? It is such an emotional thing and generalisations are impossible.
Long live the makers of shallow music the world over.
There is nothing so potent as the scent of cheap music.
I forget who said that, but someone will remember.
Suffice it to say that Bob Seger would still be flipping burgers alongside John Lee Hooker and BB King if it wasn’t for the Rolling Stones.
People are right to understand that they are seeing a bit of(albeit bogus and mythologised) history.
If I have to come back again, I WILL spank!
I believe it was “Funny, the potency of cheap music.” Noel Coward never used 10 words when five would do.
Jonathan – I am not opposed to pop songs being shallow. Shallow is what speaks most directly to most people. That’s how Paul McCartney became a multi squillionaire. Do you read Mark Steyn on lyricists, by the way? His insights are so brilliant, it’s breathtaking.
I have a theory, probably wrong, that rock ‘n’ roll is liked mainly by males. The girls go along because they want to be with their boyfriend and the boyfriend wants to be at a rock concert. I make an exception in David Bowie’s case because he is cerebral and off-centre. But those screaming guitars and all that stupid drumming and shouting is just irritating.
I have a theory, probably wrong, that rock ‘n’ roll is liked mainly by males. The girls go along because they want to be with their boyfriend and the boyfriend wants to be at a rock concert.
Well, it may be that all those silly screaming women at Beatles and Elvis events were a figment of one’s imagination. They looked pretty enthusiastic about the music from what I could see on those old telly re-runs. Of course, they may have been half drunk.
Nope good old Noel wouldn’t
That’s why he wrote a lot of cheap and popular music
and I didn’t.
He was a man from Penge or Piner pretending to be Park Lane. Much like the Rolling Stones.
Have you ever heard David Bowies “Laughing Gnome”
End of that cerebral agruement then!
If Lennon & McCartney equals ‘shallow’ then I really do not know how you would view the antics of Beyonce Knowles and her fellow plastic posse, let alone being able to envisage your reaction to 2 hours of Iron Maiden’s Death on The Road album.
For God’s sake Verity just how old are you? I had you reckoned at around late 40’s – not late 60’s?
I have a theory, probably wrong, that rock ‘n’ roll is liked mainly by males. The girls go along because they want to be with their boyfriend and the boyfriend wants to be at a rock concert.
Well I have been a great deal of rock, hard rock & metal gigs and there are lots of women there. Many of whom, I suspect, would take great exception to someone assuming they were there to be with their boyfriend or pull.
The last sentence is something you would expect some older bloke to say about why girls go to rock gigs. Its just not true; may have been in the 50s but certainly not anymore.
Julian Taylor – Late sixties! Aaarghhh! Thanks a lot! Toodle pip, old bean.
I’ve never had any interest in most popular music, so I only know the biggest, most unavoidable, names. I’ve lived out of Britain for most of my life (leaving when I was very young, Julian Taylor. I was brought up partly in the US and lived there around 10 years as an adult).
AID – Don’t know about the 50s, and don’t know about “pull”, but most women I know don’t have a burning interest in rock concerts – although I do admit that a lot of them go for the spectacular, not the music in particular.
“I have a theory, probably wrong, that rock ‘n’ roll is liked mainly by males. The girls go along because they want to be with their boyfriend and the boyfriend wants to be at a rock concert.”
In my experience as a concert photographer, that is indeed wrong. Many of the musicians _are_ women, and the audiences I’ve seen range from a roughly even split to mostly women.
There is a line in “Good Morning Vietnam”
Something to do with the male anatomy and pleasure, desperately needed by some people to stop them destroying the world.
What was it now? Ah yes that’s it.
And to think that I convinced a particularly dim history student that “He” discovered America.
Well that’s what you need verity, hopefully with knobs on.
When you’re on song your unstoppable.
But by my tally of things you know nothing about.
well it’s up to about seven.
I said that many women go because their boyfriend/husband wants to go. As I would never be caught dead at a rock concert, you can answer this question, Ken Hagler. Does one see groups of women together, or are most of the women half of a couple?
Obviously, my theory might be totally off the wall as I’m not talking from personal experience. I only know a total of one woman who goes to rock concerts. I heard of another one once, but I didn’t know her personally.
I still think the idea of watching 64-year old rebels strutting around the stage defiantly is too ridiculous. Sorry, Jonathan.
Not pointed tward anyone in particular:
It’s about preceived, not actual, chronology. The “old”, well-used expression is: If it’s too loud, you’re too old.
I’m 57 and I like a lot of rockers, including the Stones, Mellencamp and Beach Boys, and I enjoy George Strait, Sawyer Brown and several other country and western singers as well. I also like Mozart and Vivaldi.
So, what do these various people have in common? Well, as I once heard said about Chuck Berry (another favorite), people like songs that tell a story. That’s why those named above have lived on and “disco” died. It took me a while to figure that out about Wolfie and Vivaldi.
It’s still not clear to me why I also like (I believe this is the correct description) East-West Fusion Jazz, such as Hiroshima.
I guess when it comes down to it, musical tastes are so very personal.
“Does one see groups of women together, or are most of the women half of a couple?”
Both, with slightly more groups of women together. Also, when couples are present it’s not uncommon for the women to be musicians themselves.
People shouting down microphones, banging drums and cymbals and screaming guitars have been “too loud” for me since I was a teenager. I can, though, listen to a symphony or an opera at the same decibel level and be totally lost in it.
It’s not the volume, Winger. It’s the content. As you rightly note, taste in music is very personal. Which is why it baffles me that rockers get so offended that one doesn’t share their taste. Am I affronted that they may not like the ballet or that gamelan music drives them up the wall? Of course not!
I have a new theory that I just thought of. People who like rock ‘n’ roll are dog lovers. I betcha!
In order to have taste- you have to try
You patently havent.
Woof woof ,
Down Shep!
It’s actually not uncommon for rock musicians to have backgrounds in classical, opera, and jazz.
Speaking as a cat lover, AND as one of the UK’s most foremost feline cinematographers (think of how many alcohol cat-related adverts you might have seen in the past 5 years in the UK) I’m totally pro Rock n’Roll, with the possible exception of a certain Vancouver-based female rock act that I and Mr Dodge had the misfortune of being exposed to tonight in Highbury …
Uh, yerse …
What did your post mean? If you love cats, your pro-rock’n’rollness is forgiven. I would love it if you’d post videos of your commercials for those of us who don’t live in the UK.
(I have some little stars awaiting your attention. They got born in my house, are not wanted by my cats and will have to leave, so need an income and the publicity.)
Cat lover is one thing, cat owner is something different. I’ve filmed too many primadonna animals in my life to want one in my own home – and that includes actresses as well I’m afraid.
I have even been to gigs that were mostly women in the audience (yeah it was rough…) like Poison, Richard Marx and a few others. Generally at those sort of rock gigs there are horders of “hyped-up” females…the blokes who go to that sort of gig. You do the math.
Julian, Julian, Julian … there is no such thing as a cat owner. Cats walk on their lone. They are not owned.
“Rebels.” (hah) I’m pretty damned sure that someone has only a very dim idea of what’s going on.
‘It’s not the volume, Winger. It’s the content.”
You should have seen Genesis live, kiddo. “Seconds Out” — c. ’78 or so.
I don’t blame you, of course, but you simply haven’t been paying attention, for a long time now.
I have written the review of the gig mention by Julian above; expect it to appear in my column on Blogcritics later in the week.
Music choice is very subjective and varies with age. I find myself far more accepting of all types of music (well except REM who I &^%$ing loath, Coldplay and theri ilk) as I get older.
Louis Armstrong once said that there were only two types of music.
Good and Bad.
Doesn’t matter whether it’s classical or pop.
He also said that 99% of everything is crap.
He was a wise man who knew what a wonderful world this is.
If you know how to look, see and hear right.
Actually, Verity, you raise an interesting point about cats and preferences in music. I wonder if there is a correlation: do the sort of personality types that like cats like, say, classical music more than rock, or vice versa? (I would imagine that cat lovers are more likely to be classical music buffs).
Johnathan: I think that might have been the case in years past but not any more. I am sure that there are rocking cat lovers and much as there are classical loving dog fans.
I think it’s interesting how the article mention how the “40 licks” compilation has only 36 songs in China. That’s the official licensed version available in just a few stores in the entire country. Anybody I can think of in China would buy the bootleg from a cd shop that would cost less than a tenth of the licensed price. And of course, the bootleg would have all 40 songs.
Those of us who live in countries with more efficent governments sometimes get the impression that 3rd world regimes are always more reppresive than 1st. We shouldn’t forget that the reach of some of these illiberal governments far exceeds their grasp and that in many situations the people in poor countries are often much freer than we are.
Benjamin, that’s a good point. I remember reading an article a few years ago about the anti-immigration people in the US. One of the points the author made was that Americans might actually be better off with Mexican cops than American cops, because you can at least bribe Mexican cops to leave you alone.
Yes, I love the fact that LA cops are perfectly happy to round-up Brits who have overstayed when they watch footie in a pub but they don’t have the cojones to boot out illegals protesting if they happen to speak Spanish.
Andrew, LA cops actually aren’t supposed to be doing that. LAPD’s official policy is to let the Feds enforce their own stupid rules, because they don’t want to do anything that would kill their ability to make arrests.
As I understand it, if the bigots in the House actually got their proposed law passed, LAPD would not only be required to arrest those Brits (who, in this case, are also “illegal”) but also to book them for felonies.
That’s actually something people in the UK ought to keep in mind if that immigration violation as felony nonsense ever got passed–US immigration law and the INS is such a mess that it’s practically impossible to _not_ become “illegal” if you’re here for any length of time.