Rock Never Matters And What If It Did

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Anybody read the incoherent, ramblin' piece on Salon that's allegedly about Joe Strummer?

http://www.salon.com/ent/music/feature/2003/01/03/strummer/index.html

The guy hypothesizes that rock really needs somebody that matters (gee, that's a new idea). Personally, I feel that there plenty of people in the underground today (Conor Oberst, Ian MacKaye, Sleater-Kinney) that fufill whatever punk values Joe Strummer ever did. But the question I really wanna ask is whether A)Rock matters and) if it doesn't, why doesn't it and did it ever?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 3 January 2003 20:53 (twenty-two years ago)

We got a thread about that going right here.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

amateurist! that's a music-related thread! ILM should have it!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 3 January 2003 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

also, I'm asking a more specific question. I'm glad to see others are already laughing at the article though.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I know, my mistake.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Rock never mattered to me nearly as much as music.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

anthony actually ppl are welcome to post music threads on ile. music IS part of everything. it just depends what crowd you want to answer.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

What is the difference between the ILM and ILE crowds?

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Jess hates one more.

― dwh (dwh), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks for clearing up the ILM/ILE dichotomy for me, Sterling. I have to admit I've never been sure how that works. Though my question (which is really just curiousity about whether anybody here mythologizes "the glory of rock" at all - rock as triumphant punk Greil Marcus creamin' glory), definitely seems more suited for people who would rather take Music over Everything.

There is a subtle difference between ILM and ILE. I think ILE is nicer. Which is probably why I tend to post more where my penchant for pissy little nuthin's seems less out of place.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I suppose it really depends on your definition of "matters". If, by "matters", you mean "is really capable of affecting positive, practical social change," I'd have to say.....well, 'no' really, or at least not in a manner beyond posssibly raising awareness (although if it takes a rock song to make you aware of social injustice, perhaps you need to get out more.) If someone is clued in via a rock song or the opinions espoused by their favorite rockstar/artist/singer/whatever, so much the better, but I'm left questioning the reasons behind their actions. Are they denouncing or espousing the cause merely because they perceive it to be hip (via its endorsement from the rockstar in question)? How many people ran out and bought BRIGADE ROSSE shirts merely because Strummer used to wear one (I confess....I own one)? It's like Rage Against the Machine putting Che Guevara on their t-shirts....your average big-trousered RATM fan probably has no idea who Che was nor what he stood for.

I think if the artists in question really wanted to affect some semblance of social or political changes, they'd choose more practical avenues than picking up a slogan-smeared guitar.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I think ILE is nicer because it is convivial because it feels more like a pub and you can't be nasty to people in a pub; whereas, and I'm not sure if it's always been like this, because they're are a lot of people who don't know a lot of the people here on ILM it feels less like a little commune and more like, y'know, a message board - there's some subtle distinction, be it more trolls on ILM or whatever, which makes it feel like the burger which hasn't been mixed and ILE like the burger meat + the egg yolk ie some sorta crap same ingredients but some ultimately gelling constituent analogy is at work.

― dwh (dwh), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Or matters = makes you think, which I prefer to 'social change'.

― dwh (dwh), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm confused...is this NOT ILM?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the EDGE: Online Discussion Forum, why aren't you talking about computer games?

― dwh (dwh), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh how I detest the RATM video for "Renegades of Funk" which sets hip-hoppers like Queen Latifah and Run-D.M.C. and anonymous NYC breakdancers alongside Che Guevera and Marcus Garvey and Angela Davis (I think Lech Walesa might be in there too), apparently presuming they were all part of some unified revolutionary program.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

In RATM's worldview, anything having to do with black culture/history = funky!

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

This is why RATM are so deliciously punchable.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Good post, Alex.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Everything anyone does ever is part of one unified revolutionery movement.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

And we go round and round and round, in the circle game...

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Conor Oberst for County Water Commissioner!

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:06 (twenty-two years ago)

By the way, what do (did) U2 stand for? I keep seeing them mentioned as the band that "stood for something." But what they stood for is never mention. So, what? Seriously.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Vanity? (seriously)

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 3 January 2003 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Big mirrored lemons.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 3 January 2003 23:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Bono is bucking for sainthood. He's checking off his list and sweeping up.

― jack cole (jackcole), Friday, 3 January 2003 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)

What about the Plastic People? Or "Modern Love" in Panama? I wonder if this guy's into Queensryche. They sang about all the issues, man.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 3 January 2003 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

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