Stones rip? etc...

[Toby Elwin <taelwin@bigfoot.com>]

I guess it can only be natural to draw a parallel to The Stones.  What 
other band has lasted so long or could we begin to try to find inspiration, 
as Who fans, of what to do and what not to do but by comparison to The 
Stones? That being said, the history of the two are all we have:  the 
growing old "gracefully", the rock and roll into their 50's, their birth in 
the 60's.

I do like The Stones, even like "Bridges" CD and my Stones collection does 
include "Tattoo You" and Sticky Fingers BUT, it is the same old, since the 
"Tattoo", there is nothing new from The Stones.  They have not said 
anything insightful (personally) since Brian Jones.  (I do not want to open 
up another Stones bashing), what you get from The Stones is the same old, 
same old: a bluesy-slinky-funky song with sex as the core, by someone old 
enough to come across in any other presentation, as my perverted 
grandfather - who I would not listen to if he started going on about sex 
either.  SO, buy a Stones album and there are not many surprises, it is 
exactly what you expect...not a bad thing.

Whither stands The Who.  They claim that it is easy to duplicate their 
sound at "Who's Next", allegedly there is an album that was canned by The 
Who, because it sounded too much like "Who's Next".  This is our dilemma as 
Who fans.  "Tommy" sounds nothing like "Live at Leeds", which sounds 
nothing like "Who's Next", which sounds nothing like "Quadrophenia", which 
sounds nothing like "Who by Numbers" - brilliant catalog that it is, none 
of them are rehashes or similar.  I can think of no stretch of albums that 
too many other bands can lay claim to as equal.

It is funny, to me, that the integrity Pete fought for in his music 
throughout the 70's and beyond, he unabashedly, maybe sardonically, now has 
come to peddling himself and his catalog in the 90's.  With frequent 
comments on the bottom line almighty dollar in his pocket.  This guy is a 
quote master and a man amongst men, he is never afraid to open up, to 
contradict himself - in a self-depravating way too, to just be human, which 
is to be fallible.

So, I promise, no more psych couch sessions from me.  And no more Stones 
talk.

Musically if I hear
No more Paul McCartney,
No more Eric Clapton,
No more Rolling Stones,
No more Elton John, and
No more Santana, future releases,
I will die a happy man.




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