Bob writes:

The Stooges begat Punk, Punk begat Grunge, Grunge
begat Alt, and the 
fucking
backlash begat Spearsd/Backstreet/Celine...

I say:

Since e-mail is absent of tone, sometimes it is tough
to know whether posters are being sarcastic or sincere
-- but I certainly hope this one was supposed to be
tongue-in-cheek.  To suggest that, not only are
successful quality artists like Nirvana responsible
for the crop of imitators immediately thrown at us by
labels looking to capitalize on the current fashion,
but that they are also responsible for any trend that
appears as a reaction AGAINST said fashionable genre? 
Wow...that's putting a lot on the shoulders of a bunch
of guys or girls who just wanted to get their music
heard. 

Look at what was on the charts immediately before
grunge/alt-rock: Milli Vanilli, New Kids on the Block,
Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Poison, Motley Crue, Taylor
Dayne, Rick Astley.  Sounds a lot like today's
Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, Christina, Brittany, Pink,
Linkin Park, Korn, Celine, etc.

Or go back a decade earlier and see what the first
generation of punk itself was reacting to: Starland
Vocal Band, Terry Jacks, Andy Gibb, Debby Boone,
disco, etc., as well as bands that were no longer in
any way connected to their audiences -- the heavy
metal/hard rock excesses (lifestyle and stylistic) of
acts like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, the wall of
synths and/or tales of elves, faeries, and hobbits
from the prog bands.

Getting back to having a real relationship with your
audience.  Bringing the classic guitar-bass-drums
combination back to popular music.  Taking a stand on
issues that mean something to you.  Keeping your shows
affordable.  Puncturing the pretenses of corporate
culture.
Wow, punk rock ruined the glory that was
mid-to-late-70s popular music?  Who knew?

--Shawn

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