I recently saw a “Where are they now” thing on VH1 and learned that formerly megapopular rock group Blondie has re-formed and is making the rounds. “Call Me,” “Heart of Glass,” and so on are quintessential, full-on classics, but the modern incarnation of Blondie is just embarrassing. Debbie Harry in particular struck me as listless, bored, and not altogether there.
Elton John used to be a dynamic, ground-breaking performer. He has any number of all-time great songs, essential Desert Island disks. But a few years ago, he was kidnapped and replaced with a faux version, a fellow who’s likeable enough but who has started to churn out the same uninspired, sedate music over and over. It boggles the mind to think that the same artist who gave us “Honky Cat” and “Have Mercy on the Criminal” could have turned into someone who would create “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
Sting has remained vital. Billy Joel recognized when he’d finished his run and has turned to classical music. Why can’t the Rolling Stones just hang it up?
I wouldn’t mind if the lumbering carcass of Duran Duran would give up the ghost.
I was watching “Best of Hard Rock Live” and saw an old Hootie and the Blowfish clip. Did they quit? Haven’t heard them pump out another one of their chipper, samey-sounding good-time numbers in a few years.
I was a Yes fan many years ago. 6 months I saw them on TV while I was in Circuit City. They looked so f**king sad. Chris Squire looked just like my mom. These guys should have quit 20 years ago.
The Rolling Stones should have quit 10 years before Yes.
At least KISS is hanging it up at the end of this year (I hope). As for the Stones, Mick and Keith just love money so much much that they’re afraid to stop touring in fear of not getting even more millions. At least Mick has a good excuse what, with all those super-model spawned children of his. Keith has to keep it up as part of his deal with the devil.
I just saw in the Sunday paper that The Who is touring again. How many times have they “retired” only to return when the money runs out?? I have never liked them in the least…no talent hacks IMO.
I saw Blondie August of '99. My God. She was so hot in 1979 and now…Blah! She looks 20 years older than she is, her clothes were at least 3 sizes too small, so tight she could hardly move. Tight skirts aren’t sexy when the woman in them is 40 pounds overweight. Then she hit some really bad notes. Like nails on a chalk board! Auugh! Then she bent down at the waist so the cameras from the video screens could zoom down her blouse.:eek: Like 2 bananas that went bad! Give it up lady.
Elton John…bleeeccch, I agree. He WAS great and then something happened.
Same for Blondie, Jon Bon Jovi, and the Rolling Stones.
I was never a big fan of Duran Duran anyway.
I’m tired of Madonna. I especially loathed her after her horrible cover of “American Pie”.
Who else do I wish would go away? The Stone Temple Pilots, for one. I wish “Everything You Want” by Vertical Horizon would go away. I’m glad Hootie and the Blowfish went away and I wish Sugar Ray would follow their lead.
As for Britney Spears, I wish the world was flat and she was sailing off the edge.
Happened to catch Jeff Beck doing a couple of numbers (err…songs that is) on tv a couple of nights ago and Holy Smoke !!! was he on form.
Not only is the man still alive but (rather an achievement) but is he kicking.
“So was was it like taking over from Eric in the Yardbirds, Jeff ?” “Err…can’t remember”
“So, what did you say to the Stones when you turned them down ?” “Err…can’t remember”
"So I phoned Jim (Jimmy Page) and asked him to knock out the bass for us for a while, he said great "
<–/h/jack–>
The greatest waste of rock (and bluesy) talent I can think of at the moment is one Rodney Stewart. Just the perfect rock singer in The Faces - and before that with Long John Baldry - but he just had to go and do the waving his arse pop star thing. Terrible shame.
I just saw KISS this weekend. It was an outdoor show and 100 degrees when the show started. It was hard enough being a fan, but you couldn’t tell the heat was bothering them at all. I hope I look that good on my 51st birthday. But anyway, yes, I’m glad they are retiring before they can’t rock anymore.
Metallica should have given it up after …And Justice For All.
Aerosmith should have given it up after Pump, arguably before. (Certainly before the Alicia Silverstone videos.)
I’m of the unpopular opinion that the Grateful Dead should have given it up when Brent died, in 1990 (I think). I’ve heard Phil say that he didn’t think they ever really “caught the fire” again after that. I agree.
The Stones should have given it up when Keith Richards died. (Oh yeah, he’s dead. They’re controlling him with strings.)
I paid good money to see The Who’s “farewell” tour! I understood this to mean that it was my last chance ever to see them. I wouldn’t have gone otherwise.
I want my money back!
Maybe I can sue…Any interested attorneys out there?
Well, Elton John and Rod Stewart have been mentioned already. Those two make me wanna cry.
She isn’t a rock star, but I wish Diana Ross would hang it up. “Oh, I’m such a big star! I’m sooo important!” Gimme a break. When was the last hit you had? 1979? She used to be so beautiful, and now, between the plastic surgery and the hair extensions and the skintight clothes and the pancake makeup, she looks like a old hag in drag. Bad drag.
He seems to have gone the way of Elton John; all sappy and drab songs, writing tunes for Disney, etc. Hopefully those crap songs in Tarzan will be the last we hear from him.
