When I was into Rock as a teenager, when Grunge came out, it broke my heart.
A betrayal of everything that Rock meant to me, and still does.
A betrayal of all the joy, all the soaring hope and meaningful depth.
Depth means nothing when it's nothing but despair.
There was a deep, deep channel of soul and depth that ran from Dylan in 1965 to Pink Floyd and Jefferson Starship all the way to the best lightning-in-a-bottle tracks of Guns n' Roses and late-80's Whitesnake, on the same albums as the best late-80s metal and hard rock, a deep channel of soul and vibrant life that was weakened after Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin's day passed but was still alive, still alive when I was a child in the days of Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, and Guns n' Roses.
There was a shout of joy from back in 1957 that was very much still alive in 1989.
Grunge was great at being Grunge, once Pearl Jam figured out what Grunge was great at- which is telling sad stories.
There have been some great grunge masterpieces telling sad stories.
But Grunge is very bad at being Rock and Roll!
Rock and Roll is supposed to be fun!
Rock and Roll is supposed to be a joy!
Grunge killed Rock and Roll by taking all the joy and fun out of it!
(Punk didn't help! (*Except Patti Smith!!!))
Pete Townshend of The Who told us that if we ever needed it, Rock and Roll could save the world.
But when we needed it, Rock and Roll was dead, and so Britney Spears had to save the world with Pop instead.
For in Pop the joy could be still found.
Please, if you want to bring back Rock and Roll, reject Grunge seriousness- which is great for telling sad stories, which is what Grunge is great at- and put the fun and the joy back in Rock and Roll!
Then, once you have brought back the fun and the joy, go listen to Brian Wilson, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Patti Smith- among others- and put the art in it as well!
But first put the joy and the fun back in it! Because Rock and Roll cannot live without its joy and fun!
God loves you!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson