Classic Rock Musings, Rants & Raves

Recently, I was combing through a pile music message board discussions and came across an intriguing topic: Mystique and its place in the rock. It sprang forth from an interview with some disenchanted guitar player (who shall remain anonymous) who believes the Internet has destroyed any mystique an artist might have. His argument is that now everyone has a web site, a MySpace, a YouTube, a blog, a clothing line — essentially 24-hour coverage of their every move and action. Well, only if that’s what they want. I mean, well-known figures can certainly escape the limelight if they so chose. The Internet just makes it easier not to.

Anyway, a lot of people seemed to agree with this guy, but I wasn’t one of them. I contend that the mystique of rock and roll died with MTV, not the Internet. If anything, the Internet is an extension of what MTV did in the early 80s — make artists more accessible to the public. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is solely left to the discretion of the artist and the type of image he, she or they are hoping to project (you know, a regular at all the hot spots or a hermit hiding in their mansion).

Before MTV, bands like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin were shrouded in mystery — putting albums out every two or three years without pictures, little press and not much else to go on. Fans would go for months, if not years, without hearing a word about their favorite band. Rumors might filter in through Rolling Stone or Creem. Then, out of nowhere, a full page ad in the Times for a five-night stand at the Forum or Sports Arena. One run through and they were gone for another two or three years. And there was no update on a web page or blog to tell you what was going to happen next. You just had to wait.

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