[prev] Sat, 07 Jul 2007 11:31:32 -0400 [next] [music] - [comment]
Roger Daltrey, singer from 1970s British rock band The Who, told British newspaper The Sun in May that "the last thing the planet needs is a rock concert."
Who's really unaware about the problems caused by climate change? Presumably people who haven't watched television, listened to the radio or picked up a newspaper in the past year. I'm sure they'll hear about this though.
While looking out for the environment definitely isn't a terrible cause to champion, let's hope the next fad crusade is headed up by less politicians and rock stars.
1 - Roger Daltrey, who has been getting paid off of the corpse of the Who since Kieth Moon died (even wanted to do a new album after John Entwhistle passed), is in no position to tell anyone that a concert is unneeded.
2 - Lots of people are clearly unaware about climate change when our own government goes out of their way to make it seem like there's still debate on the issue.
3 - More importantly, people and corporations with a lot of money to spend have a vested interest to keep people misinformed
4 - Therefore, this seems like a worthy cause and I have no problem with Al Gore or anybody using their celebrity to shed light on a worthy cause where people with a lot of money have a vested interested to keep people misinformed.
5 - In practice, however, it seems kinda crappy. This Carson Daly hosted concert coverage I'm watching right now is difficult to watch. When Zach Braff introduced (his friend) John Mayer by saying "His music is powered by true talent and his tour bus is powered by biodiesel," I kind of wanted to stab myself in the ear with a knitting needle.
6 - That being said, seeing a reunited Crowded House perform "Don't Dream it's over" to a packed stadium in Australia or a reunited Police or Genesis performing sold old songs is kind of cool
7 - That being said, seeing a reunited Black Eyed Peas performing "where is the love" or seeing a reunited Smashing Pumpkins performing some new songs is very uncool
8 - I think my feelings on this thing can best be summed up by this one thing I saw in the coverage:
Alicia Keys was about to cover "Mercy Me (The Ecology)" by Marvin Gaye and commented that it's messed up that the song was written over 30 years ago and still has relevancy. She was right, but then she (with the help of John Legend and Corrine Bailey Rae) completely murdered the crap out of it.
Didn't the Who just do a massive tour? Did they walk it or something? I'm guessing not.
Yeah, the worst thing about this concert for me was how crappy and disjointed and whorish the line-ups were. I realize they were trying to get as big an audience as possible, but they definitely lacked some kind of extra WOW factor.
I think Roger (yes, we're on a first name basis) may have been suggesting that "the Earth" would not benefit from a rock concert, which is apparently what this whole Live Earth weenie roast is/was about.
Now if he had said, "my wallet" would not benefit from "our last tour", you might have something on him.
The concerts are over by now (right?) and the good Earth is still here, so kudos to the organizers/politicos/rock stars/etc., yes?
OK, but if his whole amazing point is that large concerts are bad for the environment, and OH MY GOD, this is supposed to be a concert FOR the environment, then he's just making an obvious point in a particularly cranky way.
I mean, would he be more comfortable with a movement calling for an end to all big rock concerts? I doubt it, because that would be considered the kind of extremism that alienates people from this kind of cause, right? It seemed to me that the point was to raise awareness. Driving no cars is better than driving hybrid cars. But selling "drive a hybrid!" is a lot easier and more realistic than selling "stop driving!" -- this is kind of similar is that respect.
Arguing effectiveness is one thing, but categorically dismissing for no reason other than to be a cranky sod (since it's not like Daltrey is making a stand; he's "just saying," with the implicit message of "do nothing") is of no interest to me.