Train Kept a Rollin' - Prediction, 2004 Will Be 'Even Better Than Grunge'
Since late last year, it seems early 90's culture has been VERY slowly creeping back into our consciousness.
Early 90's 'Grunge' hysteria couldn't honestly last long, because it was basically very indie and anti-establishment and yet it was totally "in kahootz" with the traditional recording biz. It was a contradiction. Some bands realized this. Pearl Jam for example, eventually stopped talking to the press and they drifted out of the spotlight.
Starting in 1994 or 1995 or so, the music business started it's move towards pop again. The Telecom Act of 1996 lead to more concentration of radio ownership. Greed, I believe lead to less diversity and the weak stewardship of musical artists/producers.
The trend towards monopolization is common in a free market economy. Our society used to be well aware of this dangerous trend. We used to have laws protecting the general welfare from special interest monopolization. We dropped the ball. The Telecom Act of 1996 was a staggering failure - in telecom and in radio.
For the past 4 years, big corporate radio and TV have been pushing the 80's "Reaganesque" aesthetic.
The truth is, the 80's didn't work. It led to a very bad recession in the early 90's. I was about 20 years old. I think it hit my peer group particularly hard. I remember it VERY well. For some of us, it was hell on Earth.
So after a big nationwide 80's rehash in the late 90's and 2000, here we are having trouble again. A slow economy, huge government debt, a second war with Iraq.
So the operative question is, do we get off of our behinds and vote down the Bush Legacy? You know, I mean...AGAIN. - Gary Santoro
P.S. Thanks to Ottmar Liebert for the Photos.
1993 - Grungemenco.  This photo might be from our Mexico City show in 1993. 8,000 people came to see us at the Auditorio Nacional. [Ottmar Liebert]
11:52:14 PM 
|
