Towelie Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 (edited) This is an excerpt from a new interview conducted by his son. If you want to read the whole interview http://www.esquire.com/bl...re-of-rock GS: Here's a frightening thought: from 1958 to 1983, name 100 musical anythings that are iconic, that seem to last beyond their time. NS: The Beatles, The Stones... GS: Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, the Stones, Jimi Hendrix, the numerous classic Motown artists, Madonna, U2, Prince, Pink Floyd... The list goes on. Individuals, all unanimously considered classic, timeless, revolutionary. Now from '84 until today, name some. Just give me a few artists that, even after their passing, are or will be inescapable. Artists on the same level as the ones I just mentioned. Even if you don't like them, they will be impossible to avoid, or deny, even after they've stopped making music and maybe passed on. In fact, they become bigger when they stop. Name artists that even compare with the ones I just named. NS: Nirvana? GS: Nirvana. That's about it. They are the notable exception. Keep thinking. It's harder, isn't it, to name artists with as much confidence? The pickings are so slim, and it's not an arbitrary difference. There was a 10- to 15-year period in the '60s and '70s that gave birth to almost every artist we now call "iconic," or "classic." If you know anything about what makes longevity, about what makes something an everlasting icon, it's hard to find after that. The craft is gone, and that is what technology, in part, has brought us. What is the next Dark Side of the Moon? Now that the record industry barely exists, they wouldn't have a chance to make something like that. There is a reason that, along with the usual top-40 juggernauts, some of the biggest touring bands are half old people, like me. Edited September 8, 2014 by Towelie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broskirose Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Can we just have one thread for the dumb shit Gene Simmons says?I mean no offense, but does anyone even care? It's just Gene Simmons. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovim Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Can we just have one thread for the dumb shit Gene Simmons says?I mean no offense, but does anyone even care? It's just Gene Simmons.Great idea. Keep his old farts and shit organized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalsh327 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Paul Stanley even said to not listen to all the things Gene says in interviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Van Halen, GNR, Nirvana, Faith No More, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine, Oasis. Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails.Maybe iconoclastic became like the new shit. Kill your Idols. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Drama Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Can we just have one thread for the dumb shit Gene Simmons says?I mean no offense, but does anyone even care? It's just Gene Simmons. Great idea. Keep his old farts and shit organized.But he's right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNRS Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Just because Gene's taste in music stopped evolving doesn't mean everyone else's did as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovim Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Can we just have one thread for the dumb shit Gene Simmons says?I mean no offense, but does anyone even care? It's just Gene Simmons. Great idea. Keep his old farts and shit organized.But he's right.lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknroll41 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 iconic artists post-1984?Guns N' RosesNirvanaPearl JamSmashing Pumpkins Alice in ChainsSoundgardenStone Temple PilotsRadioheadWeezerWhite ZombieRage Against the MachineLinkin Park (the first record)White StripesThe StrokesGreen Day (until they became shit)Nine Inch NailsRed Hot Chili PeppersOasis...does Gene need me to go on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moreblack Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Can we just have one thread for the dumb shit Gene Simmons says?I mean no offense, but does anyone even care? It's just Gene Simmons. Great idea. Keep his old farts and shit organized.But he's right.lolGene Simmons has never been right about anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevelle Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Of course it's harder for newer artists to acheive that legendery, 'inescapable' status. They came after that crop of classic, ubiquitous bands that already left that mark; so in that respect they'll always have someone else to be compared to. It was much easier to become legendary when you were one of the first bands to do what you did, and well, in a pre-internet world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovim Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Of course it's harder for newer artists to acheive that legendery, 'inescapable' status. They came after that crop of classic, ubiquitous bands that already left that mark; so in that respect they'll always have someone else to be compared to. It was much easier to become legendary when you were one of the first bands to do what you did, and well, in a pre-internet world.Give it 50 years. May be harder to become a legend in this day and age, but in every generation or most generations, legends are born. The way to become a legend and the right kind of people and great timing are all factors to becoming a legend. It will happen again imo, cause throughout history from Mozart to Hendrix, people always discovered a new legend, and the need to label something as that is always present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towelie Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share Posted September 8, 2014 (edited) iconic artists post-1984? Guns N' Roses Nirvana Pearl Jam Smashing Pumpkins Alice in Chains Soundgarden Stone Temple Pilots Radiohead Weezer White Zombie Rage Against the Machine Linkin Park (the first record) White Stripes The Strokes Green Day (until they became shit) Nine Inch Nails Red Hot Chili Peppers Oasis ...does Gene need me to go on? Stone Temple Pilots? Linkin Park? The Strokes??? If you seriously believe any of the bands you mentioned are as legendary or will have as much of a lasting impact as the likes of Michael Jackson, The Beatles, The Stones, Hendrix etc then you are seriously deluded. Edited September 8, 2014 by Towelie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) All the bands Gene mentions are massive drug addicts. I think adding Van Halen, GNR, Nirvana, Britney, Jay Z, Beyonce and Snoop Dogg is enough.Back to stalls Gene, money be calling. Edited September 9, 2014 by wasted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Drama Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 iconic artists post-1984?Guns N' RosesNirvanaPearl JamRadioheadRage Against the MachineJack WhiteGreen DayRed Hot Chili PeppersOasis...does Gene need me to go on?There's your icons. And I just killed a lot of my favourite bands off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixes Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 MetallicaFugaziRun DMC2PacPixiesThe CureArcade FireBon JoviBlack FlagWhitney HoustonR.E.M.The SmithsPearl JamRadioheadRed Hot Chili PeppersBeastie BoysGreen DayRage Against The MachineSmashing PumpkinsNirvanaWhite StripesNine Inch NailsSonic YouthSlayerPublic EnemyJeff BuckleyTori AmosPantera(can't believe they are, but they are)WilcoKanyeDave Matthews BandMariah Carey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Eminem is pretty iconic?What about Bruce or Mariah Carey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
***Flawless Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 From 1983-onward there are plenty of iconic or legendary artists, although they may not be to Gene's liking.Notorious B.I.G.TupacP Diddy / Diddy / Puff DaddyN.W.A.Public EnemyWu-Tang ClanSnoop DoggDr DreEminemKanye WestNasOutkast / Andre 3000Jay-ZWhitney HoustonMariah CareyBritney SpearsChristina AguileraBeyoncéRihannaAmy WinehouseBjörkBoyz II MenOasisThe SmithsRadioheadLauryn Hill / The FugeesR. KellyThe Stone RosesThe White StripesNine Inch Nailsand those are just some of the more 'mainstream' ones I can name off the top off my head.Contrary to what Gene seems to think, music post-his heyday is not dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbhutto Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Daft Punk deserves some love lol, RAM was legit. What, you guys got somethin' against robots?But anyway, I think the increased accessibility (to music) has been the largest factor for fewer bands/musicians being seen as iconic assome of those from the past. I mean, right now you can sit down and have the history of music at your fingertips. Artists and bands from decades ago had the benefit of either being the only thing on the airwaves or the store shelves, now there are things like Spotify, Itunes, Youtube, Torrents, et al where people can get exactly what it is that they want to hear without ever having to bother with the radio or randomly looking through albums at a store.I do kinda wonder when the next Beatles / Elvis / MJ will crop up though. Someone, or some group, who people kind of unanimously agree on as being quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bono Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) iconic artists post-1984?Guns N' Roses - YesNirvana - YesPearl Jam - Don't think so.Smashing Pumpkins - NoAlice in Chains - NoSoundgarden - NoStone Temple Pilots - NoRadiohead - ...... No but the media will try to make you believe otherwiseWeezer - NoWhite Zombie - NoRage Against the Machine - NoLinkin Park (the first record) - NoWhite Stripes - NoThe Strokes - NoGreen Day (until they became shit) - NoNine Inch Nails....... don't think soRed Hot Chili Peppers - don't think soOasis - Yes (not in North America)...does Gene need me to go on?Based on what Gene is talking about I gave you answers to your suggestions above. You've clearly missed what he's talking about. Edited September 12, 2014 by Bono Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bono Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I'm seeing a lot of lists by people who don't understand what Gene is talking about. He's not talking about classic or iconic bands and artists. He's talking about bands and artists that have gone beyond that. He's talking about artists who have entered the collective consciousness of society. A band like Rage Against the Machine or Radiohead or Linkin Park are not those kinds of bands. Bands like Pearl Jam aren't even really that. RHCP aren't even really that. Christina Aguleria isn't that but maybe Britney is. It isn't even about who's the greatest band or artist or who's been overly influential. Its about the bands that transcend time and are i the conscience of the public whether you liek them or not. Someone put the Pixies and Fugazi on the list. Seriously no fucking chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 It's like when you go on holiday and see those fake icon posters of Bob Marley and John Lennon. Kurt got there real quick. Kurt died for your nu metal.Kurt SnoopBeyonceMessiTyson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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