We discussed sellouts in the last blog inspired by Mr. Steven Tyler, and let me assure you this is the last inspiration I will get from that traitor. Below I have listed the top ten rock n roll sellouts in descending order. Just keep in mind that rock n roll used to be anti-establishment, revolutionary and just downright outrageous. So many are listed because they sold their soul to corporate society and no longer live the life of a rocker.

10. Ozzy Osbourne comes in only at number ten because the reality show The Osbournes or rather his involvement with it was more to do with decisions made by his wife Sharon than himself. I don’t think Ozzy has a clue what is going on anyway. When asked his age by Jay Leno on the Tonight Show Ozzy’s answer was “Sharon?”

9. Joe Walsh, who by the way is one of my favorite musicians, appears at number 9 for joining the Eagles. Yes Joe left his anti-establishment, tear out hotel rooms, lifestyle for the more sedate middle of the road country-rock gods the Eagles. Somebody said to me once “I think Joe Walsh wrecked the Eagles.” My response, “ I think the Eagles wrecked Joe Walsh!” Whatever you think, Joe, has left his insanity behind him and adopted the business of the music industry. Sell out.

8. Aerosmith appears at number eight for allowing the Beastie Boys to do a rap cover of Walk This Way. To allow a perfect rock song to be denigrated in such a way should be illegal. And to boot Steven Tyler even sang the chorus on the recording cause no one in the Beastie Boys could sing it. How pathetic.

7. Green Day comes in at number seven for their totally commercial album, American Idiot. Yes I like the band too but you can’t tell me that American Idiot was nothing but a total sellout.

6. Sex Pistols are listed at number six for reforming. Yes just for reforming in the nineties and doing a world tour, obviously without Sid Vicious, although some reported that he made a brief appearance in Johnny Rotten’s ashtray. This was a total sellout and they admit they did it just for the bucks, which goes against everything the band stood for originally. My God they even played well.

5. Gene Simmons appears at number five for his copycat reality TV show Family Jewels. Which was an obvious copy of the The Osbournes and a more obvious sell out. Stick your tongue in that Gene.

4. Mick Jagger comes in at number four for accepting his knighthood. It is atrocious for an anti-establishment leader of the sixties to succumb to political pressure and be knighted. I have no sympathy for him now. And of course this caused a major rift between Mick and Keith Richards, who still remains true to himself, refuses to call Mick sir and stated he would never accept a knighthood himself. Good on ya Keef.

3. Steve Tyler appears at number three for his role in American Idol. You can read all about that on last week’s blog. You might be wondering after my rant last week why he only comes in at number three and not number one. Just wait till you read the next two. Tyler Traitor.

2. John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) And back to the Sex Pistols at number two or at least the front man Johnny Rotten for doing a reality TV show – “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here” This is a bigger sellout than the reformation of the Sex Pistols. To look back at Lydon’s life to listen to his music, read his quotes, watch live footage of his performances and interviews then to see him do a reality TV show. This is possibly the greatest sellout of all time. The guy has no credibility whatsoever.

1. Peter Garrett (Midnight Oil) Ok this is it the ultimate number one sellout of all time. You can’t even argue with this one. I just hope everyone knows who Midnight Oil is if you don’t Google them. Peter Garrett was the front man of this Aussie band. He is such a sellout he gave up the music business to become a politician. Yes that’s right a pollie. He is now the Australian minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Talk about the Power and Passion (Midnight Oil song). He might have gained some power but he has certainly lost his passion. Ultimate Sellout.

– Axel

Ok folks, it is time to dig out all your Aerosmith cds, lps, sps, DVDs and any other ees and burn them. That’s right get rid of them! Steven Tyler has sold out. The king of cool needs to go back to school. The god of rock needs a huge sock, in his mouth. He is no longer a rock ‘n roller but just a mere judge on a talent show that is destroying the industry that has provided him the extravagant lifestyle that he as afforded for decades.

I could not believe my eyes and ears when I saw an advertisement for the coming seasons American Idol sprouting off about the new judges. I can accept Judge Jenny who was really just a made artist anyway, but Steven Tyler. My god! I used to worship Aerosmith when I was growing up. I am shattered, disturbed, destroyed. Is nothing sacred?

We must ask the question does anyone create art for art’s sake anymore? Or is it only about the almighty dollar? I know a person has to live but how much is enough. These days most rock ‘n roll stars are little more than prostitutes selling themselves to the highest bidder and losing their dignity in the process. Allowing record executives to dictate terms re-arrange and even rewrite their songs, all for a little money.

A good friend of mine, JJ Harris, used to drum with Australian band The Divinyls in the 80s. When the band went off to New York to record their Temperamental album, producer Mike Chapman (of Suzie Quattro fame) sacked Jeff (JJ Harris) because he had no recording experience. Upon his return to Australia Jeff said to me, “What really gets me is that Mike Chapman is not even in the band and no one in the band said anything.” So not only do these record execs and producers rewrite the band’s songs they even take the liberty of hiring and firing the band’s members and what is even worse than that is that these great rock ‘n rollers let them do it.

I have so much admiration for musicians like Buddy Holly, who punched out his record producer because he wanted to change one of Holly’s songs. And Stevie Ray Vaughan who used to play at music festivals, like Bumbershoot in Seattle on small stages in the street, for next to nothing. And Jim Morrison for being unwilling to change one word of Light My Fire when he performed live on the Ed Sullivan Show, knowing his actions would cost the band any potential of a repeat performance.

But gone are those days, now it’s all about the dollar. Greed is ubiquitous in modern society. We have seen it all but destroy the world’s financial systems as it continues to tear apart the music industry.

So Mr. Tyler thanks for shattering my illusions and destroying my faith in rock gods from the seventies. You should be ashamed of yourself. I hope fellow Aerosmith members are ashamed of you too.

- Axel

What “Idol” has done to the music industry

Our popular music industry is now at such a low-ebb that the major focus is on mainstream/crossover shows such as American Idol, leaving true original talent to only be marketed via independent music companies or by self promotion on the web.

The nature of these shows goes against any original ideas or artist development. Judges and therefore music producers are only looking for a short term quick buck, instantly marketable to masses, in a music style that in past decades was called “bubble gum” music.

Imagine serious heavy weight artists (before they were famous) going on to American idol…..

For Example:

Jimi Hendrix performing “Purple Haze”….

Randy (What’s up dog) Jackson would say…

“Dude, listen up. Ok man what are you doin’, dog? I don’t know, I don’t know. Pitchy! Pitchy! Pitchy! Lose the guitar. It wasn’t good for me man. I didn’t get it.”

Ellen (And my last hit single was?) Degeneres would say….

“Okay that was pretty good but maybe you should smile a little more. And I really think you should clean yourself up a little, sweetie. You know get a haircut, have a shave and sober up. The show was good though, I really like what you can do with your teeth.”

Cara (I can sing better than you) DioGuardi says…

“I have to agree with Randy the pitch was all over the place. What are you doing? I’m sorry but I see you more in a Jack Johnson vein. You should listen to him. And you don’t need that guitar…guitar solos are sooooo yesterday. But I like you; you seem like a nice guy.”

Simon (I am making so much money out of this show) Cowell says …

“I have to say that this was just self indulgent rubbish. I’m sorry it’s a fact. You are not a rock star my friend and shouldn’t act like one. Do you really think you can sing? Come on, you’re kidding yourself and wasting my time. This is nothing like what I want … I mean record producers today are looking for. You will never get anywhere and never be anything. People don’t want to hear music like that. I am sorry but that’s a fact. No one is interested in your music but I guess you’re not good enough to cover a song. Sorry.”

 As long as shows like this are our main source of popular music, good original music and artists with a fresh approach will never get the attention they deserve when the main criteria for success is sounding like someone else, looking good and being demographically acceptable on TV.

It seems talent is not an issue anymore, only how much money the record companies and television industry make from an artist. And let me tell you they are making an absolute fortune from American Idol.

Thank God we didn’t have American Idol in sixties, seventies or eighties then we may never have heard of people like Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Sammy Hagar, Phil Lynnott, Neil Young, Ted Nugent and other rock legends.

Could you imagine what the judges would say to Bob Dylan if he appeared on American Idol?

 Illy