Beatles or Stones

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Hopefully I don’t ramble too much here. I don’t write like this very often and needed to purge...

It’s the age old question for Baby Boomers. As someone firmly a part of Generation X, I have been asked the question many times.

The Beatles have been showered with love by so many, and they sing about peace, love, belonging and acceptance. They always had the pretty boy, Paul, and the Poet in John. George and Ringo were great, too. They were easy to love.

Then you have the Rolling Stones. They swagger. They are obnoxious. They are rebellious and in your face. They shun authority. They live hard and fast. They are the boys you don’t bring home to your parents. Mick dances and struts. He doesn’t sing pretty. He oozes with tension and angst. Keith is a legendary party animal. Their other guitarist, Brian Jones, drowned shortly after being fired from the band. They are the “Bad Boys”. The personification of the “Peter Pan Complex”. They are dangerous.

Although both of these bands have undoubtedly influenced me over the years, I have to change the flow of the conversation and answer The Kinks.

They are the third wheel of the British Invasion. Their music is not pretty, but awkward. They don’t swagger. Their 1st hits are “You Really Got Me Now” and “All Day And All Of The Night”. They are over the top and fun.

The battles between Ray and Dave Davies on stage are legendary. They fist fight with each other during shows. They are raw and open. Their music has a depth not seen in either the Beatles or Stones. They are not the heart throbs or bad boys. They are the every day working man trying to find their way and make a living. They are down to earth. Their songwriting and lyrics are underrated. They are the underdogs. Sometimes prone to biting social commentary, sometimes wistful and reflective, sometimes over the top. The are often times uneven and aloof.

Fast forward to the late ’80s/early ’90s.

Seattle is hopping with activity. Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Mother Love Bone and Nirvana are starting to make a lot of noise.

Soundgarden sign to a major label and releases Louder Than Love. Their bass player abruptly quits and it takes a couple of tries before they find a suitable replacement.

Mother Love Bone signs and are about to break when their singer, Andy Wood, dies of an overdose.

Nirvana is trying to solidify their lineup and have recruited Melvins drummer, Dale Crover, to join them on some demos. Melvins guitarist/vocalist, King Buzzo, points Dave Grohl to Nirvana and reclaims Dale.

Alice In Chains is kicking around at the Music Bank and Jerry is recruiting Layne Staley to join the band.

Soundgarden releases Ultramega Ok and Louder Than Love.

Nirvana release Bleach.

Mother Love Bone’s Apple is released.

Alice in Chains release Facelift.

Temple of the Dog is released.

Nevermind is released.

Ten is released.

Badmotorfinger is released.

I hear Nevermind and immediately love the album, listening to it repeatedly. It is rebellious, but hauntingly beautiful. I push the hair metal from the ’80s mostly aside. I have found heavy music with depth.

Pearl Jam is starting to break. I still haven’t listened to it.

I turn on Headbanger’s Ball and see the video and hear Outshined. Soundgarden has cast a line, hooked me, and reeled me in. I can’t even pretend to fight it, I’m blown away and on a quest for anything Soundgarden I can find.

I purchase Badmotorfinger and have a regular rotation of Facelift and Badmotorfinger playing almost constantly.

I buy Ten and I am largely disappointed. Eddie can sing, but sounds tortured and makes Pearl Jam largely unlistenable for me.

Nirvana and Pearl Jam take over. They have conquered the rock and roll world and vanquished the ’80s.

I grow tired of Kurt’s tortured status and move past Nirvana. He just seems to be angry and lashing out.

Facelift gives way to Sap, gives way to Dirt, gives way to Jar of Flies.

Badmotorfinger leads to Louder Than Love, Ultramega Ok, Screaming Life and Fopp. Superunknown is released and takes over the airwaves with Black Hole Sun.

Kurt kills himself.

I wait with anticipation for Down on the Upside. It arrives and is wonderful. I am hurt and disappointed when they break up a year later and I have not seen them live. I got to see Alice in Chains with Layne twice, but no Soundgarden. I mourn the loss of a great band. They had been a constant companion for my early to mid 20’s. Their music, much like the Kinks, cuts through and is a big part of the soundtrack of my life.

They are not Nirvana. They are not Pearl Jam. They have grown a depth that touches me. Pearl Jam and Nirvana are more successful. Nirvana broke the whole scene open. Alice is so powerful, dark and brooding. The metal head in me loves Alice In Chains. Layne is haunting and powerful, evn when diminished by addiction.

Soundgarden, though, is the proverbial “rock” through it all. Solid, deep and strong. Even in their absence, their catalog has brought me joy over the years.

People look back at the grunge movement and will ask “Nirvana or Pearl Jam?”

I will proudly proclaim “Soundgarden!”. Never fully given the respect as a band they deserve. It doesn’t matter. They have truly been my favorite, just like I value the Kinks as an influence over the Beatles or Stones.

In the end, Soundgarden will always resonate more to me than Chris’ solo work, which is phenomenal, or Audioslave. He was as prolific and gifted as a songwriter and vocalist. He was tortured, but he did not flaunt it. His music is not preachy. But when he teamed with Kim, Matt and Ben, it made magic for the ages.

I am saddened I never got to witness Soundgarden live in person. I witness Soundgarden vicariously through bootlegs and YouTube through to eyes of other fans that have documented the experience.

They were in Kansas City the Sunday before Chris died, but I could not make it. It saddens me. But I will remember, just as I remember Layne, what a beautiful soul Chris was. His art allowed me to find myself in a time I was lost and flailing. I am saddened he could not find his own peace. May God have mercy on his soul.

Prayers are out for his wife, Vicky, and his 3 children. Prayers for Kim, Matt and Ben. I can only imagine what they are experiencing right now. Prayers for all the grieving fans. Chris was just a man. A man with amazing God given talents, flawed like the rest of us. If you are struggling through this, don’t give up. Reach out for help. I have a deep faith in God, He is my center. If that’s not your thing, I understand. I’m not here to preach. But find something to anchor to. Talk to a friend or mentor. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Life is short and can be very painful, but we are all valuable. We never know how much influence we have in other people’s lives. Don’t discount yourself. The ability to love starts with being able to love oneself. Invest in yourself. Strive to be somebody you would want to be friends with. Then give back...

Loud Love to all,

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