Why Now?
Monday, January 14, 2008 at 12:01AM Well, well, well. Two more reunions, two more bands that will probably make the line-up of Rocklahoma 2008.
Over the weekend, Steve "Sex" Summers of Pretty Boy Floyd announced a special one-off show (in Los Angeles) with the band's original members. By all accounts, this means Kristy "Krash" Majors and Summers will share the stage again for the first time in years. My guess is the set will be heavy on material from the Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz era -- and not much else.
In related news, Black n' Blue is set to headline the Z Rock festival. The European event is big for the band, and further fuels my suspicion that singer Jamie St. James really is out of Warrant, meaning Jani Lane is back in the fold.
The boys in Warrant can't be so stupid to think fans won't question why Jamie St. James is suddenly - and out of the "blue" - touring the world with his former band. Are Black n' Blue a good band? Yes. Did they earn fame and fortune? Not really. Is Jamie St. James in a better position fronting Warrant? I don't know.
It would seem that the decision makers (or name owners, depending on how you look at things) in Black n' Blue, Warrant and Pretty Boy Floyd got a copy of the memo that declared 2008 "the year of the glam reunion."
While reunions of these classic glam bands is pretty great overall, I can't help but wonder "why now?" What is creating this over-arching desire to reunite with the band members that helped make them famous - or at least earn dinner?
I think I remember a recent press release from the organizers of Rocklahoma that basically said bands are reuniting just to play the festival. That's possible...but I still think there's a bigger reason at work here. Perhaps I'm overlooking the obvious, which is that all of us need to earn a living and the buck really does stop with a reunion. But come on: the Van Halen brothers certainly didn't need cash when they agreed to tour again with David Lee Roth.
So what is it?
Is it because glam popularity seems to follow recessions? Think about it: the 80s were the glam Metal salad days.The 1980s were a time of great unemployment, inflation...and therefore a recession. Reaganomics couldn't really stymie the issue...it took time and growth creation to ease the financial burden. Still there was time to party, and the lyrics to most Poison and Motley Crue songs fit in really well. Now, a recession seems all but inevitable and here we are again with glam coming back, better than ever. If you think about this, it is ironic that grunge was popular during the economic and technology boom throughout the Clinton nineties.
If music follows the economy...what do you think is next for Glam Metal?
By the way, here's the Black n' Blue video for "Hold On To 18." Jamie St. James looks like a cross between Dee Snider, Richard Simmons...and David Lee Roth.
Reader Comments (15)
metalsludge. Jani couldn't hold it together on Celebrity fit club or when he tried to sing a song at last year's Rocklahoma. In my humble opinion, Warrant did much better with Jamie. Their shows were tight, they showed up on time, played a solid set of hits and rocked the crowd. Jani is a crybaby- "Boo Hoo, I got to play Cherry Pie again...WAAAAAHHHHHH"
I do think that Rocklahoma is a big part of why bands are reuniting. Not just for the money, but because of the chance to play such a big crowd again. Also, VH may not need the money, but they need to feel relevant and not washed up. Money is not the only motivator. I guess the question for these bands is, was the audience always waiting for them to get back together, or has something changed ? I think, for people in my age bracket, those who didn't keep the faith throughout ( and I sure did ), are getting close to 40, or beyond, and looking for a chance to feel like they are 18 again. Me, I never stopped feeling thatway, although my back does hurt nowadays.
Neither one of these bands are going to light the charts, or arenas, on fire. Warrant was given their last big chance opening for Poison a few years ago and then Jani Lane blew the band off.
It's all about the money. The only reason why people who can't stand each other get back together and tour. Rocklahoma could be a band's last chance to generate interest and get a decent payday. You can't tell me Van Halen didn't do it for the money, they're charging upwards of $125 per seat! This could be the last big payday for the band, or at least Diamond Dave.
But how much can PBF, or BnB, or Warrant get? As much as I would like to hear Black 'N Blue live, notice that Tommy Thayer isn't giving up his day job?
Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com
I just hope the promoters of this year's Rocklahoma don't just give in to this being oldbandapalooza. Bringing a mix of young bands and veteren acts would help to show that this event isn't just a bunch of bands and fans trying to relive the 1980's, but rather that the glam/hard rock scene still had something left to give.
You sound too much like Gene Simmons who unfortunately only follows the almighty dollar. There are completely other reasons to do things. Sometimes there is a feeling deep down inside that makes you keep doing some things because it just feels so right. So many artists who have "made it" (Bon Jovi, Bret Michaels, Slash and even David Lee Roth) have subsequently said (I'm paraphrasing) that when it all comes down, they would still rock the way they do if they were in an arena in front of 50,000 people or in a club in front of 50 people. And, I've seen each of these performers in front of 50,000 and in front of 50. They stayed true. Money is nice, but truth, honesty and integrity are nicer.
fletch
This time I'm hoping to rearrange the stars...it can't be that hard!
Read a random interview with any rocker and they will say it's "because they were born to Rock" or "it's all about the fans" but the truth is it's all about the money.
Why did KISS reunite with Ace & Peter when they were at their creative, and talent, peak with Bruce & Eric?
Why did Sammy Hagar tour with VH in 2005 even though he, and the VH brothers, knew the band wouldn't last past the tour?
Why, after so much bad blood, is Stephen Pearcy back in Ratt?
Iron Maiden toured clubs with Blaze Bayley in the same cities they sold arenas out multiple nights with Bruce Dickinson.
Judas Priest was in the same boat with Tim Ownes.
Look at The Crue. How many times has Tommy left only to come back? How many times have they made more money with Tommy than without?
We could go on all day with various bands but the truth is that there is a niche audience and there is a buck to be made. Am I a little jaded? Probably but we have to face the facts.....
Is there a serious demand for Pretty Boy Floyd, Trixter, Warrant, or Black 'N Blue? If there was, wouldn't they have reunited when the reunion flood of the late 90s happened? Would fans have pressured Z records to finally release HELL YEAH!, the Black 'N Blue reunion album? Would these bands have played Rocklahoma last year or any other major festival for that matter? I mean, weren't Kristy Majors and Steve Summers just at each others throats months ago?
I have seen many bands play to arenas and clubs, sometimes on the same tour, why do they do it? Money. If Bon Jovi does it for the fans, why do they charge $100+ a ticket? Same with DLR/Van Halen, $100 average per ticket. If Guns N Roses reunited, do you think Slash, after all that has been said, would object to porking the fans for $100+ per seat? If Bret could charge that for a Poison show, think he would?
I agree to disagree.....rant over.
Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/
Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com