Like A Rolling Stone !!!

I picked up the new Rolling Stone magazine (40th anniversary issue) last week and it had some really great interviews with some of the biggest artist, actors, and politicians.  It focused on the state of the music industry (and how technology is affecting it) and global issues.  Lots of interesting points were made and it's totally worth checking out.  Here's some interesting things said........

“I hope that there will still be a balance between intangible music, invisible music and something that you can hold in your hand.  A positive thing right now is that vinyl is staying alive, and record players are starting to be sold at stores again…...We can’t afford to lose the feeling of cracking open a new record and looking at large artwork and having something you can hold in your hands.”

Jack White

(White Stripes)

“The scariest predicament we face in music is that commercialization has killed off the underground scene.  It used to be at Lollapalooza that the audience was full of 20,000 freaks and miscreants and outcasts.  But now people look like they walked out of the Gap.  Majors are not breaking bands.  I left Colombia because major labels are BS.  Their halls are filled with bean counters or people who don’t know or care about music.  They’re people who are fearing for their lives and aren’t willing to take any risks.  And rock & roll was supposed to be for people who are defiant and willing to take a risk.  We need that.”

Perry Farrell

(Jane’s Addiction/Satellite Party)

“The great challenge is writing.  Performing is easy.  It’s not easy on the body - it’s easy for me to do it.  But I know a great song when I hear it, and the challenge is to write one.  We have fallen short of that many times, but the effort is there.  I’ve always felt the most horrible thing would be to be mediocre - to have nothing to say or repeat oneself.”

Michael Stipe

(REM)

“What I would say is, have a core belief, whether it’s God, music or your band.  And stick to that.”

Billy Corgan

(Smashing Pumpkins)

“But you need relief, to find you own country – your own internal state.  Music helps me do that, and that won’t go away just because the music business is in trouble.”

Jeff Tweedy

(Wilco)