miller!

miller!

Well, what have we here? Another Rocky Roily Paper? I certainly hope not. In fact, it probably isn’t. It’s probably going to be more of a general rap sheet, using Rock as a starting point. I think that so far, most rock papers have failed to give us very much that is meaningful. The “Critics” in particular have been a complete waste of paper and ink. So I hope thispaper Will be able to avoid that hang-up. The “Chosen Few” have failed so completely that I can’t think of even one that I enjoy reading. The taste makers.of the New Rock Establishment afe still playing the same old games. They are far too impressed with own power. The fad is the thing. Make ‘em and break ‘em. The pattern so far has been to hype a new talent, and then, when the artist makes it big, to tear them down. It’s the whole In and Out game; If Bloomfield was a great guitarist when he. first recorded with Dylan and started to play with Butterfield, then why is he being put down so much now? His playing has improved, if anything, but now it’s considered hip to bumrap him. No wonder he’s so spaced out. The critics forced Janis Joplin to dump the Holding Company. They were potentially one of the best guitar-based S. F; style groups in the country, but the critics decreed that she should have a Memphis-styje “Soul” band. She has made that move and apparently is bombing. Watch the Rolling Stone and the other places where the critics write. The next trip (I predict) will be to bumrap . Janis for stabbing her . friends in the back, selling out, and going commercial, f

When the Cream first hit these shores, they were hailed as the greates new thing to happen since /the Beatles, Everybody was raving about them back when they wer really Underground, before the American release of their first L.P. As soon as they made it, they were hit with a, barrage of thoroughly destructive criticism of the music. Even though the people loved their concerts and bought their albums, the critics had to have their say. After reading one such “Review”, Eric Clapton was so hurt that he nearly had a nervous breakdown. To be “imitative” is apparently the worst crime of all, apd all musicians ’ ate vulnerable. It’s almost impossible to play Blues or Rock without your roots showing.

■ The New Rock is, of course, Worth writing about, but if a new breed of musician is needed to play, then a new breed Of writer is needed 'to write about it. The music, and the whole subculture that surrounds it, was originally motivated by a need for an escape from negative games and to try to get into something positive. The grooviness, the beauty and fun of the new music is being buried by bad vibes.

I have avoided writing primarily because I am afraid of falling into the same trap as the rest. I would really hate myself if l came off as silly and pretentious as the current stock of writers on the subject. What I would like to do is to rap about the goodness of the New Rock and all that goes along with it. If the value judgements I try to apply on the radio can work in print, then maybe I won’t wind up not liking what I have done. If a radio station like the one I work at can provide a meaningful, positive alternative, then perhaps this paper can do the same. Good luck.