Post by Victor Synn on Jan 22, 2005 0:38:00 GMT -5
Sorry. This post should have been made a couple months ago, but for one, I'm a lazy bastard and two, I'm a lazy bastard, but here it is finally.
As most know, we did a couple shows in November with Naked Beggars. For those of you that lived in a cave that month, Naked Beggars has two members of Cinderella in the lineup, Eric Brittingham and Jeff LaBar. Now, I will admit that prior to the first show, I was very concerned with how we would be perceived by Eric and Jeff and if they were going to be the jaded "I don't want to be affiliated with Big Hair" musicians. I was very pleasantly surprised that they were nothing of the sort. Now, I haven't had a chance to meet a lot of rockstars from the 80's (Steve Whiteman was the only other guy I met prior to Eric and Jeff), but I am glad I had the priviledge to meet two guys as down to earth as they were. And the rest of the Beggars were just a joy to hang with and share a stage with. I posted to their site stating my happiness in playing with them and it rings as true now as it did when I wrote it on their board.
So what am I saying here? Simple....I wish that every 80's rocker was like Eric and Jeff. What the hell is wrong with some of these guys and their problem with being lumped into 80's Big Hair? Like it's an embarrassment. A good example of that is Don Dokken. I've seen reports on Metal Sludge and other sources saying that Don is nothing but a plain jackass and doesn't want to be put into the realm of Big Hair. I hate to break it to Don, but you fucking made your entire career in the 80's. You had Big Hair, just like the rest of the band. I don't hear Jeff Pilson bitching about how he wanted to be taken seriously as a musician. I don't see George Lynch getting pissed that he's put into that genre. Get a life Don. You are and always will be an 80's Big Hair vocalist. Like that or not. Another guy that pisses me off is Sabastian Bach. Look, can anyone truthfully say that Sabastian without Skid Row is better than Sabastian WITH Skid Row? I highly doubt it and if you could, I want a kilo of what you're snorting. Sabastian even goes as far as playing Skid Row tunes in his solo set, but doesn't want anyone mentioning Skid Row to him in casual conversation. What the fuck? How hypocritical is that?
Look, I know that some of these poor bastards feel deep down that they weren't taken seriously as musicians because they had to do the image of the time to get noticed. Well, boo-fucking-hoo. You made millions of dollars at it too. What the hell are you bitching about? I look at it like this...every rocker from the 80's should give themselves a big pat on the back for one reason. They are probably the last group of musicians to have to have talent at whatever they did. Look at some of the tripe out there today...three chord garage band rock. Fuck, I don't play guitar, but give me an axe and a couple days and I could more than likely play you a radio hit from any band out there right now. But ask me to play something that is considered simple by a guitarists' standard from the 80's and it would probably take me weeks and weeks to do it. Because even the simplest of songs was done by talented musicians. So stop acting like the world owes you something. You made your mark and people remember it. Hence the reason we're even here as a band.
But to get back to the Beggars, this rediculous attitude is nowhere to be found. The Beggars embrace Eric and Jeff's past and Eric and Jeff make no bones that they are in Cinderella and aren't afraid to say it. They seemed very proud of the legacy they left. THAT is the way it should be people. Not "I'm so much better than playing little 300 seat clubs," like I saw Chip Z'nuff spouting about on Metal Sludge, according to Stevie Rachelle. That isn't exact words, but that's what was said. That attitude sucks, but Eric and Jeff didn't complain. They did the job and were fine with it. That's the biggest reason why I loved hanging out with them. They didn't act like it was our honor to be standing next to them (Even though I felt that way LoL). They treated us as equals and that is an impression I'll always keep with me. I'm totally pumped to see Cinderella this summer and hang with eric and Jeff again. Sure, I'm pumped to meet the other bands too, but I know how Eric and Jeff are. And I know that we'll still be treated as equals, even as close to a national stage as they'll be. I'd kill to share a stage like that with them, but just being able to see it all up close will be satisfying enough for me. And I'm hoping that the future will see us share the stage with the Beggars again. Just remember Beggars crue...we'll travel. ;D Anyway, that's my rant. try and change my mind if you want, but it won't work.
As most know, we did a couple shows in November with Naked Beggars. For those of you that lived in a cave that month, Naked Beggars has two members of Cinderella in the lineup, Eric Brittingham and Jeff LaBar. Now, I will admit that prior to the first show, I was very concerned with how we would be perceived by Eric and Jeff and if they were going to be the jaded "I don't want to be affiliated with Big Hair" musicians. I was very pleasantly surprised that they were nothing of the sort. Now, I haven't had a chance to meet a lot of rockstars from the 80's (Steve Whiteman was the only other guy I met prior to Eric and Jeff), but I am glad I had the priviledge to meet two guys as down to earth as they were. And the rest of the Beggars were just a joy to hang with and share a stage with. I posted to their site stating my happiness in playing with them and it rings as true now as it did when I wrote it on their board.
So what am I saying here? Simple....I wish that every 80's rocker was like Eric and Jeff. What the hell is wrong with some of these guys and their problem with being lumped into 80's Big Hair? Like it's an embarrassment. A good example of that is Don Dokken. I've seen reports on Metal Sludge and other sources saying that Don is nothing but a plain jackass and doesn't want to be put into the realm of Big Hair. I hate to break it to Don, but you fucking made your entire career in the 80's. You had Big Hair, just like the rest of the band. I don't hear Jeff Pilson bitching about how he wanted to be taken seriously as a musician. I don't see George Lynch getting pissed that he's put into that genre. Get a life Don. You are and always will be an 80's Big Hair vocalist. Like that or not. Another guy that pisses me off is Sabastian Bach. Look, can anyone truthfully say that Sabastian without Skid Row is better than Sabastian WITH Skid Row? I highly doubt it and if you could, I want a kilo of what you're snorting. Sabastian even goes as far as playing Skid Row tunes in his solo set, but doesn't want anyone mentioning Skid Row to him in casual conversation. What the fuck? How hypocritical is that?
Look, I know that some of these poor bastards feel deep down that they weren't taken seriously as musicians because they had to do the image of the time to get noticed. Well, boo-fucking-hoo. You made millions of dollars at it too. What the hell are you bitching about? I look at it like this...every rocker from the 80's should give themselves a big pat on the back for one reason. They are probably the last group of musicians to have to have talent at whatever they did. Look at some of the tripe out there today...three chord garage band rock. Fuck, I don't play guitar, but give me an axe and a couple days and I could more than likely play you a radio hit from any band out there right now. But ask me to play something that is considered simple by a guitarists' standard from the 80's and it would probably take me weeks and weeks to do it. Because even the simplest of songs was done by talented musicians. So stop acting like the world owes you something. You made your mark and people remember it. Hence the reason we're even here as a band.
But to get back to the Beggars, this rediculous attitude is nowhere to be found. The Beggars embrace Eric and Jeff's past and Eric and Jeff make no bones that they are in Cinderella and aren't afraid to say it. They seemed very proud of the legacy they left. THAT is the way it should be people. Not "I'm so much better than playing little 300 seat clubs," like I saw Chip Z'nuff spouting about on Metal Sludge, according to Stevie Rachelle. That isn't exact words, but that's what was said. That attitude sucks, but Eric and Jeff didn't complain. They did the job and were fine with it. That's the biggest reason why I loved hanging out with them. They didn't act like it was our honor to be standing next to them (Even though I felt that way LoL). They treated us as equals and that is an impression I'll always keep with me. I'm totally pumped to see Cinderella this summer and hang with eric and Jeff again. Sure, I'm pumped to meet the other bands too, but I know how Eric and Jeff are. And I know that we'll still be treated as equals, even as close to a national stage as they'll be. I'd kill to share a stage like that with them, but just being able to see it all up close will be satisfying enough for me. And I'm hoping that the future will see us share the stage with the Beggars again. Just remember Beggars crue...we'll travel. ;D Anyway, that's my rant. try and change my mind if you want, but it won't work.
