[Dixielandjazz] Remember that recent opinion article calling for the death of New Orleans Jazz? (not exactly OT)

[David Richoux]

This was reprinted in the Sunday edition of the San Jose Mercury News - 
probably also in a lot of other US papers:

Rock's ticker has stopped
PUT IT IN THE GROUND, ON A MUSEUM SHELF, WHATEVER -- AT 50, THE SOUND 
OF REBELLION IS WAY PAST ITS PRIME
By Thane Tierney

Here's an excellent way to celebrate rock 'n' roll's 50th birthday: 
Pull the plug and give it the proper burial it deserves.

Rock has been in a persistent vegetative state for more than a decade, 
and it shows no signs of coming back. Ever.

Want evidence? Look at the top-15-grossing pop (very broadly defined) 
tours from last year. The top five were Prince, Celine Dion, Madonna, 
Metallica and Bette Midler, all of whom have been recording in excess 
of 20 years. Ditto all the rockers in the next 10 (Elton John, Rod 
Stewart, Van Halen, Jimmy Buffett, et al), with the exception of Dave 
Matthews, who has been around a mere dozen years. (Just for reference, 
a dozen years is the span of time between Elvis Presley's ``Heartbreak 
Hotel'' and the Beatles' ``Hey Jude.'')

Look at the top-albums chart. It's dominated by rap. There are three 
rock records in the top 20. Three. In 1967, it was 15.

Cue the howls of protest.

``If only your harebrained correspondent knew about (insert band name 
here), he'd play a different tune.''

``I just got the new album by (insert band name here), and it's the 
best thing since (insert classic-rock-band name here).''

``That moron doesn't know anything about real rock. Rock lives!''

Uh-huh. So does Elvis.

As long as there's a Disneyland, there will be barbershop quartets. As 
long as there are cruise ships, there will be swing bands. As long as 
there are electric guitars, there will be rockers. So what?

snip
(The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/editorial/12976802.htm  
  - you may have to register to see it...)

Dave Richoux