The passing of pop stars...

[Cowsham]

Back when I cared about music, I tended to like stuff that was edgy. If it was just nice and melodic, that wasn't good enough. Melodic is good in itself, but insufficient to grab my attention. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, no thanks, just too easy going and unexciting. Some Rolling Stones stuff works for me. A lot of Bowie, though not so much his rather bland 1980s stuff. I always manage a smile when I hear "Anarchy in the UK" crank up, or the Undertones' "Teenage Kicks", which was joyous and lacking in pretence. But back then your musical tastes were a statement of where you saw yourself, to a degree that I don't think is the case today.

I think we have similar music tastes -- hard to beat raw unmolested talent. By which I mean, yes it's nice to hear beautiful chamber music played by trained and talented musicians but I also appreciate that raw edge you get from someone who has music flowing like a river of invention, with words and music perfectly synchronized to convey the feeling that the words mean. There is a background of learning which each raw talent goes through but some come up with completely new concepts in music ( or a completely new mix of what influences they've been exposed to)

[kylecycler]

Went to see Gryphon shortly before Christmas and mostly the original line-up and brilliant.

That's a blast from the past for me - I'd forgotten about Gryphon!

I bought their album after John Peel played 'Spring Song' on his show - he had eclectic tastes although in this case I think he was just being contrary and perverse. I've always been a sucker for drum rolls and I think that's why it appealed to me - the intro is all drum rolls, IIRC.

[Cowsham]

We were having a game of count the dead pop stars from the Xmas music playing over the tannoy system. It's easier to count the living ! I'd say about 70% are ex pop stars

[al_yrpal]

For all artists there is a loyal bevy of fans that can be relied on to turn up at any gig. There is also the curious that have never seen the artists live. But today there is another cohort, the discoverers. The scource - TikTok where a good rediscovered song can get 250 million hits with the consequence that audiences can consist of 50% old loyals keen to rediscover sounds of their youth as well as gen Z youngsters there to hear that special song heard on TikTok. Kids turn up with their Mum and Dad. Such audiences can make sense to promoters and well attended gigs provide income enough to fund a new album or three.

Al