Whatever happened to… It’s a question I get all the time and for a while a segment we were doing on That Metal Show. But it is also something that makes me nuts on a daily basis when I hear it from some fans about most artists. If you listen to my SiriusXM show, which is as much talk, interview and calls as it is music, you know I get calls from people all over the US with some pretty insane questions. Examples? Whatever happened to Ted Nugent, Queensryche, Jake E Lee, Mark Slaughter. And that was just last week’s show! I even once had whatever happened to Iron Maiden! I shit you not! It’s a big country and I get not everyone is as invested in this stuff as I am. I also appreciate that these people are listening to or emailing me and they are fans, and I appreciate that. But is is insane to me in the age of the internet that anyone could wait on the phone 45 minutes to ask Whatever Happened To any artist when Google is a click away. 99% of the artists I get asked about the answer is the same, NOTHING happened to them! They are still touring and likely making new music as well! Why does this make me so nuts? Because many of these artists are struggling greatly to get people to come see them and to buy their new music.It’s not 1988. They aren’t going to be on MTV, have a poster up in the mall, or be front page news. But if you are a fan of any artist there is simply no excuse for not bookmarking their site and knowing everything they are doing, how to buy their new music, and if they are playing near you. If you just check the music news on this site you will have a big leg up on everything going on daily. It could not be easier in this day and age and there is simply no excuse if you are a fan of an artist to not know what they are up to. This doesn’t mean I won’t take calls on it or sometimes engage in it on TV. I love discussing this stuff. But the bigger issues is that we have rock and metal artists dying out there to get a ticket or CD sold. So if you are wondering about your favorite artist catch me if you can and I am happy to discuss. But for the love of rock PLEASE search online and you will know everything, and you can about what they are up to. 9 times out of 10 they are active and looking for YOU to help them keep going!
PS: I am also aware there are some artists that are off the radar completely these days like Vito Bratta (who I get asked about all the time and is simply out of music), or more recently Jason Newsted (who apparently has once again checked out of music). There are some valid questions asked. But the huge majority of the questions are about artists who are 100% active and have online profiles. No excuse if you are a fan and care about them to live under a rock and not make a couple clicks on a keyboard to learn all and support them!
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What needs to be addressed is this epidemic of tribute/cover bands. They are getting slots opening for major artists.
I propose a segment called “Finding Vinny Vincent”, (A’la Finding Bigfoot). There are footprints, blurry photo’s and drunken sightings in the woods and the search continues. Rumor has it, we works a taco stand shredding lettuce during the day, and then polishes his guitar shredding at night. He’s searching for just the right singer, who sings so high, that only dogs can hear him.
I guess I could understand someone asking about bands or people that were maybe kind of obscure or overshadowed to begin with, like Pete Willis or Dennis Stratton, or the guys that filled in for Joe Perry and Brad Whitford in Aerosmith in the early 80’s. Granted, those are still high profile bands, but guys like that aren’t usually associated with their most successful work. Not that people couldn’t just look it up – which would be my first thought, but stuff like that… OK. But “whatever happened to Iron Maiden”? “Rush is still around?” That kind of thing bewilders me. I get it that a lot of people aren’t hard core rock fans, but when bands like THAT are still headlining 10,000 – 20,000 seat venues (or larger) and they don’t know that they’re still around? There’s just no excuse for that.
For those that aren’t inclined to look them up online, for whatever reason, I guess mainstream media is somewhat to blame for people not knowing some of these bands are still in business. And I’m talking about BIG bands – like the aforementioned Maiden and Rush, etc. Forget about videos, the days of MTV and VH1 playing rock videos in prime time are long gone. How often does mainstream radio a) play Iron Maiden at all, and b) if they do it’s “Run to the Hills” or “Wasted Years”. How many times does a new Rush single get played (not that they happen a lot anymore)? A few times during the first week or two after release, then it’s “Tom Sawyer”, “Limelight”, “Spirit of Radio”, and “Subdivisions” again for the next 5 years. Rush have produced 10 albums since Signals, but those 4 songs still probably represent 95% of all over the air radio play they get – since 1982! Apart from being lazy, I guess I can somewhat understand a casual fan not realizing so many bands like that have anything new to offer if traditional radio is their primary means of hearing about it. Maybe using services like Pandora would help bring some exposure to newer material.
I think even Satellite radio is just as guilty for playing the same old songs over and over again. As much as I love Rush, I don’t need to hear Tom Sawyer or Subdivisions for the one millionth time on Ozzy’s Boneyard. BTW Eddie, I recently bought both albums from The Pretty Reckless. I had never heard of them until now, thanks for having Taylor Momsen on TMS. Wow, some great stuff!
I have a true what ever happened to….Great jersey band…Mr. Reality….Cant find anything on them…what a shame…
Steven, they had changed their name to Highway 9 at some point from what I can tell. Google that name for articles, YouTube, and what not. Hope that is accurate and helps some….
Anybody have a link to google?