When Russell Brand, er, Aldous Snow, is involved, there's no denying the awesome power of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.
Yes, I know I’m supposed to be writing about education, but it’s been a hell of a week. Real work keeps getting in the way and all, but I promise I’ll start authoring my tell-all sometime soon. Until then, I have to keep up with the Java lessons and distract myself with pop culture like Get Him to the Greek, which I saw this weekend. The movie was funny, but having the charismatic Russell Brand (who was a self-destructive junkie) play Aldous Snow as a charismatic self-destructive junkie was, to use the movie’s own lingo, a mind fuck.
Also, Brand, who is a comedian by trade, is a more genuine rock star than most musicians today. He sings, he swaggers, he slithers, he makes ridiculous outfits work, he’s prettier than most pop tarts on the market — you absolutely can’t not look at him. Add to this his pretentiously-named backup band, Infant Sorrow, made up of actual musicians (e.g. Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, Carl Barat of the Libertines), and a soundtrack that has actually entered the Billboard charts. “Gang of Lust” had me instantly rocking out to the chorus of “Let’s get fucked/ let’s get fucked/ let’s get fucked/ up all over town.” Greek‘s closing number, “Furry Walls,” is a frighteningly convincing Oasis pastiche. It’s like Spinal Tap, except even better. Or better yet, like Velvet Goldmine, which also featured real rockers from awesome Brit bands, as well as some serious guitar shredding from Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore. And of course Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in his youthful glory, channeling the spirit of glam rock through his character, Maxwell Demon.
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Maxwell Demon in Todd Haynes' love letter to glam rock.
But that’s what’s driving me crazy this morning: Why??? Why is fake rock ‘n’ roll so damned good? Why do the members of Spinal Tap care enough to “make the kind of mistakes [real rockers] would”? Why can Russell Brand transition from comedian to rock star, seemingly without effort? How did Velvet Goldmine do David Bowie and Iggy Pop one better?
Not as pretty, but still as devoted: the members of Spinal Tap, the only fake band that has actually toured.
Watch this Infant Sorrow video (R-rated, though censored). Are you really going to tell me it’s not the real, rebellious, rock ‘n’ roll thing?
UPDATE: I succumbed and bought the soundtrack. Yup, it’s awesome.
You bring up a great point! The video is crazy funny…looks like an old rock video…lol
http://wutevs.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/looking-for-your-inner-child-go-to-the-zoo/
Yeah, I really like that the video is sort of a throwback to playful Brit-pop , but also has a good punk vibe going too. After teaching for ten years, it just makes me happy to see that someone is rebelling properly these days!
Fake rock and roll is probably better than real rock and roll because fake artist have the freedom to be all about the music. They take chances on lyrics and be completely honest in their work and genuinely have a love affair with the music. Whereas real rockstars, once they become successful, because obsessed with themselves, money and the buisness. Their humanity is the trade off for success and while its humorous on the big screen, in real life its just sad.
I think you make a good point, both about the honesty and risk-taking. But honest pain is often at the root of great comedy. Russell Brand has actual experience with enabling managers and self-destruction, which is (I think) why he brings something really interesting to the roll. And yes, I agree that everyone involved in these movies/bands really just loves the music, and it’s a shame that more practicing musicians can’t have that freedom!
haha I love that “Just Say Yes” video. Are you a professor? What do you teach? I always wanted to get my Phd – the life of a professor sounds pretty nice!
http://lawyergal.wordpress.com/
Was a professor, taught ancient history/Latin, and ran screaming from the field. I’d have to say that professorial life kind of blows. A lot.
Then again, part of why I didn’t like being a professor was that I loved videos like this one, and that just wasn’t “serious” enough!
Check out the Indie movie Dig! It’s on youtube so you don’t have to rent it. Your answer lies in there. Real rock bands are a dieing breed where the only images of real ones that are left are of actors portraying old cliches that have long since past. We live in a world of manufacured musicians by the record companies such as Miley Cyrus, Lady Ga Ga, or Selena Gomez. There are some great bands out there that still hold true what rock n roll really is but they usually come from the UK (hence the Aldo Snow cliche’). Why the UK? Cause the record companies and radio stations get bands a hell of a lot more exposure and radio time than they do here. Maybe if the US gave many of the good bands out there that kind of exposure and formula for success, we wouldn’t be talking about how great an actor’s portrayal of a musician is sometimes better than the real thing.
Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll be sure to check it out.
It does seem that the UK manages to keep some actual artists going, rather than relying on pre-fab, video-ready pop tarts. Which is why we’re experiencing another British invasion, I guess.
I have to agree and disagree. there are amazing bands in the US but its on the indie scene. Rock, Indie Pop Rock, Psy Rock, Prog rock, just a number of amazing bands, but you can’t go to the radio. Wolf Parade, Band of Skulls, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene (Canadian actually) … so don’t poo poo USA music just yet.
I am not too much into rock n roll so I cant comment too much.
When I see some of the old popular Indian songs being remixed, I somehow don’t like it too much. Quite a few of them are popular and I believe it is one of the way to introduce the old songs to the new generation. I dont know how the true lovers of Rock n roll would feel about it.
Huh. I hadn’t thought about Bollywood, but that’s an interesting parallel. Thanks!
I just put Jeff Buckley up on my blog yesterday to back a post,genious.
Humanism and heart are what speaks to the soul IMHO, and make great rock.
You’ll note a third blog in I rock out to “The Heavy” cause sexy talent and heart works.
Eminem is brilliant. Nauseating but brilliant nonetheless.
Pop tarts well(gag).Techno-yuck and tits and ass.
The stars aka Russell Brand, many actors are double and triple threats to start, and have that musical skill set, so we get treated at some point.
I like your points though.
I like your post.
Thanks, glad you liked it. I think great comedy and rock’n'roll both need humanism and heart. Maybe that’s why RB can do both..
Fake rock n’ rock is just what it is: fake. The real rock n roll: Zeppelin, Leppard, Maiden, Priest, Pantera, etc. are and always will be better than cheap, phony american idol crap. I can see where you are coming from but the real rock n roll legends shouldn’t be viewed as worse than FAKE rock n roll.
Preaching to the choir, Tom — I grew up in Michigan and classic rock is the music of my people.
you said: “Not as pretty, but still as devoted: the members of Spinal Tap, the only fake band that has actually toured.”
the only fake band that toured? but what about milli vanilli?
Haha, OK, probably not the only fake band in that sense; but the only better-than-real fake one, which Milli Vanilli certainly wasn’t.
I think it’s for pretty much the same reason that only The Muppets could get away with doing vaudeville numbers on prime-time network TV in the late 70′s. Irony and artifice, at their best, are like an Interrotron: you’ve got to set up some very complicated mirrors to compensate for the medium, just so you can make the same old eye contact.
Hmm, sometimes I wonder if people can communicate non-ironically these days, which makes irony a tricky tool to define and use. But it’s true that it sometimes, paradoxically, allows us a more direct view of things.
The “fake” band from the animated series “Metalocalypse” has also toured, the show is also centered around very egotistical musicians who do stupid things that only rock stars could ever get away with, though done to such extremes that it’s very much not a show for everyone.
Ah, I stand corrected then. I hear good things about “Metalocalypse” but I haven’t managed to catch it yet (still not TiVo’d here). I’ll have to check it out!
It’s because good musicians are also great actors. Performing music is just that, performing. Playing to the crowd to get a response. Actors have to do this in order to draw and get work, while many musicians can afford to ignore this and remain detached from anything outside of themselves.
That makes total sense; but, to a mere mortal like me, it’s still maddening that Russell Brand can just pick up and sing and be fabulous!
whomever said rent DiG! has got it right on. when you get past the drug abuse the brian jonestown massacre is pure rock & roll.
Drug abuse seems to be part and parcel of the whole scene. Not that that’s a good thing, but there’s no reason to shy away from portraying it!
Oh ho. And it is sweet rock n roll!
thats why they get paid to be actors o_o
But singers too??? See above.
Um, I love rock ‘n’ roll, but you gotta admit there was always something fake about it, it was always a bit of a con. I mean, even the Beatles were a cover band of American blues and rockabilly — they just happened to be geniuses. Have you listened to Zeppelin lately? Yeah, yeah, they’re great, I know, but they’re also bombastic poseurs. If rock music is ever art, it’s in spite of itself. I mean, who was it — Howlin’ Wolf or somebody — toured England in the early ’6os and came away saying, with genuine affection, “Those white boys wanted to play blues in the worst way. And they did.” Rock ‘n’ roll was what the Beatles, the Stones, the Yardbirds and all the rest settled for when they couldn’t play the blues.
Rock ‘n’ roll is a medicine show, always was. Accept it and love it.
I agree that real rock involves fakery, but it still intrigues me that you can start from fakery and produce actual rock…but yes, I think it’s right to be suspicious of *anyone* claiming to be making “real art.”
I liked it … yeah!
http://theidiotgame.com source
Yes, Russell Brand looks like a rock star. More than most (real) rock stars. I’m suprised no one forced him to front a band before he gained notoriety and fame as a comedian. Fake bands are awesome as they take the best bits of the rock stars and bands we love- then take a complete piss and mix it all up- and it all somehow comes out as brilliant on the other end!…lol!
I like that idea — forcing Russell Brand to get in front of a band! lol
Well, I sort of feel like he has! With the arc of the Aldus Snow character from Sarah marshall to get him to the greek. And has he done much in between?
There is a lot of this going around. What about Flight of the Conchords? I find their music (what there is of it) to be a little compelling even when they are being silly?
What about Broadway rock? The foolsgold mine of hair bands, hits from the 80s and the 90s? That’s a whole ‘nother topic to explore. Still, for me that definately falls under “fake” Rock ‘n Roll. Especially the hairband crap. It was fake to me in the when I first heard it, I wonder what it is when it’s regurgitated onto the Great White Way as “art”. Sigh.
Hey, watch it there, I grew up listening to hair bands and/or cock rock. Art, no? Compelling (or compelled), yes.
I haven’t yet caught FOTC, but I keep meaning to — time to get a damned TiVo for, uh, “work.”
Well I hope Bret Micheals has more of one as he has lost most of the other if that bandana is any indication
Probably — he seems to do OK with those “Rock of Love” ladies! LOL
I think it’s because normal rock bands take themselves too seriously. Even when they’re rediculous, they truly go over the line. They always remain tame and boring. That’s why I found myself listening to Stoner Rock recently. The shamelessness of the bands, the lack of need to prove that they’re real rock makes it so much fun. Artists need to let themselves go loose, and stop being so serious. Breaking Benjamin called one of their albums “Dear Agony’. Can you get duller than that?
Amen to that — the cult of “serious” has ruined many types of creative endeavor, and shameless is underrated!
Great post! You forgot Flight of the Conchords, they rule!
http://www.denwrites.com
3 words (well 2 and a preposition…): Rock of Ages
So good, so funny, so classic!!
Indeed, Def Leppard rocks.
Great post. I think you turned it up to 11.