Get Well, Keith Richards

Face it, the Rolling Stones are undeniably one of the best bands in the world.

They got where they are by adapting the 50s American musical forms of electric blues and early rock ‘n’ roll. They dominated the mid 1960s with their fusion of a signature, guitar-based sound that established hard rock.

“Founding members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are regarded as one of the greatest songwriting teams in the history of rock; the band never stopped being inspired by other genres. Reggae, funk, disco/dance, country, folk, soul, and even psychedelia have leaked into their recordings. They are the longest surviving rock ‘n’ roll band in history.” – Wikipedia

It has been especially gratifying to see them get back into the blues these past few years. Some would say their music is mellowing because of it. Those who say so are not pleased with it.

As you know, the 62 year old Rolling Stones member Keith Richards has undergone surgery in New Zealand to relieve brain pressure after being injured in a fall from a tree over a week ago in Fiji. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Hoping for Keith’s recovery, it is not hard to imagine sometime in the future, where the Rolling Stones’ music really mellows out. Instead of hoping and wildly dancing around on stage, they will opt for bouncing gently up and down on their heels. Their music will be softer too. None of that overly loud, rhonchorous noise for senior citizens, right? Before long, you will be able to hear “Gimme Shelter” “Let It Bleed” and “Satisfaction” in new cuts, playing in elevators and grocery stores everywhere.

Whether rock ‘n’ roll and hard rock from here? Shall it end, not in a bang, but a whimper?

Of course there will always be other, younger bands, but try to listen to their ‘music’ (sucks, don’t it?) Today’s music is two dimensional. It is all one texture, and that texture is flat and loud. It is like someone took their sounds and flattened them into a sterile, featureless rendition where all the parts one dynamic range.

Take a LOOK at what I mean, and see if you agree.

Regards,
Roger Born
“A day without sun shine is like, you know, night.”

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