Bands change (or, we'll pay you 3000 dollars to reunite, and you can give Ringo a lesser share)

[gurdonark]

Today the internet is abuzz with the "news lite" that Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries may record a solo album of "world-music" influenced material. The Cranberries themselves had to post a message on their official website that they are not breaking up, notwithstanding this momentous development.

Let's skip over whether one loves the Cranberries or hates them (I personally like their work, but am bemused that the Cranberries became the "famous" band with their sound, while the Sundays, whom I liked better, were rather less so). But isn't it curious the attachment which people feel for particular formulations of particular bands?

Not all band departures are bad things.
It's my opinion, for instance, that both Peter Gabriel and Genesis benefitted when Gabriel left that band right after The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (I might qualify that statement to say that Genesis benefitted for roughly two albums, the best two Genesis albums, until Phil Collins rediscovered his lost love for silly Motown songs, ending Genesis' creative career but enchancing their radio play).

But we gain attachments to our musicians. They are products we buy, CDs we own. In some way, we come to see artists and bands as people who must stay in the same mode forever, or betray us.
In some instances, such genre bands can be brilliant. Jethro Tull made only fine tuning for years, and actually came to be appreciated after decades of playing to only fan approval.
Certainly, it would have been hard to imagine Madness changing from a ska/pop band into the Bee Gees.

But isn't it strange how fans make musicians into commodities? It's okay that some musicians' effort at creative evolution flops--that's just life. People get so invested in stasis, though.

The Cranberries have been in the public eye for a solid decade. Why should anyone much care if their lead singer wants to go solo for awhile?
Pop music is still so much about the starmaker machinery. People want their formulae--the right band, the right songs.

But I must admit I do feel sorry for the "other" member of Wham (Andrew Ridgeway?). Imagine this--one day you're on top of the charts. The next day you're the lesser former member of a bubblegum band.

I wish Dolores and every single Cranberry well, alone, or in unison.

Comments

And he's still go-going??

[kelquestor.livejournal.com]

I can't say I've tracked Andrew Ridgeway's moves since Wham's break-up but I recall something about race car driving? His time at the top of the pops may well have been shortlived but does that in any way detract from the successes he may have achieved in other arenas? I don't define success personally as how well I chart or how many papers print what I have to say about a police officer I flashed my willy at...(and, if I did, I'd have to say that I was handicapped in my pursuit of success by lack of a willy - which certainly hasn't held me back in reality!). Whether Andrew is in fact a success or not would depend on his own definition. He might have been rather glad to drop out of the limelight, I understand there's all sorts of stresses attached to being out there in it?

Meanwhile, many a teen star has gone on to become a top record company executive or multinational wheeler and dealer. And some of them have even grown up to be happy!

Re: And he's still go-going??

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Yes, you're right. Excellents points!

Wham! like a lightning strike in the dark

[kelquestor.livejournal.com]

And - it came to me this morning before the dawn - his name is Andrew Ridgley. Oh, if I could only harness that brainpower to some useful end...!

Re: Wham! like a lightning strike in the dark

[serendipoz.livejournal.com]

Which led to the thought that I just read a thread on a mailing list about what SF writers had been wrestlers (as in live action, audience active wrestling.)

Not to mention Steve Brust who has moved to Las Vegas to take up professional poker playing - a stable career over his secondary career of SF writing.

(Never know what quirks spring up in my mind. Thanks for springing them!)

Re: Wham! like a lightning strike in the dark

[kelquestor.livejournal.com]

Do you mean to say that there are a NUMBER of wrestlers turned sci-fi writers?? It seems truth continues to be stranger than fiction!

Alas, the fact that poker playing is more stable and financially rewarding than writing is all too believable.

Re: Wham! like a lightning strike in the dark

[serendipoz.livejournal.com]

During the discussion we found at least three people who had made money at writing SF and wrestling. None are well known now - two wrote pulp type SF.

As for poker playing - at least you can live in warm places - Las Vegas, Monaco, etc.

[serendipoz.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh, you reminded me that I want to know what Judy Henske is up to now - I've been told she has a web site and is selling her music.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I don't even know her work, but it was fun to look up www.judyhenske.com and read her weblog.

Re:

[serendipoz.livejournal.com]

Thanks for looking, ... her vinyl - when she was doing it - had as much of her as storyteller/discussion creator as singer. Her voice is whiskey rich.