There are artists with back up bands, and then there is the traditional band. A lead guitar, bass and drummer for starters with the possibility of a lead singer or multiple singers. There is something about bands that captures audiences and is different from that of single artists. It could be that many legendary bands like the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and AC/DC brought together more than just a group of talented musicians. The popular saying, “two heads are better than one,” is especially true with 4 or 5 band members that are experts in their respective areas. Of course a single person can develop a melody and lyrics alone, but a group can create synergy when it brings together songwriter and musical genius to form a band.
Bands tend come across as a group of mates, doing what they love and having fun doing it. They travel together, write together and perform together, and it often shows in their music (Five reasons rock bands break up 2002). We also notice a level of entertainment that bands provide over single artists, for example, at a concert it’s more like watching a number of headline performers at once rather than a single artists and their backup entourage.
So if being in a band is so good why do so many bands break up? Well the term ‘musical differences’ is usually the official reason, but there are several possibilities. It is true that as musicians age they may tend to look in different directions creatively and inspirationally, leading to musical differences. However other reasons such as losing the love for the music, solo careers, money and outside influences (Five reasons rock bands break up 2002). Any of these reasons can potentially mean the end of a good thing, sometimes that means the end of the band, sometimes the formation of a new one and sometime, like the Rolling Stones, they just roll with the punches and keep on going.
In the end we have to remember that the musicians that make up our bands are people too and they have differences in ideas, personalities and backgrounds.
References:
Five reasons rock bands break up, 2002, Pagewise, viewed 2 June 2009, http://www.essortment.com/all/rockbandsbreak_rtmm.htm.
The main differences I feel when comparing a band to a solo artist is that of originality and credibility. In my mind, the solo artist tends to appear as a puppet on a string being pulled this way and that by the people behind them. This idea is absolutely not the case, the majority of the time, however this generalisation is occurring more and more with the advent of shows like Idol and Popstars.
ReplyDeleteThe band on the other hand drums up images of like you mentioned, mates putting their creative heads together and producing an awesome product.
One of the most notable band bustups is that of Aerosmith, where they were pretty much washed up and before the era that was, had even started. A brief meeting with Joe Perry and Steven Tyler in the early 80s solved this problem. They got back together straight away and were rather angry that they had broken up and lost precious time. Similarly Bon Jovi went their separte ways in 1989, yet a scheduled apearance at the Grammys that they were unable to get out of, made them see the light and reunite.
I think you have hit the nail on the head hear, that we as consumers have to face fax and realise that musicians are human too and cant get along with everyone, all the time, forever.