Sidetracked

So if there was any need to prove that the Rock Generation is getting old, this is it:

While at the Ian Anderson concert Saturday night, I saw a lady in the crowd knitting a sweater.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with knitting sweaters. I like sweaters — especially on cold days. It’s just not what I think of when I listen to, say, “Purple Haze.” When I hear Hendrix, I think about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

Not sweaters.

 Anyway, when I interviewed Anderson, of Jethro Tull, we talked about the movie “This Is Spinal Tap,” which he liked. And he recommended the movie “Anvil,” about a real-life metal band that has had its share of “Spinal Tap” moments.

I’d read good things about the documentary before. And since Anderson hyped it up so much, I had to watch the film, now out on DVD.

While it could have been a little more thorough, it was indeed a fascinating piece. Basically, it centers around too aging metal musicians, Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner, who made a pact to rock together at age 14. While they had one shining moment in the early 80s, they’ve been trying to break through ever since.

The movie follows them through a disappointing tour, and it chronicles their failed attempt to score a record deal. Throughout, their continued failures threaten to spoil the unique friendship between these two bandmates.

Without giving anything away, I’ll say the ending is pretty great.

In my last piece of rock news, the L.A. Times sent a reporter to the Edwards Barn this past weekend to cover the Chris Hillman concert there.  I would have loved to have been there, but I had already committed to seeing Ian Anderson. However, I did speak to Hillman for our preview of the show. And, like former Byrds bandmate Roger McGuinn, he was an excellent interview. Despite decades in the rock business, neither of them had the rock star attitude. And neither seemed bored telling their great stories — even if they’ve probably had to tell them a thousand times.

By the way, next month marks the 40th anniversary of the Rolling Stones Altamont concert that ended in tragedy. Hillman was there as a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers.

“I played the Monterey Pop Festival in ‘67, which was probably the best rock festival ever,” Hillman told me in 2007. “There were no incidents, no problems with drugs. Within two years I was playing Altamont…and it had gone to this dark place.”

Posted on November 9th, 2009 by Pat
Filed under: Music