By Edwin Alvarez Bull |
América Writing, (EFE).- The hackneyed phrase of “rock is dead” falls by its own weight with artists like Fontaines DC, Squid and Dry Cleaning revitalizing the genre. But it is undeniable that it is “aging” more and more and proof of this is 2023, a year in which two of the Stones turn 80 and the co-founders of Metallica turn 60, in addition to other “round” anniversaries.
1943 – The stones keep rolling, now at 80 km/h
The death of Charlie Watts in 2021 was brutal for The Rolling Stones, but nothing stops this force of nature formed since 1962 by Mick Jagger (July 26) and Keith Richards (December 18).
The still-bouncy singer and laid-back guitarist will turn 80 in the second semester and plan to celebrate together, even though they’ve hardly spoken since the ’80s.
After releasing “GRRR Live!”, an album plus a film from a 2012 presentation during the “50 & Counting Tour”, a new album is expected, the first with totally unpublished material since 2005 and which would feature Paul McCartney (80 years old) and Ringo Starr (82 years old), as well as his participation in a concert in the style of the legendary Live Aid (1985), now to support Ukraine.
In addition, the ex-leader of Pink Floyd Roger Waters, as great as he is controversial, will also break the “wall” of 80 years (September 6) and recently shared a preview of his new version of “The Dark Side of the Moon”, which just turned 50 years old.
1953 – The rebels also reach 70
Kim Gordon (April 28) is legendary within the alternative scene.
With Sonic Youth, a band that she helped form in 1981 in New York, she became a goddess of noise rock and an influence on the grunge of Nirvana (Kurt Cobain made her feel like “an older sister”), Pearl Jam and company.
She was also an inspiration/partner in the Riot Grrrl movement. Hers is the famous phrase “bombard the nerve center of rock phallocracy”, a summary of the attitude of that feminist artistic-social current led by Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill).
After her tortuous divorce from Thurston Moore in 2011, which also marked the end of her “sonic youth”, she exorcised her demons with her autobiography “The Girl in the Group” (2015) and continues with projects such as Body/Head and Glitterburst, as well as a solo career and his most recent production, “At Issue” (2022), with Loren Connors.
He was preceded in turning 70 by Kenneth “Boom” Gaspar (February 3), a keyboardist whose name is not so familiar but who since 2002 has collaborated live and in the studio with Pearl Jam.
1963 – From metalheads to Latinos, what a vintage of 60 years!
If we talk about wines, the 1963 is an excellent vintage.
To begin with, Danish Lars Ulrich (December 26) moved to the US as a young man to try to follow in his father’s footsteps as a professional tennis player, but his true passion was drums and looking to start a band he placed a classified ad. in a Los Angeles newspaper, which was answered by James Hetfield (August 3).
The result: Metallica, one of the most important groups in history, as well as for the youngest “just because of the song from the fourth season of ‘Stranger Things’”. On April 14 they will release “72 Seasons”, their eleventh studio album, and days later they will begin an ambitious world tour.
They will also “blow out the candles” Scott Ian (December 31), guitarist for Anthrax, one of “The Big Four of thrash metal” (along with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth); Billy Gould (April 24) and Ruddy Buttom (July 1), both of Faith No More; Les Claypool (September 29), face and heart of Primus, and Gordon Gano (June 7), singer of Violent Femmes.
In the British Isles, the party was joined by Johnny Marr (October 31), founder of The Smiths and Morrisey’s “friendenemy”, and singers Ian Brown (February 20), former The Stone Roses; Kevin Shields (May 21), from My Bloody Valentine, and Jarvis Cocker (September 19), about to return to the stage with Pulp.
In Latin America there were also good “grapes” 60 years ago. To the fresh birthdays of Sabo Romo (March 12), ex-Caifanes, and Fito Páez (March 13), will be joined by Charly Alberti (March 27), who was a drummer for Soda Stereo; Héctor Buitrago (June 29), bassist of Aterciopelados, and Sergio Rotman (November 6), saxophonist of Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and leader of Cienfuegos.
1973 – Good new fifties of rock
The 50s are a turning point and for the list of new fifties, 2023 will mark the maturity of indie rock.
After TV On The Radio multi-instrumentalist Kyp Malone (February 27), May 17 will celebrate Josh Homme, who shines both in Queens of the Stone Age and in side projects like Them Crooked Vultures, Eagles of Death Metal and The Desert Sessions or being a luxurious companion to Iggy Pop.
They will be joined by Chino Moreno (June 20), from Deftones; John Dolmayan (July 15), from System of a Down; Fran Healy (July 23), from Travis; the Mexican León Larregui (December 1), from Zoé, and the Argentine-American Paz Lenchantin (December 12), from Pixies.
Bonus Track: 1933 – El country-rock, nonagenario
To reach 90, you have to resort to technicalities.
Willie Nelson (April 29), country icon, is nominated this year for the Rock Hall of Fame… no matter how badly famous that institution is with its choices.
With his white beard and braided hair, this Texan doesn’t stop. “I Don’t Know A Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard,” the most recent of his 80 to 150 records (depending on the source), came out recently and will be touring the US starting September 1. April.
