Henry Rollins former Black Flag leader and now motivational speaker (so to speak) will always have an opinion on everything and he will always be right- in his eyes. He is one of the most self assured people I have ever met and most of the time with good cause.
A well learned and inquisitve personality he makes it his business to share social commentary on a level we can all understand. I am not saying I agree with his thought all the time and lets not vote him in to office but he makes some valid points and loudly.
He recently wrote about Joey Ramones new album in his regular LA Weekly column, “The songs were culled from demos Joey made over a period of years,” says Rollins. “Musicians have come in and overdubbed instruments around some of the tracks, giving the songs a disembodied feel. I can’t think that was the desired effect – but what can you expect when you do something that is so completely dubious from the start?”
He says it was “a hell of a thing” to hear Ramone’s voice on new tracks 11 years after his death – but his overwhelming reaction was discomfort.
“I wonder if this record really needed to be released, despite how many of us miss Joey,” he reflects. “If Joey had liked the songs, then he would have released them. If he thought they were worthy, why aren’t any of them on Don’t Worry About Me, the album he made right before he passed away?”
Rollins cites historic examples of people ruining an artist’s legacy because their motivation was wrong. “A man called Alan Douglas took it upon himself to wipe original tracks and bring in other musicians to play around Jimi Hendrix’s vocal and guitars. The results are incredibly bad.
“Do you remember when the remaining Beatles played around with two John Lennon demos and released Free as a Bird and Real Love? This was definitely for the money – they’re the worst Beatles tracks ever and border on the perverse and morbid.
“It’s the contamination of an artist’s legacy – the betrayal of the goodness of the intent – that gets to me. Ramone, Hendrix and Lennon aren’t around to disagree, and those charged with protecting them are not doing so.”
He finishes: “Maybe it’s just where we’re at: everything is in play and if it sells then its validity is not questioned. To hell with everyone Warholian 15 minutes, decency and a sense of decorum."
Yup, and in this case I agree. I havent even heard the entire album through, I really dont want to. rock nyc 's Iman Lababedi gave it a negative review when it was first released. The initial track was rather pathetic and a voice from beyond spliced mastered digitized and duct taped together almost tarnishes my memories.
If this album was completed prior to Ramones death and released posthumously thats one thing- to scavenge up material to complete it is Frankenstein rock and roll.
RIP Joey, we got your back.