Last week I saw 10cc at Sony Hall and had a great time. 10cc in 2024 is Graham Gouldman, one of the original four, though my friend did point out, he was the last to join, since the other three---Lol, Eric and Kev--had been in Hotlegs prior, Paul Burgess, though not on the original studio albums, was indeed the band's touring drummer since 1973, Ric Fenn, Gouldman's lead guitarist since Lol and Kev departed in 1977, and two hot shot utility guys who did their best to recreate all of the parts originally created by the missing three. The set list was to die for and we had a grand old time. But, the same friend who mentioned that Graham was the last to join, also didn't really approve of Gouldman using the 10cc moniker, which was one of the reasons he chose not to attend.
"It should have been 'Graham Gouldman Sings The Songs of 10cc'."
Maybe. Maybe not. I am still unsure of how I feel about this practice.
Now, of course, bands like Foreigner, Lynyrd Skynyrd, or any one of the five dozen incarnations of oldies groups like The Platters and The Drifters who tour incessantly without a single original member is an absolute joke. People in six different cities can see "The Drifters" on the same night. But there are people who still disapprove of The Who touring to this day, even though the band consists of the original singer who can still sing, the original songwriter and guitar player, who can still play and sing, and the son of a Beatle on drums who was taught how to play by the Who's original drummer. I have no issue with calling this band The Who.
But how about the MC5, who at this point, have all died? But not before Wayne Kramer was able to round up a number of special guests like Tom Morello, Slash, and on the pretty excellent new single above, Vernon Reid, to record 13 new songs for a new "MC5" record called "Heavy Lifting," due on October 18th. Even MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson sat in on a few before he passed.
Should this be The MC5 without Rob Tyner or Fred "Sonic" Smith? Can you imagine someone other than Rob Tyner fronting this band? When I think MC5, the first thing I see is Tyner's hair!
If the music is good, does it matter who is playing it? Well, yes. Yes it does...to some degree. I have a friend who years ago, told me she was going to see CCR play at a club in New Jersey. I said, "No you're not!" She insisted. I said, "No. It's Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Stu Cook and Doug Clifford, but no Fogerty." Her reply, "Who cares, as long as they do 'Travelin' Band!"
That's how it is for some. As long as you hear the songs you love, it's enough.
But where is the line drawn?
I really like this new "MC5" track, whoever they are.
14 comments:
I like the honesty of Graham Gouldman's 10CC. Lots of "bands" have done this when down to one member. Al Jardine and Blondie Chapman touring as Beach Boys Family and Friends seemed OK. As for the touring oldies acts with zero original members, they should not be billed under the original moniker. The New Coasters would be alright I guess, or Songs of the Coasters.
If that's Sammy Hagar in place of Tyner, then no. but as a song, not bad. otoh, The Stooges reunion was good intentioned but bad musically, while the Dolls last albums were enjoyable.
Yeah, I've got mixed feelings about all of this. The line needs to be drawn somewhere, I'm just not sure where to draw it.
I guess it all comes down to this - if you dig it, that's all that matters.
Randy
Last summer I saw the Furs/Squeeze bill at Radio City. Had a blast. But it occurred to me that both bands have been around for over 40 years with various line ups. The mainstays (Butler Bros, Difford/Tillbrook) remained and that made it OK for me. But bands touring without any original members is nothing more than a cover band. Looking at you YES, Skynrd, Foreigner, etc.
My GF surprised me with tickets to see John Waite, Styx and "Foreigner" a month or so ago. Waite was in great voice (though wasted his set by covering "Whole Lotta Love" instead of doing another Baby's song). Styx surprised the hell out of me as whomever replaced Dennis DeYoung was awesome and Tommy Shaw seems ageless (and they still have JY and dragged out Chuck Panozzo for a handful of numbers). Foreigner, however, is a 100% cover band at this point -- even though apparently the lead singer has been in the band for 20 years (so they said...)
I still can't say enough about Styx's set, but I was done with Foreigner after about 15 minutes (though they were the closer and the GF loved it.)
I have no problems if people want to pay money to hear songs live that would otherwise never be played live again (though I I'm not sure if I would have considered my life complete without hearing "Dirty White Boy" live like I did...)
That said, I've seen "The Spinners" a couple of times at fairs, etc -- and I would see whomever is in that band performing those songs live in a heartbeat (though Henry was still in the band each time...)
We saw "The Yardbirds" a few years back at Milwaukee's Summerfest for an afternoon set and, once we realized they were a great cover band (which The Yardbirds were anyway), the show was quite entertaining. At this point in the game, almost any legacy act is more or less a cover band of the younger selves, so enjoy the music while we can.
Given that my fave MC5 song -- "Shakin' Street" -- wasn't sung by Rob Tyner, I'm willing to cut the new song some slack.
Not sure it's terribly exciting on its own merits, however, but hey...
Oh, shit. I thought that was AC/DC.
I don't care what they call themselves, I'm just not interested in tribute bands. Too many good acts out there to bother with such. If the driving creative talent is still in it, then to me it's probably not a tribute act. But "Foreigner"? Why bother? But I certainly don't care if someone else wants to go hear a cover band sing some great songs. I'd just rather play the albums.
It's a good question, where to draw the line. A few years ago a friend suggested we go see the "English Beat." But it was really Dave Wakeling and I don't know who else. No Ranking Roger (though this was before he died). I decided to pass, even though I love the albums and never got to see them live back in the day -- I just couldn't imagine it sounding like the real thing. I hope we don't ever get to that point with the Stones - meaning that I hope they don't continue without Mick, Keith or even Ronnie.
But if Paul and Ringo played together, without claiming to be "The Beatles," I'd be tempted.
Marc
So no one has anything to say about this new Wayne Kramer dba MC5 track?
I can't help but think that if this was some new indie group on Bandcamp everyone would be going nuts.
I think it's pretty rocking.
It does indeed rock, and that's no small thing in 2024. But if you hadn't told us who recorded it, I doubt I would have identified it as the MC5/Wayne Kramer. Maybe that's just me, though.
Marc
You missed the big one are the Stones are the stones the stones without Brian, Bill, Charlie and even MicK Taylor?
Thin Lizzy without Phil Lynott, Eric Bell, Brian Robinson? We could go on.
Anyway a 10cc Triva question, they are the only band in the seventies to have 3 number one singles in the uk with 3 different singers.
Rolling Stone magazine calls them "zombie bands." Though what they'd call the Zombies without Colin Blunstone is an open question. https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/zombie-bands-attack-these-touring-groups-dont-have-a-single-original-member/ss-AA1ogzrS
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