Features :: Angry Again: The Sound and the Fury...

Most rock musicians start their careers off with the classic ‘angry at the world, born to raise hell’ attitude. Most rock musicians also make the best music of their lives when they start off with that mindset. Co-incidence? Could it be attributed to the exuberance of youth, the overflow of emotions, the strong, uncorrupted opinions associated with the age? Or is it just plain, old angst?

You’re a total rebel. You’re mad at the world. You’ve recorded two, three, four great albums, and they’ve sold a lot. Now, you’re rich beyond your wildest expectations. Let’s face it — it’s kinda hard to be angry when you’re that rich.

Classic example: Metallica. This is a band that started off with an album that was to be titled Metal Up Your Ass (which had to be renamed to Kill ‘Em All, for obvious reasons). Three albums down the line, the red hot fire was washed out by rich, green cash. Now, they’re making movies about group therapy and talking about their ‘feelings’. Drummer Lars is gay and collecting rare artwork. The one-time poster boys for anger are now faking the same ‘anger’ just to make more money.

It’s the same story with KoRn. Jonathan Davis has been singing about the same ‘deprived-youth-please-love-me-I-hurt-so-much’ crap for years. All fine when you’re in your late teens, but very fake when you’re a middle-aged, rich, rich rock star. Take a Look in the Mirror lately, John? Isn’t it about time you traded you traded self-pity for self-introspection?

Let’s face it. Over the past few years, angst has been the ultimate marketing tool as far as the heavy music industry is concerned. Being angry is fashionable. Hapless rage is in vogue. Being ‘miserable’ is trendy. Kids these days, in their search to be ‘different’ from everyone else joyfully lap this up, much to the glee of record labels. What these kids don’t realise is that if everyone tries to be different; all it creates is a different sameness.

Frantic-tic-tic-tic-tock, anyone?

Yours Ironically,
The Ironman