My local classic rock station WCSX just sent me an e-mail. Apparently I can go online, right now, and buy advanced tickets for an upcoming tour being billed as "Classic Rock's Main Event Tour". This mega-tour features three somewhat familiar bands: Journey, Styx, and REO Speedwagon. To a 70's classic rock lover, it IS a heck of a lineup!
But...there are a few cynics among us, myself included. This would have been a killer concert in the 70's or even the 80's--a no-brainer. But today, would I go? Maybe...or maybe not. I call it my "ghost band" problem.
In the world of jazz big bands, Ghost Bands are bands where the leaders have passed on, while others take over the leadership role playing the same book of songs on something like a nostalgia kick.
The modern-day classic rock equivalent I would also call a Ghost Band--bands where the lead singer and/or leader is now absent from the group, while remaining members carry on the flame, so to speak, for the seemingly annual aging rocker nostalgia circuit.
I'm somewhat mixed on the idea. Journey is definitely Ghost Band status...singer Steve Perry has had health problems that have prevented him from touring. I believe two original Journey members now remain. Perry's replacement, though, is quite good...he has a voice similar enough to Perry's to pull it off. But it IS a bit misleading to hear that this guy's name is Steve Augieri, which in a fast radio blurb, sounds like "Perry".
REO is no big deal: Kevin Cronin is still there. Richrath isn't with the band...but did he ever contribute much anyway? I don't think there's an REO guitar lick I'd recognize.
Styx, though, is my pet peeve. I have the "Caught In The Act" concert video, and I can see Dennis DeYoung standing atop his white grand piano, belting out the ending of "Come Sail Away". The Panozzo brothers originally founded a band, which DeYoung joined; this core trio founded Styx. DeYoung can't tour for health reasons, John Panozzo drank himself to death, and Chuck has come out of the closet and is championing his fight against HIV and AIDS. Today, only "JY" is an original Styx member, while Tommy Shaw, the new ringleader, joined for the band's sixth album. I have a little problem with this band calling themselves Styx. It might be a *good* concert, but although I may be in the minority, I cannot hear Styx without DeYoung. He sued to get the Styx name, and lost...a shame IMHO.
Can you think of any other Ghost Bands? Something like Creedence Clearwater Revisited (w/o Fogerty)?
A band like Fleetwood Mac wouldn't qualify, since the band is fundamentally the same, with only Christine McVie being absent. What about the Doobie Brothers without Michael McDonald to sing the later tracks? That's iffy.
What about Genesis? I say no. You could argue, if you're an early Genesis fan, that it's been a ghost band since Peter Gabriel left. After he left, Collins took over and their popularity actually grew...when Collins departed in 1997, they all considered it a "20 year experiment" with Collins singing lead. Would the Ray Wilson-era Genesis be a ghost band? Well...it only lasted one album (anyone remember "Congo"?)...but anyone in the band, past or present, would say that the songwriting core of Banks and Rutherford was a constant. Without a good lead singer, though....??
But...there are a few cynics among us, myself included. This would have been a killer concert in the 70's or even the 80's--a no-brainer. But today, would I go? Maybe...or maybe not. I call it my "ghost band" problem.
In the world of jazz big bands, Ghost Bands are bands where the leaders have passed on, while others take over the leadership role playing the same book of songs on something like a nostalgia kick.
The modern-day classic rock equivalent I would also call a Ghost Band--bands where the lead singer and/or leader is now absent from the group, while remaining members carry on the flame, so to speak, for the seemingly annual aging rocker nostalgia circuit.
I'm somewhat mixed on the idea. Journey is definitely Ghost Band status...singer Steve Perry has had health problems that have prevented him from touring. I believe two original Journey members now remain. Perry's replacement, though, is quite good...he has a voice similar enough to Perry's to pull it off. But it IS a bit misleading to hear that this guy's name is Steve Augieri, which in a fast radio blurb, sounds like "Perry".
REO is no big deal: Kevin Cronin is still there. Richrath isn't with the band...but did he ever contribute much anyway? I don't think there's an REO guitar lick I'd recognize.
Styx, though, is my pet peeve. I have the "Caught In The Act" concert video, and I can see Dennis DeYoung standing atop his white grand piano, belting out the ending of "Come Sail Away". The Panozzo brothers originally founded a band, which DeYoung joined; this core trio founded Styx. DeYoung can't tour for health reasons, John Panozzo drank himself to death, and Chuck has come out of the closet and is championing his fight against HIV and AIDS. Today, only "JY" is an original Styx member, while Tommy Shaw, the new ringleader, joined for the band's sixth album. I have a little problem with this band calling themselves Styx. It might be a *good* concert, but although I may be in the minority, I cannot hear Styx without DeYoung. He sued to get the Styx name, and lost...a shame IMHO.
Can you think of any other Ghost Bands? Something like Creedence Clearwater Revisited (w/o Fogerty)?
A band like Fleetwood Mac wouldn't qualify, since the band is fundamentally the same, with only Christine McVie being absent. What about the Doobie Brothers without Michael McDonald to sing the later tracks? That's iffy.
What about Genesis? I say no. You could argue, if you're an early Genesis fan, that it's been a ghost band since Peter Gabriel left. After he left, Collins took over and their popularity actually grew...when Collins departed in 1997, they all considered it a "20 year experiment" with Collins singing lead. Would the Ray Wilson-era Genesis be a ghost band? Well...it only lasted one album (anyone remember "Congo"?)...but anyone in the band, past or present, would say that the songwriting core of Banks and Rutherford was a constant. Without a good lead singer, though....??