Want to know how Marilyn Monroe made it?

As it's Marilyn Monroe's 85th birthday, I've decided it would be appropriate to base this post on one of her many interesting quotes. In August 1972's edition of Ms. Magazine, Marilyn stated -

"I restore myself when I'm alone. A career is born in public — talent in privacy."

And that's the attitude to have.

So many artists rise to fame, particulalry in the electronic music scene, out of nowhere. The Streets were one of the first 'bedroom producers' to break into mainstream, and are still going strong. In Metal, Cloudkicker is making a decent laptop shaped dent into a previously band based genre. Both acts have created their sound inhome studios before unleashing it onto the unsuspecting public.

These artists (I'm grouping actresses, painters and those dudes on Leicester Square that make your name out of one piece of wire in together) spend time crafting their skill, getting it right and planning their work before they go out into the public domain. They had time to nurture their talent, and probably didn't take any of those early gig offers (that you shouldn't have taken as your not quite ready), but took anyway.

Practice makes perfect.

I hate that saying, cause it means you need to lock yourself away and get things wrong a million times before you can get where you want. When I think about it, and I wonder how John Bonham, Mix Master Mike and Marilyn Monroe got that good, I assume they just knew how to do it. God given talent and all that. Can you get that fluid, original and natural through repetative learning? Unfortuantely and fortunately yes, you can.

Unfortunately because now you have no excuse not to do what you want and fortuantely becuse the effects/result of practice/repetitive learning make success possible. You can create some of the best groove based drum patterns, tour with the Beastie Boys or get killed by The Kennedy's (allegedly) too!

Three steps to Monroe like success;

1. Practice, practice, practice, sweat over your art, practice.
2. Choose your platform carefully.
3. Get out there.

Anything is possible, there is no reason to not learn guitar / apply for that acting role / be one of the first turntablists to play at Lava and Ignite. Do it, do it now.

One final piece of wisdom from a rocker that's lived the life and is still here to tell the tale;

"The idea of a band nowadays is 5 pretty boys, one with a tattoo, one with a shaved head, and on and on. What the fuck is that? I mean, I like Britney Spears, I think she's pretty, but I'm not from the Mickey Mouse Club - I'm from the Godzilla Club!"

Ozzy Osbourne - Guitar World - Issue 37, 2000.

Cheers,

Josh.

Want to choose the future of music?

I recently saw the line-up of Radio 1's Big Weekend, and it disturbed me, I wanted to change it.

Chase & Status, Black Eyed Peas and Foo Fighters all played the main stage. Now, Chase & Status and Foo Fighters have managed to keep their credibility throughout their trajectory from garage to stadium and they are both credible representatives in their genre. Black Eyed Peas, once renowned for good beats and lyrics, are a pile of shit, an old, 22" rim'd, ringtoned, mock-electro pile of shite. How have they managed to share a stage?

Inevitably, all underground acts that become successful, lose their commonality with everyday people and no longer sing about affording their rent, but discuss the perils and pitfalls of fame and stardom. Some change their music, some their lyrics, some both.

Many punters assume this is selling out, but, if they still sang about hard times, I personally would award them less credibility as they no longer live that lifestyle. It's a lose-lose situation.

A great example of this fame trajectory are The Streets, originally singing about finding money to pay a blockbuster fine to stressing about the bread under the bed. If we are fortunate enough to see this transition, then the band is probably the genuine article. There is a reason why some artists have one hit then fade away into obscurity and only pop up at Time & Envy's 'Mad' hour.

The ones that stick around have done so as the general public continue to buy their records and keep them in gin. 'But that's why the Black Eyed Peas still exist!' I hear you cry, and you're right. However, Simon Cowell, James Blunt and the BNP have all gained popularity in one way or another, but I'm pretty sure they're all morons. Supported by morons. This is not a reason to give up, it's a reason to unite.

We are in control of who or what fills our clubs, pubs and radio stations. Vote with your feet, and your ears. Support local or small bands and they'll in turn support you.

I personally will be visiting more venues in order to enrich my live music experiences. I have nothing against Radio 1 per say, just that the majority of their daytime shows play a small number of mindless tracks, over and over and over again. I want to hear more new music on more popular radio stations, not just left field or avant-garde stations like 6Music.

I want to see the raw talent, without the lighting shows, guitar rigs and roadies. I like it when the drummer misses a beat and can't help but laugh about it and give it away to the onlookers.

To do list...

• Go to more local gigs.
• Listen to local radio's alternative music show.
• Spread the internet love through facebook, twitter etc.
• Buy more CD's!

In summary, we really need to trust the power in the people. Venues around the country and particularly in my neck of the woods are continuing to put on, low key but creative and intelligent music. The Labour Club is a great example of this, recent bands My First Tooth and soon to play Tribes have and will excite locals.

This can and will feed the radio stations and other venues with ever evolving, interesting music. The bands that succeed in small venues will go on to great things.

Power to the people!

The free, DIY music amplifier to get your camp rocking this festival season.

I have a simple but effective amplifier solution to using your phone as your only source of music when outdoors.

Stick it in a cup (It'll act like a megaphone). Make sure the cup is empty.

That's free, you can have that, gratis. Although, you could help me out now I've solved your biggest festival worry.

I'm calling on everyone to help put together a series of articles offering valuable, unmissable information.

If you have a certain area of expertise from soundproofing to prolonging the life of your bass strings, or even a link to some discreet decent earplugs that aren't fluorescent yellow so you don't look like a tool at gigs, then share your knowledge. Even if you don't want to write an article, get in touch and I can write it for you.

I've put out the first article about websites, and given you an awesome knowledge nugget at the start of this article, so now it's your turn...

 

Your country needs you...

E-mail me through the box on the left, or send an e-mail to audioworksltd@gmail.com, or call 01604 588655.

Cheers,

Josh