Here we go again. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea is the latest superstar to declare – sorta – that rock is dead. The buoyant low-ender sat down with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready for a recent interview on SiriusXM’s Pearl Jam Radio, reminiscing about the passion of the ‘90s before elaborating on the state of rock music today.
Transcribed by Alternative Nation, Flea says that he “looks at rock music as kind of a dead form in a lot of ways.”
“I just remember being so excited that we were playing with [Pearl Jam] and with Smashing Pumpkins, because it was just an exciting time for rock music. A lot of times, especially recently, I look at rock music as kind of a dead form in a lot of ways. Nothing to take away from us and [Pearl Jam], because obviously I believe we’re relevant bands that come with a real energy,” he continued. “But if you’re a kid today, and you get in a rock band, it’s like – when we were kids, when I said I want to be in a rock band and that’s what I’m doing for my life, that’s what I was going to do, no question. You’d get: ‘You are a fucking lunatic, you are crazy. You’re never going to get a decent job in your life. What are you doing? You’re ruining your life.”
“I was like fuck it, I don’t care, this is what I want to do, this means everything to me, I found a home. I’ve been a weird, neurotic, loner kid all my life, I was always the kid you called fag in high school, punk rock gave me a home. But nowadays, you decide you want to be in a rock band it’s like, ‘Oh great, let’s get you an image consultant, and a lawyer, and a manager, and let’s see what we can do here. It’s a great money making opportunity for you junior.”
He’s got a damn good point in regards to unnecessary infrastructure clogging the process, but the exploitation of rock doesn’t equal the death of rock. As long as there are kids with passion, guitars and some attitude to fuel the fire, rock will be just fine.
