Yes, you're right, I do tend to personalize things, and I really should stop doing that. However, some things have been said around here that I disagree with, and I'm just trying to make my own point. And sometimes I think you overreact as well. You seem to take the UG and Fuzztopia rather personally yourself. And to be honest, I forgot all about this thread until Isabella brought this subject up again. I'm sorry if I came off as a little testy, and yes, I suppose my remark to you was a little out of line. kopper said:
Why are you taking this so personally or trying to make something personal out of it? On one hand you say you don't care, but you sure are quick to defend Little Steven for just about every jab given him here. So what's the story? Are you secretly Little Steven? I wouldn't doubt it the way you're so knee-jerkingly defensive about everything.
And frankly, I don't care if "there are people out there who don't like the way" I "do things." They can set up their own websites/podcasts/whatever. It's a free country. But then again, I don't make it impossible for people to get in touch with me, either. I'm out in the open, and hey, I'm a busy guy, too. Doesn't mean I can't take a few minutes to respond to emails. And, oh yeah, I don't tell any of the podcasters here what they can or can't play on their shows, either. Which is one reason why the GP podcasts kick the hell out of UG.
MikeL said:Well, it's his operation, and I'll let him run it as he sees fit. All I really care about is discovering new bands and bands that I've never heard of before. Quite honestly, I just don't care about all the Spinal Tap BS that goes on behind the scenes. I'll bet there are people out there who don't like the way you do things, kopper, but that is your problem, not mine. kopper said:Mike, you're missing Isabella's point. No one cares if you like LS or his stupid show, but it's his dictatorial influence over the music featured that is in question. Why, of ALL people involved in this music scene, is he the ONLY arbiter of cool for that station? How did he become the self-appointed guru of garage? If he really wanted to be diplomatic about this, he'd appoint a music committee to review band & label submissions and come up with a list, rather than putting the kibosh on the DJs adding music to their playlists and having it basically be his own decision. Imagine if there was one guy back in the '60s whose sole judgment it was to say whether a band was good (or "cool") enough to record and release their records? Then where would we be?
MikeL said:Again, each to his or her own. I like LS, and I like his show, and nobody here is going to change my mind. Of course, I'm not going to change your mind either, so that makes us even. And yes, it is a business, and as you get older, you'll find out that's the way the world works.
Isabella Gloria said:ack! what makes HIM an authority of taste? I'm glad you see exactly what I'm talking about. that's a hideous way to go about business, but that's what it is, isn't it? just business. I hate what he does in the arena, but it's not like he's the only big head in the music business to have ever acted like scum. thank clapton for garagepunk! [btw.. i listened, and it was far out. poe-influenced garage! doesn't happen every day (; ]
kopper said:Amen, Isabella! Siriusl (sic), I couldn't agree more.
From what I understand, the ONLY Underground Garage DJ that is allowed to introduce new bands on his show is Bill Kelly. I know this because he introduced a band on my label, The Nevermores, onto his show. Their tune "I Lost Lenore" got a 14-week rotation and lots of great exposure from that, and the band was thrilled. Little Steven remarked later that he though the song was "cool" so I sent him another copy of the CD. Bill's allowed a few adds per month (I think that's how it works). It's my understanding that he is currently the only UG DJ to have that privilege. That's because the legendary producers Kim and Andrew were adding songs that Steven thought were crap and he put a lid on DJ adds. He has been known to bust balls when he hears something he doesn't like. Bill is given leeway since Steven has acknowledged that he used his WFMU show ("Teenage Wasteland") as the prototype for UG and has always treated him incredibly well.
Isabella Gloria said:I haven't read the entire discussion, but after I saw that 'commercial' on renegade nation, I feel compelled to say that it seems like this Little Steven character represents everything I stand against. The only reason I was ever attracted to the name was because I saw a THEM cd sitting on a shelf of an Underground Garage display at Best Buy a few years ago. He's taking something pure and trying to package it and mass-market it and while I'm all in favor of educating kids about music or whatever he's doing with his "rock & roll high school" [original name, btw] joint, I wouldn't want a guy like him doing it. He's getting on talk shows and spewing drivel disguised [poorly] as passion. I'm starting to think that what all these guys are doing, and the crappy watered-down revival bands that tout themselves as "garage", is completely separate from anything real and from everything garage means to me and so many others. I don't care how awesome the website is when it finally is launched [if it hasn't been already].. it just doesn't seem real to me. [in fact it seems so straaange ;p ]
Blech. That's all I have to say.