Rock musicians don't change the world.

Justin from Queens_Archive

Rock musicians don t change the world.

A good friend of mine and I had a conversation a last week. I was struck reading through a recent issue of Punk Planet of a common misconception of several intelligent and earnest interviewees - that they are going to change the world for the better by playing their music.

So I posit the following - that nearly ANY sixteen year old who is genuinely pissed off at injustice in the world and wants to change it would do better to get a nursing license than they would to pick up a guitar and start writing songs for change.

This is not always the case. Our challenge was to come up with ten people who we could think had a more profound impact in alleviating the world from injustice as rockers than they would have as nurses. We were barely able to do it, despite all of the drinking we did. I think our list was (in no order):

1. Bono
2 -5. All four members of Fugazi
6. John Lennon
7. Jello Biafra

I can't remember who 8 to 10 were. I can't remember anything when I drink even two beers, and we moved beyond that.

As with most discussions like this, we covered a WIDE range of things in our musings. But the central point was consistent. Don't kid yourself that your impulse in playing rock music is to change the world. You're doing it primarily to satisfy a personal creative impulse. Your friends in your scene may feel enriched by the chords you play, you may play many worthwhile benefit shows and your lyrics may be poignant. But if your goals is to make the world a better place, stop playing rock music and get a nursing license.

So that's what we were talking about. Anyone have any ideas of 8 - 10?

= Justin

PS - I'm using the term "rock music" here about as broadly as possible.

DrAwkward_Archive