ROCK OF AGES....WHERE FOR ART THOU

After reading an article in "Rolling Stone" regarding Led Zeppelin reuniting for a performance in London, I started to wonder why, it seems, that so many bands formed in the '60s & '70's like Aerosmith, Ozzy Ozbourne, Kiss, Van Halen and The Rolling Stones were able to sustain such an everlasting career. Sure, they might of hit a dry spell here and there or broke up, then got back together, but they always bounced back, even if it was 10 or more years later. I mean, these were the years of Peace, Love, Rock & Roll & PCP yet these music loving hippies survived.

I had the misfortune of living out my teenage years in the 80's where most artists turned out to be one hit wonders, with the exception of Madonna, of course. There were so many of them, much of it is a blur to me now. At most, I remember Cindy Lauper, Wham, Culture Club and Michael Jackson. The main reason for that is because they were so bizarre. As an 80's teen, I turned to bands like Motley Crue, Poison, Skid Row, Gun's n Roses & Tesla. Each one of them rocked my world. I remember being 16 and cruizin with the windows down crankin every tune. If not for these bands, I dare to imagine how I would have turned out. Not "cool" that's for sure.

Since the 80's there have been very few bands that have been able to withstand the music industry. Sure there are a lot of great ones, don't get me wrong, they just don't sustain the depths of time. The only explanation I have come up with, and I'm no expert, is simple. People change, Music changes and the Industry changes. I know its not grand, but it's all Ive got. Support music....its kept me alive.