I was reading the NME site today and saw the story that Robert Planet had been voted the 'Voice of Rock' by the readers of Planet Rock. I have to agree with most of the choices on the list, but... it didn't include any women (Janis Joplin or Grace Slick for example) and the representation of anyone in Modern Rock was non-existent. Now, Planet Rock is a Classic Rock site - so the choices would be limited to the definition of classic rock.
So, my question is... Who are the Voices of Modern Rock? Let's define Modern Rock as artists who have gained popularity since 1977. Over the next week I'll be asking this question amongst my friends on Facebook, Twitter, Blip.fm and of course 'real' life.
Who is the ultimate voice of Modern Rock?
Some early suggestions include...
- Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
- Debbie Harry
- Caleb Followill (Kings of Leon)
- Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
- Bjork
- Sting
- Elvis Costello
- Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)
- Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
- PJ Harvey
- Patti Smith
- Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders)
- Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode)
- Alison Moyet
- Julian Casablancas (Strokes)
- Joan Jett
Randy, I love the topic and have discussed this with friends before. My theory (and I'm happy to be disproved) is that there are NO new heroes of rock. Kurt Cobain may have been the last one. There are plenty of popular voices, but who has risen to fame since the nineties that truly has stage presence and owns the rock star image? I love new music, but a lot of bands blend together these days. They borrow and reinvent and struggle to find their own path. I'm not sure there will ever be another rock star that we'll compare to Jim Morrisson, Robert Plant, Bono, David Lee Roth, Ozzy Osbourne, Sid Vicious, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, or John Lennon
ReplyDeleteEDDIE VEDDER
ReplyDeleteWhere's the chicks from Planet Rock - they must have been pissed since "New Rock" is full of them. Shirley Manson, Tori Amos, the chicks from Veruca Salt?
ReplyDeleteEddie Vedder is THE Choice here. XD
ReplyDeleteThere is no choice to vote! Eddie Vedder is THE Voice. Unless you take Ed out of competition for fairness... XD
ReplyDelete