To Be, Or Not To Be, A Rock Legend

Legendary. You hear the word tossed around all the time to describe rock and roll bands, songs, and performances. Sometimes it’s even thrown around too much. So much so that today, it’s almost as if bands try to achieve that status themselves rather than wait for it to be bestowed upon them. Not right in my book, especially when you have artists calling themselves legends. Not only does that go against the very definition of the word, but it is beyond egotistical. Can we continue to give out that title to anyone that just wants it? Not at all. Each time it is used improperly, it degrades the value of the word as well as the bands deserving of it. A line in the sand must be drawn. What makes a band legendary?

Let’s look at the sure fire legends of rock and roll. Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and let’s throw Nirvana in as well. If you examine those bands and artists, there are three striking similarities that when packaged together, yield legendary status. The first aspect: relevance. Each of the above legends manage to remain relevant time and time again. Elvis and The Beatles began their careers back in the 50s and 60s and still are talked about in the mainstream rock media each and every year. Whether it be a re-issue of old material or an album full of unreleased stuff, both bands have managed to bridge the gap of time to remain relevant among kids, adults, and grandparents alike. Same with The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Bob Dylan. All started in their own eras of rock and roll, and all are still going today. Going, and going strong. They’ve all managed to roll through time, adapting and reacting to the different ages and obstacles put before them, with the end result being consistent, good music. Not many have accomplished the feat of long term relevance. Some are on the cusp, but these guys have.

A second important aspect: the ability to create new fans. This notion does parlay itself with relevance and undoubtedly is equally as important. Many bands are able to stay around playing their music for their die-hard fan base. Though it’s an entirely different ball game when a band stays around, creatively putting out music that new and young fans are loving. That separates the good from the great; the legendary from the normal. Take U2 for example. Bono and the gang have been going strong since the 80s, reinventing their sound and trying new things in the studio as well as on the live stage. If you look at an album like "Boy" and then at an album like "No Line On The Horizon," the differences are astonishing. However, though they are different in many ways "Boy" created fans during its time and "No Line" has created different fans during its time. What ties the two fan bases together is the fact that they both can listen to the other album and be equally as appreciative. It is not an easy task for a band to do. But the best can and do get it done.

The third, and the most important aspect: historical impact. When dealing out the word legendary, the impact each group or artist made on the music world should be taken into the utmost consideration. Why? Because legends change the way things are done and are talked about and remembered more than the regulars are. Therefore, there needs to be a reason why they are talked about and remembered. Something left behind by the group that forever impacts the industry. Whether it be recording techniques like the Beatles passed on, Elvis, for dipping his toe into the rock water for the first time, or Springsteen setting the bar sky high for live performances, they all have impacted the rock world in some degree. A true legend, in any profession, leaves a mark. Rock and roll should fall in line with that same notion.

If this sounds like strict criteria, it should. This is the word legendary we’re talking about. What’s even stricter? Each band vying for that legendary title needs to figure itself through all of these doors. They need to stay relevant, create new fans, and leaving a lasting impact, while at the same time shelling out new and creative works of music. Many bands have the ability to just put out similar albums every year. Yes, that would keep them relevant enough, but it wouldn’t create new fans and it wouldn’t make a lasting impact on rock and roll. It would be easy for a band to strictly try innovative stuff in the studio, but while creating new fans and staying relevant? Not such an easy task. A task only for the best.

So let’s get a few things straight. The returning Roger Waters isn’t a legend. The Who making a comeback at the Super Bowl, not legendary. Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins, not legends. As music fans, we need to be wiser when we throw around the word legendary. If we’re not, all we will do is water down the term and the bands that have contributed enough to earn it. If we take a look into the crystal ball, there are some groups and individuals on the horizon that are in an all out sprint towards the legendary status. Green Day has lifted into the upper echelon in the past 6 years. Muse is a young band that so far has the early signs of legendary status. Only time will tell if they will make it there or not. The great thing is that we the fans are the main beneficiaries of this process. We’re the ones that are hearing the new stuff, we’re the ones attending the shows, and we’re the ones giving our stamp of approval on what music is being heard. As fans, let’s make sure we are responsible in that role.