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The gloves came off at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden, back in June. Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott took a shot at the so-called 80’s glam bands, including Poison and Mötley Crüe, saying that they used image to cover the fact that there was no substance to their music. According to Elliott, the image came first for the 80s LA bands, while David Bowie, Roxy Music, T.REX, and the like from the original, London glam scene were in it for the music, and the image was just an afterthought. For most of the 80s glam bands, Elliott said that they did it “to cover up the fact that there is no substance in their music.”
Bret Michaels, when asked what he thought, pulled no punches on what he thought about bands talking smack about any other bands. According to the Poison frontman, and Rock of Love star and “prize”, they’re all in it to make music, together, and they should all respect each other. He thought it was funny that Elliott was playing the “sell-out” card, when Def Leppard had recently lip-synched their entire performance on Dancing with the Stars. Touché.
Check out the beginnings of this mayhem.
Exhibit A
Analysis
Perhaps Joe Elliott’s mistake –besides having lip-synched, himself- was in judging Poison’s intent. While it may seem that a band puts sales and image before substance, maybe the music really did come first –for the band- but some third-party pre-packagers applied the image-thing to cover up the fact that they suck. So, if you don’t like something, just say that. Of course, I have to admit to judging image-over-substance. I think, though, that the blame belongs to the people who sell it, more than to the performers. I believe that most of the biggest “sell-outs” are in it for the music. If they’re hacks, they don’t know that they’re hacks. They truly believe they’re original, and don’t suck. Of course, sucking is in the eyes of the beholders.
Maybe, Poison 2008, really is just the culmination of money-making stunts, a bad hat, a bad bandanna, and a bad song that gets played to death. (See Bret Michaels’ Image Rocks Dairy State –Got Bret???.) Oh, well. Joe says “vapid”, Bret says “just plain fun”. Joe says “sell-out”. Bret says “we’re all in it for the music”.
So, ROCK ON!, or SUCK ON! Whichever you do, Joe Elliott and I may not listen, but be yourself, be sincere, and someone will. Just because everyone doesn’t like you, doesn’t make you bad.
Well , i`m disappointed , Why? Well , why do these guys have to fight in these kind of things ? If you don`t like it , then fine , no need to attack . If i am to support , it would be Def Leppard , not because they are not Glam Metal , but because of their music.
I’m very glad Joe said what he said because, I’ve realized Poison always been about image and not their music. I’ve listen to the old and new stuff from Poison and it’s all the same nothing changes. I had some of Poisons CDs and I crushed them because I relized how much their music SUCKS! I like to thank Joe for the wake up call.
Both are great bands and I like them both. They just have their own style. Both are good at what they do.
Listining to Hair Nation on VMRadio, I heard that these 2 bands are touring together in 09. How can that be true after this?!?! Anyone else heard this?