Why is this man laughing?

[Joseph Brooks]

At 10:48 AM 4/5/96 EST, you wrote:

>He may have been full of shit, but even so, the band's been playing
>several 'new' songs live for quite some time now.  Even if they're
>not completely CD-ready, they doubtless exist in an advanced demo
>form and need only be polished.  Even if not, they've been playing
>these songs for so long, it wouldn't be much of a project to get them
>ready for release.  They could even throw in the stuff from 'Bad
>Channels,' which is already completed.

No way for me to know. EB wouldn't talk to me and there were too many people
around Buck.. I shoulda asked Allen.. I was sitting within 6 feet of him..


>> I don't think they should try to pander to the young metal crowd either. I
>> mean, their main audience has got to be over thirty.. Besides, I find the
>> though of 40+ year olds playing to a bunch of screaming teenagers rather
>> pathetic (witness one Ozzy Osbourn). I think the best bet would be for them
>
>Right.  That's not what I meant.  I Think that the youngsters would
>like old-style BOC stuff. [Hey I (we) was (were) young when I first
>heard BOC and was blown away by them].  First and foremost, they
>should play the stuff that endeared them to their original fans.  I
>believe, with a really strong record, they would acquire many new
>converts.

No, I understood what you meant.. I just don't think they should try to be
what they were in the 70's. Instead, they should build on those roots and do
something perhaps a little more mature.. (not that I consider the good old
stuff immature, in fact, I find it very sophisticated for its time.) They've
been around the block, age has hopefully brought wisdom.. If I were them,
I'd build on the heavy, odd-ball BOC tradition with something that perhaps
had a little more thought behind it. If they do another "Club Ninja", I give up.

> 'Course, the problem is that much of that dynamite old
>material resulted from Albert's creativity.  They desperately need
>some transfusion of new creative blood.  I think there's a problem of
>1) Denial of Albert's contribution.  It's a lot easier to rip someone
>off if you deny his talents/contributions to the band.  Minimize his
>role in BOC and it's more palatable to abuse the guy.  2) Maybe they
>think they can do it on their own, that they posess enough creativity
>to mount such a production.  Good luck there!  The musicianship
>certainly isn't lacking.  There isn't a guitarist out there who can
>evoke the emotion of a Buck Dharma.  But he needs good material to
>accompany his amazing playing.  Playing/singing ability aside, the
>band needs SONGS to play.

I agree.. Its too bad but it seems that without the Pearlman/Bouchard
equation, BOC is just doesn't have that wonderful, sinister feel. As far as
the apparent anomosity between AB and the rest of the band I will say only this:

Thanks a shit-load BOC-L! I think I liked it better when I didn't know about
any of these band politics, when I just figured that the missing BOC'ers had
just grown tired of touring or got married or took up some wierd eastern
religion or something. Learning some of the truth for me was akin to looking
behind the wizard of Oz's curtain. It killed my the last vestige of my
vision of BOC as Guitar gods, mysterious bringers of alien music.. I've been
a fan for over 20 years, was 14 when I first saw 'em in '74.. I prefer to
put on OYFOOYK, look at the inside cover (where they're all playing guitar
and looking so.. evil?). Damn, growing up sucks sometimes...

And boy am I rambling...


>Right on there!  Once you start 'going through the motions' it's all
>over.  A feeling one gets after listening to 'Club Ninja.'  Hey,
>maybe they're just burned out, and creatively dry.  These dudes have
>been doing this for 25 years.  Anyone's entitled to loose their edge

I'm starting to fear that this is indeed the case.. Too bad they don't stick
their heads in here once in a while.

(and hey, Eric, dood, if you're out there.. Whats with the haircut? You look
like Charles Manson fer cryin' out loud..)
     _
  | | \   *jbrooks at connectnet.com                   | "So Ladies, Fish
  | | <   *http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/1154|  and Gentlemen,here's
|_| |_/   *WALSTIB / Keep our Internet free!        |  my angled dream..."