Remember; You’re Going To Need Equipment And Looks To Go With Musical Skill
Chances are, there’s a ton of young men and women out there hoping to become the next rock god or goddess. They’re also willing, it seems, to pay their dues and learn their instrument — whatever it is — and make the sacrifices necessary to at least have a shot at that elusive and highly sought-after status, and almost all of them realize that rock gods need rock god equipment and looks, too.
Perhaps the words ‘making it’ doesn’t quite explain how truly high the odds are against becoming a rock superstar, though that certainly hasn’t stopped many from trying. It’s going to take a great deal of musical skill along with the ability to connect with an audience. In fact, it requires far more than just a strobe light (also known as intense pulsed light) and playing loud to do so nowadays.
Today, playing even in the corner of the neighborhood bar will require a lot more than just being able to turn your guitar up to Spinal Tap’s famous ’11.’ No, it’s going to mean being able to get into the audience and what they want in a big way and developing the ability — which usually only comes with practice — to keep the music going along in a memorable fashion.
This is why more than a few bands and highly skilled musicians these days are choreographing every single detail of not only their show or set but also what they’re wearing. In fact, many spend quite a bit of time looking for just the right fashion jewelry manufacturer, even when the only jewelry being worn is some grunge version of hand rings and hoop earrings.
All the above also applies just as equally to the kind of equipment that a good band will always insist upon. At minimum, a quality public address system and equally well-made musical instruments are going to be needed. And if one is a young player and doesn’t have a lot of money, find a guitar that provides some quality at a decent price. An Epiphone electric guitar is a good example of this.
Keep in mind that it’s all well and good that one gets out on the stage looking hot and ready to go, but if the skill isn’t there it’s a quick one-way street to the bottom of the heap. That’s why combining looks, equipment and a heckuva lot of practice will be needed at every step along the journey to hoped-for rock stardom.
Just about every major music star of any genre — and especially rock — started out at the bottom of the heap and gutted their way to the top. They suffered and they continued suffering until they could make it pay off. So remember; you’re going to need equipment and looks to go with musical skill in almost every single circumstance.
Sonic Youth – I Love You Golden Blue (Art Rock Festival ’05)
