Fan Elitism and the Erosion of Rock'n'Roll as I Knew It

So this so called "WasteOfBandwidth" (cited below) came my
way today, and after reading it, and Pete's blog regarding the
same subject, I came to a conclusion...Rock'n'Roll as I knew it
is GONE,

DEAD,

BYE-BYE!...........

.........and

.....fan elitism is being bred by the artists themselves. The most
notable, in this case, is one Mr. Peter Townshend. The adoring
fans who not just followed his novel, but jockey for position to
make their statements, (see their names in print "as it were")
by commenting on everything "Townshend" on Pete's blog in a
rush before he (or his "man/woman Friday") shut down further
comments, are now being rewarded for their *dedication* by
being the only select number to participate in THE METHOD.

Yes, I know, it's a continuation, even the realisation of "Lifehouse,"
& "The One Note" for some, (especially Townshend), but to the
exclusion of fans whose dedication is directed other than seeing
their names in print on the 'net' (yes, I know that appears shallow,
but there is *deeper* meaning within) ....it is unfair to thousands.

Yes, I would like to have been included.

No, I never made a comment during the publication of
"The Boy Who Heard Music" even though I qualify as
owner of a *blog* myself.

Why?

I was never provoked to do so, nor was I (or anyone, to be fair)
made aware that doing so would have put me in this elitist group
who now get to be part of THE METHOD, literally being part of
"Lifehouse" coming true, being realised.

My endeavours were directed elsewhere (serious health and family
issues), as, I am sure, were those of countless fans who are now
unable to participate, no matter HOW much they were there from
the beginning (1964/65), no matter HOW much they have supported
the art and music of Mr. Townshend for, (in my case for example),
42 years.

Many fans may not even BE able to participate for a wide variety
of reasons, some of which might be overcome IF they found out
that they COULD participate.

But this, alas, is not the case.

So, now we have the ELITIST group of THE METHOD, and the
rest of us (rather unworthy) fans who get to sit by the sidelines
of cybrespace while The LIFEHOUSE spins around us without
notice.

Now....the big....truly BIG question!

Do I care?

Now....the big....truly BIG answer:

Yes!

Will I get over it?

Yes!

There is a new RockFan Elitist afoot, and he/she are of the
"Cybre Generation", not "My Generation!"

And while they possess computer skills and understanding of
technology that I do not, (and probably never will, maybe
even because I cannot), I still WIN!

Yes...I WIN!

I am the Godfather....you/they of the "Cybre-Generation" are
the Punks, "breathing the air I have blown YOU!"

While you revel in, (and I slightly mourn not) your participation
in "Cybre-Rock'n'Roll Fandom" and, from your employer's office
computers, play 'round the Internet with "THE METHOD" and
"The Lifehouse" remember this:

1. I, unlike most of you, met Keith moon, was invited by Keith
to have drinks with him, and spent an hour in TheRainbow
Club partying with him on 18 February 1975.

2. I saw TheWho-> in Nov. 1967 @ The Hollywood Bowl










3. I saw TheWho-> in Aug. 1968 @ The Santa Monica Civic
4. I saw TheWho-> in 1969 @The Hollywood Palladium
5. I saw TheWho-> in June 1970 @Anaheim Stadium













6. I saw TheWho-> in Dec. 1971 @TheForum
7. I saw TheWho-> in Dec. 1971 @LongBeachArena
8. I saw TheWho-> in Dec. 1971 @San Diego Civic
9. I saw TheWho-> on Nov. 22.1973 @TheForum
10. I saw TheWho-> in 1976 @Anaheim Stadium
11. I saw TheWho-> in 1976 @San Diego Civic
12. I saw TheWho-> in June 1980 @Los Angeles Sports Arena
13. I saw TheWho-> on Aug. 14 2000@TheHollywoodBowl
14. I saw TheWho-> on Aug 21 2000@ShorlineAmphitheatre
15. I saw TheWho-> on July 1 2002@TheHollywoodBowl (This One's for John)
16. I saw TheWho-> in September 2002 @Irvine Meadows

17. I bought, and still have, My Generation and A Quick One
in UK versions from Lewin's Record Paradise on Hollywood Blvd
in 1965 & '66.

18. That is just the tip of the iceberg of my Who-> collection.

So, you see, I am, indeed and in fact, THE ELITE of THE ELITE
when it comes to Who->Fans.

I saw and participated in THE REAL ME (TheRealThing)

Read 'em 'n' weep.

I WIN!

I am *THE* ELITIST !

I am the Godfather, breathe the air I have blown you~

AnEnglishBoy~


-=-=-=-

http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/acarvin/view?PostID=11529

Andy Carvin's Waste of Bandwidth: The DDN Edition

Finding Myself on Pete Townshend's Blog

Like many bloggers, I try to keep track on what others are saying about my blog, so I subscribe to a couple of RSS feeds from Technorati.com that track references to my name and my URL. Usually the RSS feeds send me links to various blogs related to the digital divide, video blogging, education technology, citizen journalism and the like, but yesterday, I received a notification that caught me off-guard.

One of my musical heroes had mentioned me on their blog.

To be more specific, Pete Townshend of The Who. Along with being the creative force behind one of the greatest bands of all time, Townshend is an avid writer, experimenting with online creative writing on his blog, The Boy Who Heard Music. Over the last six months, Townshend published a novella, one chapter at a time. When one of the chapters was posted, bloggers from all over the Internet would post comments and critiques of the work, which Townshend would review and take into account as he posted future chapters. The result is a 23-chapter story that evolved due to direct interaction between Townshend and the blogosphere.

So why did Pete Townshend mention me on his blog? In the book's epilogue, he offers up a homeric list of all the bloggers who submitted input at one point or another. That list includes me - and around 500 other bloggers. So it's not like Townshend dedicated the work to me personally or anything like that. Instead, he's paying tribute to all the bloggers who offered their support to the telling of the story. Townshend also notes in a "provocation" he posted that these bloggers will all be invited to participate in his next online project - an interactive music composition tool called The METHOD. A partnership between Townshend, programmer Dave Snowdon and composer Lawrence Ball, The METHOD will perform musical works generated by a computer based on interactions with a real person, referred to by Townshend as a "sitter." Initially the website will feature works generated by The METHOD through interactions with Lawrence Ball and others, but Townshend plans to invite bloggers to "sit" with The METHOD and generate music of their own. At least that's the way I understand it from his description on his blog. From what I've heard of Lawrence Ball's work, his music is reminsicent of Erik Satie and Arvo Part. Adding Pete Townshend to the mix, along with a community of 500 bloggers, will hopefully lead to some exciting, unusual results.

Personally, I can't wait for The METHOD to go public. Nearly 15 years ago, I got to interview French composer Pierre Boulez, who was one of the early experimentalists in computer composition. I've been fascinated with the concept ever since, and am very excited just pondering the opportunity of getting to try it myself some day.... -andy

February 27th, 2006 @ 4:59PM