Mar 312014
Last week Townsman patrock passed along the following piece on 10 Total Tyrants from the History of Rock ‘n Roll. The #1 tyrant is a good leftfield choice. Check it out! You’ll also see a photo of a tyrant that would be deemed too scary to show in even the grossest slasher film.
What Total Rock Tyrant do you feel is missing from this list? What’s your favorite (or least favorite) tale of rock tyranny? Have you ever performed or been victim of an act of rock tyranny?
Aesthetically speaking, what’s your stance on the value of tyranny in rock? This probably won’t shock longtime readers, but I think it has its place.
Suposedly Ronnie Van Zant was a tyrant/surrogate Dad figure for the other dudes in Lynyrd Skynyrd — many of whom were basically dad-less otherwise. Screaming, punching, endless bloody-fingered rehearsals, etc. You can sort of see the dynamic on stage, I think — both in the over-rehearsed-ness of the band, and the scowling, don’t-look-at-me-or-I’ll-bust-your-nose ‘tude thrown off by RVZ. Which is not to say they weren’t an awesome live band, or that RVZ wasn’t in possession of some of the most remarkable bad-ass stage charisma ever. I’m just answering the question.
Think about all the “bands” that really have one member. This list is just tip of the iceberg — and the guy from The Fall is way down in the tyrant pecking order.
Not sure if he’s my most or least fave tyrant but I nominate Jeff Tweedy. Legend has it that before entering the studios to record Yankee Hotel Foxtrot he forced the whole band to listen to all 5 cd’s of the The Conet Project which features nothing but shortwave radio gibberish and noise. Tyrant!
He systematically drives decent members from his band who don’t follow the Tweedy code. (Jay Bennett, Ken Coomer,) Tyrant!
He surrounds himself with sycophants who don’t question his self-indulgences (John Stirratt, manager Tony Margherita) Tyrant!