In the world of rock and roll, few artists have been as vocal about their disdain for the genre's commercialism as Patti Smith. As a student of the genre, she has always been fascinated by the raw, unfiltered expression of her idols, such as Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix. However, as the New York music scene evolved in the 1970s, Smith found herself increasingly frustrated with the trend towards light shows and smoke bombs, which she felt were more about spectacle than substance.
Personally, I think that Smith's disdain for the commercialism of rock and roll is rooted in her desire to preserve the genre's integrity. She was a purist, who believed that rock and roll should be about raw, unfiltered expression, rather than theatrics and spectacle. What makes this particularly fascinating is that Smith was not alone in her views. Many other artists of the time shared her concerns about the direction rock and roll was taking, but few were as vocal as she was.
From my perspective, the issue with light shows and smoke bombs is that they can distract from the music itself. While they may be visually impressive, they can take away from the raw, unfiltered expression that is at the heart of rock and roll. This raises a deeper question: how can we strike a balance between spectacle and substance in the modern music industry?
One thing that immediately stands out is that Smith's views on rock and roll are not just about aesthetics. She was concerned about the corporate side of the industry, which she felt was taking over the genre. In her opinion, Kiss was a prime example of a band that was more interested in making a profit than in creating music that was meaningful and impactful.
What many people don't realize is that Smith's views on rock and roll are not just about the past. She was concerned about the future of the genre, and how it was being shaped by the forces of commercialism. If you take a step back and think about it, it's clear that the music industry has always been about making money, but in the past, artists had more control over their work.
A detail that I find especially interesting is that Smith's views on rock and roll are not just about the United States. She was concerned about the global impact of the genre, and how it was being shaped by the forces of commercialism in other countries as well. What this really suggests is that the issue of commercialism in rock and roll is not just a US problem, but a global one.
In conclusion, Patti Smith's views on rock and roll are a fascinating insight into the genre's evolution. While she may have been a purist, her concerns about the commercialism of the industry are valid, and they raise important questions about the future of rock and roll. Personally, I think that the genre needs to find a balance between spectacle and substance, and that artists need to have more control over their work. Only then can rock and roll truly thrive in the modern world.
