ACIDMYERS
|
11/21/2007 12:13:58 PM
A "Lost Classic"
In the annals of popular history, there are numerous examples of “lost classics” – grandiose works of art that never came to fruition: Orson Welles’ director’s cut for The Magnificent Ambersons, the original version of Let it Be, and J.D. Salinger’s follow up to Catcher in the Rye.
In 1966, following the success of the Album Pet Sounds (which the Beatles acknowledged as the inspiration for Sgt. Pepper’s), Brian Wilson set out to create what he thought would be the turning point for popular music….an insanely ambitious project that he dubbed a “teenage symphony to God” (The album was Smile, and Good Vibrations was one of the tracks intended for the album). Unfortunately, through a series of events – resistance from the other Beach Boys, impatience from the record company, Wilson’s decline into mental instability, and a mountain of drugs – led to the project being scrapped. The album was finally revived and released in 2004. However, one has to wonder if this final version was really the same vision that began 38 years earlier – before the drugs and the mental breakdown.
In 1970, following the success of the Who’s Tommy, Pete Townshend set out to make the follow up….a far-reaching multimedia project, incorporating, prerecorded music, live concert performance, audience participation, and film. It was to be a futuristic rock opera that was tentatively entitled “Lifehouse”. Pete claimed the other members of the Who were never able to understand the concept or his vision. This led to a nervous breakdown and the project was eventually scrapped…..some of the songs from the project were eventually released on the Who’s Next Album.
In 2004, following the wild, rampant success of Acidmyers’ Sedona Moon (well I think a few people said it was OK), the band set out to create their most ambitious work…..a song incorporating a modulating chord progression that would traverse the musical landscape, through several different key changes, time signatures, and genres (including Rock, Jazz, Blues, and even Heavy Metal). By the fall of 2005 work on the project had stalled. Worried that their record company was losing patience, the band was both relieved and at the same time horrified to realize they didn’t have a record company. Buoyed by this revelation the band continued on. However, escalating tensions within the band would certainly take their toll…..the original drummer left over creative differences, the band’s frogogo player succumbed to the rock and roll lifestyle and slid into an abyss of drugs and eventual insanity, and the band was forced to cancel their European tour during the summer of 2006. Then in early 2007, just when it seemed work on the project was finally nearing completion, the project seemed to stall once again…..the band was waiting on their saxophone player to record the final tracks for the song. After a long hiatus they finally realized that they never had a saxophone player, so they hired studio musician, and session man, Matthew Myers to lay down the song’s final tracks (Actually Matt is the Bass players son, but I think he did a great job....especially the ending).
So, without further ado, I am pleased to announce the release of the once “lost classic”, Stone Blue Metallic Bebop. Please stop by our site and check it out.
P.S. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!
|
|