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By Nosa and Asep
Edited by: Silka and Manan
Jim : I’ve been on the desert and got lost. I’ve been livin’ on Trick’s Rooftop. Got
stuck on a chick.
Ray : So what else you doin’?
Jim : Writing. Songs, poems, stuff like that.
Ray : You write a song? Let me hear one.
—Oliver Stone’s The Doors
What keeps a Rock n’ Roll band alive? Is it their music, their fame, their fans? I think none of those things has anything to do with the greatness and the life of a Rock ‘n Roll band. I only see three words that can keep a band as good as it can be: Friendship, Drugs, and Rock ‘n Roll.
FRIENDSHIP provides two essential things a band should have. First there is the heart to heart chat, the second is truthfulness. Take a look at the conversation between Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek in Oliver Stone’s The Doors above. That scene was probably fiction but there is one point that we can learn. The heart-to-heart chat or, as Indonesians say, curhat, most of the time has nothing to do with the music, the band or the management problems. It came out spontaneously and it can be anything from love matters, economy, or simply what one thinks about other people, just like Jim said to Ray. Heart to heart talking binds people.
Second thing is the truthfulness among band members. Well, this one keeps the band alive, since a Rock ‘n Roll band is more than just some people making music. They involve each other not only on stage, but also in their personal lives; thus, sense of faith among others is a must. Take McCartney and Lennon for example. Even though they often had quarrels backstage, their quarrels were sincere. Sincere here means that they speak what they think like, say, “I don’t like it when you do that”, “Fuck it, man, can’t you just stay away from that bloody bitch”, “Is none of your goddamn business.” Well, there goes the fight, but you know what? Their fights kept the band alive with truthfulness. Lennon didn’t like McCartney fucking around with Clapton’s wife, but McCartney did it anyway, so what? So the band kept on going cause there were no lies. People have parallel lives, people have choices and every one ought to know that. Lennon knew that, so even though the end of McCartney and Clapton’s wife relationship was bitter, Lennon didn’t say “I told you so.”
DRUGS is the next element that keeps a Rock ‘n Roll band alive. Drugs have been one of the ancient tribal traditions. It gives the tribes people wisdom, ways to find solution, or simply transcendental bounding to each other. Hendrix, Morrison, and Joplin call it Acid; Metallica and INXS call it Heroin; Bob Marley calls it Marijuana; well I call it, simply, music. Kenji from Urasawa Naoki’s 20th Century Boys was wrong when he said, “I can do great without them (drugs)”. He misinterpreted drugs, because drugs could be anything. If the definitions of drugs are things that can get you high, music is one of them. Making music and performing it is the ultimate sensation in a band, not fame, money, nor fans. When the band gets drowned in their own music, they get emotionally attached. Therefore, they will come to the state of Trance, the orgasmic experience toward nature, themselves, and their music. They don’t care about anything but the music itself. Then, if their audiences are humans (with emotions and feelings), they will be dragged by this band that aren’t on earth anymore.
Another kind of drugs in the rock n’ roll world is Moshing. The dance, the very complication of body gestures performed, the epileptic fit, is another way to get a good trip to paradise. They work this way: compare it with ancient tribal dances. When tribal people are dancing, their selves are dissolved, they grasp a complete blend with nature, surroundings, people, until finally arrive at the state of mokhsa—to realize the unity of one’s atman (soul) with the brahman (the soul of the universe). The mosh pit is where the transcending ceremony begins. The crowd dances, whatever they unconsciously feel rise to the surface and break the barrier they use when they are subject of their consciousness. They dance, until the eyes redden, the muscles burn, the abdomen rupture, the skin get cut and scratched, and they don’t care at all. Once their selves are dissolved, the new binding they make with each other will strengthen them and disrobe their loneliness. When the band has achieved this state of drug use, and involved not only the band members but also the crowd, they have succeeded in making a band alive. Trust me; this experience is better than fame, money, fans, or life itself.
ROCK ‘N ROLL is the conclusion of this rambling writing. I think people should redefine this phrase from a genre of music to a philosophical way of life. My idea of Rock ‘n Roll is that it could be a way to unite people, especially in a band, not only a Rock band, but also any other genres from Folks, New Wave, Punk, Jazz to techno. That’s why Rock ‘n Roll has always been hand in hand with Friendship and Drugs no matter what the genre is. Can you call Radiohead, Blink 182, Rancid, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix The Upstairs, Slank, as Rock ‘n Roll? Sure. For me, every everlasting and provoking band is a Rock ‘n Roll band. When I say everlasting, I say what White Lion sang “Till death do us part.” It’s cheesy alright, since White Lion didn’t fell apart by death, and the lyricist ended up singing the “YUCK-WHAT-THE-FUCK” song entitled “Khadijah”. But the term death-do-us-part is relevant as far as it has been proved by The Doors, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, INXS, Sex Pistols, etc. Although some of those bands said that they’re not off yet, but let’s face it they aren’t that alive anymore.
When I say provoking, I say that it is the same as the drugs that I have previously discussed; the transcendental act that could move the crowd. Provoking also means that the band could bring people out of the context of the stage. They not only perspire people but also inspire. They are artists who not only write but read. They provide things that are out of the box. Those are the things that differentiate a Rock ‘n Roll band than other groups. So the questions you got to ask to define a Rock ‘n Roll band are: do you think they’re inspiring? Do they move you? Are they still ‘alive’ on and off the stage? If you think they are inspiring, moving, and living, there you have your Rock ‘n Roll band.
Deciding which band can rock you out is an individual and subjective matter. But if you ask me, I say a real Rock ‘n Roll band is the band that can teach you about life including friendship, drugs, and themselves. I believe that life’s not simple; it’s complicated, sad, fun, and beautiful at the same time, and my version of Rock ‘n Roll band taught me that. In short, I truly believe that a Rock ‘n Roll band is the band that can make you Dance with The Blues of your life, experience, friends, and Rock ‘n Roll.
PS: Is Wonderbra a Rock ‘n Roll band? Listen to The Album, feel it with your ears! You decide!
