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The Answer is Somewhere in Alveron
Why is Wolf Gang not a band anymore?
The British rockers seemed to be on the brink of taking their music to the next level with the first few singles off their second album “Alveron” back in the fall of 2014. But after switching labels (Warner Music UK Limited to Cherrytree Records), their comprehensive sound took a slight hit in production value on said sophomore record. That’s more a problem with the producer than the musicians. Even still, why did they breakup? Maybe it was being downgraded/choosing to go more independent that ultimately doomed the band? Perhaps an undisclosed riff between one or more band mates was simply too much?
These questions are still questions because fans were given only a solitary, ambiguous social media announcement that the Wolf Gang project was over in July of last year. That was it. End of story.
Dear Friends,
We are very sad to announce our decision to end the band. We’ve had an incredible journey; we’ve been to amazing places and met wonderful people, and all along the way we loved sharing our music with you all, but now it’s time for us to move onto other things. We want to thank each and every one of you who showed us support and enjoyed our music, you have meant a lot to us. We wish you all the best, and thanks again,
Max, James, Gav and Lasse X
So, why bring this up again now, 9 or so months later, especially when Jimmy’s Daily Planet covered this news when it happened?
Because it still makes no sense. The band was developing and growing in popularity and name recognition. However, bands breakup. It’s an all too common tale in the music industry.
Every now and again, like today, their music pops back to the front of my mind. I’m reminded not only of their talent, but their seeming promise as a band. While Wolf Gang’s future is no more, their past is alive and well if we so choose.
I’m picking alive and well.
Outside the band, nobody knows what “Alveron” really means. And since nobody really knows why the band broke up, maybe that’s a fitting legacy for remembering Wolf Gang.
The Sun Has Set on Music’s Purple Mountain Majesty
If it’s raining where you live, there’s a good chance you’ll be seeing flickers of purple in those rain drops.
Prince, the musically eccentric performer from Minnesota, has died. He was only 57 years old, an age that will cause reflection from those older and younger.
His music was unique, inspired by some of music’s brightest stars.
Prince channeled the dance moves of James Brown, the guitar virtuosity of Jimi Hendrix and the theatricality of “Sgt. Peppers”-era Beatles.
–Jon Schuppe and Jacquellena Carrero, NBC News
Prince was not only admired by many, but he also had quite the sense of humor. Incredibly (and hysterically), the 5’2″ music man used comedian Dave Chappelle’s impersonation of him for an album cover.
True story.
“What am I going to do — sue him for using a picture of me dressed up like him? … That’s checkmate right there.”
–Dave Chappelle on The Tonight Show in June of 2014.
And let’s not forget about Prince on stage. Remember that year he performed during the halftime of the Super Bowl?
(Press Play, then “Watch this video on YouTube”)
RIP Prince.
Happy Monday!
Guns N’ Roses + Dave Grohl’s throne + Angus Young + an AC/DC classic =
Performing at Coachella this past Saturday night, Gun N’ Roses called up rock n’ roll buddy Angus Young from AC/DC to provide a little electricity (and Duck Walk) on-stage alongside Slash and Duff as Axl Rose was forced to sit with a broken foot. However, despite his limitation, it was recently announced that Axl will tour with AC/DC (lead singer has to rest with hearing problems) starting May 7th in Portugal. Once his crossover with his Australian friends concludes, the Rose of Guns N’ Roses will return for a U.S. stadium tour beginning mid-June.
Injury or not, rock n’ roll should always have a stage available with Fender amps ready to be blown out by a Les Paul.
Welcome to the New Week!
Gone Fishin’
Learning to fish is one of the most important skills a person should master.
But not in a river or a pond.
Well, not a literal river or pond.
Daniel Wallace’s literary masterpiece Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions, translated into the cinematic masterpiece Big Fish by the perfectly weird and surprisingly sentimental Tim Burton, does not dethrone The Great Gatsby as America’s favorite novel, but it surely has earned a spot on that same top-shelf.
The stories, the characters and the extraordinary circumstances experienced by an ordinary man should be read, seen and enjoyed by anybody who sees life through a dream-filled lens. This imaginative wonderland forces us to pause and challenge our surroundings and the people we meet and the people we become. It even dances around (though barefoot) the supreme question, “why are we here?”
Unfortunately, there is no magic sentence or grand reveal from Mr. Wallace or Mr. Burton that definitively answers that eternal uncertainty.
Fortunately though, Big Fish reminds us that earthly hints to answering this question are sprinkled along the long, winding path we walk.
It’s just an issue of how you see and hear the world.
Before we get too far into this week, remember that your wild imagination is not limited to the weekend.
Walking up a busy stairwell could simply be walking up a busy stairwell.
Or…
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