BY MIKEY MIGO
I'm going to pull a John Fogerty and rip myself off. I did a column last August using my patented "Rock/Paper/Scissors" ranking system. I'm going to rate the reunion bands based on the relevancy of their return and future outlook. I'm going to use the "Rock!, Paper, Scissors" method. Do they STILL "Rock"? Does this just look good on "paper"? Or do I want to stab my eardrum with "scissors"?
The Police
The Police are back after being gone for 20 years for a 30 year anniversary tour. After a long and successful solo career, Sting returned to his even bigger success by regrouping with Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. I enjoy a few of their songs and a lot of people are obviously excited to get to a show. Together they are selling out many big time arenas like Chicago's Wrigley field for a few nights recently. There are rumors of them releasing some new material, which is a double sided sword in my opinion. On one hand it could tarnish their reputation if they release something sub par. On the other hand, it's Sting. He writes Grammy winning songs in his sleep.
Verdict: ROCK
Rage Against the Machine
After spending most of this decade in Audioslave or in seclusion from the world, the band is back together. When the news item was put up on 411mania.com that Rage Against The Machine was going to reunite for a few shows I immediately made a phone call to a friend who loves them even more than I do. I started to listen to the Coachella recordings and had to stop. I knew they didn't lose a step and that's all I needed to know. I personally get to attend their Alpine Valley show late next month and it should be an awesome road trip and experience. There's rumors of them recording new material, which would completely kick ass and make them stand out like a sore thumb in a world of emo, growl metal, and everything else that is polluting our ears lately.
Verdict: ROCK
Genesis
Late last year, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks reunited for a "Turn It On Again: The Tour". Those three men are very talented, but what about the also very talented Peter Gabriel? See, this wasn't a reunion of the entire original band; it was a reunion of their 1977 version. It's not a bad collection of artists by any means, but not what I had in mind when I first heard the news. I don't think I've heard anything about new material, but they are re-releasing all their old material in multiple formats. It doesn't seem they were back "just for the money" as they were also honored by VH1 with last year's "Rock Honors" and just recently played Live Earth. It's cool to see at least three of the originals together, but we need new material for this to be an official "comeback".
Verdict: PAPER
Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio)
So it's Black Sabbath (1979-1982), but under a new name? Okay. The oddness of the whole name issue and history aside, this has turned out to be a successful reunion, I mean formation… or is it a reunion? I'm going with reunion. You can put a different name on them, but it's still the same Sabbath line up from 79-82. Still, there's no new material other than a live album that still hasn't came out. Ozzy and Sabbath are going to put out new music and Dio still has two albums left on his contract for his own band. If we saw anything new, it wouldn't be for another few years.
Verdict: PAPER
The Smashing Pumpkins
Corgan? Check. Chamberlain? Check. Wait…Where's Iha? Where's Darcy? Sure a lot of talks of Corgan doing Iha and Darcy's studio parts himself, but they were part of the package that made The Pumpkins one of my favorite 90's bands. I was one of the few people who bought and enjoyed the Zwan album, but no so much the next Corgan project. When I read the FULL PAGE add in one of the Chicago newspapers that they were reunited I was under the impression that it would be the entire band. Still, I gave it a chance and this new album "Zeitgeist" was a huge let down. At the same time, they just didn't reunite for a "reunion tour" where they played all their greatest hits. They took the effort and time and put out new material before really launching into "comeback" mode. Because I can't get into the new album, I go with "scissors" but the prognosis can be upgraded with time.
Verdict: SCISSORS
Alice in Chains
After the passing of their original singer, Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, and Sean Kinney have gotten back together under the "Alice in Chains" umbrella. This is a bit rough because I'll always be a Layne Staley fan, but at the same time William DuVall is pretty awesome in his own right. There have been talks that they're writing new material, but it's unsure from the reports that it'll be as "Alice in Chains" or something completely new. They just finished a tour and recently announced a late summer tour with Velvet Revolver. I hope to be there rocking with my "rooster" out.
Verdict: ROCK
Queen
Queen isn't Queen without Freddie Mercury. Paul Rodgers is very talented and I loved his work with Free and Bad Company, but Queen is a different world. I love the musical arrangements and everything Brian May, Roger Taylor, and company have provided us over the years. I want them to continue making music, but not as "Queen". However, if they're serious and put in the same efforts they did back in the day and make a studio album that rocks I'll have no choice but to upgrade this one.
Verdict: PAPER
The Spice Girls
It's funny how a group everyone openly trashed when they were around becomes"guilty pleasure" years later. I'm calling bullshit on that. I enjoyed a song or two for their novelty, but realistically this one is all about money. Just because some company is backing up multiple money trucks to their mansions doesn't mean I care. They were disposable bubble gum pop music back in the 90's and they'll always be in the same trivia section with the likes of 90210, TRL, and Crystal Clear Pepsi. Don't take my ranting as a stab at them, I wish them success if they REALLY do have the passion for what they're about to do.
Verdict: SCISSORS
No Doubt
Thank God! Reports say in 2008, we'll be able to add a new No Doubt album to our collections. The whole phenomenon of Gwen Stefani's solo career was b-a-na-na-s. It got worn out quickly and bothered me because I know that she's more talented than being a pop singer. Not taking away from her single success, but No Doubt is where her and the fan's bread will always be buttered. I look forward to this because I've always been a fan, but I worry that Gwen will bring the pop to No Doubt and take away the mainstream edge it's always had.
Verdict: PAPER
Van Halen
I will not front, I love me some DLR. To me David Lee Roth is probably one of, if not thee best front man of all time. When we first got MTV back in the 80's, Van Halen was all over the channel and left a lasting impression on me. As I grew older I appreciated the music they provided and dealt with the not-as-good Van Hagar stuff. When it broke that they'd be touring again I was giddy as hell. I didn't expect a new album, but just being able to see them live would have been a great time. Then it got put on "hiatus" and not for the inner-feud stuff that we were expecting. Eddie Van Halen had his personal problems and I hope he gets well and they actually go through with it all. What would make this perfect is if they'd record a new kick ass album and then tour, but I guess we'll take what we can get. That's if we even get it at all.
Verdict: PAPER
I'd love to see some reunions from some of my favorite older bands. With Chris Cornell working on his solo stuff it sorta pushes and hopes of a Soundgarden reunion back awhile. I'd love to see a Talking Heads and/or a Faith No More reunion tour as well, but those are as likely as me winning a Pulitzer.
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