adminGrowing up is not so cool. When artistes make it big while young, hardly do they last long in the industry. Teenage music sensations have a profound influence on urban youth. On reaching adulthood, they suffer from amnesia. Most forget where they come from. Maybe it’s the pains of growing up. Creativity wanes on each birthday. The older one gets, the lazier they become.
We can compile a huge read about musicians who made it big at a tender age, but faltered along the way.
This is the tale of many artistes. So fragile is a musician’s life. If it is not family responsibilities, debt, and crime, artistes crumble in mysterious ways before they reach their prime.
The Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston’s tale of suicides should ring a bell. But this is not our premise for the weekend. The damage on young music careers has put an end to music bands. In as much as solo artistes have cut lives short and some gave up their talent early, the most affected were the bands.
The generation of music followers that grew up in the music of the 1970s classics, up to the 1990s will find a familiar trend. Remember the boy bands and the subsequent rise in all female troupes. Many were engrossed in the grand old Jackson Five, Cool and the Gang, Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, Spice Girls, Az Yet, Boyzone and Westlife. Even the misunderstood hip hop artistes were once part of groupings. There was the Nasty Boys, Niggas With Attitude (NWA), Wu Tang Clan and the list goes on.
Teenage girls obsessed with Westlife would paste the boy band posters on their bedroom walls. Female bands made many young men have sleepless nights. The musicians looked liked angels in magazines.
Our sisters would follow Martin Sibanda and his band Ndolwane Super Sounds to every growth point because they had a huge crush on the band members. Such was the beauty that came with music groups. Those of us with a strong rural background know this well.
It is this influence of bands that shaped the way we appreciate music.
Of particular interest were the rhythm and blues singers who caught the romantic world — Boyz to Men. The black Americans influenced global music charts. Few groups will take time to surpass the success the End of the road hit makers.
Where are these guys? They went into hiding and no one bothered to track them. Ask friends in America, they also know nothing. To be safe, let’s say the boys finally became men. Probably their mission was to sing as teenagers and ditch the microphone at fatherhood.
These boys grew up and forgot their instruments. The need to go solo is commendable but has led to the ruin of the much loved bands.
Locally the story reads in bold print. Bands are in the past. When one talks to old people who grew up in the 1960s and 70s (when music was still music) you learn how influential music bands were at the time. Friends and groupies copied the music band styles. It was the “in thing” to behave like the Wu Tang Clan if your friends were hooked to the hip hop group.
Now, there is no such life. What counts is individual prowess. Having dug deep into the happenings of record companies, there are a few producers that go for bands.
If one does not leave a band they are doomed. Fans have come to identify with the person they listen to. When bands were popular then, the bond was in the name. We just did not care about the individual.
Working with one person seems the best business practice in show business. We are left to guess.
Promoters too look the other side when bands want tours. One would understand the financial implications in managing and promoting a band, but what of the fan who longs for a group act.
Fans will continue to reminisce the old days when boy bands used to rock. The disbanding of bands marks the end of some careers and up gains for those who continue and succeed. Oftentimes it is the lead vocalist who pulls through. Beyonce, Wyclef, Alick Macheso, Sandra Ndebele, Busi Ncube and Andy Brown are examples of artistes who went solo. They claimed fame and fortune.
What would be the story now if Ilanga had remained intact? Their music was good and we loved what they sang together.
Bands are gone and fans are consoled by collaborations and occasional duets. Young musicians are not moved by the idea of starting a music group. Nay, that is for the old timers.
If ever bands resurface, they follow the same road. Fans will receive them well and in return they decide to do individual projects.
Is there a need to have bands after all? The best way is to tell musicians to their face: Do not start a band if you have ambitions to go solo. It kills the fans.
Whether it is the responsibility of growing up or the lure of money in other careers, musicians must be loyal to their fans.
That is why we jump with excitement on hearing certain musicians are to regroup. It brings a sweet nostalgic experience when that band was part of one’s life.
Urban beats still need bands. I am sure this will touch erstwhile bands a bit. Maybe before the year ends, we will be following bands like before.
On another different thought, I just checked my calendar. April is days away and something is brewing before we turn up the beats that month.
If I read well, Cont Mhlanga is busy these days with preparations for the Inxusa festival. Looking at my diary I smiled at the prospect of another week full of activity.
Like the jacaranda bloom, I was reminded of a new season. It dawned that we are to be fed with loads of new songs and surprises. In this space, we have told city artistes of the value that comes with participating at an arts festival.
Fans expect nothing but quality. Even on a free entry, one must not be reduced to chaff. Music fans are like customers, they are KING. Give them quality and they will return the favour.
In our next instalment let’s muse about what makes a musician? Is it talent or something more.
Keep the conversation on.
Twitter @nkosi legend.
Online Reporter