Might be an Interesting Journey Chapter to Read -

[tater1977]

Might be an Interesting Journey Chapter to Read -

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

First, a bit of background: The new book is the second in what my co-author @mkatz2000 and I hope is a long series of books. The first, @RRExplorerNYC, came out last year...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

Each book covers the history of rock in a city or region through the lens of a travel guide, giving fans a chance to walk in the footsteps of the soundtrack of their lives...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

In thinking a lot about @JourneyOfficial as I continue putting together their chapter for the Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

Early on we established a loose set of rules wherein we would give coverage to historically significant artists without passing judgment on them. It's history, not criticism. That rule worked well in the NYC book, and it's working well this time around too...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

Fortunately for me, I pretty much like it all. Which brings me back to Journey: Journey is fucking great. Like, I've immersed myself in their music as I've put this chapter together, and I fucking love it. The rock anthems, the ballads, it's all awesome...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

The reaction to including Journey, though, has been mixed, with naysayers tapping into their high school/college-age assessment of what is or isn't "cool." I recognize it because that was me in high school too...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

I was sort of a mix between a punk and a new wave doofus, and therefore felt compelled to classify bands like Journey as uncool, even though secretly I kind of loved anything of theirs I heard. And I heard it a lot, because they were all over the radio and MTV...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

I'm in my late-40's now and have long stopped worrying whether someone is going to bag on me for music I like. I like what I like, I don't like what I don't like. It's easier that way...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

I bought Escape on vinyl at a record fair a few weeks ago, and three people gave me basically the same reaction: "Ugh, Journey?!?!?" Fuck, yeah, Journey!

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

Not sure if it's the zillions of records sold or the sincerity and romantic earnestness of their music, but Journey are still accused of lacking credibility and still don't get the recognition they deserve. Maybe Journey themselves don't even care about that, but I find it weird.

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

@NealSchonMusic, who I interviewed for the book and who I found to be funny and engaging and generous with his time, is also a fucking killer guitarist. Dude knocked both Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton out with his playing when he was fifteen years old...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

When I was fifteen I was (badly) playing drums in a crummy garage punk band, striking out with girls, and having all-night Dungeons & Dragons sessions with my fellow nerds.

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

I caught @NealSchonJTT, including the great @greggrolieband, at the @foxoakland in February, and it was so fucking rad hearing the vast expanse of Journey's output, going way back to the stuff immediately post-Santana. (Photo of the marquee is on the cover of the book)

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

I had a lot of fun writing the Grateful Dead chapter for this next book, and I've had a blast working on stuff about Green Day, Sly & the Family Stone, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Dead Kennedys, Avengers, East Bay Punk, so much old soul music, so much more, etc...

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

But I think I might be enjoying the @JourneyOfficial chapter the most, because even if they're happy with their own legacy, I like the idea of seeing them alongside other greats from Bay Area music history from different eras. It's where they belong.

[tater1977]

Crispin Kott @stuporfly

The Rock & Roll Explorer Guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area is out on June 2020. Not enough characters on Twitter to summarize effectively, so just buy it.

[tater1977]

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