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Kasabian's Tom Meighan: 'The internet has killed rock stars'

Singer slams blogging sites for taking the spirit of rock 'n' roll away

February 20, 2010 | 28 Comments
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Kasabian singer Tom Meighan has blamed the internet for "killing" rock stars.

The outspoken frontman claims there are no iconic musicians left because artists reveal too much about themselves on blogging websites such as Twitter.

He said: "It's not like what it used to be like in rock 'n' roll. In the '60s and '70s you had the likes of David Bowie and Marc Bolan, and then in the '80s you even had shit acts that were rock stars. Then in the '90s you had the Britpop revival.

"I think - especially in the last three or four years - the internet's taken a stranglehold and killed off the myth of the rock star now. You know when you used to buy the records and there was the myth behind them? There's too much on blogs now and I think it's killed it off. Nobody's surprised by an interview anymore or anything. It's quite tragic."

He also said blogging has taken away the spirit of rock 'n roll'. He told Bang Showbiz: "There are so many rock stars writing these self pitying blogs and it's not in the spirit of rock 'n' roll, it's like 'Wow, what rubbish'."

The band are up for six nominations at next week's Shockwaves NME Awards 2010 at the O2 Academy Brixton on February 24, including Best Band, Best Album and Best Live Band.

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Date / Time	Venue	Town/City	Seetickets	Seatwave
Aug 19, 2010 19:30	O2 Academy Brixton	London	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Kasabian Tickets

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Comments (28)

DocAtomic

Feb 22, 2010

I think he means mystique not myth, you need to cut down on the sherbet tom. I would also say that pro tools and cake walk have killed rock stars too, wonder if he would agree with that.

todanes

Feb 22, 2010

"There are so many rock stars writing these self pitying blogs and it's not in the spirit of rock 'n' roll, it's like 'Wow, what rubbish'."One need say nothing more.

dazman80

Feb 22, 2010

this plonker sets himself up everytime.your right tho tom, there are no rockstars anymore, just rock star wannabe`s, and your leading the way !

Lutfish

Feb 22, 2010

Well that's not completely true. I'd call Pete Doherty a typical rock star. And who cares if the "rock stars" die out? As long as people keep making good music, I think we'll be fine. The only reason it seems as if they have "died out"(which sounds kind of silly because it sounds as if internet would have extincted a certain breed of some sort.. Although rock stars behave lie animals) is because there isn't as much media whoring musicians out there. If someone would like to dress up like a cat and do crazy stuff (and making good music is also a pretty important factor) he could do that, and probably be associated to the dying rock-star-breed. Sure the internet has made music less personal (whilst it has become more personal at the same time) with so many people not buying records, just listening to singles. Tl;dr:Rock stars hasn't died out and if mr. Kasabian wants to be a rock star or save them he should start his own PETA-ish organization dedicated to saving those boozed up, drugged out, cabby-smelling animals. I would chip in, but I don't even spend money on those soon to be extincted pandas, so no.

cheekyboy786

Feb 22, 2010

Yes, but Kasabian have shit music, so it doesn't matter what they reveal about themselves, it doesn't in any way detract from, or highlight any further, the fact that they are essentially, a shit band with shit songs.

arcadiatucuman

Feb 22, 2010

man, Anton Newcombe from The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Is a Rock God. he uses internet youtube myspace everything, and that way, he and his band are evertyfuckingwhere. You should start using more internet. you donÂ´t use internet and your band is nominated for six NME awards. The Brian Jonestown Massacre uses internet and they are listened in every corner of this world. Thats a real award. Im from Argentina. Google it. Marcos Yalour.- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6fOk8ZKMmw

1porter

Feb 22, 2010

When I'm listening to Kasabian I have a similar reaction to Meighan's when he reads self pitying blogs. "Wow, what rubbish."

lewisholmes

Feb 22, 2010

But yet you can still go on their twitter pagehttp://twitter.com/KasabianBlogand see how a 'wild party led to surprise collaboration'!

Number Johnny Five

Feb 22, 2010

"It's not like what it used to be like in rock 'n' roll. In the 60s and 70s you had the likes of David Bowie and Marc Bolan, and then in the 80s you even had shit acts that were rock stars. Then in the 90s you had the Britpop revival." Wow. He's like a fucken' encyclopeadia of popular music. Hey Douchebag, newsflash; YOU'RE killing Rock n Roll!

binstig

Feb 22, 2010

If only the internet would kill off Kasabian!

hawaiiguy

Feb 22, 2010

Right as rain! Won't elaborate as it would be a short novel.

jackjaw

Feb 22, 2010

well said, its not just rock stars though. Everyone is the fucking same now, growin a farm an tellin us wot they had for their tea on fuckin facebook. Rock should do what its meant to do and rebel against this kind of shit that is controlling society!!!

redstu76

Feb 22, 2010

He's right. Rock gigs used to be mythical things where the band just turned up in your town to rock your socks off and then disappear into the night. Now everybody knows the grim mundanity of touring because of whiney rock stars posting their laundry schedules on tw@tter

Dupalek1

Feb 22, 2010

The "spirit of Rock 'n' Roll died years ago, yes it is very sad and i agree the myth behind the rock star used to be the reason why some people bought the record, but the internet has had nothing to do with it. what the internet has done is make music available to the masses and that is a good thing:) Rock stars of the 60's 70's did not have the technology that they have now, and i think you will find the "Rock Star" that are worth talking about don't twitter their life away :) btw Kasabian rock :)

Lee F

Feb 22, 2010

Fair point from Tom but the ethos of Rock n Roll is just changing... it's now all about the music, which isnt necessarily a bad thing.

atelesjr

Feb 22, 2010

Yep Tom, as Micky Jagger said in 1974, "Time waits for no one and it won't wait for..." you.Time has changed as music should as fans also changed. Face it and stop whining. Good luck.

1984orwell

Feb 22, 2010

In the 70s the punk movement came along and taught us all that the myth of the 'Rock Star' was bullshit and that anybody could pick up a guitar and make music, that it wasn't some elitist group for the chosen few who keep themselves at a distance from us ordinary people. Now in 2010 some talentless nobody from a generic indie band is getting upset because people don't worship at his feet? Fuck you

David Biddle

Feb 22, 2010

Shit musicians like Kaabian have done a lot more damage than the internet ever will.

roni_oasis

Feb 22, 2010

You know Tom, as much as I love you and everything and as much as I blindly believe everything you say, if it weren't for the internet, I would never have heard of you. I agree to a certain extent, but face it, do you know how many people can access your music and you lot through the net?I'm from India, and I'll be damned if I could get a album I want from any goddamn store. There's lots of Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift though.

Lemonized

Feb 22, 2010

Yes, maybe some of them talk too much.But there's still hope, look at Pete Doherty, there is still a bit of mystery, juste enough, and he's rather close to these old rockstars.Moreover, let's repeal that if rockstars have disappeared, it could be due to the fact there ain't a lot of good music today. To get things worse, with Internet, people tend to consume and throw away the music at a high speed.

Korakaldo

Feb 22, 2010

Good, Rockstars are annoying egotistical bullshitters

Sun Unwound

Feb 22, 2010

Yet another musician fails to adapt to the 21st century. Tragic. The internet has given us so much, we have at our disposal the means to acquire and share information like never before (kittens and porn and kitten porn included). He seems to be suffering from a severe case of 'Butthurt', I prescribe one tub of sudocrem, to be applied directly to the anus thrice daily.

Knoxvillelives

Feb 22, 2010

I hate to say but he is right. There is no mystery to musicians these days. While it means there may be no more icons like The Beatles or Bob Dylan it is a symptom of how rich and varied modern music is. People don't just listen to a couple of big bands, they listen to dozens. Personally, I think it sucks (oh to be born in the 60s) but what are you gonna do?

honcho

Feb 22, 2010

i'm not the biggest kasabian fan, but the man has a fucking point... it's tragic. I also think reality tv has a lot to answer for regarding the myth of fame.

bergkamp72

Feb 22, 2010

the difference for me is that i feel a lot more loyal and connected to people. 10/20 years ago and the best contact you'd have got was a fan club address to contact the people you admired. now i am more willing to get into stuff and participate and not just sit back and be entertained. for example, i strongly urge you to go here: http://queenkwong.com/ and or follow Queen Kwong on twitter @QueenKwong

1984orwell

Feb 23, 2010

Personally I couldn't give a fuck about the myth of a rock star, thats for teenagers, its all about the music for me.

steuph1976

Feb 23, 2010

Great. At least they were using synths, now they're totally sounding like grumpy old Noels.

CerpinTaxt

Feb 23, 2010

He is right, but he appears to be making it out as though him and his idiot friend Serge are the only rockstars around, which they aren't. Because they suck.