What's with the music industry?

Twins who carry the burden of trying to bring long hair back to rock

It's not that I believe actors should be homogenized for aesthetic pleasure. In fact, it's sad to see girls all the same shade of peroxide blonde, with matching pumpkin-colored skin and noses courtesy of Dr. 90210. People should embrace their differences, and not be afraid to stand out, save for their new breasts. 

Fake hot goes beyond L.A.!

But why is it, that in the music industry people work just as hard to look different? And not just different, but aesthetically displeasing? As hard as actors try to fit into the mold, musicians work just as hard to break it. The effect is just as contrived.

I went to an MTV Awards pre-party, and the place was positively crawling with manufactured "freaks" -  musicians and wanna-be rock stars. Perhaps it's because the party was thrown by the self-promoting con artist  David Harrison Levi. Or perhaps it was the desperation to stand out without the aid of American Idol. Some musicians tried to bring back long hair (see above). Others decided to cover their clothes with rock 'n roll band pins, but looked like deranged extras from TGI Friday's Servers Gone Wild. 

with Chris Dennis of Confessions of a Superhero

Girls made dresses from silly string, boys wore blue lipstick. You couldn't escape the feeling that they all went home, removed their "weird" and sat in front of Glee with a bowl of cereal. It was their schtick.

So to all of those homogenized actors and anti-homogenized musicians: JUST BE YOU. I'm not saying that the real you is great. Hell, it may not even be good. But it's got to be better than what you're making us deal with now.

"Starmaker" / con artist David Harrison Levi

MTV Awards Pre-Party...but who are these people?

I once believed that Hollywood lured all the crazies. But I recently discovered that Tinseltown has nothing on the music world.  I went to a music awards pre-party and saw dudes with outfits made from glued-on plastic gems, Elmer's oozing off the sleeves and dripping onto the bar. Wannabe groupies  in outdated rubber dresses, snapping their ankles in 6-inch platforms. Guys with Rockin' Like Dokken long hair, circa Sunset Strip 1987. Guru types with shaggy grey hair and white linen suits. And holy Corey Hart - so many people wearing sunglasses at night.

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budget Jiffypop Gaga

he's not a musician, but he's everywhere

While in Hollywood everyone strives to remain current, some people in the music scene (and I use the word 'scene' very loosely) become ensnared in very specific times in music history. For some, the world screeches to a halt once they find their favorite band, like Captain and Tennille. Or worse, their favorite song, like Kiss Me Deadly. And not in a cute vintage way. 

with the dudes from Confessions of a Superhero