How The Mighty Have Fallen

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

This is becoming an epidemic in rock that shows no signs of stopping. It seems like the bigger the rock star in his golden days, the fatter, madder, and more unsuccesful he becomes. Now its time to find out who has fallen from his throne the farthest. Some good candidates would be...

Axl Rose
Jani Lane
Vince Neil (not now but from his earlier years like 2002-ish or when he was on The Surreal Life)

Best to base your descision on the factors that influence this disgraceful turn of lifestyles.

I. How much alcohal he intakes?

II. How old is he now and what has he been doing lately (if anything...)

III. What is his lifestyle like and how would that influence it?


I personally think Axl Rose fell pretty hard and fast. I could go on about how he is still drinking heavily and how he still parties like he's twenty even though he obviously doesn't have the looks for it anymore and the fact that everyone in the music industry (and possibly outside) hates him. At least with most fallen rock stars, they are still liked. Washed up...but liked nonetheless.


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Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

What qualifies as a rock star? 'Cause I could name a ton that were huge, at least for a little while, twenty years ago but now look like average Jim Bob and work at Starbucks.

The big ones, though, that haven't returned to the real world (besides who you mentioned):

David Lee Roth. Looks decent considering the circumstances and is still a great performer, but he's in his own little world. Daveland. Where all the young girls still want him, and all his hair is still intact.

Eddie Van Halen. Hate to rag on Edward, but he looks like shit. Hey dipshit, stop fuckin' smoking. I didn't go see the reunion, since it was with Sammy, but I heard it was a lackluster performance by Eddie's standards.

Mick Mars. Goes without saying, though, and it's not like he's fallen very far from where he was. He was always old and sickly.

Don Dokken. I was never overly fond of his appearance (George on the other hand...), but he looks like a puffy cafeteria lady with bad hair these days. If I remember correctly, his voice hasn't held up either, which is a shame.

I think Marq Torien (BulletBoys) looks like hell these days, too, but I'm not positive on that one. Kudos to him for keeping BB going, though.
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"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

Zakk Wylde: Yes, the man can still play bitchin' solos but dear lord, his image is complelely transformed. Maybe he's just accepting his age for what it is and is not even going to try to look younger anymore. But comparing it with younger pics makes me very sad. Heard he's got a solo album coming out soon so I guess he doesn't qualify too much.

Ozzy Osbourne: I hate to use the Ozzman as an example but lets face it. He isn't what he used to be and can't go back to that. He's raising a family now and his image was altered due to that reality show he was a part of. Instead of the Prince of Darkness, we are left with a bumbling stuttering Ozzy that can't get out two sentences. While this is mostly the fault of MTV editing the crap out of his footage it is still sad to see children these days laughing at Ozzy instead of rocking out to his music.

Tommy Lee: This depends on how you look at Tommy Lee. Right now I think of it in this way: He produced an album with a Backstreet Boy. If that isn't lower than low I don't know what is. That and the man tries too hard to be black and nobody likes to see a white man try to acheive what he'll never have.
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Ozzy makes me sad. It's to the point I hate seeing kids in Ozz merch 'cause it's almost always ones that think the show is hilarious and have little concept of his career. Hasn't put out a decent album in years, anyway. I'm expecting Down To Earth to have been the last respectable thing he does. I'd say he should just retire (like Sharon would ever allow that), but as long as performing is what makes him happy, all the power to him.

Zakk...it's been a long time since he was the fresh-faced kid with gorgeous blonde hair and a smile ready for Bon Jovi. Kinda hard to go downhill from the mountain man we've seen the past decade. It fits his playing better.

....I like Tommy's current look. Not the black persona, mind you, just the look. The long hair was great and all, but it wouldn't suit him anymore. The shorter look suits him well and flatters his face. But yeah, the whole rapper attitude is ridiculous.
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"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

I would almost be even sadder to see Ozzy retire. I guess its because for true metalheads, Ozzy is the rock God and no one wants to see the rock god retire. But I guess its better than dragging it out and fading into the shadows forever.

That Zakk Wylde comment just made me remember another guy.

Jon Bon Jovi: There ain't nothing sadder than when a hair metal star cuts his famous locks. Unless you also count cutting the hair and then denying he was ever in a hair metal band. I haven't heard anything about what he's doing now. I'm expecting that it isn't much. Hair metal has died and with it, Jon Bon's career.


Tommy Lee just doesn't look at all like he used to. And it is a good thing. I do like this newer look but the personality is just annoying. He is why I would refuse to show it all for the cam. Do you think they would accept requests? :huh:

Tommy: C'mon baby! Lets see what you've got.
Me: Ew no! You're Tommy Lee. Where's Nikki Sixx? Can I flash for him?


Oh the looks on Tom's face...I can only imagine.


Vince Neil is kind of sad too. Even though he's looking a million times better than in his Surreal Life days, its nowhere near his golden years. I can't say much on his personality considering I haven't seen The Surreal Life 1 or anything else with Vince Neil in it. Unless you count Remaking in which case, he seemed like a pretty cool guy. He had it all together.
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Vince is looking remarkably better. Never will be 27 again, but that's pretty obvious. Lookin' really good in a pretty short period of time and keeping the weight off. I like his personality. When he's not drunk, he's a pretty cool guy, especially to fans. Drunk is another story, but that was also in the Remaking show a little bit.
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"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

[quote]Mick Mars. Goes without saying, though, and it's not like he's fallen very far from where he was. He was always old and sickly.

[/quote]

How old is Mick now? Because I saw some pictures of him in a 70s band (unless they were later than that) and he looked older in those than when he was first in the Crue. He confuses me. Great guitar player but very confusing.

I think I'm finally ready to talk about why Axl is definetly one of the worst cases of out-of-the-job rock stars.

I. Changed his look for the worse.
A. This is something that really goes without saying. Its typical for rockers to kind of fade in the looks department after twenty-something years but I think Axl has taken it to a worse level than age. He's fought it. After a ton of Botox injections and what looks like a few face lifts here and there we are left with a fake looking paler than pale Axl Rose. And its sad because if he is anything like his former bandmates then he should've aged rather nicely and would've looked better if he didn't get all that plastic surgery.

B. His hair is a rock shame story all its own. Its reasonable to believe that Axl may have had the best hair that any frontman ever had. It was long, it was red, and it looked good in pretty any style. Except the one he chose now. For some reason, Axl felt the compelling urge to have his hair braided. First of all, why did Axl believe that he was above the "white men don't look good in braids" rule? No need to answer that. He's an ass who thinks he's above it all and we all know that by now. And second, he still chooses to wear the bandana with the braids. Its either the old look or the new look Axl. You can't have them both hon. <_<

C. He's added on a few pounds. Well more like a lot. He drinks and stopped going to the gym a long time ago so it really isn't a surprise. In fact, a lot of rockers do this. Its just sad to see such a skinny guy get so out of shape. I can imagine that he just isn't as much fun to watch in concerts as he used to be. You have to be in some good shape to run around that concert hall and drop kick fans.


II. Personality Has Taken a Turn For the Worse
A. Some may argue with me that Axl has always been a pretentious, self absorbed asswipe since day one but I beg to differ. Axl was just an angry tantrum boy when he first started in Guns and he was a pretty popular guy amoung his rock n' roll peers. But once Guns was over and Axl dissapered for a decade he developed what I like to call the "hermit syndome." He became an ass to everyone he came in contact with and lets face it, people are as smart (most are even smarter) than Axl and like Axl they can hold their fair share of grudges. But unlike Axl, their grudges are a bit more justifed than Axl's (but don't tell Axl I said that. If he did read this, he would probably flame me on this forum and whine like a little bitch.) He's basically the outcast of the rock world now and those that are still on good terms with him are probably hanging in there by a thread. Its not really that Axl is just developing an anger issue. Thats always been there and thats why he made Guns so succesful. Its just the fact that he's using this anger in a negative way now and he's not fun anymore.


III. His Rock Music Just Ain't What it Used to Be
A. I personally haven't listened to Chinese Democracy so for me to tear it apart song by song would be unjustifed and unfair to the band. So moving on from his album...

B. I just don't find the new Guns that promising. And this isn't because I'm stuck in the 80s and believe that the first Guns was the only Guns. I'm not like that. I keep an open mind to any type of music including Axl's new version of Guns N' Roses. I've only seen the VMA performance from 2002 and I wasn't really buying into the new members. Its not that weren't talented. That isn't the case. They were very talented but they weren't remarkable. None of them stuck out and seemed memorable*. And that is just something that fatally flaws any band. Axl can't hold up the band on his own. He never was the only one who held up Guns because people like Duff and Slash were also memorable and just as** Axl. Once again this might not be too reliable considering I've never seen them live except when watching the VMAs but really, what other performance could I judge by? They performed once and dissapered into the shadows for what could possibly be forever. :ph34r:


IV. Las Vegas Gigs
A. You know you're a washed up has-been when you're a performing regular at Las Vegas casinos. 'Nuff said.




And thats why Axl is one of the worst case scenarios of WUP (washed-up-syndrome.) Its a sad story. And don't get me wrong, Axl is one of my favorite frontman but I love the old Axl and I know he ain't ever coming back. This new one is a prick and its very trying to stay a fan of his sometimes.














*And don't even get me started on Buckethead. The prick had a (lame) gig going and I didn't buy it.

**Actually they could probably be more interesting than Axl but it depends on who you ask how much of a fan of Axl they are.
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

That was like a college thesis. Lovely job, though.

Mick is gonna be 54 next month. He's 10 years older than the others and had already been in a lot of bands when they hooked up. It's kinda surprising they even did, 'cause he hated stuff like KISS, which were Nikki's role models.
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"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

[quote]That was like a college thesis. Lovely job, though. [/quote]

Thanks. I've been reading way too many real theises about Axl and other bands like Van Halen and Coldplay. All in one nifty little book too with some pretty great lines like...

[i]...and I hope Coldplay gets f*cking dropped by f*cking EMI and ends up like the Stone f*cking Roses, who were actually a better f*cking band, all things considered.[/i]

Thats actually pretty ironic that Mick hated KISS and bands like that. It was the whole make-up theme, right?

Steve Tyler doesn't count as washed up, right? That thought just randomly occured to me and it makes me very sad to think that but is he? I don't he's showing any of the signs other than he's just doing more meida, pop-culture based gigs.
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Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Mick hated KISS because they were shit musicians who relied on a cheesy image. He was much more into classics. I'd have to double check, but I believe it was seeing Vince perform that convinced him to join.

Steve ain't washed up. Aero is still selling out huge venues, and aside from a commercial here n' there hasn't sold the aerosmith name to be bastardized as lame retro advertising. Honkin' on Bobo was good, though a bit forced. Like everyone bitched about Girls of Summer and Just Push Play being so crappy and pop, and then they "return to their roots" right after... Meh. Decent enough.

It's the guys playing to 200 people while still maintaining the Steve Tyler ego/attitude that are washed up.
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"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

I was thinking they weren't selling out but it seemed like everyone left and right was telling me that they were too old to do anything. I don't believe them though because this is coming from girls who will swoon over Coldplay's crappy lyrics sung over crappier guitar chords. <_<

Speaking of older rock stars still having it, The Rolling Stones are supposed to be going on their final tour soon. Its a little depressing although they weren't exactly one of my favorite bands. I have their Greatest Hits album and thats it. Actually I used to have it and now I can't find it but thats beside the point. Are you planning on going or are they not worth the $50 ticket?


_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

I probably won't see the Stones. I like 'em and all, but not enough to pay their prices. Not like Bowie or Motley. But I might if they come near here and other people are going.
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"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall