The Soul of Rock 'n' Roll

“Hi there friend... My name is Dave, or you can refer to me by my initials, D.A.N. as I sign my posts/emails/etc. I'm a musician, artist, poet, entrepreneur, computer tech, graphic designer, humanist, idealist, creative recluse, wannabe intellectual, quasi minimalist, possible future asylum resident and your average “loose cannon” eccentric who's obsessed with music... I'm the owner, editor and primary writer of the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll. Welcome... let me give you a little background information about this project.

The Soul of Rock 'n' Roll originated as a simple music blog with a specific set of ideals. The quote goes something like this:

"I don't want to just talk about and promote the music that is popular, mainstream or well known... I want to talk about and promote the music I like whether it is well known or not. A band doesn't have to be #1 right now or ever to be making great music. That's what it's all about, great rock n' roll, blues, folk, even country... If it speaks to me then I write about it. If it doesn't speak to me, I'll be honest and say why without attacking anyone, so you can understand where I'm coming from. Maybe if it speaks to me, it will speak to a few other people too..." - D.A.N. Owner/Editor of Soul of Rock n' Roll.

When I originally wrote the quote above, I thought it really embodied what I wanted the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll to be: a place where music is celebrated because of it's passion and it's power to move people, not it's popularity/unpopularity or marketability/coolness factor. I wanted the site to have that personal touch and not be just another corporation, radio station or magazine pushing music on you; to instead be like your buddy saying “Dude you've gotta check this band out! They're like the Beatles, Zeppelin, Floyd and (insert other great bands here) all combined, but completely different!”... albeit in slightly more extended language. I wanted it to avoid as much of the band bashing; random celebrity gossip; rock and roll posing; mainstream vs. underground debating; reviews by people who don't even listen to the band; and other negative energy/mindless filler that is found on a lot of other “music sites” from both the corporate side and the counter culture side. I don't really think there is such a thing as "Bad Music". Even the most mindless drivel, or atonal mess can effect us... maybe it can make us laugh, or scream, or dance around a little. The songs, the compositions, the albums that continue to bring us back and effect us on our most emotional levels though, those are something special. It's that emotional connection that makes music great. I wanted to concentrate on that connection along with the impact music has on the world, creative expression, rock and roll as art, changing music industry for the better and, oh I don't know, maybe the music itself? And so sometime in late 2007, early 2008, after a brief false start as a broader project, the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll was born. At it's heart this site will forever be my own personal music blog, the place where I can rant and ramble on about my ever increasing musical obsession without subjecting any poor souls directly to it against their will... ala your typical conversation... and maybe have a few laughs along the way. I make my opinions available here for an audience of like-minded music fanatics, and those who are just teetering on the brink of infection, both of whom might just find their next favorite bands amongst my own collection of old standards, modern classics, underground unknowns and recent discoveries. Maybe my words, no matter how convoluted, confusing, overly explicit and caught up in child-like wonder, might, just might, inspire a few others to listen to or create something they might not have otherwise. Those were my motivations behind running this site. Or maybe I should say, those ARE my motivations behind running this site. My view on what the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll actually is and what it can be though, has changed slightly over the years. I used to look at this site very much as an “Me Against the World” situation. “Odysseus vs. Poseidon”... “David vs. Goliath”... or “The Chicago Cubs vs. Just About Anyone” if you're more inclined towards sports than mythology and religion. One person out to take on the world, the revolutionary, the ultimate underdog to the corporate music industry, hipster movements and the counter culture. I really thought I was at it alone, trying to convert/infect people one at a time. Trying to convince them that it's not how popular or underground something is, how many albums have been sold, or what the latest trend is, but how it moves you emotionally and artistically that matters when it comes to music.

This site has opened my eyes though... - It has opened my eyes to a small number of people out there who are just like me: completely obsessed and committed to the music in all it's glory, both popular and unpopular. Maybe they're making it, or blogging about it, or just becoming engrossed with it streaming into their head while sitting in a dark room with their headphones... but they're out there. And they might just have something of their own to say, might have their own music or latest discoveries to share, or their own ranting to do.

Those people, the ones who are passionate about rock and roll, music and everything related to it and don't care about all that other stuff that occasionally gets caught up with it, are what the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll is all about. At the risk of sounding overly melodramatic and sappy, those people are the true “soul” of all rock 'n' roll (hahaha...that was indeed, way sappy and melodramatic... awesome). So now, after a few years of running this site I think I can succinctly say, what the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll actually is...

It's a project dedicated to people who truly love rock and roll music, the ones who write it, make it and enjoy it everyday in whatever form. I don't know exactly what I have planned for the future of the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll yet, but I like the potential the broadness of that statement offers. Right now my voice will remain as the primary one serving as the archetype, example and caricature of all of these music fanatics out there. Maybe in the future though, new voices will be heard along with the new bands and new music. Maybe this can become a place where other authors can publish, a discussion forum, a syndication point, a media outlet where up and coming bands can gain a little free press, a new idea about what a record label can be, a place where a musical revolution can begin... all sorts of exciting stuff like that...who knows. As long as I am the one behind the curtain though, I hope The Soul of Rock 'n' Roll will still be just like that buddy of yours saying “Dude, this band is what music is all about!” I hope it'll be a haven, not for the critics who don't get it, marketers just looking to make a quick buck by promoting mediocrity, out of touch corporate music promoters, naysayers, bashers, hipsters or haters, but for the people who are true lovers of rock and roll, of all rock's numerous offshoot genres, influences and variations... the people who live to write, make and enjoy this music everyday. Anyways, that's enough pretentious preaching I think. I've got bands to discover, albums to listen to and my own music to write... not to mention countless other artistic pursuits and a day job or three to keep track of. I hope you enjoy the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll. There's a lot of material here already and when reality doesn't get in the way too much, I will continue to create more every month, so check back often.

Take care,

D.A.N. (Dave)

Owner/Editor - The Soul of Rock 'n' Roll

Music/Rock and Roll Blog - www.soulofrocknroll.com

A Division of Fifth Column Media

www.fifthcolumnmedia.com”.

HERE