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We were very happy to be nominated and lose two Grammys again. I think that put us at zero and eight.
Jerry Cantrell on Alice in Chains’ Grammy nominations for Black Gives Way to Blue, interview with Grammy.com

All Apologies

So I cringed just a little bit when I read online today that Dave Grohl had issued a public apology for statements made during his acceptance speech for Best Rock Performance at the 2012 Grammys on Sunday night. I was thinking, “No, no, no, Dave, no. Don’t backpedal. What you said was brilliant and spot-on. Don’t sully it by apologizing.”

Then I sucked it up, pulled up my big boy undies, and headed out to read the statement and take it like a man. But I was surprised at what I found. I wasn’t reading an apology. This was a clarification.

Apparently some people took Dave to task for his comments, misunderstanding both what he said and his intent. Dave wasn’t bashing the use of computers or electronics or effects. He was criticizing the all-too-common practice within the music industry to take some talentless (albeit pretty) hack off the streets, have him or her imperfectly sing words he or she didn’t write to music he or she didn’t compose, take it into ProTools, and then apply a thick, glossy sheen of autotune and effects to create the next overnight sensation and make said hack (and everyone else involved) obscenely rich. Oh, and did I mention that said hack can also dance?!

So Dave issued a clarification that I’m pretty sure the complainers still aren’t going to be happy with, because what he didn’t say was that it was OK to be a talentless (albeit pretty and now obscenely rich) hack. What he said is that what makes music good is being good at your craft, regardless of genre or instrument. Hey, it’s no Gettysburg Address, but it’s good enough for me. Go read it for yourself and see if you agree.

Oh, and get off my lawn.

It’s not about being perfect, it’s not about sounding absolutely correct, it’s not about what goes on in a computer. It’s about what goes on in (your heart) and what goes on in (your head).
Dave Grohl, acceptance speech for Best Rock Performance at the 2012 Grammys
This award means a lot because it shows that the human element of music is what’s important. Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that’s the most important thing for people to do.
Dave Grohl, acceptance speech for Best Rock Performance at the 2012 Grammys

Good Bunnies Get The Carrots

Ramones Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Well it’s about time.

Punk pioneers the Ramones received a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Grammys. On hand to receive the award were Ramones drummers Tommy and Marky—Richie made a speech but apparently didn’t receive an award?!—and accepting on behalf of Johnny, Dee Dee, and Joey were Johnny’s wife Linda, Joey’s brother Mickey Leigh, and John Cafiero, who manages Johnny’s and Dee Dee’s estates.

Enjoy this playlist that includes the acceptance speeches, as well as some red carpet footage with Marky.