Oh, B-Flow, you’ve done it again. The famously filter-less frontmanfor Vegas glam-rock revivalists the Killers seems to have a gift forembroider-this-shizz-on-a-pillow quotes, and his latest verbal cherrybomb is kind of a doozy, even for him.
On the 15th anniversary, no less, of Cobain’s suicide (or, at least, the discovery of his body), Flowers told the UK’s DailyStar, "I don’t mean it in a bad way, but I think Kurt Cobain and grungetook the fun out of rock ‘n roll. Everything’s changing, though, andit’s starting to become a lot more playful and brighter."
(Then again, he also went on to say, "I grew up seeing people likeMorrissey. I think I’ve still got a lot to learn, but there’s somethingabout performing a big show that makes it more incredible for me."Because Moz, as you know, is a real ray of sunshine.) They’remostly silly words from a man known for silly words — and this is comingfrom an unabashed Sam’s Town fan — but it does raise the question:
Did Cobain, Eddie Vedder, Layne Staley, and other Singles-erasuperstars really snuff out the fun-lovin’, lipsticked lights ofPoison, Motley Crue, et al? Is the later success of bands likeNickelback and Buckcherry, with their whiskey-swilling,groupie-guzzling hedonism, just part of rock & roll’s circle oflife? (Hakuna matata to you, Hinder!).
You’d be hard-pressed to call most of today’s rock stars fun,per se — unless chatting with Coldplay’s Chris Martin about free tradeagreements and Gwyneth’s tofu-quinoa casserole gets you juiced – butit really depends what you’re looking for. Is musical escapism theanswer to these economically scary times? Or should what comes out of your speakers reflect what’s going on in the world?
I’d hardly call the Killers ‘rock’ music. Flowers can say whatever he wants. The word ‘fun’ can be different things to different people. Glam rock was lame, but fun, sure, but it’s just so silly when you really look at it. Is the Killers ripping off the 1980′s new wave sound ‘fun’? Maybe? Not for me. That’s not rock. I’ll take my Grunge over his ‘rock’ any day!
Listen to Joy Division and then say who ripping off music. Seriously Kurt Cobain had influences too
thats his opinion, everyone is in title to their own, i disagree with brandon on this..
Kurt Cobain/Nirvana talked about serious teenage problems, he was honest in his music and didn’t care what anyone thought he didn’t do it just so millions of people would sing along with him or so that his song would be played on MTv or on the radio every five minutes- he did it ’cause those were his feelings, and first of all Brandon Flowers, to me is just a pop band!
I’d have to agree with Mr. Flowers on this one.
I read the original interview it came from and I don’t think he meant to ‘slam’ Kurt or Nirvana. Being a child of the 90s, that music was dark, moody, and depressing…does that mean it was bad? Heck no! It was awesome. The radio was something I could actually tolerate when Alice in Chains were played in heavy rotation along with Pearl Jam and STP…I think that people make too much of everything Brandon Flowers says and truthfully, he has a right to his opinion period…but I do agree…ummmm…Morrissey isn’t the brightest of souls…I mean, ‘girlfriend in a coma, I know, I know…it’s serious…’ lol
Cobain took the coward route, we all lost a great voice.
Oh well, he’s no saint, let’s not beatify him here.
Thank God someone finally said it! Kurt Cobain is one of those artists like Tupac who was very good at what they did, but is only being worshipped so fervently because they died. It’s funny how people have been basically brainwashed by rock music publications have tried to indoctrinate everyone into the Cult of Kurt for the past decade and a half. When someone says something that even slightly resembles a critique of Nirvana, we all gasp and wait for the blashpemer to be struck by lightning.
The 90′s (and the music from that decasde) were a direct consequence of the decadence of the 80′s. Now, I love 80′s music, don’t get me wrong, but the cocaine consumption, unprotected sex, etc all lead to heavier issues that plagued the 90′s; most notably HIV/AIDS. As the issues got heavier, so did the music.
I admit, you hooked me in, but you’re trying to stir up a controversy where there is none. Would even its most ardent adherents ever have described grunge as “fun”? Dark, brooding, angry, loud, whatever, but “fun” doesn’t make the top 10 list of adjectives to describe grunge music. Even Cobain’s erstwhile drummer/current Foo Fighter Mr. Grohl seems to be having a lot more fun with his music these days than Nirvana ever did. I don’t really see the issue. It’s not like Flowers said Cobain was overrated or anything. He bent over backwards to say it wasn’t a diss.
He’s entitled to his opinion, but I wonder how old he was when Nirvana came out, because for a good 10 years before that is was NOTHING BUT mindless crap being played constantly. Cheesy pop and hair bands were pretty much it, and excess had gone as far as it needed t go. Grunge was a response to all of that, and was a breath of fresh air.
Kids today.
I just checked, he was born in 81, so this dude has no clue what it was like, since he was just a kid when Nirvana became big.
I don’t think it really matters what Brandon Flowers thinks, maybe if the guy puts out a good album for a change, we’ll start to care.
At least hes putting out albums, unlike Kurt Cobain.
Flowers didn’t bash Cobain at all in the interview… he was just stating what he felt about the music of that time esp rock, it was darker, not as fun, not to say it wasn’t good. He didn’t bash Cobain… I hate the fact that it is being made into a tabloid like issue which it isn’t.
It’s an interesting question. I’ve always been someone who listened to a lot of weird depressing stuff. Aphex Twin, Radiohead, that kind of thing, but I’ve been listening to a LOT of classic 80s rock lately. Although I don’t know if that’s because of the recession or because Supernatural is my new addiction.
I don’t really care whether music is dark and depressing or upbeat, as long as it’s good, and about 95% of The Killers music isn’t very good.
Anybody who doesn’t appreciate any kind of music shouldn’t be entitled to criticism
Thank god some else is saying that same think. Kurt Cobain was a no talent schmuck. He was a dirtbag junkie who could strum a few notes together yippie skippy. But everyone is always “oh he was such a good artist, he was honest or he sang about agnst” Big freaking deal he sang about everyday stuff. Good riddance to bad trash!
Anybody who doesn’t appreciate any kind of music shouldn’t be entitled to criticism