Critics brewing over Rock 'n' Roll cans

[Kain99]

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- Miller Brewing is celebrating the "50th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll" with eight commemorative beer cans that feature Rolling Stone cover shots of Elvis Presley, Blondie and others.

What's missing, some say, is a black artist.

Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University, called the absence "beyond conspicuous," because black artists often are credited with inventing rock 'n' roll.

"It would be like doing a set of cans of six great Impressionist painters and not including any French people on it," he said. "It leaves out an enormous amount."

Everything is Racist...

 

[Tonio]

While they have a point about the lack of black artists, I don't think it was racist in intent. Rolling Stone's primary readership has always been white rock fans.

Besides, rock 'n' roll was invented by both blacks and whites, and the music was originally a blend of black R&B with white country.

 

[Ken King]

It's Miller Beer, not Colt 45, what's the problem?

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by Ken King
It's Miller Beer, not Colt 45, what's the problem?

That's another point. Marketers assume that blacks drink malt liquor and whites drink beer. (If they wanted to reach teens, maybe Boone's Farm? )

 

[vraiblonde]

How do you commemorate rock and roll, and include Blondie but not Chuck Berry?? Bon Jovi is there, but no Run DMC, who introduced the whole rap genre to our pop culture AND single-handedly revived Aerosmith???

No Tina Turner? No Aretha Franklin? No Bill Haley and the Comets? No Smokey Robinson?

Are these people crazy??? The article says that the artists were selected from RS covers, which just goes to show you why I've never been a fan of RS. They're not a serious music publication - all they want to do is regurgitate the flavor-of-the-month and pretend they're cool by highlighting obscure art bands that nobody's ever heard of, nor are they interested in.

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by vraiblonde
They're not a serious music publication - all they want to do is regurgitate the flavor-of-the-month and pretend they're cool by highlighting obscure art bands that nobody's ever heard of, nor are they interested in.

Yes. The original RS was more underground in attitude, and would have sneered at the idea of partnering with a beer company. These days the magazine seems like a tattooed version of GQ or Esquire.

 

[SurfaceTension]

Originally posted by vraiblonde
No Tina Turner? No Aretha Franklin? No Bill Haley and the Comets? No Smokey Robinson?

"One these groups is not like the others,
One of these groups isn't the same..."
:silly:

 

[vraiblonde]

Originally posted by SurfaceTension
:silly:

Dur. But Bill Haley should still be on a Miller can.

 

[Pete]

Originally posted by vraiblonde
Dur. But Bill Haley should still be on a Miller can.

What about that good old black band Buddy Holly and the Crickets?

 

[vraiblonde]

Originally posted by Pete
What about that good old black band Buddy Holly and the Crickets?

 

[Tonio]