This "What the ... ?" response from me ESPECIALLY applies to the rock music that is popular right now with these kiddos. It seems like every "rock" station is pumping the same crap - it's either whiney emo (seriously, guys, stop making music and go back to posting blogs about failed relationships on MySpace), or bland-as-bland-can-be pop-rock. Even the "older" bands, like Green Day or 311 are pumping out music to appeal to the masses. Where is the edge? Where is the originality? Where did the rock go??

I have been musing more this past week about the state of rock because one of the most popular and visible icons of the punk movement, the late Sid Vicious (nee John Simon Ritchie), bass player for the Sex Pistols, would have been 49 on May 10th.

After Sid dropped out of his London high school, he was recruited by Malcolm McLaren (former manager for the New York Dolls, he designed clothing with his partner, Vivienne Westwood, creating "punk" clothes to sell in their boutique SEX) to join a band which would eventually become the Sex Pistols. The Sex Pistols were a brilliantly packaged group representing rebellion and anarchy, even though they were basically about making money. Upon joining the band, Sid had extremely limited musical ability, but he had the attitude that the band was purporting to represent. With Sid on board, they continued to careen, screaming and snarling into the annals of music.

He lived fast. He died young. Although I can't report on the attractiveness of his corpse, I do know that even if the band itself was a packaged deal, they made music that will forever mark a period in the history of pop culture. Balls-to-the-wall unapologetic and brash, they sneered and flipped the bird at the establishment, and, in the process, managed to carve a permanent niche in the history of music, something most bands these days can only dream of achieving.

Inspired by the rock music that continuously pumps through my iPod headphones, I did a photo series for you all this month with one of my favorite Rhode Island photographers and designers, David Michalenka. Jack Daniels, Gene Simmons and lots of eye makeup ... I've managed to package myself as a total rock diva. But trust me - I have the attitude to back up the sneer ... just like Sid. I salute you, man. Happy belated birthday.

xoxo
- Tara