Aug
12

Where Is the Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n Roll in Social Media?

Last week, I saw an episode of VH-1 rockDocs called Do It for the Band: The Women of Sunset Strip.  It was a look back at the LA-based hair metal explosion of the ’80s, focusing on the groupies and girlfriends of the bands.  Rock veterans like Bret Michaels (Poison) and Steven Adler (Guns N’ Roses) freely admit that if not for the kindness of these women — who provided food, clothing, shelter and stimulation for musicians who otherwise couldn’t fend for themselves — almost none of the bands would have survived in LA long enough to ink a record deal.

Now, 20 years later — despite all the drugs, cheating, emotional and psychological breakdowns, diseases, leaking breast implants and a widespread infestation of crabs (yes, crabs) — they all still roundly agree that it was the best time of their lives.

Why?  Because it was fun.  And not just fun, but a non-stop, drug-fueled sex party — which, history has proven, is the best kind of party.  Don’t believe me?  Recall that the impressionists had the Moulin Rouge, the revolutionaries had the coffeehouses, Hemingway had Cuba and Hollywood had… well, Hollywood.  Nearly every major political, sociological or artistic turning point of the past 500 years involves one or more of the following: narcotics, alcohol, sex, criminality and backstabbing.  (Hell, even Isaac Newton was a bastard.)

So where is all of this in social media?

Not that I’m advocating sexism, drug addiction or the near-death experiences of Nikki Sixx.  But you have to admit, social media lacks the fire, piss and passion of a truly world-changing, generation-defining movement.  And we can call ourselves “rock stars” all we want, but lining up overnight for the new iPhone doesn’t carry quite the same street cred as smashing your guitar in front of half a million people.

Where’s the fire?

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Posted by Justin Social Media, Sociology Subscribe to RSS feed
  • Damn dude, one look at how Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll have taken the forefront in American politics, this is surely right on point...

    In any event, the following pretty much sums things up for me:
    http://www.cafepress.com/usa21stcentury
  • i think the difference between band geeks (yes, rock stars are all geeks at heart, spending endless hours banging on skins, perfecting a riff, and screaming in front of a mirror all require an aptitude of geekiness) and social media/web geeks, is that the latter requires being able to meet with clients in the morning.

    :-)
  • I think its time to set sickpuppy on fire
  • Obviously, you haven't seen a live recording of the Mayhem Show...
  • heh, last paragraph should read: "sex, drugs, and -insert your favorite type of musical styling here-, as well as..." I used > < carrots around it.
  • I think that IF social media stands to make a difference in the world, it will be through bigger and better celebrities and writers than we have right now (no offense to all yinz).

    Yes, Chris Brogan, et. al. are "the bees' knees," but when have they caused any corporate stock price to plummet more than 20 points in one go?

    These people are "internet famous," and they have some name recognition online, but my father, or my grandmother would have no idea who they are.

    Once someone becomes big enough to start influencing people to completely change the world they live in, then maybe we'll have our "Rockstars."

    Spider Jerusalem comes to mind when I think of an archetype of what we should have: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_Jerusalem

    Right now you've got everyone and their brother blogging about life, sex, drugs, boredom, and trying desperately to impress. Whether it's for money, ego, or frosted cookies, so many voices all trying to speak at the same time cancel each other out.

    Until the inevitable "bandwidth war" or something comes about, and one person stands up, speaking eloquently about their rage at being throttled, inspiring angry mobs to form across the country, to storm Comcast, or TimeWarner offices across the country, and hog-tie the creatures in charge, then force them to watch every 'two-girls-one-cup' type video on constant loop until they are driven insane (and our demands of unlimited bandwidth are restored) I don't think that age has arrived.

    Such people will arise on the internet, and gain followers. Yet, until they achieve a "nuclear following" (capable of the utter destruction of a major corporation at will), I believe social media is still in it's infancy. I don't care if it's finally learned to go from crawling to walking. Until it takes a billy-club from a corrupt police officer, does unspeakable things to him with it, and gets off scot-free in court, then I'll consider it mature.

    These "major" people I speak of will naturally come together and form kind of a community, and there will be sex, drugs, and , as well as backstabbing (uh, this is human nature as well). It will be great, and I hope it's coming soon.
  • RiftFisher
    "narcotics, alcohol, sex, criminality and backstabbing" are (arguably) not fun activities to do alone. You can't share a beer or pass a joint through a computer screen. Even if you are engaging with many people via social media, it will never be a party. You need physical presence for the shared experience, or consubstantiality, which social media will always lack. And I agree it's lacking in that department and maybe in emotional attachment altogether.
  • Well, I follow a lot of bloggers -- many of them moms -- who talk a lot about their boobs and drinking. So, maybe you're just following the wrong people?

    ciao,
    rpm
  • I'm running outside with a laptop and bottle of lighter fluid... Maybe its not as much "fun" or perhaps its that our generation is more focused on creating something more than a good time and killing brain cells. The legacy of 80s hair bands is already fairly well understood. There will not be tons of homages in the same way there is for hip-hop and old school rap. Watching any of those VH1 specials and you walk away wondering "How did they survive?" Walk away from new tech or social media creations and you wonder "How did we ever survive without Twitter [or insert some other social media tool]?"
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