15 Most Ill-Advised Career Reinventions in Rock Music Histor

Post by **Edge** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:19 am

The hardest thing about being a famous rock star is that people get sick of you. The only solution is to keep coming back as somebody else. After all, think of how quickly the world would have buried the Beastie Boys if they'd trotted out five albums that sounded like License to Ill.

The artists that do a good job of reinvention are allowed to hang around (like Radiohead and even Madonna, brief reign of terror as a rapper notwithstanding). But sometimes reinvention goes horribly, hilariously wrong, and none were worse than these:

Check it out here.

Post by **A Gunslinger** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:25 pm

Kiss unmasking has GOT to be on the list, right?

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:45 pm

I agree with everything except Outside. That was a great return to form by Bowie.

Post by **sgt.null** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:18 am

A Gunslinger wrote:Kiss unmasking has GOT to be on the list, right?

didn't it give them a boost in album/concert sales?

Post by **Usivius** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:04 pm

Outside 1.0 is a masterpeice.
this is automatically a list that is not worth the shite it's printed on...

Post by **lucimay** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:12 am

#12.David Bowie Goes Industrial
Normally a master of innovation and reinvention, Bowie went to the well one too many times in 1995 when he decided to be exactly like Trent Reznor, who was finally enjoying mainstream success with Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral. So Bowie made Outside, an industrial record complete with a single and video that sounded and looked almost exactly like NIN's "Closer."

He got bleep like an animal in record--sales figures. Deciding that he wasn't nearly close enough with Reznor already, Bowie decided to co-headline the Outside tour with NIN. Reznor and company would occasionally play in the middle of Bowie's set to keep young fans from leaving. And, Bowie, presumably, would lock himself in a closet backstage during NIN's set for the exact same reason.

if it was such a crappy teamup...how come this friggin video is so FREAKIN GREAT?

I'm Afraid of Americans

Post by **sgt.null** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:14 am

Britney Spears going from pedo wet dream to trailer trash whore. that would be my choice.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:34 pm

I don't think Brittney is reinventing herself so much as having a very public breakdown.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:41 pm

Lucimay wrote:
#12.David Bowie Goes Industrial
Normally a master of innovation and reinvention, Bowie went to the well one too many times in 1995 when he decided to be exactly like Trent Reznor, who was finally enjoying mainstream success with Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral. So Bowie made Outside, an industrial record complete with a single and video that sounded and looked almost exactly like NIN's "Closer."

He got bleep like an animal in record--sales figures. Deciding that he wasn't nearly close enough with Reznor already, Bowie decided to co-headline the Outside tour with NIN. Reznor and company would occasionally play in the middle of Bowie's set to keep young fans from leaving. And, Bowie, presumably, would lock himself in a closet backstage during NIN's set for the exact same reason.

if it was such a crappy teamup...how come this friggin video is so FREAKIN GREAT?

I'm Afraid of Americans

Wow. Is the whole cd that good?

Post by **onewyteduck** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:07 pm

dANdeLION wrote:I don't think Brittney is reinventing herself so much as having a very public breakdown.

Agreed!

Lucimay, please answer Dan's question because I wanna' know too! Never heard it. Thanx for the link!

Post by **lucimay** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:44 pm

YES YES YES!!!

Earthling - David Bowie

this is the cd i have it on.

i LOVE it.

not that i wouldn't buy others, i've just never gotten around to it, but the only bowie i have on cd right now is Ziggy and Earthling!!

buy it

NOW.

oh. oops. yer talking about outside aren't you.

yeesh.
i dunno. i haven't heard it!

Post by **dANdeLION** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:58 pm

Lucimay wrote:the only bowie i have on cd right now is Ziggy and Earthling!!

You should consider getting Let's Dance, too.

Lucimay wrote:oh. oops. yer talking about outside aren't you.
yeesh.
i dunno. i haven't heard it!

No, I was asking about Earthling. Though now that you mention it, I would like to hear about Outside, if anybody's got it.

Post by **lucimay** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:09 pm

dANdeLION wrote:
Lucimay wrote:the only bowie i have on cd right now is Ziggy and Earthling!!
You should consider getting Let's Dance, too.

Lucimay wrote:oh. oops. yer talking about outside aren't you.
yeesh.
i dunno. i haven't heard it!
No, I was asking about Earthling. Though now that you mention it, I would like to hear about Outside, if anybody's got it.

ooooh! is Putting Out the Fire with Gasoline on Let's Dance? isn't that the Cat People album? i love that one.

Post by **Edge** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:44 pm

Let's Dance and Ziggy are my favourite Bowie albums - but Outside isn't at all shoddy. That's the one inclusion on that list I totally disagree with.

As for Britney - I think she could use some reinvention right now, both personally and professionally. I've never been a fan, but it's sad to see someone fall to pieces so publicly.

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:08 pm

I kinda feel sad for Britney. I knew she was on a bad downward spiral from the very MOMENT she hooked up with K-Fed.

Post by **sgt.null** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:14 am

Cameraman Jenn wrote:I kinda feel sad for Britney. I knew she was on a bad downward spiral from the very MOMENT she hooked up with K-Fed.

she did this to herself.

Post by **Usivius** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:37 pm

dANdeLION wrote:
Lucimay wrote:
#12.David Bowie Goes Industrial
Normally a master of innovation and reinvention, Bowie went to the well one too many times in 1995 when he decided to be exactly like Trent Reznor, who was finally enjoying mainstream success with Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral. So Bowie made Outside, an industrial record complete with a single and video that sounded and looked almost exactly like NIN's "Closer."

He got bleep like an animal in record--sales figures. Deciding that he wasn't nearly close enough with Reznor already, Bowie decided to co-headline the Outside tour with NIN. Reznor and company would occasionally play in the middle of Bowie's set to keep young fans from leaving. And, Bowie, presumably, would lock himself in a closet backstage during NIN's set for the exact same reason.

if it was such a crappy teamup...how come this friggin video is so FREAKIN GREAT?

I'm Afraid of Americans
Wow. Is the whole cd that good?

To answer your question Da, from my humble point of view, Outside was one of the top 5 albums of the 90's. It was a throwback to the old 'concept-album' days, and the teaming with Brian Eno brought out great creative juices. From the opening track that just takes you along and introduces you to the world they are showing you and it's strange inhabitants (all mirroring out own society of course), it is a musical journey of fear, wonder, power and beauty.

OK, I may seem to be laying it on thick, but 'Outside' is an album I am very passionate about. Musically it is fabulous. It is NOT a NIN rip-off, regardless of what anyone says or writes. This is Bowie, and with some great session payers, no musician worth his salt cannot say it is anythign but musically well-crafted. Bowie is taking his creative self in to the hard-rock/industrial territory and creating something fresh. Where he (somewhat successfully) started with "Tin Machine", he goes all out here.

The lyrics (the thing I always pay attention to last) are likewise well-crafted. And that is not to say they have a "long-tailored" feel ... quite the opposite; they are organic and flow so perfectly over the music and each song holds its on magic.
And of course Bowie's voice is up for the challenge of the various styles.

blahblahblah... I could go on forever ... and you can see I am biased, but I would defiantely pick up 'Outside' if you love creative, hard-driving music with intelligence.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 2:19 pm

sgt.null wrote:
Cameraman Jenn wrote:I kinda feel sad for Britney. I knew she was on a bad downward spiral from the very MOMENT she hooked up with K-Fed.
she did this to herself.

Yup, and she's the one paying for it. So, unless you have a point to make, why not lighten up a bit?

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15 Most Ill-Advised Career Reinventions in Rock Music Histor

15 Most Ill-Advised Career Reinventions in Rock Music Histor