In our Continuing Series: The Decline of Western Civilization ...

[westen44]

Wives and girlfriends can have somewhat of a civilizing influence, but only so much can be done. 

[TBird1958]

I must be not so well-versed in 80s metal as I thought.  On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that I'm contributing in one way or another to the decline of Western civilization.

You?!

Decadence is my business 

[westen44]

^
I've tried to improve with age, but I've had my share of decadence.   

[Highlander]

Decadence is my business 

Exquisitely understated, my dear Lady...

I believe it is commonly viewed that societies become decadent before a fall...

(Oh Nero... Nero... you forgot your rosin, darling...)

[Pilgrim]

Decadence is my business 

But only with style!!   

[uwe]

All those androgynous hair metallists were really amateurs when it comes to decadence and contributing actively to the decline of Western Civilization, this is how it's properly done: This weekend's Eurovison winner ... Conchita Wurst ...



The song is a bit too James Bond'ish/Shirley Bassey'ish 60ies drama ballad for me and of course Conchita's agenda played a major role in her/him winning the contest, but she/he won by a huge distance compared to all other contestants. Someone projecting an alternative life style like she/he does topping an international contest would have been unthinkable a couple of years ago. So we are making some headway after all.

Why "Wurst" you cry? "Das ist mir wurst" is the German/Austrian/Swiss idiom for "I don't care one way or another", so it's part of her/his message that it doesn't matter which gender you are, including the one in between.

[Basvarken]

Yeah right.

Wurst

[Pilgrim]

You know, you really shouldn't even have known where that picture could be found........

[gweimer]

He probably has a folder of bookmarks, labeled "Pushing even the standards of the LBO"

[TBird1958]

I do love what I've done to this place 

[Basvarken]

Haha, the wonders of Facebook.

[uwe]

I do love what I've done to this place 

Moral corruption and ethical decay.

[Granny Gremlin]

Stevens was Billy Idol's sound in his heyday, period. ... The guy is a real talent and a shit-hot guitarist.

And he can elevate with his work even - sorry, George! - mediocre singers ...

This does not disagree with what I said, that first line anyway, is what I was getting at.... I just didn't think it as a good thing.  He is (was?) technically very amazing and good at songwriting if you like that sort of very typically 80s LA  style, which he was the archetype, if not the architect, of (I do not.... except when PWEI does it ironically later in the 90s, and even then, I just barely tolerate it). BUT Billy didn't need to be elevated by Steve - he was already everything he was going to be by the end of Generation X - remember, his biggest hit, Dancing With Myself, was just the Gen X song re-released on one of his solo albums (I think there was a Steve Steven's overdub or 2, but otherwise it was the exact same recording, maybe he redid the vox too, I don"t remember, but all the other Gen X backing vox are still there etc).  The only development post Gen X was that of his ego (cocaine does that) which had a few artistic side-effects such as convincing him that that doing that snarly lip thing every time a lens was pointed his way was a good idea (in a very proto Miley Cyrus way, not half as stupid/annoying though.... she really takes a lot from Billy though doesn't she; right down to the hair ;P).

An ex-guitarist of mine just loved the guy though, down to emulating his tone in the mid-2000s; so dated and doesn't work without big budget LA studio production values on the rest of the song behind it, vs our punk-reggae Clashy thing.  I managed to keep that sound off our record by having him use my gear, but eventually he just really missed that Ibanez Strat variant with Floyd Rose and solid state amp. ... then he got a pod and I gave up the whole thing..

[TBird1958]

Moral corruption and ethical decay.

Wait'll you get to Seattle!

[Pilgrim]

Wait'll you get to Seattle!

There's plenty of humidity decay, too.....

BTW...Gonna take him to Bass NW and fill him full of Starbucks?