Why aren't young, new acts getting any space on new music's real estate, the front cover of the New Musical Express?
The anniversary cover featuring John Lennon.
Imagine the scene: as music journalists from across the world are summoned to the Alcor Cryonics Facility in Arizona for a mystery press conference, its not just the desert heat thats causing them to sweat. Theyve been told to expect the biggest news in years, but what could it be? Rumours clog the forums on internet message boards; fans send frantic texts to one another; Twitter is flooded with ever-wilder speculation.
As the hacks are led into the vast metallic warehouse, a door in the corner suddenly opens. Out step three nigh-on spiritual figures but ghosts, these are not. John Lennon, Ian Curtis and Kurt Cobain have been brought back from the dead, in a medical revolution also marking a joyous day for three generations of music fans. The lead singers of Joy Division and Nirvana announce that theyre ready to put out new material (it turns out that being frozen and reanimated is a surprisingly effective cure for suicidal depression, and theyre really feeling quite chipper now), while a 40-year-old John Lennon proclaims hes re-uniting with Paul McCartney, now 30 years his senior though back home Ringo is still waiting for his phonecall.
And the journalists at NME? They cant believe their luck. Immediately scrapping their plans for the next three issues, they give the legendary figures a cover interview each to mark their return.
Of course, this is as much a fantasy for scientists as it is for art directors at the New Musical Express. But despite Lennon, Curtis and Cobain remaining under the sod, and for donkeys years too, that didnt stop the magazine famous for championing new bands from delving deep into their picture archives to use that long-gone trio for their cover images across three consecutive weeks last month.
Has NME forgotten what the "N" in its name stands for? Glancing at the shelves of your local newsagents these days, it would often be fair to think so.
Yes, the current issue can be forgiven a well-deserved nostalgic pat on its own back. Having been an integral part of Britains gig-going and record-buying culture for 60 years, its only appropriate for NME to celebrate its diamond anniversary with eight collectors front covers. Its hardly the freshest selection of rock stars there is surely little teenage excitement to be found in John Lydon, Patti Smith, the Gallagher brothers, Paul Weller and the Manic Street Preachers, even alongside the Arctic Monkeys and Brandon Flowers of The Killers. But then celebrating the past is what anniversary issues are all about.
Yet what of the modern NME on a standard week? This year weve also seen the Rolling Stones, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, David Bowie and Joe Strummer all featuring below that legendary masthead names that would be more suited to Mojo or Uncut, the monthly organs of the middle-aged 50-quid-man. Throw in other musicians who were at their peak 15 or more years ago Blur, the Stone Roses, the Cure, the Gallaghers again and a trend is there for all to see. Aging or dead rockers are increasingly laying claim to new musics most highly valued real estate, previously reserved for the young and the new.
Of course, you cant judge a magazine by its cover just as you cant a book. Should 50-quid-man flick through the current issue, hes unlikely to be familiar with Flying Lotus, King Krule, or Melodys Echo Chamber. The inside of the magazine one of the most beautifully designed on the market, produced by some of the most dedicated and passionate journalists around is far from becoming a dad-rock bible.
Read more:
The NME'S aging (and often dead) cover stars
Recommendation and review posted by G. Smith
