Your grandfather has just returned from a rock concert here in Prague performed by the 66 year-old legend, Joe Cocker. His unique, gravelly voice is as powerful as ever, and inspite of his age, there were many young people in the audience. It's his ballad, You are so beautiful, that always touches me the most. It's a song that only he can really sing.When I first went to rock concerts, the performers were young, long-haired, rebellious types, seeminly dedicated to taking as many drugs, having as much sex as possible, and to overthrowing the 'establishment'. But today, these same stars, look like bank managers, with short hair, conservatively cut clothes. Gone are the calls of revolution, the haze of dope smoke or the screaming loose women.
While I enjoyed the concert for its music, I could not help but feeling dissapointed by the soberness of the occasion. Rock and roll used to represent expressions of dissent from the younger generation. Rock idols were generally against the status quo, apparently pushing for radical change in society. It was all about peace and love, and anti-capitalism and equality. Now it seems to be more about enhancing the bank balances of the stars.The concert ended by 11.30pm, no doubt enabling Joe to go back to his hotel and get his beauty sleep. What a change from those heady days in the seventies, the legendary Woodstock festival at which a much younger Cocker performed. Rock and roll was going to change the world. What happened? Your grandfather must to confess not to be be growing old comfortably.
Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic
