It’s funny how often I hear fellow musicians get upset when a band comes along that has borrowed heavily from the past and are being hailed as the next big thing. Bands like Jet, Wolfmother are not frightened to wear their influences on their sleeve’s. Me personally I don’t give a toss that a style has been imitated my only criteria is does the song sound good and does the song do anything for me.

When did music become this thing that had to be totally original or it’s not valid?

I liked Noel Gallagher’s ( Oasis ) response to accusations of blatantly ripping off sounds by stating “show me any song and I’ll show where it came from”.

I actually like the fact that bands come along, borrowing from the past because I have noticed that my kids are now exploring bands like Black Sabbath, The Beatles, Deep Purple, The Who, The Band because of their exposure to bands such as Jet, Wolfmother and Panic At The Disco

So get off your moral high horse and just enjoy the music for what it is. Music is meant to take you on a journey make you feel something. Not to be some science that is always exploring new frontiers – frankly it can be a bit taxing at times.

So I guess you work out what you want from music is it to be a pioneer or to be a person that just loves making music that the people dig. Neither is right or wrong.

When I see bands playing in front of 100,000 screaming fans I know where I’d rather be. Call me shallow  but I love seeing people going sick for a band rather than suffering a band for arts sake. Having said that some great music has come about courtesy of bands pushing the envelope.

Neither pursuit is better than the other it’s simply a case of what pushes your buttons.

However don’t get all hung up on a band that’s been touted as the next big thing, borrowed heavily from the past because music is there to be enjoyed – sometimes I think we forget what it’s all about sometimes – lighten up a bit and have some fun!

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