Stars shamelessly plugging their offspring. Exhibit 1 Melanie Safka
Went to see "Woodstock Legend" Melanie Safka on the first date of her UK tour last night at the Mick Jagger centre in Dartford.
Still has a fantastic voice and if left to her own devices, I'm sure she could hold an audience for the best part of an evening.
The support slot is taken by her son who plays a fairly mean flamenco / classical / gypsy / jazzy guitar style. Good stuff but has more in common with high spirited gymnastics than serious listenable music. Great for twenty minutes but then starts to get on your tits type stuff.
Imagine the horror when his mother took the stage for the main event accompanied by her son. Melanie has a great back catalogue which is more than adequately served by her strumming along to her still stunning vocals. Unfortunately, just about every song was arsed about with by having interjections of a guitar style totally at odds with the material. Don't even get me started on his bloody backing vocals. I felt a few nudges from my nearest and dearest at the points where these were at their most destructive and you could just tell from the audience reaction that family loyalty was being pushed a little too far.
Its fine getting the banjos out when the aunties visit at Christmas, but there should be laws against the shameless pushing of family members similar to the ones that they recently had to cobble together to prevent members of parliament filling their offices with wives, sons and daughters.
So who else is guilty of similar musical crimes against DNA pushing?
Martin
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Mini Meat
Meat Loaf was on the One Show last night and announced that his daughter will be playing several support slots on his upcoming tour. It was suggested that she might share the duets with him, but he pointed out the it would be pretty tacky for Paradise by the Dashboard Light. It could be said that 'tacky' is the whole point of a Meat Loaf show, but I guess that's not the sort of tacky he meant.
I also remember Art Garfunkel's infant son being made to sing Feelin' Groovy to emetic effect.
Didn't Van put his daughter....
...on as one of the acts on his self-generated tribute album, the puir auld sod having had no-one else willing to put one forward for him?
Man
The current line-up includes various progeny and relatives of erstwhile members, which seems often the only way these never all that huge or successful bands seem to keep the road going on forever. I believe there are many other examples. I have no knowledge of it, but I would not be surprised if there were versions of Stray, Nazareth, Led Zeppelin etc etc with similar solutions to lost forever members.
Mat Pegg, son of Dave, seemed to always pop up at Cropredy in various incarnations, once, I believe, brought on by Dad during Fairports main slot to demonstrate his school band. He is now in Procul Harum, presumably thru' Gary Brooker being also a regular Cropredy guest.
Dynastic
Matt Pegg also made the unusual 9for rock music) move of taking on Dad's old job when he joined Jethro Tull on bass.
On the subject of Fairports old and new, Richard Thompson gave son Teddy a leg-up by employing him as rhythm guitarist on a few tours.
on the most recent Police world tour jaunt
i think that Stings sons band (yes yes yes, i know there should be an apostrophe in there somwhere, but i'm not good with that sort of thing) was the support...
Ozzy
Oh God please make it stop.
Ian Maiden
Support on several recent tours? Step forward Lauren Harris. Presumably bass player Steve elected not to bring to any slaughters in the area, but has been known to get riled at an audience of metal fans inviting her to disrobe during her set. I'm not sure that's the phrase they used.
Patti Smith
Doesn't she have her son in her band?
Melanie
I posted your blog over on Melanies website and you would have thought I had shot her or something. People are so worried that nobody will like Melanie if they read things like your blog. I am a BIG Melanie fan from WAY back and I think you are right. Melanie ALONE is a much better show. Beau is a great artist in his own right. He would fit in much better creating soundtracks for Disney and, that's NO PUTDOWN. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met but he doesn't help Melanie live. His skills in the studio is more his forte. His dad (melanies husband) has taught him well. Production, that's his ticket to the big time.
Thanksfor the read,
James Baldwin
Spokane Washington USA
My personal Melanie website: http://LetHerIn.org
Please visit and sign the petition. Thanks