Reformation, Reformation, Reformation. It’s the buzz word in the music industry. With everyone from The Stone Roses to Steps (Unfortunately) putting aside their differences in order to please fans yet again, or take the lucrative check depending or who’s side you are on. But what bands would we actually welcome to the reformation parade? We put the question to our Indie Panel…
Chris Hines (Editor)
As much as it’s the obvious choice, if I had to pick one band to reform it would have to be Nirvana.
Now I know that is obviously not even a possibility but there are a few reasons. Firstly, on a personal note, as a teen Nirvana, along with Soundgarden, are probably two of the key bands responsible for the fact I work in this industry today. Prior to these two I was a kid listening to whatever friends rave tapes I could get my hands on, not really being that in to music and just listening to what ever was considered ‘cool’ by my friends at the time.
When I heard ‘Spoonman’ by Soundgarden and was introduced to Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ my whole world changed and the dirty world of grunge paved my way to where I am today. If anyone ever needed proof of the power of music there it is. Life changing! And secondly, I would love to see how a band like Nirvana would fare in today’s music market. With some of the younger kids probably seeing Nirvana as ‘Classic Rock’, and also Dave Grohl now a more pivotal figure than Kurt, it would be interesting to see people’s reactions. Would would a Nirvana show be like now? Would all of us old school fans being older mean we would see a more subdued Nirvana gig experience. Would kids find Nirvana cool or as has beens? It’s an interesting thought. Either way Nirvana changed my life and made more than a huge impact on the music world so they have to be my choice.
Carl Martin – Indie Writer
If you’re one of those people who have always wanted a ‘certain band’ to return to the stage and blow everyone away with an outstanding reunion, then 2013 may just have been the year for you. The year is not even over yet and its possibly had the highest amount of returning musicians to the music scene in a single year. I mean there was The Rolling Stones performing at Glastonbury again, David Bowie creating an actual physical album and even Trent Reznor’s return to Nine Inch Nails. It can’t be denied that reunions are all the rage right now.
With all that being said, I actually find it hard to think of another band I’d like to see reform. Now in my defence, being a fan of all the above means that 2013 has proved to be a very generous year for me. I wouldn’t want to appear greedy by asking for even more of my favourites bands to return. However there is one band I’ve wanted back in my life for some time now. R.E.M.
On September 21, 2011 R.E.M. announced their split after 31 years together saying “As lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band”. And now here we are in 2013 only two days away from it being exactly two years since the band declared the split, not that I’m keeping track or anything. Sure there are bands that are probably more wanted to return, but if it was up to me, I’d choose the unconventional, the hypnotic, the mesmerising and of course the unparalleled voice of Michael Stipe. I’d choose R.E.M.
Stephen Attridge – Indie Writer
As somebody who was turned on to the music of Charles Hardin Holley – better known to the wider world as Buddy Holly – by the hit musical that tells his life story, I would dearly love to attend a 50s Buddy show with his group The Crickets, but that’s never going to happen, sadly.
Really, I would like to have lived in Seattle in the early 90s but been 8 years older, but again, that is fanciful. There is one band I would like to see reform more from the lo-fi movement than grunge – e.g. the wave of bands where Sonic Youth begets Pavement, Sebadoh etc. – and they went by the name of Number One Cup. Four records spanned the nineties neatly, but my favourite from the two I’ve heard being their last ever, 1998’s ‘People People, Why Are We Fighting’. Sadly, a serious accident befell the guitarist, but these guys sound so much like art-rock influenced college rock; left-of-the-dial, super-cool genre trailblazers, full of insecurity and angular stop start riffs.
Overall though, like so many fans of a certain vineyard owning, bald-headed, wig-wearing, gifted possessor of a pristine rock singing larynx – okay virtual demagogue’s main musical project, the band I really need to see reformed is TOOL. I mean come on! It’s been an average 4 or 5 year wait between studio albums and we prepare ourselves for that each time, but this one is now 7 years in the pipeline and some of us have never been lucky enough to catch them on their all too finite UK tourdates. ‘10,000 Days’ was their last record; it does not need to be another 10,000 before the follow-up.
Martin-john McDonnell – Indie Editor
As much as i hate to admit it I’m a secret whore for reunions, i generally fall hook line and sinker for the buggers and i have no qualms in admitting that The Libertines at Reading and Pulp in Brixton were some of my favourite gigs ever.
However my feeling is the secret to a good reunion is unfinished business. That’s why Suede’s reunion has possibly trounced Pulp and The Libertines in terms of reunion tactfulness, Brett Anderson and co actually got round to recording an album, even scrapping an album of “weaker” material in order to create an album in line with their legacy. If your gonna reunite for anything more than one tour it’s vital that the band creates an album otherwise you look like your dining out on past glories, like a groupie in a bar talking about how she shagged the singer from Kula Shaker 20 years ago.
Pavement are one of those bands I’d give a toe and a testicle to see reform, granted they reformed only a few years ago but it’s widely acknowledged that this was a favour to clear one of the band members gambling debts. If you think of the performances they put in on that tour and imagine then playing like they actually had unfinished business it’s a pretty dreamy proposition. Add a new album to the mix and we’re in wet dream territory.
For a while after Sonic Youth‘s ending i longed for them to get back together. Nowadays, not so much. Sonic Youth disbanded at the right time in total honesty, after 30 years of musical revolution it seemed fitting that they called it a day, even if it was under the cloud of marital affairs.
The secret then to a reunion isn’t really how much it’s wanted, but more how much it’s needed.
So you’ve read what our indie panel had to say, but what do you think? Let us know below!
LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW!
