Popping the Question

Artrockers,

I remember going to the first V festival. I never went again, it wasn't for me, it was a family festival, parents and kids. On arriving we headed to an outlying stage to see Elastica, we sat down and started doing a bit of festival origami, you know, making interesting things with a bit of paper and some herbage, as you do. Pretty soon we realised that more of audience were watching us than the band. We were the centre of attention as families looked on. I think they thought we were permanent exhibits, actors paid to act like festival goers. But that's V for you, it's been like that from day 1.

So it was a bit surprising to see a great deal of discussion in the press about this year's do. You see, apparently the kids were more interested in David Guetta than The Stone Roses and held Professor Green in higher esteem than Noel Gallagher's latest bunch of numpties.

Cue much breast beating about 'kids today' and their texting lifestyle, short attention spans and willingness to be exploited by the big brands. "That's it!' seemed to be the consensus, 'We're screwed'. Of course, the mistake they made is the same mistake I made in going to V - they assumed it was a festival like the ones they knew, and it isn't, and never has been. I'm not going to argue with those who say that Pop music, as represented by Radio 1, is pretty awful right now, it is. But we've been here before and lived to tell the tale, we all know it's cyclical and that at it's lowest will always open the door to the likes of Chinn Chapman, SAW and in the present era Simon Cowell etc. Pop has always exploited the lowest common denominator, and the kids. Whining about kids ignoring the Stone Roses will not help anything. What do these ageing geezers have to do with the kids anyway? The broke up before most of them were born.

The only way to improve the situation is for the guys on our side of the fence to improve their game and make better music. But gap year rockers are in the way, they don't mean it, and we, and the kids, can tell. Indie has become a sort term hobby for graduates before doing 'a proper job'.

I blame Facebook.

Tom Artrocker