Berating Bowie

March 21, 2010

Berating Bowie: Petoskey Professor Picks a Musical Fight
By Kristi Kates
North Central Michigan College Liberal Arts/Social Psychology
Professor Erick Haight is throwing down a musical gauntlet.
Specifically, a musical gauntlet against none other than innovative
50-year rock music veteran and legend David Bowie.
London, England-born Bowie’s stylish, intellectual musical works and
other projects have literally influenced generations of musicians,
from Iggy Pop, the Talking Heads, and Madonna all the way to The
Pixies, U2, Placebo, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine Inch Nails’ Trent
Reznor, and Morrissey, among many others.
However, Petoskey-based teacher Haight is claiming that David Bowie
has “killed” rock and roll, and says that the musician has “done more
to subvert and destroy rock and roll than any other artist, including
The Beatles.”
Haight is aiming to prove just how Bowie’s influence has irrevocably
altered every “meaningful” domain of rock music, and he’ll attempt to
make his case during his upcoming NCMC luncheon lecture on March 26;
we decided to throw a few early questions his way.
Express: Of course you don’t want to give away all of the main points
of your lecture; but would you give us a brief overview of how and why
you think David Bowie has “killed rock and roll?”
Erick Haight: Well, to say more (than what’s been already described)
would be to give the game away. And then nobody would show up, and I’d
be forced to lecture to an empty room. I do enough of that on the
weekends in my time off.
Express: Well then, what, besides personal opinion, do you have to
support this anti-Bowie theory?
Haight: Well, as it’s a lecture with a provocative title, it can’t
help being personal opinion - a persuasive attempt to change your
attitudes on Bowie specifically, and rock and roll in general. Sure, I
could talk about my detailed analysis of later-era Scientology texts
that clearly point to a Bowie-like figure corrupting the musical
language of youth, or the fever dreams I had of Bowie descending from
the sky on a fiery steed with a 666-string guitar that belched flame
and screamed of souls forever damned. Or I could just tell you to
watch Labyrinth and try not to stare at Bowie’s tights.
Express: Why are you picking on Bowie specifically?
Haight: He was at the nexus of a confluence of factors, from music to
art to culture mores, that all converged at the right time with all
the wrong repercussions. And who else is there? The Monkees?
Express: Then are you a rock music fan yourself? And if so, who do you
listen to?
Haight: Like any fan of rock music, I cast my net wide: I’m a fan of
The White Stripes, Beck, Steely Dan, Rammstein, Lindsey Buckingham,
Zombi, XTC, Metallica, Elvis Costello, The Smiths, and plenty of other
stuff that might not be considered “rock” at all. (Editor’s note:
interestingly, the aforementioned influenced-by-Bowie musician
Morrissey was frontman for The Smiths.)
Express: So if, as you claim, David Bowie is the “destroyer” of rock
and roll, then who do you think the current musicians or bands are who
could “save” rock and roll?
Haight: “Saving” rock happens on a daily basis, when someone gets
inspired enough by the tunes of yore to attempt his or her
interpretation of it. But given the accomplishments of those that have
come before, those inspirations are usually so clear and pronounced -
and the corridors of influence so narrow and corporately controlled -
that the overall impact is miniscule, a drop of flop sweat in the deep
vast well of rock history.
Express: So what kind of reactions have you been getting to your
theory so far - and what do you expect to communicate during your
lecture?
Haight: The reaction so far is minimal, just like the cultural
footprint of rock and roll in 2010. But I expect to communicate that
Bowie was the last great gasp of a true American artifact, the
greatest hero - and the worst villain in the great story of rock and
roll history.

Erick Haight’s Luncheon Lecture, “How David Bowie Killed Rock and
Roll,” will take place at noon on March 26 in NCMC’s Library
Conference Room in Petoskey. Reservations are preferred; call
231-348-6600 or email cmacinnis@ncmich.edu to reserve. Cost is $9, and
lunch is included.