Future Sounds

In keeping with the theme of this issue, we set out to get some musical predictions and/or hopes for the world some 24 years hence. The following people were among those who responded coherently to the Question. "What do you think music will be like in the year 2002?"

Phil Everly–the Everly Brothers: "I don’t think that things will change that radically. There will be alot more collecting of older music, because music has really only been collectible for the last 30 years or so, and I think the interest in preserving music will increase. Also, with the techno-logical changes, you’ll be able to master and mix your own records at home, just like we do in the studio now. That is, you'll be able to put on Elton John, but you'll be able to take the voice track out or bring the violins up ... That's the most fun really, hearing music back and being able to control all of the elements." Harvey Kubernik–head of West Coast A&R, MCA Records: "With the advent of Betamax and other home video units, there will be a dropping off in concert going. We'll all be watching tapes of Bruce Spring-steen and Todd Rundgren concerts from 1979 and 1980. Hopefully, "human being music"-that is, music made by people who aren't products of gimmickry or media campaigns-will withstand any time test. These are the people who will be able to deliver at age 20, or 60. Also, all the great rock 'n’roll people who are around should be the halftime intermission acts at sports events since we won't be able to afford to buy tickets to Rams games anymore. My final hope would be that there will be more musical participants as opposed to musical observers." Chris Darrow–multi-instrumentalist; former member of The Kaleidoscope, Linda Ronstadt Band, John Stewart Band and Leonard Cohen Band: "Let's all hope that George Jones is still playing the Palomino in 2002." Abe Daseyhill–a crank and sometime record reviewer who sits around all day, writing letters to magazines: "Music will be based purely on the sound of the universe, which is just static. That would seem to be in keeping with the trend of pop music today anyhow. So by then, people will just sit around listening to static. Also, if things keep going like they are now, people will buy records with nothing on them, and they’ll all sit around saying.’Oh, wow. . .’ " Steve Diamond– staff writer at Warner Bros. Music: "I think that the 4/4 time signature will predominate, in all areas of music" Gregg Turner–lyricist and singer for The Angry Samoans; sometime rock critic: "There are a couple of trends that I see. One is the trend of kids getting stupider and stupider and less aesthetically involved with music. The other trend, is that record industry A&R executives and all their buddies in publicity and promotion will be equally stupid and uninvolved. What that will dictate is that artist involvement, as such, will cease to exist as we know it today. All that will matter is what the industry people consider to be viable product. Musicians and writers won’t be needed. All that will be needed is a worthy factory to reproduce what's been successful.

"On the more optimistic side, what I would hope for is that there might be some sort of resurgence in music that would manifest itself in a backlash similar to what the punk movement has done, Not that it would be punk, but perhaps it would be sort of the same thing that the Velvet Underground did when they first appeared.

As to what the actual music would be like maybe instead of the usual I, IV, V progressions there would be more suspended chords or something. I don't. know, y’ know?"

Steven Bishop's answering machine: "Merry Bishmas to you, Merry Bishmas, to you…" Emmett Chapman–stick player: "I believe there are classical styles and then there are trendy ones. I look for the things that correspond to what human nature is all about."

"Musicians and the public will become more and more conversant with these values. People will behaving conversations in music, with quickly arranged pieces. In the future, music will be the domain of everybody."

"Computerized music will be important but will be kept in its proper place. The performer becomes even more valuable as technology increases. Anything that produces music has some value for people listening to it. That includes synthesizers."

John Kurnick–guitarist in-the Tommy Tedesco band. (For you non-jazz buffs, Tedesco is the slightly overweight guitarist who you occasionally glimpse in Happy Kyne's band on America 2-Night. Kurnick is thinner, and an equally adept guitarist.): "I don't have any definite ideas but I have a feeling that I can only get at by describing this low budget Italian movie that I saw on TV the other night. It was real weird. There are these two be bop horn players out there blowing in this completely deserted field, and one guy, is lying on his, back and the other guy is standing on his head.