i’ve watching vh1’s 100 greatest artists of hard rock and am bemused to see their rather expansive definition of hard rock. amidst the usual suspects, there’s a veritable who’s who of bands that used to make my parents worry that i was on a primrose path to hell.

who would have guessed then that years later artists such as bad brains, fugazi, the misfits, king crimson, primus, the pixies, husker du, anthrax, slayer, the rollins band, jane’s addiction and sonic youth would be featured on vh1?

with no hint at irony, my 14 year-old niece is perplexed as to why anyone in their right might would listen to such crap.

and wowza. i’ve got two words for you. joan jett. back in the day, i briefly contemplated dropping out of grade school, tracking her down and professing my undying love, but i decided that i needed to learn how to play the drums first.