Where did all the sax players go?
I recently had reason to reflect on a selection of 80's music whilst trapped in a never-ending taxi ride. The music of my youth was playing and it occurred to me that one of the important features of 80's music has all but disappeared from today's music scene.
I'll give you some examples...
The crush-worthy Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet:
Australia's very own "I'm lucky I ended up in this band or I would never have scored Deni Hines" Kirk Pengilly:
James Valentine from the Models, now a serious ABC journalist/presenter type:
The dude from Dire Straits:
The dude who played with Hall & Oates (who, readers, was actually the epitome of 1985 cool with a sax, a mullet and a shiny jacket natch)
This list is not complete of course. We should mention the other great forgotten saxophonists including from Australian Crawl, Wang Chung, Men Without Hats, Psychedelic Furs, Was (Not Was) (personal faves of Ms Batville) and the boys who played along with Alison Moyet and Sade.
These days there is nary a saxophone player in sight. I don't much mind this but I do worry for all those Gen X saxophonists who took up the instrument inspired by young Billy Hicks (played by the very chiseled cheekbones of a pre Sam Seaborn Rob Lowe) in the all time classic 80's film St Elmo's Fire. I related to the Mare Winnngham character (whose name was, would you believe, Wendy Beamish!!) when she fell head over heels for Billy. I'm sure many impressionable young boys and girls thought similarly and begged their parents for an instrument so they could look this cool:
Where are they now? Is their beloved sax sitting in a dusty cupboard somewhere with their dreams of stardom shattered, or are they out at the Burvale on a Friday night blasting away tunelessly while they recreate retro classics to a roomful of drunk and nostalgic punters?
I wonder....
I'll give you some examples...
The crush-worthy Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet:
Australia's very own "I'm lucky I ended up in this band or I would never have scored Deni Hines" Kirk Pengilly:
James Valentine from the Models, now a serious ABC journalist/presenter type:
The dude from Dire Straits:
The dude who played with Hall & Oates (who, readers, was actually the epitome of 1985 cool with a sax, a mullet and a shiny jacket natch)
This list is not complete of course. We should mention the other great forgotten saxophonists including from Australian Crawl, Wang Chung, Men Without Hats, Psychedelic Furs, Was (Not Was) (personal faves of Ms Batville) and the boys who played along with Alison Moyet and Sade.
These days there is nary a saxophone player in sight. I don't much mind this but I do worry for all those Gen X saxophonists who took up the instrument inspired by young Billy Hicks (played by the very chiseled cheekbones of a pre Sam Seaborn Rob Lowe) in the all time classic 80's film St Elmo's Fire. I related to the Mare Winnngham character (whose name was, would you believe, Wendy Beamish!!) when she fell head over heels for Billy. I'm sure many impressionable young boys and girls thought similarly and begged their parents for an instrument so they could look this cool:
Where are they now? Is their beloved sax sitting in a dusty cupboard somewhere with their dreams of stardom shattered, or are they out at the Burvale on a Friday night blasting away tunelessly while they recreate retro classics to a roomful of drunk and nostalgic punters?
I wonder....
6 comments:
hey ms batville thanks for your visit over at mine.
re the sax players, i for one am glad they are gone. i always found the sax player annoying and intrusive. especially kirk pengilly. so annoying. you know that when a band has a sax player, there is going to be a sax section, like a drum solo. it's guaranteed, always there, like it's written into their contract or something. so then every song gets that sound. and to me it's very '80s.
and they're so posey. the way they put one leg forward.
god, sorry if you're a sax player and you put one leg forward!
I think Kenny G. was the final nail in the coffin.
Is that really James Valentine!? Good heavens! ... a long way from OUt of mind Out of Sight...
On another topic: I wonder if you wouldn't mind answering a couple of questions I have about your remark about Kath and Kim (on your flight home) in a previous post... I'm writing an article about them, and the phenomenon for The Age and am looking for a range of views..... I can be emailed at stephaniewood17@yahoo.com.au
Look forward to hearing from you.
best
S
Oh no, I have to disagree with MG, the world no longer makes sense, up is down, east is west etc
I don't miss all sax players, but Rob Lowe was frankly hilarious in St Elmo's and Dire Straits' "Latest Trick" still gives me chills every time I hear it.
Also, if MG dislikes posey wannabe 80s rockgods, then I'm am deeply relieved that she has never seen me on stage.
And, in conclusion, famous saxophonists of the blogosphere include Ms Fits.
I love the sax player! Love! Adore! Cherish!
I will always have a place deep within my bosom for the gorgeous brass of a bouffant tightpants boy who gives great sax.
Always.
The only reason you think those sax players even mattered was because you only listen to pop music and the radio. 99% of all sax players get motivated by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderely, Micheal Breacker, Branford Marsalis etc etc not the guys from 80's radio bands.
Besides what would bands like Chicago, TOP, Blood Sweat & Tears, Steely Dan be without horn sections? Boring that's what.
Keep thinking you know anything about music it's funny.
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