Country Star Clay Walker Rips ‘Outdated Rock ‘n’ Rollers’ for Going Country

[That 70s Guy]

ultimateclassicrock.com



Classic Rock artists crossing over into different genres of music is by no means a new phenomenon. Neil Young infamously took on electronic synthesizer music in the ’80s, Aerosmith dabbled in hip-hop in the ’90s and Bob Dylan has lately taken to recording standards dating back to the ’30s and ’40s.

But to country artist Clay Walker, the recent trend of older rock stars dabbling in his musical backyard seems utterly abhorrent.

In an interview with the Modesto Bee, Walker revealed his deep displeasure with that particular pastiche. “We’ve seen the sound of country music go through a radical change,” the singer said. “I can’t stand to see outdated rock ‘n’ rollers coming in to play country music. That really pissed me off. We have great singers, great country musicians. There’s no reason we have to dilute it by letting people in the format that don’t have any business being in the format.”

While Walker doesn’t go on to name any specific offenders, one of the more prominent rockers to crossover lately is Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, whose debut solo album will dip fully into the country pool.

“I grew up with the Everly Brothers,” Tyler said last year. “There’s a piece of me that just loves country so much. And I’m not sure what kind of country that is, but it’s got the fifth harmony, and anyone who knows who the Everly Brothers is — it’s those kinds of melodies that are just so, so good.”

There’s no release date set yet for Tyler’s album, but the first single, “Love Is Your Name,” came out last week. And even though Walker may not care too much for it, the song has already managed to crack the Top 40 country airplay chart.


Read More: Country Star Clay Walker Rips 'Outdated Rock 'n' Rollers' for Going Country | Country Star Clay Walker Rips 'Outdated Rock 'n' Rollers' for Going Country

 

[Phil B.]

I don't really consider Tyler a C&W performer, but I won't deny his ability to sell an audience.

“I can’t stand to see outdated rock ‘n’ rollers coming in to play country music. That really pissed me off. We have great singers, great country musicians. There’s no reason we have to dilute it by letting people in the format that don’t have any business being in the format.”

I understand what he is saying, but this quote really makes him appear to be an arrogant and elitist kinda guy. I mean, who made him the "gatekeeper" of who "gets in" to his little club?

 

[AboutAGirl]

He's worried about his job security! Can't blame him.

If they want to throw barbs, those washed up rock n rollers could complain about today's country stars basically encroaching on the cock rock of the Bon Jovi crowd in the first place. Country music didn't always sound like this, now did it? Compare country from '95 to 2015 and you're going to hear a whole lot more rock 'n roll in that sound.

When someone like Steven Tyler jumps to country it's not as much about a sound change as it is merely about putting what he already was going to do, into the most logical modern category. Today "rock" isn't the word for what Tyler would be doing, on the contemporary market. That's the secret reason why we have so many rockers playing "country" now. That's the category they'll actually be able to sell to, in the current market.

What used to be called alternative rock is now what's consider the "regular" rock, the post-grunge "buzz ballad" style material. And what is considered the "alternative" vein today is the indie rock, your Walk the Moons and Mumford & Sons. Look at the Grammys. In what world did the drummer of Nirvana become the bastion of "regular" rock music? The Foos don't get nominated in the alternative categories, they get nominated in the rock categories. Grunge isn't alternative enough for the alternative category? Not anymore it isn't.

Basically these two groups ("regular" rock and modern country) have been independently edging closer to each other for a couple of decades. Too late now for either side to complain, you've ended up in bed together and there's nothing you can do about it. I get that country music is a very cliquey circle what with your Nashville crowds and what have you. Too ****in' bad, better learn to live with it.

 

[Mr. Bob Dobolina]

Hey Clay, there wouldn't be so many "outdated rock 'n' rollers" going country if there wasn't an audience for it. If you don't like it, talk to the fans that keep buying it.

 

[JimJam]

Tyler should record a countrified arrangement of Aerosmith's "Crazy." Acoustic and steel pedal guitars, maybe a fiddle, and you'd have it. I think it would work well, with the bonus that it would piss off Clay.

 

[AboutAGirl]

Hey, that reminds me... Garth Brooks does the Aerosmith song 'The Fever' at basically every single show.



The original to compare



I prefer Garth's version tbh.

 

[Soot and Stars]

Country has pretty much merged to be as much of a Pop genre as Pop itself so I think it only made sense for Hootie and other Pop Rockers to take the genre up for new found success.

 

[~Banshee~]

Hmmm so artists have "no business" trying a different genre of music...wonder if he feels as strongly about the country stars who have been crossing over into the pop world. The "diluting" of country music has been going on for years and certainly not just by rock stars.