In most years, a news event like former Libertines frontman and perpetual controversy-courter Pete Doherty going to jail would grab all headlines. But it’s this exact fact that meant that it didn’t in 2011: we’ve heard, seen and read it all before already. It’s quite like the gap-filling news reports we’ve been witnessing over each bulletin this past week, where we’re seemingly supposed to be amazed that people are shopping at the Boxing Day sales. Quite a revelation that, it’s like a rockstar getting into trouble, right?! Right.
Instead our tabloid-like fix for “rock n roll antics” came courtesy of youthful LA hip-hop collective Odd Future, who went a bit mad at the Camden Crawl - treating their first UK tour as a sort of school holiday in a foreign country where they were actually able to legally drink. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? I remember our History trip to Berlin in Year 10, we left the hotel room in such a state. Pringles were everywhere: on the floor, in the bed, all over the bathroom. Tyler probably did exactly the same thing, the little hoodlum!
May saw Tyler the Creator follow up the excellent break-through hit ‘Yonkers’ with his first physical full-length ‘Goblin’ - released via XL. The album was surrounded by so much buzz that there could’ve been deemed valid grounds for Tyler to sue Hype Machine for the website stealing his newly-acquired nickname. The rap protege courted controversy over his purposely grotesque lyrical matter, which overflooded the album with obscenity and shrouded the potential he had been showing up until that point. Especially gut-churning snippets included vows to stab Bruno Mars, forcefully initiating fellatio via repeated explicit chants and having sex with a pregnant lady - what Tyler delightfully regards as a “threesome”. Very tasteful indeed, Tyler. The kind of stuff you’ll be showing to your grand kids in years to come. Or maybe not…
April also brought many bands back from the dead, just like Jesus before them. We saw the reformation of those saviours of electro-rock crossover Death From Above 1979, much to the delight of many post-teenage boys the globe over. And we also witnessed the return of one Tom Vek. Beastie Boys announced a return too, but nobody truly cared. So much so that this is probably first-hand news to you! You’re welcome.
Sadly, these months saw many a sad moment occur too - especially in the obituary pages. Soul legend Gil Scott-Heron sadly passed, but what better way to ensure his memory lives on amongst the youth of today than the brilliant Jamie XX remix album, following on from Kanye’s superb sampling skills late last year. TV On the Radio’s Gerard Smith also left a huge gap in the art-rock world with his passing, and yet you know who are sadly still here? Brother. Some may have been hopelessly optimistic when the group announced that ‘Brother is no more’. Instead they just changed their name to ‘Viva Brother’. “Viva”, of course, meaning “forever”. Oh, when will the pain and the cruelty end?
2011 will also be remembered as the last year of Glasto too, until 2013 that is. Yep, Glastonbury is taking a break during 2012 for the Olympics and shock headliner Beyonce took the torch passed on by her hubby and put on a belter of a show. All were pretty much spellbound - all but Zane Lowe that is, who expressed his dismay at her performance by refusing to declare her the “Hottest New Band On The Planet”. That is a cheap shot.
Check back for the third of DIY’s yearly news round-up later today.
Festival special! Featuring Wolf Alice, Kasabian, Lykke Li, Marmozets, Genesis Owusu and more.