MI7®

You may have seen or heard the story about Elton John wanting the net shut down.

Typically that story has been so misreported and taken out of context in the UK that it has deflated a valuable point.

If you follow the link on the home page here, you will see it is Elton himself who admits he is a Luddite about technology. So even the headline on this site is a spin on his own words and has been used as a criticism of him.

The principal angst of his outburst is the dis- connection and isolation that many PC based musicians now have.

That’s something I would agree upon. Having forged so many new musical friends around the world, via sites like this, I find it sad that I can’t just drive over and have a jam and write something with some of them.

I won't deny the power a PC gives someone in creating music, but I am glad I can play the guitar a little. Take it out into the sun and sit somewhere, sit with my kids and just sing.

The plus side of the net, which Elton fails to  realise, is the opportunity of sites like You Tube.

Go and see Jerry C’s famous rendition of Canon achieving 27 notes in 2 seconds, and the see the many brilliant bedroom guitarists inspired by that and also advancing similar guitar technique.

Then alongside you will find free lessons of people wanting to share the technique of how to actually play Canon. You find some form of  tutorial for just about any instrument.

That’s a free service I wish I would have had growing up, while struggling to play the basic of tunes and spending hours trying to work it all out.

What is narrow minded of Elton is to imagine that people are not still forming bands and playing.

I have done some work recently with two 13 year old lads who are brilliant musicians. They spend every minute together trying out new technique and working on their set of covers that include Sweet Child of Mine, Boys are Back in Town and Every Breath you Take.

Recently they wrote their first tune. They are inexperienced but have unbelievable talent.  That has been helped and fostered by finding free tabs, backing tracks and lessons on the Internet and has accelerated their ability to beyond that of any adult I have seen play recently.

Tonight they will play their second gig at a local club and have secured a regular Monday night slot for the summer.   

I can professionally say that either of them could step into Elton’s band and fearlessly play a full set with him and that is directly down to the support and opportunity the Internet has given to them.

While they are also a product of the download culture, that so many older artistes despise, they also the product of a new era in musicianship. Grown from the same technology.

They can use the old and the new. They use the internet on a daily basis and yet can still stand on stage and deliver a perfect five minute guitar solo to rock tracks that are older than their parents are.  

So if someone like Elton is worried about his poor sales and the future of music , then perhaps if he and others like him, invested some cash into someone like these two kids and gave them an opportunity, then he might not be so worried about not having enough money to support his lifestyle.

Eltons album , Captain Fantastic was about two boys growing up dreaming and wanting to play music. Those dreams are still out there as with a little guidance these two guys could be really big. No thanks to Elton but their individual talent and the nasty old Internet.