Rock Whiplash – “It’s Not Really Who You Think It Is!”
I’ve heard rumors about this phenomenon. It’s something I can’t quite wrap my mind around and don’t know why anyone lets it go on. The first rumblings I ever heard were last year: None of the guys in Hinder actually played on their album, excluding Austin Winkler for obvious reasons. I’m not a huge Hinder fan to begin with, but this just gave me one more excuse to dislike them. Who the hell puts out an album recorded by other musicians…and still has the balls to put their own names on it? Granted, I don’t have any proof whatsoever to prove any of this, nor do I have a Hinder album in my possession to check the credits, but I just wouldn’t put it pass them.
And while on my honeymoon, I was informed by a very good, dear friend who’s worked in the music industry for years that there is a certain VERY well known 80’s rock band who didn’t record their first album. I was in complete shock and was utterly disappointed. Although I have no hard evidence to prove this either, my friend’s word is good enough for me.
Can someone please explain to me why this happens? Why is it that perfectly capable rock stars allow other people to record their albums? It doesn’t make one ounce of sense to me. If these rock stars have to go out on tour, they have to play to a live audience. So why not play on their own album? Regardless, it does make me question the talent of these rock stars since what I hear on the album is a facade. It also makes me doubt whether or not some of my favorite albums were actually recorded by my favorite artists.
And what about the studio musicians who are responsible for these recordings? The problem is that no one will ever know it’s them. And as a musician, how could you let someone else take credit for your hard work? Sure it’s a paid gig, but is it worth it? Perhaps they gain exposure. Maybe it’s the break they need to get their foot in the record company’s door. I just don’t think I’d be able to do the same to get ahead.
Maybe someone out there who knows more about the ins and outs of the music industry can tell me more about this. Or maybe someone can dispel these horrible rumors so I can feel better about the world and regain what little faith I have left in the music industry. I know that the music industry is corrupt, but this is insane.
The only extra musician credited on Hinder’s debut “Extreme Behavior” is Robin Diaz. Cody Hanson (Hinder’s drummer) has said, on record, that Robin didn’t play on the entire disc, he did do some work but Cody did the bulk of it. Other than that, they were all present and accounted for. I’m not blowing smoke either, I know the band and the people who surround them personally. Remember the old game “telephone?” You start a story and by the time you hear it again it’s so blown out of proportion you don’t really know it’s yours…same thing here. The guys in HINDER aren’t slackers or posers, check out a live show if you need proof.
Getting paid for not working….that’s the American Dream isn’t it?
So what band is it that didn’t record their 1st album?