What synchronicity or coincidence or something! While I was writing the first draft, my stream was playing Concrete Blonde’s tribute song to the legendary band “Roxy.” Plus Concrete Blonde had one of the (many) former Roxy drummers in their lineup in the Eighties or Nineties.
I caught the news amongst the sad announcement about Andy Griffith’s passing. About damned time was my stance. Roxy Music is most famous for launching Brian Eno’s career but I would say it didn’t harm Bryan Ferry, Andy McKay or Phil Manzanera’s.
My first encounter with them was through MTV showing the video for “More Than This.” I thought man these guys are pretty cool, why haven’t I heard of them? The VJ blathered about their history and then came the devastating blow…the song was played because Roxy Music was no more.
Spin‘s debut issue in 1985 rekindled my interest due to U2 and Duran Duran (in separate articles) mentioned Roxy’s influence on their material. I had to figure out what was the appeal and being a teenager, I’m sure I followed the “logic” of coolness by association; if my favorites like X, then it must be good.
The Roxy connection continued into college the night I scored a used copy of Split Enz’s Mental Notes at a record store. There was guitarist Phil Manzanera in the credits as the producer. Years later I learned Phil discovered the New Zealand act when Roxy Music toured through the little nation in the mid Seventies.
This boxed set would be perfect if it contained a proper tribute CD with bands who were influenced or remain enamored of Roxy Music. Several years ago Scissor Sister’s covered “Do the Strand” and I remember Concrete Blonde performing “When You Smile” during their 1993 farewell tour. I’m confident it’ll be more even than the disappointing Led Zeppelin and Queen tributes. Roxy’s following is smaller and less likely to draw in the flavor-of-the-month acts the previous albums received.