Steve Erickson Quotes

I think right now, you've seen these artists pop up over the last decade who've flirted with branching together a lot of different kinds of music. Some of them have been huge, and sold millions of records. And I think over time it's become a little bit of what the industry can be.

America is tough for rock music. Rock n' roll used to be the main music for the youth, and it's not so much anymore. It's hip-hop and stuff.

I used to go to Bourbon Street when I was a kid and there would be club after club after club of people who were around when the music started. I mean these are legendary, maybe not so well known, but legendary musicians.

I was born at the beginning of rock and roll. I got to experience the entire evolution of popular rock and roll music even before it started.

When I was 16, I was in Boston and some friends said, 'You want to go to New York?,' I went with my roommate... These guys said, 'We're going to this club. Just don't go in the washroom.' It was CBGB. I had no idea what it was or the history of all the music. All I knew was this was my first 21-and-over club and I managed to get in!

I think the thing that L.A. had on Sydney is an awesome music scene, especially for what I do.

Have you listened to the radio lately? Have you heard the canned, frozen and processed product being dished up to the world as American popular music today?

Pop music has progressed.

Most of my friends are from the music scene.

Where I come from it was really unheard of to be at a party and someone says, 'What kind of music do you make?', and you say, 'Pop music.' You may as well have 'I'm not cool' stamped on your forehead.

I'm not a DJ - I don't know how to scratch or mix records, but I know how to party, and I know music. I grew up in Philly; it's a very musical city. My house was full of music.

Music isn't like news, where it's what happened five minutes ago or even 10 seconds ago that matters. With music, a song from the 1960s could be as relevant to someone today as the latest Ke$ha song.

If you don't know the blues... there's no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music.

But I knew - in the old days, if a song was a good song, I don't care if it was 'Yellow Submarine' or, you know, or 'The Times They Are a-Changin' or 'Don't Be Cruel', you knew it, you know? You heard that song, and you were talking about it, and you knew it.

I was raised on pop music.

I was a big music fan, but I never bought a bunch of records or was very educated, I guess, on who was who or what was what.

I think we as a band, as individuals, understand that all popular music stems from blues and jazz and even pop, but rock 'n' roll especially comes from blues.

Pop music I have always loved best. But the more extreme, fascist-led examples of the music business I tend to detest the most.

I think celebrity culture and sexuality in pop music is really important, but I want there to be an alternative for people.

I figured as long as the music stayed hot and important and good, that there would always be a reason for 'Soul Train.'

We are living in a time when American popular music is finally being recognized as one of our most successful exports. The demand is huge.

I listened to a lot of bands that were happening at the time, but no one in particular.

No, I'm sure that there's a lot of L.A. bands out there.

Pop changes week to week, month to month. But great music is like literature.

The whole American pop culture started in Philadelphia with 'American Bandstand' and the music that came out of that city.