Ronnie Wood has warned of the risks of technology in music, claiming “we’re losing the essence of the heartbeat.”
The legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones was recently speaking at a Q&A alongside The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Yungblud, in an event marking the launch of the new book Buddy Holly: Words Of Love.
Speaking to those in attendance, Wood raised concerns over the growing reliance on technology, especially AI, in creating music. This has become a contentious talking point within the arts world as AI becomes more prominent.
The ‘Gimme Shelter’ musician can’t seem to get no satisfaction regarding how music is created today compared to back in his day, saying: “We were throwing shit at the wall and some of it stuck.
“There’s something about the technology… I feel personally, we’re losing the heartbeat. Maybe it’s because I’m older, but there’s not much new music.”
The Rolling Stones recently won the Grammy Award for ‘Best Rock Album’ with ‘Hackney Diamonds’, beating off competition from exciting and young bands such as Fontaines DC and IDLES.
This garnered lots of criticism from within the music world, but producer of the award winning album, Andrew Watt, offered his support to the band, appearing on the podcast Rolling Stone’s Music Now, he said: “They’re 82 and 83 years old. Tell me another band ever in history that has made a latter-day album that good in their 80s, with that level of songwriting, that level of performance?”
Yungblud offered an alternative perspective to the future of rock music at the Q&A event, saying: “Modern music’s been in a strange place, but it’s exciting because it’s really, I feel it’s very democratic again.
“If you have a story to tell, you can tell it and tell it to the world. You don’t have to go through seven steps.
“The balance has never changed. I think that’s what’s really cool about rock music at the minute, and modern rock and roll music, I really feel like it’s finding it’s bounce back, and it’s becoming hysterical again and it’s exciting. It’s becoming younger again. That’s really cool.”
Last month, the Doncaster born singer-songwriter released his newest single, ‘Hello Heaven, Hello’, check out what mxdwn.co.uk had to say about it here.
Ronnie Wood, Yungblud and Roger Daltrey were promoting the new hardback copy of Buddy Holly: Words Of Love. Hitting shelves on April 8, the book documents the career and legacy of original rock ’n’ roller Buddy Holly.
It will include stories from those close to him as well as never-before-seen photography and personal items. The ‘Peggy Sue’ singer left a heavy mark on the world in his short time, being known as one of the most influential musicians ever.
He was killed in a plane crash at just 22 years of age alongside fellow musicians ‘The Big Bopper’ J.P. Richardson and 17 year-old Ritchie Valens, in what later became known as ‘The Day the Music Died.’
The hardback book will be available in stores with a RRP of £60, with proceeds from the sales benefitting Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America.
Ronnie Wood is neither the first nor the last musician to speak out against AI. Back in February, over 1,000 artists, including Damon Albarn and Kate Bush, released a silent album to protest against a planned change to AI copyright laws by the UK government. Check out what we had to say about it here on mxdwn.co.uk.
