ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604050031
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
There seem to be two theories on the British rock group Bush.
One theory is that the band has sold 3 million copies of its debut album, ``Sixteen Stone,'' because the group is good.
The other theory is that the band is merely a cheap grunge knockoff of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. ``Minus the passion,'' according to Rolling Stone magazine.
Maybe in Bush's case, both theories are true.
There is no denying the band's success. It is headlining its own American tour with the Goo Goo Dolls that will stop at the Roanoke Civic Center coliseum Saturday. This week, Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale graces the cover of Rolling Stone.
And Bush has had a string of rock radio hits to support its ``Sixteen Stone'' album, including ``Glycerine,'' ``Everything Zen,'' ``Little Things'' and ``Comedown.'' It has appeared on ``Saturday Night Live,'' ``The Tonight Show'' and ``The Late Show with David Letterman.''
The band also has some heavy hitters backing it up: Producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley have worked with Elvis Costello, Madness and David Byrne of Talking Heads; record promoter Rob Kahane formerly managed British popster George Michael.
Reportedly, Bush's next album will be produced by Scott Litt, well known for his work with R.E.M.
Still, the comparisons to Nirvana and the Seattle grunge sound are undeniable.
Bush incorporates all the so-called key alternative elements into its familiar messy avalanche sound: the tried-and-tested crunch of grunge guitar, whiplash tempo changes and spoiled-brat, angst-ridden lyrics like, ``We're so bored. You're to blame.''
This has led to more than one critic calling Bush derivative at best, and pop-grunge or Seattle Lite at worst.
A chorus of fellow British bands (Elastica, Blur, Supergrass, Oasis) also have jumped on the Bush-bashing bandwagon, declaring in music magazines that they all have one thing in common: They all hate Bush.
None of this seems to bother Rossdale. ``I will not apologize for being inspired by American bands who have more passion than most English bands,'' he has said. ``If anyone thinks those comments are going to affect me the way being unemployed and having no money did, they're totally wrong.''
Perhaps this says more than anything about what Bush is all about.
Or this: Rossdale has said his favorite American phrase is, ``Here's your per diem.''
Another telling comment comes from Rob Kahane, who signed the unknown group to his Trauma/Interscope record label in 1993. ``Without question, seeing them live, I thought they were stars. The lead singer had a look which was very favorable for marketing and selling records.''
Rossdale's good looks helped get the band a mention in the ``Cute Band Alert'' section of Sassy magazine. The Los Angeles Times pointed out that Rossdale, the son of a doctor, suffers, much like Sting and Michael Hutchence of INXS before him, from PMSS: Pretty Male Singer Syndrome, which can often overshadow an artist's music and breed critical suspicion.
Rounding out the band is lead guitarist Nigel Pulsford, Dave Parsons on bass and drummer Robin Goodridge.
The band was formed in London in 1992 when the foursome was working as house painters. They also worked stints as ice-cream truck drivers and moped delivery boys. In the group's press bio, Rossdale said: ``I thought if we could paint and whistle and talk so well together, we might as well start a band.''
Most British bands carve a niche in their home country before invading America. But Bush did it the other way around. In fact, the band still is much bigger here than at home.
The group took its name from where its members lived in London, Shepherd's Bush, although Rossdale has said the name also refers to an English term for marijuana.
Rossdale doesn't really believe in punk rock attitude - at least not in a modern sense. ``Nothing can shock anymore,'' he has said. ``Punk was fighting authority in a brilliant way. Now punks are vegetarians who don't drink. It's organized anarchy.''
Nor is he a proponent of moshing. Often, at concerts, he lectures against fans who ``smash into each other.''
``While I love it when they jump around and go crazy, and I don't wanna dis that energy, I'm disturbed when they infiltrate each other's space,'' he told an interviewer recently.
He takes issue with Rolling Stone's assessment that Bush is without passion.
``We do play with passion,'' he has said. ``We believe in what we do. Certainly, we were inspired by other people, but I don't think that's a bad thing.''
Bush with the Goo Goo Dolls and No Doubt: Saturday 7:30 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center coliseum. $21. 981-1201.
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: The critics and the competition have sung a chorus ofby CNBcomplaints about Bush, but record producers see star potential.
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