Although today's younger generation have resources available to them more than any generation before them, it is still a chore to look back into the history of rock and roll and try to acquaint oneself with all the bands and music of yesteryear. That's why it is incumbent upon rock critics, deejays and station programmers to assist the new generation by mentioning bands from the past and playing their music. It's also helpful when current bands share their influences with their audiences. I think this is a sore point for The Fixx. Critics and deejays have dropped the ball. They have failed to sustain the reputation and song legacy of The Fixx. VH1, deejays on Satellite radio and rock critics sometimes refer to The Fixx as a one-hit wonder or as a new-wave synth band that stopped in the 80's. Other critics and deejays who know better are content in letting this erroneous characterization persist. It's really an injustice not just to the band but also to the next generation of potential fans who are missing out on their music. So how does the band reclaim their legacy? **They need to be reevaluated on a national or global scale.** They haven't yet reached this reappraisal point with the general public and rock critics but I believe their continued touring gets them closer and closer. By touring every year, playing old songs and new, they can only gain momentum and new fans. There is just no way that they can lose fans with the way they play. So their audience should build every year. **But how many years would it take before they reach critical mass word-of-mouth?** The question is: Can this breakthrough point be accelerated with some other event? Check out some of the ideas I listed below. I think some of these ideas alone or in combination could accelerate the breakthrough point of The Fixx and lead to a reappraisal by critics and public and ultimately a reclaiming of their musical legacy.
1) Playing in a worldwide concert on the order of Live8 and stealing the show
2) Writing, recording and performing the next James Bond song and then possibly getting an Oscar nod for it and playing it live at the ceremony
3) Having a highly regarded artist (eg. Jagger, Sting, Bono, Debbie Harry, Tina) publicly praising the band and then having this soundbite hitting the news wires & MTV
4) Having a current hot band (eg. Franz Ferdinand, The Killers) publicly praising the Fixx on MTV or in Rolling Stone as a signicant influence
5) Having VH1 do another program this time polling critics and fellow artists on the top unsung bands and having The Fixx place high on the list
6) Surprise billboard commentators with a solid debut on the Top 200 album chart which would generate some press
7) Having a track from new album show up on the modern rock chart alongside current bands
8) Scoring another top 40 hit (hard to do in this day of narrow radio)
9) Having some kid on American idol cover a Fixx song (odd I know but that's a huge audience exposure there--Soulful version of Secret Separation?)
10) Tina Turner puts out a new album and rerecords 'When Push Comes To Shove' off of 'Mayfly' as a scorchin' duet with Cy Curnin, complete with video too
11) Scoring a grammy nod, even if it's only for best DVD for 'Stage2'
12) Having a Time/Newsweek article praising their 9th CD and scolding rock critics for dropping the ball; Headline? "The Fixx: Right From the Start"
13) Having a rap artist heavily sample one of their songs and seeing it go to #1 with The Fixx credited as co-writers (mixed feelings about this one)
14) Having one of their songs such as "One Thing" used as the theme song to a top ten show on TV
15) Aliens land on Earth, snub Bush's attempts at a welcome and then insist on meeting only with The Fixx (okay, this one's just for levity.. or is it?)
16) Scoring the opening act gig on one the biggest tours of the year
17) Contributing a great song to a really popular blockbuster movie and having it prominently played in the film
17) Peers and critics surprise everyone by nominating The Fixx next year to the Hall of Fame. Maybe they'll choose them for their innovation over more obvious pop choices like Culture Club, Human League, Wham etc. The HoF have to nominate *someone* from the new wave era!
WAIT!! #14 is nearly achieved providing that "The Evidence" becomes a hit show and "One Thing" is made the permanent theme and not just used for current ads.
===>Any other ideas not listed that could accelerate the band to the 'breakthrough point' ????? Any ideas about the ones listed??
Hmm...unless I find a way to "take over" those stations for a day...
