It's Only Rock 'n Roll, But I Like It.

This morning I watched The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts on HBO. It was 4 hours of epic. I was thoroughly entertained. There were many excellent performances by many excellent performers. You know it is going to be good when U2 is singing Gimme Shelter with Mick Jagger, Fergie, and Will.i.am. When Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel are belting out Born To Run it makes for great music.

I think one of my favourite performances was Metallica singing Sweet Jane with Lou Reed. This performance highlights to me what music is all about.

I'm sure most people today know who Metallica is. They are the best at what they do. If you don't know what they do, they play heavy music. Really heavy music. I have seen them twice and they are amazing performers.

Some of you may not know who Lou Reed is. He was the force behind the late 60's early 70's New York band The Velvet Underground. I know that may not help all of you. Without going into too much detail, this band is one of those bands that influenced everyone to come after them even though they never really sold any records.

So you may be wondering why I like this performance so much. When you watch it there are a couple of things that I noticed.

First and most obviously, this is not the style of music Metallica plays. For a band that has albums called 'Kill Em All' (only because their record company would not let them call it 'Metal Up Your Ass', and 'Death Magnetic,' who sing songs about nightmares and death, this is a rather poppy song. Watching James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett smile and bop along as they play is quite different from how they normally project themselves. It shows that they are true fans of all music, not just the type they play.

Second, you can see that the band members truly respect and admire Lou Reed. The genuine looks of amazement on their faces as they play with him in Madison Square Garden, is refreshing. Remember, Metallica is the best in the world at what they do and they are the ones in awe. It shows a human side to them.

Third, this is a cool song, it always has been and it always will be. It is one of those songs that will never go away. You probably won't hear it every day but it will keep on coming back.

Stuff like this is plastered all over this concert. Watching the greats be truly in awe of each other reminds me of why so many people like music so much. Music is the background and foreground to our lives. It is everywhere and enjoyed by everyone. For some it is their great passion while others it is their companion. It brings people together and produces a commonality that is rarely enjoyed.

If you are a fan of music you should take the time and sit down and watch this concert. It is worth your time and your effort. When you get a chance look up some of the music you don't know, there are probably some real gems out there just waiting to be discovered.