I had an awkward relationship with grunge music in the 1990s. I listened to a lot of rap in my early teens (shout out to Public Enemy – still the greatest!) Hearing Nirvana for the first time piqued my interest, but the genre hadn’t fully hit me yet.
Bands like Green Day, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam made an impression on me over time. But it wasn’t until 1995, when I first heard Bush, that I became a grunge addict.
That might be an odd statement for those who were around back then. Bush was considered a “post-grunge” band, meaning they came along after the initial wave. Kurt Cobain had already passed on by the time these hard-rocking lads from England showed up. They received a lot of hate and suspicion for their timing.
No matter. Being introduced to songs like “Everything Zen” and “Little Things” felt life-changing. You know, that feeling when you’re young and are in awe of something. That was my “ah-ha” moment.
I purchased their debut album, “Sixteen Stone” (I still have the CD), and played it nearly every day for years. I can’t blame my friends for laughing at my obsession. There was just something about those songs. The energy, the angst. It was perfect for a 16-year-old outcast.
A Mix of Mystery and Introspection
Lead signer Gavin Rossdale is known by many for his good looks. You’ll get no argument from me. I mean, I wish I could compete in that area 😂 Oh well, I accept my limits.
However, his songwriting is what made (and kept) me listening to Bush. His lyrics are uniquely cryptic, little fragments that add up to a message or feeling.
Prisoner or passenger
“Prizefigther” by Bush
A free man or scavenger
I’m a prizefighter
I could provide plenty of other examples of odd, stream-of-consciousness lyrics. But “Prizefighter” stands out to me. It’s from “The Science of Things”, the band’s third LP.
The album came out in 1999 and looked ahead to the new century. In my mind, it’s about a future where everyone must fend for themselves. I’ll be damned if it doesn’t sound spot-on all these years later. The idea of technology tearing us apart isn’t lost on me.
Proof That You Don’t Have to Age Quietly
I also admire how Rossdale is still capable of writing great songs. It seems like the well has never run dry. The band’s lineup has changed (Rossdale is the only original member), but the songs still rock.
“More Than Machines”, from the 2022 album “The Art of Survival”, is just as relevant as anything Bush has done. And this year’s “I Beat Loneliness” would have you believe that Gavin is still in his prime.
Bush has endured, even while other bands of the era faded away or became a shell of their former glory. That counts for something.
I’ve seen the band twice in recent years, and their live show is still incredible. Rossdale still makes his way into the crowd to perform and give high-fives. He even made his way to the second level of the old Hershey Theatre. The musicianship is as sharp as ever.
I’m still a huge fan after more than 30 years. Listening to Bush makes me feel like it’s OK to be myself, that I’m allowed to admit my struggles and shortcomings. Even better, I don’t have to do it quietly.