Further to yesterday's post regarding Orwell's influence on rock, I can't leave the topic without discussing it in terms of Radiohead. I don't think it's too much to say that there's probably never been a band that owes so much to a writer. From their album art (which, because of the integrative process by which it's created - i.e. at the same time and place as the music - adds great layers of meaning to the albums) to their lyrics (which consider themes of mind control and the individual versus faceless power structures) to the music (which often sounds like it's made by a synthesis of man and machine), the single most descriptive word for all of it is probably "Orwellian". Which is fine. The issues that Orwell raised in his incredibly sophisticated fictions are front and center in our time, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. And knowing their importance, the fact that he inspired the most important rock artists of the 21st century isn't really a surprise. Here's "2+2=5": (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lln2tSRuk_Q)

Aside from Shakespeare, no writer has had more of an influence on rock and roll than George Orwell. The primary reason for this, I believe, is the matter of subject and tone. Because as rock has entered into a more technologically-driven age, the music has gradually moved from having social origins and intentions toward an emphasis on isolation, power relations and paranoia. Of course, 1984 is the work that deals with these things most apparently, and it's also the one that has inspired the most allusions in terms of lyrics, song titles, and a little trickier to prove, world-views. This all came to me the other evening, as I was listening to David Bowie's classic, Diamond Dogs (1974), which was at least partially written with the intention of creating a stage production based on the novel. And although that didn't happen (and it would have been cool), we do have the amazing three songs that take their titles directly: "We Are the Dead" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUflIrTSwK8&feature=related), "1984" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KByxC7B9WH0&feature=related), "Big Brother" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EOlZyD26T4&feature=related).