Clapton doesn't bother me as much as some other's over the years. At least Clapton pays homage to the roots of the music. To me there's a fundamental difference in semantics here. Some folks confuse "overated" or "overhyped" with "lame". Wayne Newton and Paul Anka aren't overated, they're just lame. New Kids on the Block, N'Synch and The Butt Street Boys weren't overated just over hyped and lame.

In my lexicon overated are performers or artists that brew up their own special brand of narcisstic (sp) Kool Aid and then try and sell it to you. I've a little list of my own.

1. Eddie Van Halen - Never since Jimmy Page has there been a more puffed up, self absorbed, self indulgent guitar player. He single handedly ruined an entire generation of guitar players turning them into grandstanding pick weilding noodlers. Then the bastard has the nerve to turn his back on his audience so that other erstwhile hacks can't steal his special noodling technique. I loathe guitar players like him with every fibre of my being.

2. Lynrd Skynrd - I remember when these guys burst on the scene over 30 years ago. The original Poster boys for Southern Pride, predjudice and pomposity. 20 minute double guitar solo's at paint peeling decible levels with all the feel of toaster oven. And a propensity for stating the obvious. For all those who say "they weren't racists" I say bull****. In "Sweet Home Selling Chicken" they made it clear that they loved Governor George Wallace and all he stood for, with a clear concience. Sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade. Still I do love some of their tunes. "I know a Little", "You Got That Right" and a couple of others are song's I've played with friends and enjoyed.

3. P' Diddy - Take all I've written about Skynrd and subtract the ability to play any instrument at all. This guy's not worthy to carry Chuck D's dirty jock. A complete mimic with questionable poetic ability and no stage presence at all. He single handedly represents all the worst elements Pop/Hip Hop. Final nail? His personal brand of champagne. Are you chittin' me?

4. Madonna - As a musician/artist she's an abomination. The only thing separating her from Tittany Spears is that she has a brain and an uncanny ability to re-invent herself on a regular basis. She is the first woman in my lifetime to so thoroughly manipulate the medium and the media to her own ends. Now if only that end were listenable music we'd have something.

5. The Beatles - I know I'll catch hell for this and would never post this in Rave Recs but I loathe the Liverpool God making machine that is Beatle Worship. Lennon and Sir Paul were two of the finest song writers ever produced., but they are NOT the ONLY ones. The wrote GREAT pop tunes before discovering acid and some interesting songs once they had their minds expanded but I for one don't buy them as the Alpha/Omega of popular music like many do. As I've stated previoulsy I hear more of James Browns influence in popular music than theirs and never found them to be all that relevant once their time was done.

Well that's my list, let the games begin.

Da Worfster