Pirates and Rockers Alike

Written by Erik Redli

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Pirates vs Rockers

Pirates have become the underground favourites thanks to their unforced comeback to the popular culture. Similar zest makes the rockers do their music, regardless of what the mainstream dictates.

As you can see there is a great similarity in appearance between the pirate crew on the left and Guns n Roses on the right. Pirates and rockers have much more in common.

A Little Bit of Ambiguous Literature

Parallels can be found not only in the appearance. In an article about pirates on cracked.com I read that they were mostly "cattle hunters who hated the Spanish and decided to give up their ridiculous job". Taken out of context it can easily refer to rockers who plugged in the "Spanish" guitar and instead of labour focused on their music. Later the article goes like, "As the same foreign powers that once paid them tracked them all down and hanged", which can be a reference to the pull and push of the music industry; a once-favourite band can end up in the oblivion when the manger walks out on them in search of a new idol.

Pirates and Rockers Drinking on the Beach

In their heydays, both groups were hated by the authorities, but admired by the masses. Pirates’ lifestyles really were nothing to follow, living restlessly on a ship in exotic destinations. Similarly, many rockers like partying on the beach. Why do you thing the Beach Boys would call themselves Beach Boys long before the first episodes of Baywatch with Pamela Anderson were out? Actually, she was also married to a rocker with an image of a pirate.

Another common denominator can be the substance abuse. Some drinks would even bear their name. Pirates would drink rum and sing old seaman songs. Today, many musicians quote alcohol as a source of inspiration and can not imagine going on stage but after several shots.

Forever young

In general, their life was dangerous and in many cases resulted in premature death. Here is a very long list of musicians who died before the age of 30, including Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison.

On the other hand, those who survived had two options. Few decided to retire from the sea or touring and start family somewhere in a private mansion on the beach. But most of them would not do with such a sedentary life and continue to follow their calling. To be a pirate or a rock musician is not a profession, it is a lifestyle.