What connection is there between solar and rock? Hmmm. Where else to go but the Internet, for a clue, on the connection.

First query: solar and rock. Top Result: Solar Power Rocks. (solarpowerrocks.com)

Second Query: solar rock concert, Top Result: Solar Rock 2011 Festival.

Here’s the Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAHrFW8OGMY

So, after looking at the top results I’m wondering who’s appropriating who here? Is the sun appropriating rock, or is rock appropriating the sun? I think it may be some of both. Music, be it rock or otherwise, is a basic human need. The sun is the same for humans and indeed almost all life as we know it. We can live without electricity but not without the sun.

Rock music’s evolution from rhythm and blues and jazz (the true american contribution to music) owes it passage through time to artists like Miles Davis who chose to electrify rather than doing things the same old way. His vision opened the eyes of people the likes of Herbie Hancock and Chick Correa.

Solar power, on the other hand, is not an american tradition, yet. What would make it so? I’ll be digging up some answers, or at least some good questions, on that very issue.

Harry Schulte
HLS