Why bands should self-destruct after 4 years
My letter published in the new edition of Record Collector magazine (January 2023)
Dear RC
Luke Haines’column about bands having an Imperial Phase got me checking my record collection and he is right! I think some bands have extended the three years he cites by a year – think the Stones run of LPs from Beggars Banquet in ’68 to Exiles in ’72, or the Kinks going from Face To Face in ’66 to Lola in ’70. The only exception to the Four Year Rule is the Flamin Groovies whose Imperial phase runs from Flamingo in ’70 to Jumpin’ In The Night ’79. The explanation here is two separate Imperial phases – their Stones phase in 1970- 1973 and their Beatles phase 1976-79.
The logical conclusion of this approach is that bands should self-destruct no later than 4 years after they make their first great record, which would save everyone a lot of time and money.
All the best
Simon Wright
Only Rock 'n' Roll 