The Ongoing History of New Music Encore Presentation: 10 Terrible Career Moves

Ah, the career-limiting move. Coming to work drunk or high. The use of the “reply all” button at an inappropriate time. Getting as mad as hell and swearing not to take it anymore when you were just having a bad day. A leap to a new job only to discover that it’s much worse than the old one.

Everyone has regrets. Coke would like a re-do on New Coke. Ford’s Edsel. Mars refusing to allow M&Ms in ET thereby handing the gig to Reese’s Pieces. The invasion of Iraq.

Then there are the dumb moves that have been made by music types. Decca turning down the Beatles. Everyone but Sub Pop turning down Nirvana. Anything Sinead O’Connor has done since 1992.

This week’s show will highlight ten terrible career moves, some transitory, some damaging and some fatal. Consider these cautionary tales.

Songs from this episode:

Lou Reed, Metal Machine Music

Elvis Costello, Accidents Will Happen

New Order, Temptation

Clash, Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Dee Dee Ramone, Funky Man

Nirvana, Do You Love Me?

Sinead O’Connor, War

Happy Monday, Stinkin’ Thinkin’

Queens of the Stone Age, No One Knows

Chris Cornell, Long Gone

Officially playlister Eric Wilhite provides this. Feel free to skip track one after about 10 seconds. You’ll get the gist.

Don’t forget that you can get the podcast version of this podcast through iTunes or wherever you get your on-demand audio.

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on the following stations:

We’re still looking for more affiliates in Calgary, Kamloops, Kelowna, Regina, Saskatoon, Brandon, Windsor,  Montreal, Charlottetown, Moncton, Fredericton, and St John’s and anywhere else with a transmitter. If you’re in any of those markets and you want the show, lemme know and I’ll see what I can do.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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