Weekly survey: Which music personality would you have deliver the commencement address at your graduation?
We’re well into what would normally be graduation season. Universities would be handing out degrees, colleges conferring certificates, and high schools distributing diplomas.
All the usual formalities have been shot to hell by COVID-19, of course. Untold thousands of students are cruelly being denied their chance to celebrate all those years of hard work. But what are you gonna do, right?
However, if you were to have a graduation and could have any living music personality take the podium to offer advice and inspiration, who would it be? Leave a comment below.
Thomas Dolby 100%. beyond She Blinded Me with Science, Dolby went on to continue producing music, was a successful entrepreneuer (developed ringtones for Nokia cellphones), teaches at Baltimore university, wrote two albums aboard a boat he called the Nutmeg of Consolation that had a self-sustained recording studio built in powered by wind turbines and solar panels. a most interesting personality for sure!
Off the top of my head, I’d say Dave Grohl. I think he could say something really inspiring.
I went to school in the UK where Graduation was not a thing, so don’t really get the whole excitement around it, but my choice would be Chris Thile – arguably the greatest Mandolinist ever, but unarguably one of the greatest and most passionate musicians alive today. His willingness to embrace all genres of music is inspirational. I would also love to hear how he got Rob Trujillo to perform on a Bluegrass song
In high school, would have been Skid Row (Sebastian Bach) hands down. Now that I am older and (possibly) wiser, I think Trent would have some interesting perspectives on the world. The investor in me would want to hear Bono talk about venture capital and fighting climate change. Sir Paul would be an obvious choice. But if I had to pick today, the person I would want to hear from, to inspire me to greatness, Eric Clapton.