lone wolf: General Patton and his Thin White Duke

Mike Patton has perhaps one of the most versatile careers in music today. He is the modern day, new millennium David Bowie. Not since the beloved, gifted, brilliant and chameleon musings of the Thin White Duke has such a creature emerged. Patton and Bowie are definitely very different beings. Their similarities are their innate ability to create new and exciting sounds, morphing effortlessly with the times. Bowie at a healthy 62 years old has lost a bit of this ability however he is no quitter and will swagger graciously onto any stage and will command it. His discography is staggering but we all know his best work was done in the 1970's. His characters portrayed in accordance to his sound: Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, The Thin White Duke, Halloween Jack......
Patton has in my opinion one of the most amazing voices in rock history. He is able to manipulate those vocal chords into a screaming rock god to a crooner extraordinaire to a rapper to a soulful funk and operatic falsetto. He literally can do it all and has. Born in 1968, Patton is a very inspiring 41 years old. Starting out with Faith No More back in 1988 he has since become leader of the band for over 7 different groups/acts as well as solo projects (see: Mr.Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk, Loveage, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Kaada/Patton, Peeping Tom and the yet to be solidified but sounding GOOD: Crudo-http://www.myspace.com/crudo). Patton flies under the radar gracefully. He is no superstar nor does he want to be. He seems to be an artist who will never be satiated. Constantly starting new projects, never afraid to bring other artists into the fold and glean what he can off of them. Bowie did the same unabashedly. Patton's cheeky demeanor has some thinking him a bratty rocker but his rebelliousness just secures his artistic freedom.
Both men are icons. Stomping their ideas singlehandedly through the music world untouched by rules and shackles of limitations. Though 20 years apart they are in my eyes hope for the rest of the rather boring current music community. Age has nothing to do with creativity and the hunt for new ideas is the musical fountain of youth. I will always adore Bowie but listening to Mike Patton and finding new, secret projects that never cease to amaze will keep me a believer that rock is not yet dead.

Strap on your headphones, sit back and enjoy!

PATTON'S GOODS: