I wouldn't sing in front of an audience but before I go to a show I'll practice Longview on the guitar because I'm not missing an opportunity to play on stage with my favorite band. Maybe I'll fuck up but the experience still will be worth it. It's great they do it and I'm sure everyone who got up on the stage enjoyed it as selfishly as I would no matter how bad they were.
I collect tapes, but I never pay more than a dollar for them. If anything they're just a novelty for me. So I really don't understand why the hell they're making a huge comeback. They're not convenient or even have great audio quality. So I totally agree with you they suck unless you just want it for a collection. I don't even plan to pull out a walkman and carry around a bunch of tapes to listen to. I just don't friggin get it.
Not strictly 'news' but an interesting thread here about Billie Joe's vocal range
http://therangeplace.forummotions.com/t3050-billie-joe-armstrong?highlight=billie
I agree, I lived through tapes already in the 80's and they sucked then, and they suck now. They don't last, they don't sound good, and the machines chewed them up. Now vinyl on the other hand is superior. I bought American Idiot on vinyl in December and it sounds glorious! It is like hearing it new again.
Yes tapes SUCK.