I am not sure what has gotten into all of these artists that have decided to go on hiatus lately.  Coldplay just announced they are taking a 3 year break.  That’s pretty random.  3 years?  Who wouldn’t like to take 3 years off?  I’m trying to find a way to justify it, but I can’t.  Tool has taken more than 5 years since the last album, partly because the members of the band are connected to other active bands, but also because time is needed to allow new life experiences to mold the feeling of the new record.  Coldplay has come out to say that they are not going to be working on anything, just a break.  Well, I don’t need 3 years off, I’ll take a month.

I just think it’s pretty arrogant of any band that is still riding the high of great sales to abandon their fans.  If the band is having problems, say so.  If you want to work on other projects, say so.  Don’t tell me you need an extended vacation.  You know who needs a vacation?  Dave Matthews AND the band.  Years and years of non stop world tours, 34 albums, festivals, and now Dreaming Tree wine.  Trent Reznor has taken breaks from NIN many times.  Each time he does, there is a beautiful released project that he’s put his hand into.  Hard to fault someone for expanding their horizons when everything they touch is worth recognition.  Maynard James Keenan started to break away from APC and Tool to start growing grapes in Arizona.  Now he literally has his hands in making wine for 2 winerys.  He’s also in the studio at night making music for Puscifer.  Last year he went on limited tours with all three bands, and I saw them all.  Dave, Maynard and Trent need time off.  But, they don’t.  They don’t because they love what they do.  The creative process makes them happy.  Playing live shows makes them happy.  Production of beautiful projects make them happy.

You can’t take time away from any creative process and expect things to not change when you return.  So many bands have great, creative writers and lead singers, that write about heartache, and pain in their lives.   Fast forward 4 years and they’re married, have kids, and don’t like to rock as hard.  It happens to the best of them, even Ozzy Osborn put out a song called Mama I’m Comin Home.  But it also goes to show how hard-core Ozzy really is, that he can bounce back into a Ozzfest or put out any music resembling his hard raw sounds from the 70′s and 80′s.  That statement alone should teach Chris Martin and company a lesson.  Play for decades, then take a 3 year vacation.

I say that if you make your living from the fans, you owe it to them to work while you can.  Peak out, and when we don’t care about you as much, call it a break and come back later with some really good shit.  But, don’t tell me you need 1,095 days off in a row.  That’s called quitting.