Paul Revere's Raiders will Go On. And On and on.

This isn't the time to slam Paul Revere. After all, he just died at 76. But the slow tide of mourning, sort of like sludge hitting the beach, is a bit much. The topic is actually "Trending" on Farcebook. Awe-struck comments are filling comment sections everywhere his mug is being shown: "Did you hear about Paul Revere," and "We lost another giant..."

For the record, he was apparently a very nice guy, and he'd have to be. He couldn't exactly afford to be a prick. Not when he wasn't ever the lead singer. Like Dave Clark, he sat somewhere on stage and the cameras had to give him face time, but somebody else was the lead vocalist.

His band had even less hit singles than Clark, and maybe only one that any average 50 year-old could name or hum. For about 40 years they were an oldies act on bills with Gary Lewis and the Playboys or Jay and the Americans. My comment here is on the pathetic nature of nostalgia for guys like this:

The big swath of bubble gum that arrived and competed with The Beatles...was mostly mediocre. Most of these corny bands had one or two decent songs sung with varying skill. "This Diamond Ring" was Gary Lewis. "Kicks" was Paul Revere. "Do the Freddie" was guess who. The Guess Who did something or other. Most of them had silly names (1910 Fruitgum Company, Chocolate Watch Band) that keyed to junk food kids would swallow. "Good Lovin'" sang the Young Rascals, to teenage girls who had no idea what it meant.

At that level, it was all about how CUTE the lead singer was, and how "gear" the clothes were. Paul Revere and his costumed Raiders took it to an extreme of idiocy. Now we're supposed indulge in retro-logic, and insist he was a genius whose zeitgest (ha ha!) was to counter The Beatles' British invasion via American patriots. Something like that. That's what the shit is...as aging Baby Boomers refuse to let go of any mediocre nostalgia.

Farcebook has no shortage of "The Monkees were just as good as The Beatles" idiots, and people who post on anything and everything Micky Dolenz does. The paunchy aging Jay (a soundalike) and the Americans (maybe two are original) will still get adoring "nice" Farcebook comments: "Can't wait for you to play near me." Which I think is literal, as their fans can't leave the house without a walker and adult diapers.

The response to Paul's passing is out of proportion to the music, but that's the way it is. Nostalgia means so much. There's "shock and awe" in ANY 50's or 60's rocker dying...for those who get giddy about anything from childhood. Just say "Metal Men comics" or "Silly Putty" or "Barbie doll."

Those of us unhappily getting older, alienated from Maroon5 and rap and Viley Virus, often have no choice but to stubbornly refuse to listen to anything but our dead or dying favorites...and then to morbidly worship skeletons and pay outlandish tribute to every corpse growing cold. People still ridiculously insist "the music died" with Buddy Holly. Or they carry a torch for Elvis. And yes, like 8 year-old girls hugging their shabby dollies...they even clutch and cherish idiotic bits of the time capsule like Paul Revere and the Raiders.

I actually know people who boast about getting tickets to see The Monkees...The Rascals (no longer using Young in their name)...The Association. They are drawn to see these mediocre acts they remember...and even insist "it was a GREAT show." Because everyone's alive and the music is familiar. That's a low bar to jump over.

Christ, the Association? WHAT is there to see? A bunch of old dreadful men singing sappy harmony? Besides "Along Comes Mary" what did they do that isn't pathetic now?

Paul Revere Dick (one of the strangest real names in all of rock) was dying of cancer. He still was involved with the band and the fans for as long as he was able. Noble. But what else could he do? You carry on, trying for normality, and thinking maybe things aren't so bad. He officially changed the band's name to Paul Revere's Raiders, so fans would know not to expect him...and so the band could continue to tour no matter what. A very nice gesture.

Again, this "observation," is in no way a put-down of Paul as a person. There's a rather touching tribute to him on the band's dot.com and he was clearly fan-friendly, a super-nice classy guy with a great sense of humor. But the people who are moaning about him never met him, have no idea what his personality was, and are just reacting to costuming and music that mostly doesn't hold up but that they cling to because it was part of their youth.

Obviously, there's a need for aging boomers to go on sea cruises and see mediocre but accessible rock acts from their youth. That's the beauty of D-listers. You might not be able to afford Jagger or McCartney, but the others? They'd pose for a picture with you. They'll listen to your stupid story about "I used to play your record and make-out with my high-school fave..."

Thousands...maybe hundreds of thousands...are feeling sad today, having "lost a piece of their youth." Except that piece was long gone anyway. Many will be going to their shelves and listening to their scratchy Paul Revere singles or albums. I just won't be one of 'em, 'cause I never bought anything they did. Maybe I'm missing out. Feeling sad for lost youth is often such a sweet feeling. And you know, with fewer of these stars still alive, those kicks are getting harder to find...