We used to have left wing male icons – the rock stars, the punks, the Metal icons. They were tough. They were masculine. They got all the girls. They were for the common man. They fought for equal rights.

They could be sensitive.

They could be masculine.

They got into fights.

They smashed hotel rooms.

They drank.

They got rich. And they acted out.

But they also cared. They organized humanitarian aid. They stood for causes. They didn’t play Sun City. They told us about their heroes. They played in San Quentin. They let us know about injustice in the world. The taught us about Hurricane Carter and Leonard Peltier.

Young men could look up to them.

Young men could see them doing the right things.

Young men could aspire to take over the world.

And now? They are gone. They are not part of the culture. They are not part of the zeitgeist and they have been relegated to secondary citizens. They are old men who represent the establishment. They have to apologize for their excesses and pretend being a rock star wasn’t fun.

Why have young men and boys lost some of their anchors about supporting left wing causes? Maybe the decline of the male rock star has something to do with it? Maybe the decline of the male rock star was something that was anchoring men and boys into a path of justice and understanding.

Maybe I am reaching? But its definitely something to think about.