Kevin Gilberts - The Shaming Of The True
You know the story; it’s been on VH1’s Behind The Music a million times. A star (insert name here) comes out of nowhere and becomes the biggest thing since sliced bread. Everyone lies to him from managers, to agents, to promoters. The people can’t get enough, and the record company continues to push the artist to the limit. Finally, the artist has had enough and takes a break, but with that, the fans move on to the next pre-made star and the industry chews you up and spits you out.
That is the premise for Kevin Gilbert's Grammy winning rock opera concept The Shaming Of The True. Johnny Virgil (our story's hero) is a true musical genius. But, he desperately wants fame and compromises his artistic vision to produce what the record companies and fans want, and ends up empty because of it. I am sure this was written while Gilbert was struggling with his own success issues. Having won a Grammy for his work with Sheryl Crow, but never really gaining attention for it must have had a great effect on his outlook. Gilbert was told time and time again he had the goods but never got to the mainstream audience. That in itself is a shame, and those people were correct, Gilbert had all the talent needed to get him to the top, but unfortunately passed away in 1996, much too young.