This isn't you fathers rock band. Or is it?

Nepotism. Sucks unless you happen to be on the receiving end of some cushy job. We see it all the time around these parts. Who can forget the tragedy of John Stroger? A tragedy yes that the old man suffered a stroke, but a TRAVESTY when his son was bequeathed his job as Cook County commissioner. How that election go Todd? Todd? Beuller? And don't even get me started on Larry Dominick and the town of Cicero. If your name isn't Dominick, or close relation, you ain't working for that city. Blah, blah, blah, forget politics, let's talk where it really matters. In music.

I first became aware of the trend a number of years ago when I heard that founding AllmanBrothers member Dicky Betts was kicked out of the band and replaced by the 18 year old son of drummer Butch Trucks, Derek. Yea right, like this punk is gonna replace the legend Betts. But a funny thing happened on the way to the record store. The kid is good. No, take that back. He's phenomenal. Gotta be one of the best slide players making the circuit today. But is the Allman boy wonder the exception or the rule?

Went to see Yes this year, one of my all time favorite bands. A little disappointed that Jon Anderson wasn't singing, but here was the rest of the guys, Howe, Squire, Wakeman... "Hold the horseradish," I told myself. "Why does Wakeman look like 30 years younger than the pudgy Squire and the alien-looking Howe?" Because he is. It was not RICK Wakeman, but his son Oliver. He played all his dads riffs, right down to the mesmerizing part in Roundabout. He even had the hair. But he never did play with his toes, too bad. Well I guess they had no choice when his dad died. Umm, nice try. He's not dead. So why go with the copy when you can have the original? I have no clue.

Which brings us to the radio spot I heard for the upcoming Roger Daltry show. At least he isn't touring by himself and still calling it The Who. When Keith Moon went to the big jam in the sky, they were still The Who. Saw that tour. When John Entwistle cashed in his chips, they replaced him too, and Roger and Pete played on, as The Who. But at the end of the ad, they proclaim, "Featuring guitarist Simon Townsend." Simon. Simon? Beuller? Pete was a legend in his time. Probably for doing cocaine for as much as his windmills on stage. But his son Simon? Has he accomplished anything? And should I gush with excitement, like a freshman that has been asked to the prom by the football teams quarterback, that the guitar player running through all the licks on Tommy has the same DNA as the guy who actually wrote it? Umm, pass.

A number of years ago Bob Dylan's kid had a hit on the radio with his band The Wallflowers. Not a bad album. Hey, at least the brat did it on his own steam. But where does that leave us? Will we someday go the that long awaited Beatles reunion featuring James McCartney, Julian Lennon, Zak Starkey, and Dhani Harrison playing their famous dads hits? Something tells me people would eat that up. Not me. I'd probably just regurgitate it later.