The Roots to Retire, Become Jimmy Fallon's House Band

Last night in Chicago The Roots announced that they will be retiring from touring EFFECTIVE March 2009. The move is being made to accommodate their new Night Gig as the house band for Jimmy Fallon when he replaces Conan O’Brien as the host of Late Night in March of 2009. Conan will be moved to the Tonight Show.

On the one hand this sucks because, despite The Roots status as the touringest group in Hip-Hop history, and despite the numerous live shows I’ve attended, I have never seen a proper live Roots performance. How is that possible? I don’t know, but I need to make sure I hit one up before March. I know it’s a temporary retirement, but if Fallon’s ratings are good, it could be a while.

This past weekend, a hip hop blog called Nah Right posted a YouTube interview with ?uestlove, a member of hip hop live band supergroup The Roots. And he said that The Roots were retiring from touring in order to become the house band for Jimmy Fallon when he takes over Conan O'Brien's late night show next year. But that video was quickly pulled, so everyone has been scrambling to find out whether this apocalyptic... thing is actually true. NBC has no official comment, but we hear that it probably is. Essaywhuman?!!!??! This is one of those things that proves you're getting old.

I've never had a group that I actually like go the late night house band route. Springsteen fans saw Max Weinberg take his act to Conan's show; and I'm sure there were some jazz heads who were flabbergasted to see their main man Kevin Eubanks signing up with Jay Leno. But The Roots? The Illadelph generals opening up for that stuttering mop-headed ball of suck, Jimmy Fallon? It's kind of tragic.

A Roots show became a staple of my life. I could mark off time by the concerts I'd see. I could strengthen relationships by taking in a night with the Roots, my friends, and my sister. I could find time for myself as I stood among strangers doing something that felt quintessentially me. I always had a bedrock foundation for whatever it was--whatever it is--that comprises what it means to be who I am. Aside from the company of some close friends, there is almost nothing that sets me at ease like a Roots show.

That's why news of a scaled back touring schedule caused my dismay. I don't want to move. I don't want to give up something so important. I hate that I am losing out to Jimmy Fallon, the least funny, least deserving "comedian" in the world. I am happy for the Roots if this is what they want, if this helps them get (more) paid, if this is good for them. But nonetheless, it's bad for me. Especially because I live in effing Missouri these days. This feels like losing friends because even if I don't always see them, I used to know that they were always there for me. Now, it will be different.

So, tell 'em why you sad, son? Well, because this is like losing a piece of me.