On Wed, Sep 17, 2003 at 12:24:01PM -0400, Loki Ambrodious von Esling wrote:
Please, you have such a one-sided negative view of the US and world that I don't think you have the right to explain why artists do such things. It isn't about "educating the masses." It's purely about what a particular artist's views are currently focused on. I don't think anyone would would become a fan of McCartney simply based on the whole veganism thing. One might be inclined to be a fan of what he says, but not the MUSIC.
An exception: Christian Rock. People listen to christian rock because of the message. IMHO noone who likes rock would choose xtian rock over proper music if they were judging it solely by the music. Xtian rock bands only have followers because they are "approved of" by the church and/or religious leaders.
Whoever said it originally is right, I don't listen to a particular aritist to get lectured. I don't want to be critizied for what I believe, nor do I want to be lumped into a catagory of what a particular group of "fans" is.
Exceptions: Xtian rock fans.
I think a large instance of a musical artist annoyingly going beyond the boundries of such a thing is KMFDM. Sascha Konietzko's band has always had a political slant over its 20some year history. Originally though, their message has been along the lines of a dadaist kind of attitude of "lets get together to work things out." However, the latest album, titled "WWIII" is basicly one huge personal attack against the current US administration. The sound has de-evolved into quite boring heavy palm muted rock music with electronics as well. The band is basicly abandoning a large fanbase as well by trying to establish a one-sided view as well. Recently the "news" updates to the website (kmfdm.com) have mostly consisted of more and more personal attacks on the president, the Catholic church, and other things. Mind you this is a website about a band where people to go to find information about the music, not to find what's the latest rant in the tin-foil hat community.
So *you* say. Can you speak for all the fans?
I guess what i'm trying to say is it's one thing to express one's opinions about a particular issue in thier music, but it's another thing to basicly change the focus of their project into slamming whatever's the hot topic and expecting the fanbase to just accept it and agree.
Don't like it? Stop buying their records. If they can't support themselves because the fans abandon them, they'll either shut up and go back to making the "right" sort of music, or stop making music and carry on the politics. Or disappear into obscurity. I am glad some of the musicians and artists that interest me also have the courage and conviction to speak out on subjects they believe in. But that's just my preference. jon -- "A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices." - William James