Fallen idols: Rock stars behaving badly
 

Have any of your idols (assuming you have idols) ever done something you found it hard to forgive them for? I'm thinking of Roger Waters not only spitting at a fan but also building The Wall onstage and gleefully remarking "Shout through THAT, you bastards!" I know this was a long time ago but it still annoys me. Didn't he realise that had those selfsame "bastards" not bought his records and gone to his concerts, that Pink Floyd would still be playing the club scene (if at all) and would never have become the world musical superpower they did? Who is he to put down the people who put him where he is?

And Van Morrison: I'm no fan of the man, and have never seen him live but I've spoken to those who have and I'm reliably informed that he often plays his entire gig facing away from the crowd. How rude is that? If I pay to see you --- especially at today's prices! --- I want to see your face. I want you to look at me. I want you to communicate with me. Sure, if Kylie or Pixie did that I'd happily send the gig watching her backside. But seriously, Van Morrison? Who wants to look at his back?

So, what do you think? Has this ever happened to you? Has your favourite act done something you were shocked by, annoyed at, disgusted at or just plain disappointed over? If they did, could you move on or did it create a rift between you that never healed? We like to think we support our favourite artistes through buying their music and attending their gigs, but shouldn't they be supporting us, at least by paying us the respect we have earned?

(Disclaimer: Of course I know not every artiste acts this way; probably a very small percentage. But it's that minority I'm talking about here...)

Why should that matter? It's odd, but I highly doubt he hates his fans so much that he can't even bear to look at them. If it's how he performs best, maybe because he's self conscious in front of a crowd, then it's silly to expect him to play in a way that might actually affect the quality of his music.

And Steven Tyler taking a fourteen year old girl out on tour is pretty scummy. He even had her parents legally name him as her guardian. ****. That.

It matters because it's disrespectful. He's hardly self-conscious; if so, he wouldn't be a rock star would he? I think it's really insulting. You go to see a star and they spend the whole night with their back to you. As you say, fuck that. Ignorant cunt.

That's terrible logic. Kurt Cobain blew his brains out because he was self-conscious. I'm sure loads of musicians are self-conscious, regardless of whether or not they're "rock stars". To say that all rock stars must not be self-conscious just because you have some notion of what a rock star is probably like is ridiculous. It lumps an entire group of wildly disparate people into one faceless, mindless mold.

How is it disrespectful to not face a crowd during a show? He must have some reason to do so. I'm sure he didn't just flip a coin one day and decide to turn his face to the crowd for the rest of his life. For him to do such an odd thing must require a pretty good reason. If his audience can't even be bothered to ask themselves why he might do something that obviously has some kind of explanation, I guess because they have some feeling of entitlement that an artist should perform only how they want them to perform, then why should he give a **** about any of you?

So this thread turns out to be a debate between the two of us eh? I've already said why I think it's disrespectful. If you're talking to someone it's only manners for them to face you. If you've paid to see someone then they should have the courtesy to face you. It's standard practice in music unless it's like a concert pianist or conductor, who will have their backs to the audience. But that's acceptable, because that's standard. In rock music generally you expect to see who's playing.

And why should he give a fuck? Cos the people he's turning his back on paid good money to see him and put him where he is, that's why. Would have thought that was obvious. I've spoken to people who have gone to see him and they agree he's an ignorant fucker. He's known for it, and the only one I know of who does that. Why they go to see him is their business. I just know if it was me, he could kiss my arse and fuck off.

Anyway, you're getting sidetracked by Morrison. I only used him as one of two examples, and wanted to know if anyone else had similar stories. Apparently not. Another Trollheart thread fails. :(

I found Sting's decision not to leave his kids a penny of his money kind of… I don't know, odd and selfish. He said he wanted them to make their own way in the world and not have his money as an "albatross". I think it will be more of an albatross in that they will be remembered as the kids who didn't get their dad's money.

haha I saw the xx live once and Jamie xx just didn't acknowledge the crowd at all. Just did his biz as if no one was there. At the end of the show the other 2 were bowing or thanking everyone or whatever and he just b-lined it to the door. tbh I thought it was good shit

I don't care if the artist is Hitler. If I like the music I'll listen to it. I'll just go out of my way to not support them. But honestly, I really don't pay any attention to the private lives of musicians so I doubt I would know how ****ty a person they are unless it was a big event everyone was talking about.

Kanye Scores 106 Points Against Wheelchair Basketball Team - The Daily Currant

I thought you were better than this, Kanye.

Same. I don't know how to reply when people ask what I think about *name famous rock star* and their new shenanigans. I might listen to all their music but I personally don't give a sh*t what they do.

On the subject of fallen idols though, wouldn't Axl Rose be one. Am I right?
Like I said, I don't care but if you do, Iv'e heard that he has done some sh***y things. Nothing that has really affected me though. Just the music.

What did Axl really do to be considered an as*hole in this day and age? Just curious.