True Fan?

Are you not a true fan if you like to hear your favorite band play their hits during a live show? Last night during Eddie Trunk Live, Eddie was chatting with Cinderella frontman Tom Keifer. Tom was talking about liking to play more obscure tunes once in awhile. Eddie then said… “I’m a true fan. I don’t like when bands play the hits.”

I about puked.

Seriously? Just because I like to hear the hits during a concert doesn’t make me any less of a fan. I’ll tell you one thing: I'd love for Motley Crue to play “Danger” but I know it won’t happen. By common economic principles, they need to play songs that charted, and that’s o.k. I’d be pissed if Motley decided to skip “Dr. Feelgood” or “Girls, Girls, Girls.” There’s a reason why those type of songs typically became hits in the first place: it’s because they’re damn good.

That said, I do love it when bands play an obscure track or two during live sets. It’s fun to see “die hard” fans go crazy, but I’ll admit these lesser known songs typically take a toll on crowd energy. Van Halen is a good example of this. Everyone and her sister knows “Runnin’ With the Devil” and a Van Halen concert wouldn’t be the same without the track. I can’t say the same for “Atomic Punk.” Yes, both tracks are on the same 1978 debut release, but one is played constantly on classic rock radio and the other…not so much. I saw Van Halen twice on their 2007/2008 reunion tour and both times, the fans went bonkers during the famous bass beginning of “Runnin.’” Not exactly the same scenario for “Atomic Punk.”

Does this mean those fans who were a little less interested in “Atomic Punk” were not true blue to Van Halen? Absolutely not. The next time you go to a show, look around. There will inevitably be someone who can sing every lyric of every song regardless of popularity. All the same, there will be someone who doesn’t know many songs at all. Each person still paid price of admission.

What do you think? Are you not a "true fan" if you like to hear the hits live? 

Comments

[Rob Rockitt]

Ok so sue me. I hate to admit that Michael Bolton was once a member of UFO. I don't think a whole lot of people cared about those first two albums. Most of UFO's hits were written with Michael Schenker in the band.

My point was, how can Eddie Trunk be a massive UFO fan, and not know that Michael has a new CD out??

It doesn't make sense.

[tommydahl]

ok ok ok i dont know when new songs come out crue, aerosmith always play hits kiss is loaded i heard a new jackel song today on bubba the love sponge show 102.5 fm out of tampa didnt know they still together// allyson has help me find my roots thank you /// ? i hate dokken love poison really dont know if im going to see them what ya'all think seen poison 8 times i can miss these one right i really hate dokken

[Rob Rockitt]

Tommy...go on a beer run during the Dokken show if you hate them that much....lol. I understand they still sound pretty good live, at least that is what I am told. I haven't seen Dokken for a while.

[Randy]

Bands have to play the "hits". True fans are o.k. with that. But, True Fans are better with the obscure tunes.

So, No - you are not a true fan if you want to hear only the hits.

Yes, you are a true fan if the obscure tune is not really "obscure" to you.

I get more excited for the non-hits. So, I'm a true fan, if you're not- Fuck Off!!!

heh, heh...

[Randy]

By the way...

Eddie Trunk Sucks!

There is a reason radio people hate him.

Suck Ace's cock all you want Eddie. Good Boy...

[just_jeepin]

I can't believe there's so many Eddie Trunk haters... his show is the ONLY reason I still have XM!

[Kenny Ozz]

While I agree that Eddie Trunk is, in fact, a huge tool, I kind of agree with his general sentiment. I will give you a good example... As much as I absolutely LOVE Poison, im SOOOO tired of hearing songs like Unskinny Bop and Your momma dont dance. Bands have HUGE catalogs and continue to play the same songs over and over. As a musician, I dont get it. Poison should bust out some stuff off of Crack a Smile "their BEST record".. That is if CC can even play it.

[Rob Rockitt]

I must admit that I don't hate Eddie. I would trade jobs with him in a heartbeat. He certainly gets to meet a lot of cool people, and he is doing his part to try to keep this music scene alive. He just needs a couple of people to help keep him up to date with some of the acts out there.

[Mike]

Any given band who is making music for a living is a "commercial" band. Like it or not. Even if they are not getting major radio airplay they know exactly what demographic is purchasing the music and buying concert tickets. These are the people they need to please to ensure their continued "commercial" success. Sometimes that means skewing the setlist with 20 year old hits and sometimes that means playing new songs instead of the ones that may have launched their career in the first place. With some of these bands that have been around for awhile, like say Aerosmith... There is a need to please multiple demographics... the diehard early fans and the ones that hopped on later in their career.
I guess what I'm getting at is... it is a slippery slope when a band alienates its diehard following in order to please the wagon jumpers (Def Leppard). Because then you are banking on the trends, and trends are like fads which come and go... just like fans who are there only to hear the "hits"

[Valentine]

Rob: Busted. :)

Money talks, everyone grows up, and unless you're on a level like the Stones and really can play whatever the hell you want, you're at the mercy of the label - not even the public.
Yeah, *I* want to hear the more obscure cuts - unless they totally suck (cough - most of theatre of pain - cough) but I understand that it's the hits that keeps bands plugging along.

Well, that and cocaine but that's another story.

[Drumbashing]

I think a true fan is the one who directly throw him/herself to the concert atmosphere and go along for the ride, whether in appreciating any less popular songs belted out by their fave group in a concert or sing the loudest when the hits are played.

I mean, come on, we go to a concert to have fun, right ?