What Do We Owe Bands?
Friday, July 22, 2011 at 12:01AM Do we owe our favorite rock bands anything? I mean, we buy their albums, T-shirts and concert tickets - isn't that enough?
The other day Nikki Sixx (of Motley Crue in case you stumbled upon this blog by accident) tweeted that he didn't like the crowd at a New York date of their current tour. From what I can tell, no one from Poison tweeted anything negative about the crowd. Nikki's tweet (since deleted) was basically that the crowd was lame. I assume he meant not rowdy. I'll agree it sucks to be in a crowd of people all just sitting or even staring off into space. Here lately, my biggest pet peeve is people watching an entire show... through their cell phone. So I do understand where Nikki is coming from in that regard. But is it okay for rockers to complain about paying fans from the stage... or via social media?
Nikki isn't the first rocker to rant about crowds and he won't be the last. It's hard when a band plays to a super small crowd (now I'm thinking back to Nelson at Rocklahoma a few years ago) or to crowds that get so insane it is dangerous (like when I saw Avenged Sevenfold in Columbus once and the crowd of mostly kids surged, busted the barrier and nearly took down the media area and almost ended the show), but still, performing as promised is just part of the deal. The prices of concert tickets is out of control (we've already had that discussion) so I feel like bands should be at least a little grateful for their fans that are still willing to pay to come out and see a show. And that goes for bands playing at every venue level, from the corner bar to Madison Square Garden.
I dunno. I just don't think it is very nice for any musician from any genre to complain about fans. That doesn't mean artists need to blow smoke or say "Our fans are the best!" or "This crowd is the craziest!" if it isn't true. What's that saying? If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?
Flame away.
Reader Comments (30)
Great points all, for the most part -- yes, even you, Fletch, except for the implied notion that members of the audience could be projecting their boredom onto a player's demeanor.
Gary makes a great observation that the heatwave currently engulfing the country could very well have been a factor in leading Sixx to believe the audience was behaving a bit more
lethargic than he would like.
Gary also makes the excellent point about Sixx holding some of his best stuff out for SIXX A.M. (and Leanne Rhimes, hahaha!!!) instead of ponying it up for Crue. Imagine if "Life Is Beautiful" and some of that other sh*t had originally been put out on "Saints".
Still, though, as half-assed as these guys might get sometimes, one thing you cannot escape, no matter how blasé Nikki can be or off key chipmunk Neil might sound, one thing we can't take away from them -- No matter how imperfect they might be on any given night, they, more than even the most flawless Crüe tribute band,
get that sound like no one else can -- The Sound of Motley Crüe!
p.s. Gary -- One other thing you pointed out about Fletch's experience at the show -- Is Vince really so above it all he's unable to notice an appreciative segment of the crowd?
p.s.s.t. Ms. Chrome -- Seriously? Theez boyz oughtta take a cue
from the late great Ronnie James Dio and thank their lucky stars
every night for what they do and the fans who make it possible. I, too, have heard the stories of dead audiences, but any real performer worth his or her salt should be so sure it's only about the audience. The challenge is to at least try to connect with them and wake their ass up. Only when all else fails, should they ever complain about 'em. One band that rarely has a bad show is Cheap Trick, who both Crüe and Poison cite as a major influence, BTW. Why? Because they switch up their set list every night, so much so, a lot of fans follow 'em around like The Dead, flying or driving from show to show as they never know what great tune from the vaults they might hear. Also, it duzn't hurt that Trick's fearless leader is the consummate entertainer. Now, I'm not suggesting Sixx starts running around like Satch from "The Bowery Boys" but he could take a cue from Steve Whiteman of Kix or Nielsen, dudes who are significantly older than he, and ROCK yer a*s off! Do so and it might all come back to you what audience reaction is all about!
p.s. Yo, Kenny O! Howzit, bruddah? Found another Danger Dangeresque band for ya. Check out anything off the Simon Says album, "Spin This". Amazing! Good luck finding the album, but you may be able to track it down on the net.
p.s.s.t. Hey, who's goin' to see The Poison Dolls Crüe at OutlawFest in Frederick, Maryland next Saturday? I'll be there! Brian L. -- I think you said you were goin'. Let's hoist one and, hopefully, I'll be eating my words I just put in these comments and Crüe Rocks our faces off!
You and I owe bands nothing! Technically we are all there boss deciding when and how much they get paid.
Last night I attended the Slayer/Rob Zombie show and the band Exodus opened the show. I was very excited about this as I feel Bonded by Blood is a great thrash album. Their singer kept holding his hands up in a WTF type pose because he was disappointed in crowd reaction. When he finally got everone to stand, he pointed at me, who was still sitting because I am handicapped, and flipped me off, saying F you. I am still angered by this today, the following morning.
Bands need to show more respect for thier audiences as we are the decision makers that decide their future. In this instance I did not buy the cool overpriced $40 Exodus t-shirt I was thinking about purchasing, and I took great joy in not purchasing it.
As always Slayer & Rob Zombie were amazing and my group and I made sure they got paid through the purchase of many shirts among us.
However, your original point is well taken. I enjoy going to rock concerts emmensely and although I applaud and cheer I may not always be appear to be jumping and screaming throughout the show. At times I have paid over 100 bucks to see a band, so I should get to enjoy the show how ever I see fit, as long as it is not interfering with others who also paid for a ticket.
The Rock Brigade Blogger
http://therockbrigadeblog.blogspot.com/
BricLucas@comcast.net
We can exchange #s
Vince Neil (like him or not) is in a un-win-able situation. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If he sauntered over to the section I was in, he would inevitably get shit from (tommy): "What's wrong with you? Didn't you see the chick with the big tits flashing everyone, mostly me??? Christ Almighty, you didn't even mention my roller coaster! Why am I doing this for you, asshole.(Nikki): What's wrong with you? Those bankers with VIP seating were upset because you didn't wave to them. Thanks a lot, dude! I thought you were on my side! (Mick): Why do you gotta show off? Isn't playing in front of 15,000 people good enough?
If you really want to know what "band" vince wants to be in, check out Vince Neil Band. Those guys rock way more than Niiki or Tommy. Mick, howver, still holds his own. Remember, it was Nikki, Tommy and Mick who fired Vince from the get go and he has (unfortunately) had to walk on eggshells ever since being back in the band. It must be tough to fill the shoes Nikki, et. el. wants him to fill. They are never satified. Hey, that should be a song!
fletch
Any band or musician who dogs the fans will soon find themselves without any.
Then the band comes on and does the same exact set as they have done for the past 20 shows on the tour. As evident by looking at Setlist.com. So there is a high probability of them going through the motions. Add that in with the after mentioned experience and a good show goes south.
I find myself going to fewer and fewer national shows because he seems more like a money grab that a musical experience.
Cinderella was great by the way. As was Corabi who played by himself with an acoustic.