Sorry, just can't go there

Is there any artist whose music, in your own personal view, has been permanently tainted by his/her/their personal lives or behavior? I'm talking about an artist who's created music of quality and distinction, but whose past just makes it too hard for you to enjoy that music.

---

Hoip's comment about appreciating Claudine Longet's music made me think of this topic.

As a kid I liked The Doors. I loved keyboards, and Manzarek was talented. Once I read the excepts from "No One Here Gets Out Alive" that TP published, I could no longer listen to The Doors. Morrison was too big of a creep.



Former TP subscriber [81, 82, 83, 84]

[postpunkmonk.com]
For further rumination on the Fresh New Sound of Yesterday®

Boyd Rice, the Moon Lay Hidden Beneath a Cloud and any other rumored neo-Nazis.

Gary Glitter

Ted Nugent, not that I'd listen to him anyway. But he's a pretty repugnant human being in every way a human being can be repugnant.

Ha, I've had the Manson album (and some Claudine Longet) for years. You're not missing much - it's mostly pretty awful, except for "Cease To Exist," a song so good, the Beach Boys ripped it off.

I knew nothing about Claudine Longet when I started buying her albums (99 cents, in thrift stores.) They were very comforting. Then a friend told me about her and Spyder. I don't believe it!

It's odd how some things bother me, like Gary Glitter (yech), who I used to like, but not, say, Ms. Longet. Or Leadbelly. They just don't strike me as bad, or even creepy people.

Would it make me any less human if I was dying (pun intended) to hear what that Manson Family album, LIE, sounded like?

I'm going to take GG Allin on this one.

And Gary Glitter.

Not that I would have been a big fan of their music otherwise.

Also, I can't listen to Sonic Youth without thinking, "Thurston is kind of a douche." But that hasn't completely ruined Sonic Youth for me.



Post Edited (01-15-15 15:54)

You've got me wondering whether we'd have anything at all left to listen to if we erased all the music in the world except that which was made by people who behaved admirably all the time.

Edited to add:

As far as Claudine Longet goes, I'd much rather listen to Astrud Gilberto.

Edited to also add:

Just in case you ever have ten hours to kill, here is ten hours worth of "Girl From Ipanema."

Incidentally, if you're like me, you were curious to know how many 90 minute cassette tapes you'd need to record a ten hour long song.

Ten hours / 90 minutes = 6.66666667

Be sure to alert your pastor, y'hear?



Post Edited (01-15-15 19:37)

gimme somma dat they be smoking in Everett.

Karen and Richard Carpenter

ah...the sweet smell of self defecation.

> gimme somma dat they be smoking in Everett.

I don't smoke anything, Steve, so you're on your own. I'm sure Florida doesn't do without.

I can't think of any artist whom I deliberately omit from my playlists just because of their personal life/behavior.

At least a couple of people have criticized me for listening to James Brown, because he was busted for spousal abuse. I guess that fact hasn't weighed heavily enough on my conscience to make me unload The Godfather's records.

Gary Glitter? Undoubtedly an odious individual. But truthfully, I don't know anything by him other than "Rock & Roll Part 2." I've heard it plenty of times, and enjoy it enough when it's on -- and I fondly remember seeing Bauhaus play it as a cover (the only time I've seen any band play that song live). But I rarely miss it when it's not on.

GG Allin? Clearly, a disturbed/disturbing guy. But I don't think I've ever listened to him.

Morrison? Yes, a creep. But I was never a Doors fan in the first place.

Michael Jackson? Another troubled individual with a lot of scary questions that remain around him. Yet somehow, when his music comes on the radio, I don't shy away from it.

Claudine Longet? I didn't even know she'd made records till I saw that last thread.

When Mackenzie Phillip's autobiography came out, I immediately got rid of her father's solo album. Not that it was getting regular rotation or anything.

Haha! Haha!

You don't know what I'm laughing about, Del, do you?

"Claudine Longet? I didn't even know she'd made records till I saw that last thread."

Finally I did it! I stumped a TPer! One more item off the bucket list.



Post Edited (01-16-15 20:43)

In addition to those mentioned already (although I can't bring myself to begrudge Thurston Moore for being a douche):

R. Kelly
Stuff produced by Phil Spector

I have a lesser level of discomfort/ambivalence regarding those whose early deaths seem to have enhanced their reputation.

And the most timely answer here is: the never-was Vans Warped Tour 2015 artist (now booted from the tour) Jake McElfresh, a.k.a. Front Porch Step, who allegedly sexted pictures of his junk to underage girls. *Someone's* junk was on a Tumblr page I wish I could un-see. Not something you ever want to Google.

Also: Lostprophets. I don't think they ever got much, um, exposure (sorry) in the U.S., anyway.

Like Delvin, I can't really think of too many artists I'd strike off my playlist. Those who would qualify either I don't listen to them anyway (Lost Prophets, Ted Nugent, most of the far-right neo-folk folks or Nazi skin bands) or are part of a group whose other members make up for the offending member's f***edness (I wouldn't buy a solo record from major asshole Johnny Ramone or truther Exene, but they haven't compelled me to get rid of my Ramones or X records either).

And let's not forget about Rick James. Super freak indeed!

"far-right neo-folk folks"

?

Once again, http://www.trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?f=1&i=49514&t=49499#reply_49514]Why we have to give Exene a break.[/url] My armchair diagnosis: she's suffering from MS-related psychosis.

Hey, didn't take my link:
[www.trouserpress.com]

> Finally I did it! I stumped a TPer! One more item off the bucket list.

Not to pour cold water on you, Hoip, but if the TPer is me, that's not much of an accomplishment.