How Much Do You Care About Musician's Lives?

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- as in - when you get into or discover a new act you like, how much effort do you make to find out about the people making the music? Do you go out of your way to read interviews or artist biographies? And does it change the way you approach the music at all? I'm not so much interested in really big things (such-and-such is a divorce album etc.) but in the mundane stuff - how interested are you in the everyday lives of the people you listen to?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I am quite interested but I don't make any effort. I suppose it's more related to visuals - if I see somebody on TV performing something I may take an interest but I wouldn't really based on just hearing it, even if I liked it. I do like reading about what equipment people use and recording techniques but that's a different thing.

― David (David), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Brilliant question. Generally, not very interested at all, but it depends completely on the kind of music we're talking about. With big-selling chart pop, I think the personality of the performers is part of the entire package. It long ago became this Warholian thing where who the pop stars are (or who they claim to be) is an essential part of their art. You can't really follow an Eminem album unless you know what's been happening to him in real life.

Think of all the new albums that say, "This record is all about me. This is who I really am." Etc etc.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

So, in a way, Eminem is the new James Taylor?

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

It shouldn't matter, but I think it does. I will usually seek out an artist bio on AMG or something like that when I'm ignorant of who they are. I wonder what I'm looking for? For some reason, where they are from is a crucial factor for me - I guess I am interested in seeing whether music has a relation to the geographical area in which it is produced, but it also fascinates me when something appears to be made in isolation.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I am (and have always been, since I was a little kid) extremely interested in the lives of all kinds of artists. I guess I just like to know stuff about people who have unique ways of expressing themselves -- you know, their human experience or whatever you want to call it.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Hardly ever interested at all.
The exceptions are to some extent instrumental music (as sometimes I feel, particularly with jazz, that the music can gain a different level when I have some idea of when and where it was created (IE think "We Insist! Freedom Now Suite" in a vacuum, and it loses some of its power) )
But as far as the musicians etc are concerned, I don't care. I'll sometimes read up a bit to see what recordings they've been involved with etc, sideprojects and such, but not their extra-musical activities.

― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, but the stuff i want to know never gets any attention. i want all the routine quotidian stuff. and more than that, the money.

― typo acapulco (gcannon), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

The one thing I am really intrigued by is what stuff musicians are into themselves, not just music but books, games, cinema etc. - Word and Mojo regularly ask this, good for them.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

like this?
Jurgen Montmartre, bass player for the critically acclaimed goth-disco tentet No Laughing Mother, drives a red Honda Civic. He eats Grape-Nuts for breakfast 5 out 7 days, but not necessarily the five you think. He worries about going bald, but he worries more that his expanding gut will soon hang down to his nads.

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

The one thing I am really intrigued by is what stuff musicians are into themselves, not just music but books, games, cinema etc. - Word and Mojo regularly ask this, good for them.

Artists very often, even usually, have outrageously dull tastes outside their own fields.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

And within them too. I can't believe how conservative some musicians' lists of their favourite records are.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Exactly! That's why I like it. If someone's made a record of skyscraping genius it's nice to lessen the awe a little by finding they're into Paulo Coelho.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

When I hear a new artist and my opinion of their music is strong, I really want to know what they dress like. Knowing their favorite records is also important.

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Monday, 24 November 2003 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm interested in the infirmity of aging, how they cover it up
during aging and how they may be accelerated or slowed by lifestyle choices.

Ozzy, for instance: Now that he has insisted in press release that his tremor and neurodegenerative symptoms are not Parkinsonsism,
what is the diagnosis?

Benign essential tremor, Shy-Drager syndrome, normal pressure
hydrocephalus, striato-nigral degenereation, pseudobulbar palsy,
progressive supernuclear palsy, Hallervorden spazz disease
or benign brain tumor?

― George Smith, Monday, 24 November 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

WE CARE A LOT!

― faithnomore (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 24 November 2003 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

If at all, i'm interested in their character.

Since broadcast television is usually the only regular venue I see musical acts -- i can get curious what how some artist may present themselves "off-stage". People like the camera-friendly David Bowie can make for excellent conversationalists -- the same could be said Loudon Wainright. But would a goofy-giggly Julian Casablancas' awkward verbal stumblings ruin the myth for too-many-a-record-buying-public to risk?

― christoff (christoff), Monday, 24 November 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

"We don't want fans to know we eat" - Robin Guthrie

― dave q, Monday, 24 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

A wise and good man.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 24 November 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

What about when artists lives are interesting and their music is really boring, like any folk singer ever, or the 'flipper guy' busking in every city. Steve Earle being the all-time champion

― dave q, Monday, 24 November 2003 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

In my experience I am more obssessed with the music when I don't know who the band is. It just seems strange when you've been listening to a great album for like a week and then you see a picture or read an interview with the band, it kind of makes me realize "Oh, yeah... there are actually people doing this."

But for me it's only if I hear the music first. If I meet and hear a band that I've never heard before there's no difference.

― Cameron (Cameron), Monday, 24 November 2003 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

The author is dead! Who cares!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 24 November 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

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