BIGGEST DOUCHEBAG IN MUSIC?

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besides fred durst. it would also be interesting to hear about good/great musicians who appear to be genuinely irritating/obnoxious/shitty people: undercover douchebags? perhaps most musicians fall into this category?

― joey b, Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

Who is the best and worst Pitchfork writer?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:15 (twenty years ago)

As much as I love -- and will always love -- Kiss, Gene Simmons seems like a pretty reprehensible character.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

lock thread.

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:19 (twenty years ago)

http://www.bestrock.cz/include_images/s/simmons_gene/foto/simmons_01.jpg

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

Gene Simmons is a douchebag on purpose, it seems. Weird dude.

― Lemonade Salesman (Eleventy-Twelve), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

haha Dom.

and Alex is on the mark (despite my honest adoration for KISS Unplugged).

― PB, Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

yeah Simmons wins just cuz he's been a douchebag for so much LONGER than Fred Durst.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

That Beat Happening dude!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

just cuz he gets cock sucked by college girls?

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:24 (twenty years ago)

Greg Dulli

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:24 (twenty years ago)

after seeing Dig, that Dandy Warhols dude...although he is not hiding his douche-ness...

― Jabberwocky (Jabberwocky), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

Everyone says Billy Corgan is a dick..

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

http://www.johnkalodner.com/images7/JDKPromo1003_22.jpg

― All the Douchebags (Ian Christe), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:27 (twenty years ago)

ted nugent

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:28 (twenty years ago)

just cuz he gets cock sucked by ~~college~~ high school girls

― Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:28 (twenty years ago)

Eddie Van Halen seems like kind of a pussy.

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:32 (twenty years ago)

Pussy !> douchebag.

I think of a douchebag as being someone like David Bowie.

― Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

!= that ought to read.

Other douchebags: john zorn, mike patton

― Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

Mike Patton is a funny douchebag.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:45 (twenty years ago)

douchebags fit inside pussies though, right?

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 18:49 (twenty years ago)

BONO!

― Bryan Moore (Bryan Moore), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)

Sheryl Crow. (Is that uncool?)

― Dr. Gene Scott (shinybeast), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

Other douchebags: john zorn, mike patton

If these guys are douchebags, they are douchebags who've been incredibly generous to other artists and done a huge amount of work through their respective labels to get underappreciated music heard (esp. Zorn).

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

Chris MArtin surely?

― Czam, Tuesday, 26 April 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

It took over 10 posts to get to Bono = ILM hangups ain't what they usedta be.

Nugent seconded. I'd nominate Lou Reed, but I saw this photo of him in Tracks and he apparently is good with a samurai sword so I'll keep my yap shut. (And most of my lingering animosity towards Reed originates from some quote about how giddy he was over Frank Zappa's stage-fall injury, anyways. I used to like Zappa a lot more than I do now.)

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

Co-worker Tom nominates Jesse from MTV

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

John Popper, even with the weight loss

― Jabberwocky (Jabberwocky), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

Gene Simmons now stars in a cartoon series of his own devising on Nickeloden cleverly titled My Father The Rock Star. It apes The Osbournes just like The Flinstones mimicked The Honeymooners. From now on I will think of it as My Father The Douchebag.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

nicky wire

― jake b. (cerybut), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 21:24 (twenty years ago)

I lile Morrissey's work, but he does seem to be a douchebag. Try to find the UK documentary about him last year for further viewing .....

― svend (svend), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 21:24 (twenty years ago)

Allen Klein

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 21:38 (twenty years ago)

After seeing the Steppenwolf installment of Behind the Music, I think I'd say John Kay.

― Burr (Burr), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 21:39 (twenty years ago)

The Van Halen brothers always come across as pricks.

Alex, otm about Gene Simmons. However dickish he may be, that magnetism alone cancels out all else. Genius.

― ZionTrain, Tuesday, 26 April 2005 22:08 (twenty years ago)

Simmons isn't a Douchebag, he's a Dick. Douchebags: Ryan Seacrest, most of Good Charlotte, Conor Oberst, Interpol, Nickelback, Moby...

― heywood jablomi (heywood), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 22:38 (twenty years ago)

correction: a dinner table inquiry reveals that it's My DAD The Douchebag/Dick/Rockstar.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 22:53 (twenty years ago)

Sheryl Crow. (Is that uncool?)

It's cool. She rode David Baerwald to glory and then threw him away like a used, er...

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 22:59 (twenty years ago)

I'd nominate Lou Reed, but I saw this photo of him in Tracks and he apparently is good with a samurai sword so I'll keep my yap shut. (And most of my lingering animosity towards Reed originates from some quote about how giddy he was over Frank Zappa's stage-fall injury, anyways. I used to like Zappa a lot more than I do now.)

oh, there's MUCH MUCH more than just whether lou reed was happy when frank zappa fell off stage. lou reed has earned his douchebaggedness MANY times over.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 23:04 (twenty years ago)

I don't get this thread. Surely, Mama Cass had the biggest douchebag of them all.

― shit think, shit think, shit quick (deangulberry), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 23:30 (twenty years ago)

Oh wait! She did not douche. Tricky!

― shit think, shit think, shit quick (deangulberry), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 23:31 (twenty years ago)

I'll nominate Scott Herren.

― buck van morrison (Buck Van Smack), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 23:39 (twenty years ago)

hmm. i'm not sure if scott has completely earned his douchebag status, but he's getting close. can an artists' work/talent nix their douchebaggery?

― heywood jablomi (heywood), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 00:01 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, maybe you're right. I called him a cock a while back, so I'll retract my nomination for douchebag, and just call him a cock again.

― buck van morrison (Buck Van Smack), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 00:03 (twenty years ago)

Ryan Adams is the eternal douchebag.

― don weiner, Wednesday, 27 April 2005 00:09 (twenty years ago)

Lou Reed is sort of the Lord of all Douchebags, in my book. Although I can personally vouch for the fact that Gavin Rossdale is a complete and utter prick.

― John Justen (johnjusten), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 00:14 (twenty years ago)

Having seen the Styx 'Behind The Music' fifty-billionty-two times I nominate Dennis DeYoung as all-time award-winning douchebag. No matter how you feel about Styx, the man is a categorical TWAT.

Much as I like GNR, I'm inclined to nominate Axl. But I'll gleefully add that Matt Sorum is well on his way to winning the award, shiteating botox
grin & all.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 00:42 (twenty years ago)

Lou isn't a db, he's a frittering old queen.

But no, this thread is about Sting. As in Sting, where is thy death?

― Ian in Brooklyn, Wednesday, 27 April 2005 02:46 (twenty years ago)

Lars Fredricksen from Rancid

― billstevejim, Wednesday, 27 April 2005 03:03 (twenty years ago)

Lou Reed is a badass. or at least was.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 04:49 (twenty years ago)

Chrissie Hynde's husband is the biggest douchebag in music.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 05:00 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 26 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

The singer for Collective Soul. Don't know his name.

― Mr Deeds (Mr Deeds), Thursday, 28 April 2005 05:19 (twenty years ago)

Let's call him Mr Douchebag.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 28 April 2005 05:23 (twenty years ago)

Nearly 80 posts and no mention of Lars Ulrich yet? What is the world coming to?

― M Carty (mj_c), Thursday, 28 April 2005 06:58 (twenty years ago)

Don Henley or Glenn Frey
Michael Stipe or Natalie Merchant
Robert Fripp

― Joe (Joe), Thursday, 28 April 2005 10:50 (twenty years ago)

Lars Ulrich

Seconded. How could I forget that douche?!

― buck van morrison (Buck Van Smack), Thursday, 28 April 2005 12:27 (twenty years ago)

KANYE FUCKING WEST

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 28 April 2005 12:31 (twenty years ago)

Another vote for Gene Simmons. He gives me the creeps, ugh.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 28 April 2005 12:34 (twenty years ago)

Lars Ulrich thirded.
For some reason Gene Simmons makes me giggle. That Fresh Air interview was amazing!

― p.j. (Henry), Thursday, 28 April 2005 12:50 (twenty years ago)

GG Allin was just misunderstood!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 28 April 2005 13:07 (twenty years ago)

Don "CEO of rock" Henley for sure.

― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Thursday, 28 April 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

Rivers Cuomo is a douche, I hear.

Bono most definitely.
Ryan Adams (didn't he pick a fight with Jack White? I'm sorry, that's like picking on the homeless insane), Thom Yorke (I say this as a Radiohead fan), everyone in Interpol but especially Carlos, Sting, and Ben Gibbard (though maybe he's more of a pussy).

― Jessie the Monster (scarymonsterrr), Thursday, 28 April 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

sting and ben gibbard are in interpol now?!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 28 April 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

omg i saw a guy on the subway today wearing a shirt that read "BONO is GOD"?!!!? wtf?!!?

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 28 April 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

are you sure it didn't say "BONER"?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 28 April 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

We must define douchebag. Gene Simmons and Bono (a genuinely nice guy) are douchebags in totally different ways.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 28 April 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

I would say a douchebag is someone with an over-inflated sense of self-importance, i.e. all my examples (grammatical errors and all ;)).

― Jessie the Monster (scarymonsterrr), Thursday, 28 April 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

Cedrix Baxter, or however you spell it.

After seeing the Metallica movie, Lars seems too sad to be a true douchebag.

I've always thought Gene Simmons would fit in real well on ILM.

― Eppy (Eppy), Thursday, 28 April 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

Speaking of Carlos D, is this not uncanny:

― I have names, I have been named, Thursday, 28 April 2005 18:31 (twenty years ago)

The Metallica: Some Kind of Monster documentary was a textbook example of both the Asshole and Douche* archetypes as embodied in James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, respectively. In fact, Asshole and Douche (and Hammett) is a burgeoning new methodology in making business decisions and maximizing personal power. Top-tier consulting firms and several exclusive life coaches are all interested in Asshole and Douche (and Hammett).

Briefly, Asshole and Douche (and Hammett) are not states of beings - they're positions one can occupy in relation to another person. In the simplest form, a relationship between two people, one is the Asshole and one is the Douche. It's obvious who is who in Metallica.

Using examples from the movie, an Asshole tends toward self-absorbed behavoir - Witness Hetfields comments from the stage at San Quentin to the prisoners, something like (and it's been a while since I saw the film) "I've got a problem with rage, and if things had turned out differently, i might have ended up in here with you." Of course, Things DIDN'T turn out differently, and James is a billionaire rock star.

Douches tend towards selfish behavior as in Lars, when, discussing the new hired hand bassist and his comfort level says "it doesn't matter what he thinks; it matters how I feel!"

Hammetts are formed in the crucible of the Asshole/Douche relationship and think themselves above it, when in reality they're pathetic creatures who never end up getting what they want.

Pretty much all creative partnerships can be boiled down to Asshole/Douche.

― Spicy Club Sauce (Spicy Club Sauce), Thursday, 28 April 2005 18:49 (twenty years ago)

Ray Manzarek.

Soundbyte-spewing total douchebag. Was so great to hear fmu's Glen Jones HANG UP on him mid-interview on the radio. And Glen is a gentleman.

― Brian Turner (btwfmu), Friday, 29 April 2005 00:20 (twenty years ago)

Ray Manzarek.

he learned his douchebaggery from the best!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 29 April 2005 00:27 (twenty years ago)

I can't believe I'm going to own up to this, but ...*cough*... having read Ray Manzarek's autobiography, he comes off as, well... something of a douchebag! Actually, a lot of a douchebag!

― M Carty (mj_c), Friday, 29 April 2005 05:38 (twenty years ago)

I would say a douchebag is someone with an over-inflated sense of self-importance, i.e. all my examples (grammatical errors and all ;)).

Agreed on the over-inflated sense of importance, but IMO elements of hypocrisy and evildoing come into play as well:

Scumbag*hypocrite=douchebag

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Friday, 29 April 2005 06:04 (twenty years ago)

Bob Geldof.

― Telephonething, Friday, 29 April 2005 13:23 (twenty years ago)

It has to go beyond a high self-opinion, though, and into how the individual treats other people (notably 'underlings'). Mariah Carey, for example, is renowned for throwing tantrums and treating her minders like cattle. Some call this "behaving like a diva," whereas I simply call it abject douchebaggery.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 29 April 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

I know this will disappoint those who nominated Bono, but Alex in NYC otm

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Friday, 29 April 2005 18:12 (twenty years ago)

Sting seconded, with proof you may have missed in the Hasil Adkins thread (sorry, but I haven't seen this in 17 years):

http://www.deuceofclubs.com/write/adk_stng.htm

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 29 April 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

It pains me deeply to say tthis, but I think that Miss Sumner is quite OTM regarding the mien and methodologies of a certain strain of critic.

Which lessens his douchbagtorial status not a whit.

― Ian in Brooklyn, Friday, 29 April 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

the (lizard) king of all musical douchebags:

http://www.spauda.lt/menas/jim.jpg

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 29 April 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

Bob Geldof.

-- Telephonething (ryanhup...), April 29th, 2005. (later)

DING DING DING DING DING!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 29 April 2005 19:43 (twenty years ago)

i'd be uncomfortable nominating anyone that I hadn't met personally. Some of the above may 'seem' like douchebags, but for many, it's very much part of their 'image' (Gene, The Nuge, etc). I'm more interested in hearing the Les Claypool / Collective Soul stories, of which I assume there are at least a few, since those seemingly random people have been named. I live for tales of delusion!

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Friday, 29 April 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

Roger's point is very important. Liam Gallagher, for instance, seems like an asshole judged from a lot of his media appearances. Yet, people who have stumbled across him in pubs tell stories about a really likeable guy.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 29 April 2005 21:19 (twenty years ago)

maybe the people who stumbled across liam are assholes, too.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 29 April 2005 21:23 (twenty years ago)

I dunno. Were I to judge douchebagery from personal experience, I'd have to place Richard Butler, Joe Jackson and Nick Cave high on my list.

However, all the aforementioned were, in my judgement, twisted of liquor/drugs at the time of douchbag behavior and have since aquited themselves as quite pleasant people when sober.

Well, excpt for Butler.

No--I think ascendance to the higher realsm of douche are the result of sustained behavior over the years.

And using this yardstick, I really cannot think of anyone who esclipses Sting in terms of consistent, careerr douchery.

― Ian in Brooklyn, Saturday, 30 April 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

However, I am confident that Carlos D. has the right stuff to attain another register of douche, when Don Henley certainly gives Sting a run for his money in the Boomer division.

― Ian in Brooklyn, Saturday, 30 April 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

remember how bitchy Nick Cave was to Billy Corgan when Billy interviewed him on the "Lollapalooza" episode of 120 minutes?

Ah, live Boredomes on MTV. Different times, my friends...

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Saturday, 30 April 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

remember how bitchy Nick Cave was to Billy Corgan when Billy interviewed him on the "Lollapalooza" episode of 120 minutes?
Corgan probably deserved it. Nick Cave's a pretty shabby character, though...apparently he cares nothing for one of his children (Jethro, I think) and doesn't consider himself to be the kid's father.

I still think Scott Stapp trumps, but as a Tallahasseean that bias is natural.

― Ian Riese-Moraine has a grenade, that pineapple's not just a toy! (Eastern Mantr, Saturday, 30 April 2005 22:31 (twenty years ago)

You want Cave douche behavior?

My band was playing a major venue. The Bad Seeds did their soundcheck, finished.

Three hours left. But did we get a soundcheck? Nope. And Cave just sat their nodding out and smoking cigarettes while we didn't get our soundcheck, for, like, two hours.

― Ian in Brooklyn, Sunday, 1 May 2005 01:27 (twenty years ago)

i could also say that anyone with a mullet like nick cave's -- EVEN NOW -- must by rule be a douchebag.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 1 May 2005 01:45 (twenty years ago)

I have heard from somebody who knows the entire band quite well that Bun E. Carlos from Cheap Trick is the most evil person he had ever met.

On a more positive note, the nicest rock star I have ever met (not that I have met many) is Robin Zander. Almost ridiculously friendly, WAY nicer than he had to be to the likes of me.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Sunday, 1 May 2005 01:50 (twenty years ago)

Bun E is a jerk? That's hilarious to me for some reason.

The Cave / Corgan exchange, briefly because I'm tired, was Corgan identifying Cave as "English," Nick correcting him, and Corgan trying to laugh it off, saying something to the effect of "Oh, sorry, I'm from the midwest, they're the same thing to me," and Cave responding with a very icy, "well, they're NOT," followed by an uncomfortable silence

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 1 May 2005 02:08 (twenty years ago)

The answer is:

Nicky Wire (in a big banana suit)

― Cza, Sunday, 1 May 2005 02:52 (twenty years ago)

Seems like David Crosby deserves at least an honorable mention.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Sunday, 1 May 2005 03:11 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

conor oberst

― tom petty, Friday, 19 May 2006 01:32 (nineteen years ago)

Justin Warfield

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 19 May 2006 02:00 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.xsofplacebo.net/pictures/divers/war/thumbs/war1.jpg

here he is with one of Placebo.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 19 May 2006 02:03 (nineteen years ago)

I have heard from somebody who knows the entire band quite well that Bun E. Carlos from Cheap Trick is the most evil person he had ever met.

I really want to hear this story!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 May 2006 02:04 (nineteen years ago)

David Crosby was the worst for many years, but he seems harmless now

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 19 May 2006 02:28 (nineteen years ago)

I think the problem here is that we need to define our terms more clearly.

Gene Simmons is no douchebag, but he clearly can be a real prick when he wants to.
Lou Reed, however, is a scumbag.
Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek are a couple of assholes.
Don Henley, on the other hand, is an asswipe.
Nick Cave can be a motherfucker, but not to everyone.
Billy Corgan? Why, he's just a little cocksucker.
Bob Geldof, I believe, is a bit of a cunt.
And based on seeing Some Kind of Monster, James Hetfield seems to be ten pounds of shit in a five pound bag.
The only real douchebag on this list so far seems to be Sting.

Thank you for your time.

― Dr Benway (dr benway), Friday, 19 May 2006 02:43 (nineteen years ago)

my friend saw Nick Cave twice in London 10 years ago drunk as hell pinching every girls ass in the place and being a slimy dickhead.

― grapple (grapple), Friday, 19 May 2006 06:21 (nineteen years ago)

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