Over-Demanding Celebs, Jan 2002
By: Toby L
Fame, fortune, fans... It can't really be that much of a problem being a top music-star surely?
Well, that's what we naively think at first. Clearly, there must be something wrong for some people to behave atrociously. We've all heard the rumours about top singing-'divas' and their associated behaviours - e.g. requesting dressing-rooms in every TV studio/concert-venue to be painted a certain colour, expecting there to be an array of puppies backstage at one of their performances, mountains of Class-A's piled up on to their make-up tables, etc. etc. - but why do these people feel the urge to demand such huge things? After all, they've got the riches already, those lavish surroundings at home and even whilst they travel... I think the simple answer is that the stars of the business ask for mad things simply because they know they can get them, and should take advantage of their self-obsessed 'powers'.
Which brings me to my point: how do people get into this state when music is supposedly an art-form, a platform for expressionism, and a meeting-place for those that share views and want to unleash emotion that is most positively channelled through this way? Once again, sadly, there's a simple answer to this. Some artists start with the best intent, though get jilted along their rocky road to success and forget the original ethics they once wore upon their sleeves, in preference of a life free of financial insecurities and hassles that the majority of the planet has to survive through. However, there are those that bypass the supposed morals of what music ideally represents, fuelled to the peak of their chosen profession via the sheer determination to make money and screw their fans for every penny they've got; I think you know when your favourite act is ripping you off once they start releasing merchandise that includes pencil-cases and socks...
So, that's the sad but true underlying point to this piece of whining. It matters not the genre of music. It doesn't make a difference what level of stardom we're talking about here. When ego or money becomes the prerogative for any band's career, then you know that the undying sincerity you once thought was locked within one of their magic songs is just as plastic as their Platinum Credit-Cards... Hardly rock 'n' roll, eh?