Have/Can you always seperate the art from the artist?

Sometimes after I have committed (or ALLEGEDLY committed) a crime, I stopped listening to preachy/fluffy artists that obviously haven't committed any crimes themselves.

sitruk7 said:

I think it's best to seperate the art from the artist.

Unless the artist is actually hurting someone (I wouldn't buy Hitler's new book of poetry, for example) I allow them personal flaws.

Artists can still represent what they truly believe, even if their actions make it seem hypocritical. They are human after all. And just because John Lennon had anger, doesn't mean that it was a lie whan he said "Love is the answer."

The people actually in their lives can worry about their personal problems.

NDRU said:

Very well said!I think that in most instances,most people feel the same.Still, surely somebody out here has made at least one exception.

It really depends on the crime, but at the end of the day a song is a song and people are just people, not special because they have a record deal. The thing that does bother me is the taking of known killers/criminals names and using them because they are familar to people for commercial gain, examples, capone and noreaga, jim jones, etc.. I just saw a special on the real "jim jones" and how someone can take his name and use it to their advantage is sad. It would be one thing if his name was Jim Jones for real but using album titles like "back to church" and things like that show your own lack of creativity and your 'almost praising" how someone killed about 1000 people in one day. I mean if someone took the name of Hitler or Bin Laden for their band would that be ok?
[Edited 1/17/07 16:27pm]

if it's someone like grace jones or courtney love, who gets arrested just for their insane over the top behavior, then sometimes a rapsheet can make me love the artist that much more!

lastdecember said:

it would be a thing, but that is his real name, that is why he is capo status, and i am going to tell Jimmy to slap ur kufi, for trying to play him

Anx said:

i see you like that sorta "lets get hammered, i dont give a shit about how I look" sorta thing. No doubt you'll like Britney Spears aswell.

It makes no difference.


I still listen to Gary Glitter, R kelly, Jacko (never convicted but I think what he was accused of is possible truth, if only slightly), so I don't care what they did. I don't take music that seriously anyway.

thesexofit said:

well, i kinda have to like their music first.

Anx said:

Yeah, well, what I was saying was not related to the thread question really.

KingKrazy said:

Actually his real name is Joseph Jones, which doesnt translate to "Jim Jones" he clearly took the name for its popularity, with an album title "On the way to Church" do you really think he's avoiding the real "Jim Jones". Not saying he's advocating it, but he's cashing in on it.

I think it all depends. If someone like Bono was arrested for public intoxication, or something along those lines, then no, it wouldn't matter. However, if he was arrested for a hate crime, or something that completely went against the message of his music, then I would have a much harder time rectifying it with my ideal of what he represents. If that makes any sense at all...

lastdecember said:

Well, wasn't that what Marilyn Manson did? The entire band had first names of '50s pinup girls and last names derived from famous serial killers. Hell, I fell for it when I was 15.

lastdecember said:

HIS FULL NAME IS Joseph Jimmy Guillermo Jones II

hence Jimmy Jones, and how many rap fans actually know the real Jimmy Jones

KingKrazy said:

Ok so he took his middle name, shortened it, but the point is Why he did it that way, to capitalize on the "name". So would someone have an issue with someone named Hitler taking Adolph as their name and selling a product? And to say that rap fans dont know the real Jim Jones is yet another sad state of the world in general. "Those who dont remember the past, are condemned to repeat it"

Anx said:

no doubt Britney is increasing her potential for likeability, but 10 times zero is still zero

CinisterCee said:

That's how I interpreted it too.

thesexofit said:

I want to hate r.kelly cause what he did was horrible, but his music meant something to me at some point and I can't help but like his music that he keeps putting out. I don't buy the albums at all but I'll download his shit time to time and even crack at him

Moonbeam said:

Doesn't make a difference to me. Though it's coming from a part of their being, a person's art is not who they are.

Frankly, these types of deviants have the potential to create great art.

I never liked R. Kelly all that much but now I despise him and I refuse to listen to any music that he is associated with.

CinisterCee said:

eww except R Kelly I can't stomach him

I stopped supporting Whitney after the whole crack thing, because I'm not going to give her money only so she can put it up her nose. In Whitney's case, it became hard separating the actions from the artist, because her bad actions consumed her. When an artist is in court more than the recording studio, I have a tendency to lose a little interest.

CinisterCee said:

Now, R. Kelly was a real child molester. I hate when people say how Michael should be in jail...shit, if that's the case, than R.Kelly should be in the cell next to him doing a life sentence (didn't he marry Aaliyah when she was all of 15 years of age? :disgust:). I like some of R. Kelly's old stuff, but I refuse to give that pedophile a dime of my money.

GOOD THREAD.

I find myself in a predicament becuase i lovet he music of Guns n roses, zeppelin and michael jackson.

G 'N R have a front man who has asaulted many people, been accused of rape by three former girlfriend, beat them and there were witness. Zeppelin had a violent drummer who tried to rape a teenager and jacko is guilty; i have no doubt whatsoever.

MANY of the greatest artists ever have been very violent towards especially women or accused of rape, molestation etc; eddie hazel, marvin gaye,r. kelly, MJ, john bonham, hendrix, john lennon, mingus, miles davis. The list goes on and on.

I'm TRYING to just listent the music but it's hard when i have read sick accounts of what these men have done.

Some advice to people who love music dearly; DO NOT INQUIRE ABOUT THE LIFE OF YOUR FAV ARTIST; it may taint your view forever.

Axchi696 said:

yeah but that's to show how america is very hypocritical. Every major serial killer finds god; they go to church in prison and many say let them out everyone serves a second chance. However if you so happen to not bow to religion you are a sinner who gets no forgivness.
If you murder for god it's o.k.