================================================ Subject: Re: Odp: Re: Selling Out. .. Band changes From: "Keith Mears" To: Date: Sun 22 Jul 2001 17:07:32 -0500 ================================================ You're on the same wavelength as I am on this one Debbi. I purposely left out any references to Metallica in my first post, but they, for me, represent the very heart of my reasoning. It is widely known that before the "Black" album, they received pretty much NO support from radio or MTV, but with the release of said album, suddenly they're everywhere (#1 on the Billboard, TONS of radio and MTV airplay), so all of a sudden they're "selling out". To me, that's just plain nonsense. As I've quoted Jason (Newsted) before, "Yes, we sell out. Every seat in the house, everywhere we play." Unfortunately, that's NOT what most people mean when they say someone has sold out. IMHO, Metallica have ALWAYS stuck to their own timetable/agenda/ideas, and everything they've done as a band has been on THEIR terms. They didn't sell out (again, this is still IMO), they EVOLVED. They changed their style, because in THEIR opinion, it was time for a change. And realistically, for them to take the next step in their careers, the timing was PERFECT. Consider that the SHORTEST song on ...And Justice For All is 5:12! Most RADIO hits are under 4 minutes. Consider further that even WITHOUT MTV and radio, Metallica had built a HUGE fan base by the time the "Black" album came out. My point is, the band didn't sell out by shortening the songs and getting radio airplay, they EVOLVED and began to appeal to a WHOLE NEW fan base. Of course, there are those who feel completely opposite from how I feel, and that's fine. Some think that Metallica lost their edge when they changed their style, and that's ALSO fine. But I challenge those people to find a band who has had a larger impact on the rock "genre" in the past 20 years. And for those getting ready to mention Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, let us not forget that two of those three are now gone, and the third has become, IMO, "mainstream". > As far as selling out... My best example of what you guys are talking > about is U2... Their music has change a lot over the years. I very > closely followed them early on and for several years. Even saw them 7 > times on the Joshua Tree Tour. But beginning with Achtung Baby, their > style of music began to change too much for me. I was never bitter or > angry or anything; I simply saw it for what it was -- that they were > growing as a band and moving in a natural direction for them. > Interestingly, "All that you leave behind" is very much like some of > their earlyish stuff (not too early, but unforgettable fire era early) > and I've been listening to that a lot lately. > > I feel the same way for any artist that goes in a direction that doesn't > suit me. They ought not to be doing it to suit me. If I want to come > along for their ride, so be it. If I don't like what they're doing, I'm > not compelled to follow simply because I once rode with them. > > DebbiR > To unsubscribe or change your preferences for the Creed-Discuss list, visit: http://www.winduplist.com/ls/discuss/form.asp