# Bands/Artists whos fans are even more annoying than the band itself.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 22, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340 "2005-02-22T15:16:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/81 "2005-02-24T16:23:22Z")
I work in a high school. So I must agree that ICP occupies a place of honor above all others in this category. The ICP kids are the ones that are desperate for attention and resort to “Hey look at me” tricks to get it. Black eyeliner, funny hair tricks, baggy black clothes…the works. And the bastards in ICP are exploiting their emotional vulnerability for their money. One of the ICP t-shirts the kids wear says “The most hated band in the world!” on the back like it’s a badge of honor. And that is a perfect illustration of the mindset that will keep those kids in a prison of their own making long after they leave high school…many of them out the back door. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/82 "2005-02-24T16:25:46Z")
I just looked at [insaneclownposse.com](http://insaneclownposse.com) and I would just like to say that all you yanks are off your fucking swedes. I thought Garth Brooks was bad, but I barely knew. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/83 "2005-02-24T16:26:46Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > I just looked at [insaneclownposse.com](http://insaneclownposse.com) and I would just like to say that all you yanks are off your fucking swedes. Yes, we _know_ you like to say that. I could bring up the fact that a very small proportion of the 300 million of us listen to these guys, but I guess there’s no point… ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/84 "2005-02-24T16:33:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yes, we _know_ you like to say that. I could bring up the fact that a very small proportion of the 300 million of us listen to these guys, but I guess there’s no point… But some of you do - and the rest of you don’t burn them in public squares. That means you’re all complicit. This British band are probably the closest we have (but we know they’re having a laugh) [http://www.contactmusic.com/new/artist.nsf/artistnames/goldie%20looking%20chain](http://www.contactmusic.com/new/artist.nsf/artistnames/goldie%20looking%20chain) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/85 "2005-02-24T16:47:24Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > But some of you do - and the rest of you don’t burn them in public squares. That means you’re all complicit. I do think the big thing stopping us is the lack of public squares. And actually, there are other bands like this - check out a group called Slipknot! for another example. But I look at it this way: we’ve got bands like this, you’ve got Charles and Camilla. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/86 "2005-02-24T16:50:06Z")
The only similarity between ICP and Slipknot is that they wear clown masks. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/87 "2005-02-24T16:51:13Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I do think the big thing stopping us is the lack of public squares. And actually, there are other bands like this - check out a group called Slipknot! for another example. But I look at it this way: we’ve got bands like this, you’ve got Charles and Camilla. 😉 My mum knows about slipknot (she’s 70 and very much your “little old lady type”) because “slipknot” is the name of one of the websites she looks at - it’s about knitting. One day she got one of the other “Slipknot” sites. Believe me - we don’t have slipknot in rural England! It took some explaining, especially the dead crow in a jar! ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/88 "2005-02-24T17:32:31Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > The Smiths: Fantastic band – fans are the biggest bunch of bedwetters on the face of the globe. Invariably _ahem_ confused adolescent boys who think the whole world hates them (it does, with good reason). Really? I haven’t met many Smiths fans, but none of them were like that. Except me, I was 16 when I got into them and a very confused adolescent. But people actually take The Smiths that seriously? I think the lyrics are very funny, and don’t try to identify with them too much. I agree about The Cure. I guess it’s the whole goth band thing. > [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > And boy, was she right. For example, did you know that every single band at this year’s Coachella Festival sucks donkey balls except Wilco. I know of lots of people who won’t bother going because clearly all the other bands are far inferior to Wilco. That is annoying. I haven’t really met many Wilco fans, but it looks like there’s some great stuff at Coachella. As a Beatles fan, I agree with the people who said that we’re annoying. It seems like whenever somebody doesn’t like the Beatles, some of their fans will go on the attack and not let up until the person admits that they were influential and innovative. And, upon reading more of the thread, it seems that **Marley23** did what I just described. > [@Marley23](#): > > Except I said myself that I’m not one and don’t care if you like them, think they’re not geniuses, boring, or whatever. Don’t listen, it makes no impact on my life. Deny that they were important and innovative and you’re wrong. Sorry if you don’t like it or are (as appears to be the case) sensitive about it. You’re still wrong. Anyone who says that may be wrong, but please just back off. If people start saying they weren’t influential, then you can argue, but you don’t have to shove it down everyone’s throat who expresses dislike for the band. I actually like Pitchforkmedia. Their attitude is annoying, but it’s still fun to read. It’s at least useful to compare their reviews to the reviews on AMG. My own contribution is Bauhaus. I can’t stand today’s goth fans. Bauhaus didn’t even take themselves very seriously. The goth kids hear lyrics like “the pangs of dark delight” and don’t get how it’s a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/89 "2005-02-24T17:34:27Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > Anyone who says that may be wrong, but please just back off. If people start saying they weren’t influential, then you can argue, but you don’t have to shove it down everyone’s throat who expresses dislike for the band. I’m already really fucking tired of explaining why I wrote what I wrote, because I explained in full that that’s not why I replied to **Case Sensitive** ’s post. Read what I wrote or drop it . ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/90 "2005-02-24T17:36:59Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > The only similarity between ICP and Slipknot is that they wear clown masks. And how many bands out there do that, exactly? They both go for the same shocking, horror-type image despite playing different sorts of music, which is what I was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/91 "2005-02-24T17:41:34Z")
I was actually going to start a thread on obnoxious Skynyrd fans. (I dug up some archived threads on the origin of “Play Free Bird!”) I’ve been an singer/guitarist for over twenty years, and I seriously doubt a month goes by that I don’t encounter an absolute moron who insists I _“play some Skynyrd!”_ Disclaimer: I _like_ Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music. Their well-known stuff is great, but suffers from overexposure. Some of their lesser-known stuff is also very good. But there is something about a large number of their fans… I get a lot of requests for Beatles songs. I get a lot of requests for Nirvana songs. I get a lot of requests for Elvis Presley songs. Since my main style is blues, I get a lot of requests for Stevie Ray Vaughn songs. When I comply with these requests, the people invariably applaud, or at the very least, they \*listen to the effing music. \* Not the Skynyrd fans. It’s as if they don’t really want to hear the music, they just want to steal some attention and give orders to the performer. I’ve had instances where I played the song, only to have the guy request it again twenty minutes later. Last month, some guy wouldn’t shut up. I finally gave in and broke into “Sweet Home Alabama”. He let out a huge rebel yell of approval. And then, he casually put on his coat… and left the bar. I hadn’t even started singing yet. But his work was done – he’d made his mark on the world. (I was going to detail some other experiences, but realized I’ve already rambled too long). What is with these people? I assume some of it is the southern rebel image that the band pushed. But that can’t be all of it – people requesting the Allman Brothers or Hank Jr. don’t act that way. I sometimes wonder if a race of aliens happened to randomly observe some obnoxious Skynrd fan, and modeled a line of cyborgs. I’m debating countermeasures: 1. A sign onstage with “Skynyrd” with a slash through it; 2. A sign onstage reading "Skynyrd Requests: $10; 3. Politely claiming never to have heard of the band; Sorry for losing it, folks. > [@Sam Stone](#): > > Two words: “FREE BIRD!!!” > > But as annoying as I find the fans of some of the bands mentioned, I find the haters of those bands even more annoying. Lynyrd Skynyrd was a great band saddled with more than their share of idiot fans and more than their share of idiot Skynyrd haters who think anyone who likes them is a drooling redneck. The Beatles haters drive me nuts - it’s one thing to say the music is not your style and you don’t like it, but it’s another to sneer and say, “The Beatles? They were nothing, man. King Crimson kicked their ass. So did Queen. The Beatles are the most over-hyped band, ever.” > > Rush is another band that may have annoying fans, but also has equally annoying haters who go way out of their way to denigrate anything the band has done. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/92 "2005-02-24T17:50:29Z")
> [@F. U. Shakespeare](#): > > Sorry for losing it, folks. Totally understandable. One of the many remarkable things about “Freebird!” guys is that they will do it at any show, by any band. Doesn’t matter how dissimilar the group is to Skynryd. And it’s more a demand than a request anyway. At Allman Brothers shows (where Freebird is also sometimes requested), the same phenomenon happens with Whipping Post. Once, a few years ago, the band decided to surprise everybody by _opening_ a show with the song. Half an hour after they played it, I heard someone shout a request for the song. :smack: I don’t know if this was a jerk who got there later or what… ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/93 "2005-02-24T17:51:28Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > Rush fans, on the other hand, foam at the mouth and bray: **"You don’t like Rush!?!?! That’s because your STUPID STUPID mind can’t grasp more than 3 chords and time signatures other than 4/4. What sort of sh\*t do you listen to? HUH?!?!Bee Gees (1970s fan)/Journey(“Moving Pictures” era)/Warrant(1990)/Britney Spears(modern era)??? Anyone who doesn’t like Rush is a F**KING RETARD!!! And THAT MEANS YOU TOO"\*\* As you tell, I’ve been around Rush fans for a looooooooooooooong time. Hm, I am a Rush fan, but I don’t think they are god’s gift to humanity. They have music I like and stuff I don’t like, though I do like that they were not afraid to change styles of rock depending on the influences of their daily life. I think if I had to pick an album I would take Farewell to Kings…but then again I like Rolling Stones, Zeppelin, RAmmstein, Devo, Ramones, the D’oyly Carte Light Opera Company [circa the 50s] and Cab Calloway. [I can’t seem to like bubblegum pop, country-western or elevator muzak.] I still think everything by Grateful Dead sounds like one of 3 songs… ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/94 "2005-02-24T18:08:00Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > Lennon McCartney and **Harrison** were all **geniuses** as well. I got my mind set on you. I got my mind set on you. I got my mind set on you. I got my mind set on you… (maybe he was the idiot savant…) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/95 "2005-02-24T18:22:21Z")
George Harrison did not write “Got My Mind Set On You.” ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/96 "2005-02-24T18:40:40Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned **[Yanni](http://www.yanni.com/)**, a.k.a. The Man Every Housewife Drools Over[sup]TM[/sup]. I’m leaving now. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/97 "2005-02-24T18:42:44Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Most pop bands in the last 35 years owe their existence to the Beatles in some way or another. Well, only in the sense that they inspired lots of kids to go plug an amplifier into the garage wall socket. Stylistically, they’re kind of a dead end. For bands that left visible fingerprints on successive bands’ styles, the Beatles were real pikers compared to Hendrix, the Stones, the Dead, the Who, the Kinks or even Kiss or the Ramones. You make a family tree of all the rock bands, there are more roots going into the Beatles than there are branches coming out of them (Blur, Oasis, Badfinger, Klaatuu… That’s about it! And _nothing_ branches out of any of them!). People don’t remember this, but prior to **Sgt. Pepper** , the Beatles were of very limited interest to males or adults. Comparisons to Justin Timberlake are more than fair. He actually has a better live show than they did, by all accounts. And name one Beatles single that you can actually dance to. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/98 "2005-02-24T22:57:22Z")
How 'bout the genre known as power pop: – Fountains of Wayne – Odds – Squeeze and others, all owe a huge debt to the Beatles. Not to mention jangle-pop such as R.E.M., XTC, Housemartins, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Beatles are vastly overrated stylisticly and influentially, but they were a large influence (but not the biggest by far.) I’m also a fan. Just don’t play “Hey Jude” around me unless you want to hear me make remarks about the second most overly long hit song ever (hint: the MOST overly long hit song ever is by another band mentioned in this thread and is frequently requested by drunken bargoers.) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/99 "2005-02-24T22:59:53Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > People don’t remember this, but prior to **Sgt. Pepper** , the Beatles were of very limited interest to males or adults. Comparisons to Justin Timberlake are more than fair. If you substitute _Rubber Soul_ in that statement, I sort of agree with you. It and especially _Revolver_ were innovative, exploratory albums that, based on what I have read, captured the interest of the hip crowd well before _Sgt Pepper_. Said hip crowd were already eagerly anticipating the release of _Pepper_; it wasn’t that album that brought them on the Beatles bandwagon. > [@](#): > > He actually has a better live show than they did, by all accounts. And name one Beatles single that you can actually dance to. I don’t know how old you are, but people actually did use to dance to rock music. Many of their tunes are danceable, especially the early stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340/100 "2005-02-25T02:48:48Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > I don’t know how old you are, but people actually did use to dance to rock music. Many of their tunes are danceable, especially the early stuff. I didn’t say rock music in general, I referred to Beatles songs released as singles. They are notoriously undanceable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-whos-fans-are-even-more-annoying-than-the-band-itself/291340.md?page=6)