# Biggest (Most Disappointing) Celebrity Sellouts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344 "2009-03-13T17:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/21 "2009-03-13T20:58:58Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > Because certain performers rose to stardom by tapping into the anti-authoritarian youth market. It’s cool to flip the bird at “The Man” and rise to the top on raw talent and charisma. But, as many have found, it’s much harder to write edgy songs or remain enraged with the system while watching the help polish your Porsche. Those who elect to give up their youthful angst for the comfort of a steady paycheck (read: those who succumb to having their lifestyles underwritten by corporations) are often derided as “sellouts” by those among their fans who see such behavior as evidence of a lack of principals. You give up your youthful angst with your youth. What’s so great about being enraged by the system? Lots of kids listen to that stuff when they’re kids and then listen to different music when they’re older. Why should a musician be trapped into playing only the sort of music they played when they were a kid? To cite a pretty egregious example, Sting turned into Kenny G. Nobody forced him into it. Nobody told him to give up the youthful hijinks. Sting makes the music he does because it turns out that’s the kind of music he likes nowadays. The suits are just as happy selling youthful angst as they are selling watered-down pablum, as long as the youthful angst sells. Or to put it another way, youthful angst IS the pablum. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/22 "2009-03-13T21:01:26Z")
Neil Armstrong doing a Chrysler ad circa 1979. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/23 "2009-03-13T21:26:30Z")
Some of these complaints remind me of the family who didn’t like Disney World. They said it was too commercial! ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/24 "2009-03-13T21:40:42Z")
Dennis Miller becoming a mouthpiece for the Right. That’s the most egregious example I can think of. Unless he always believed what he says now and was throwing b.s. before. But I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/25 "2009-03-13T21:59:43Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The Who “sold out” forty years ago. > > Seriously, they did U.S. Army recrutiing ads during the Viet Nam War! Cool…I’ve always liked The Who. Now I like them more. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/26 "2009-03-13T22:01:05Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > Dennis Miller becoming a mouthpiece for the Right. That’s the most egregious example I can think of. > > Unless he always believed what he says now and was throwing b.s. before. But I don’t think so. :rolleyes: How is changing your political stance “selling out?” I guess Ron Silver “sold out” too then? Jeesus. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/27 "2009-03-13T22:49:40Z")
What is funny is when people accuse these bands of “Being in bed with big business” Who puts out their CDs? A mom and pop store? ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/28 "2009-03-13T23:05:48Z")
> [@mariposalabrown](#): > > Liz Phair’s last cd. Way to go, former rocking indie hero of mine. I came here to post this, almost verbatim. ---
**Author:** ![Redfrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@Redfrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redfrost)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/29 "2009-03-13T23:15:31Z")
**Metallica**!! It has nothing to do with the videoes or radio play. I’m all for a band/artist making money from their art. I really didn’t like the _Black Album_. THis was before the whole Napster brouhaha. I thought it sounded softer and more radio friendly than previous albums. _Load_ and _Reload_ had the same problem. Then came _S.K.U.M._ What kind of metal band hires a fucking life coach for fuck’s sake? I haven’t liked anything they’ve done since _And Justice for All_. Their sound changed with that album mainly because they didn’t have Cliff Burton, who was a major influence on their sound, but I liked it. It sounded hard, heavy, edgie, aggressive, and pissed off, ya know, like **Metallica** should sound. I believe they have sold out. Exploring new muscial direction for the sake of “art” or finding a new sound or expanding the art form, I’m all for. “Exploring” new musical direction (read make music that is radio friendly and appeals to the lowest common demoninator) for the sake of money is selling out. I believe \*\*Metallica \*\*did that. I also think **Van Halen** did the same. Everything after _5150_ has been cheesy. Some bands have always been about making music to make money, get laid, and get high (think **Rolling Stones** ) but they also held true to their roots, which was making _ **good** _ music that made you move and sing along, that also happened to make them a lot of money, got them laid, and got them high. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/30 "2009-03-13T23:21:41Z")
But didn’t Load and Reload actually sell less? ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/31 "2009-03-13T23:28:30Z")
I was kind of disappointed when Harlan Ellison did those Geo ads back in the 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/32 "2009-03-13T23:51:01Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > Hugh Downs. From respected journalist to huckster for a book of “medical secrets” that aren’t secret. Wait–Hugh Downs is still alive? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/33 "2009-03-13T23:53:43Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > Dennis Miller becoming a mouthpiece for the Right. That’s the most egregious example I can think of. > > Unless he always believed what he says now and was throwing b.s. before. But I don’t think so. Or perhaps he changed his mind. That happens, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/34 "2009-03-14T01:38:44Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > I was kind of disappointed when Harlan Ellison did those Geo ads back in the 80’s. Me, too. I remember public speculation at the time that Ellison was chosen to be the on-air guy for the small Geo cars because he’s short, and would make the cars appear bigger. I have no special knowledge here, but I’m pretty sure I have seen that trick in other car ads since. I was very disappointed when [Wayne and Garth sold out](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsjU6SUVudw). Not!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/35 "2009-03-14T02:07:23Z")
[The Who - Great Shakes & USAF Radio Ads](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrF_BGLdy-o) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/36 "2009-03-14T03:04:14Z")
> [@Redfrost](#): > > Some bands have always been about making music to make money, get laid, and get high (think **Rolling Stones** ) but they also held true to their roots, which was making _ **good** _ music that made you move and sing along, that also happened to make them a lot of money, got them laid, and got them high. Not to mention getting paid millions by Microsoft for _Start Me Up_ ;). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/37 "2009-03-14T03:15:31Z")
> [@Redfrost](#): > > What kind of metal band hires a fucking life coach for fuck’s sake? Metal band? What kind of PERSON hires a life coach? A big, weeping, snivelling pussy, that’s who. I don’t care if it’s Metallica or Christopher Cross. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/38 "2009-03-14T05:03:30Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > How is changing your political stance “selling out?” I guess Ron Silver “sold out” too then? Jeesus. Ron Silver, post 9/11, became infected with a near pathological level of fear/loathing of what he still refers to as Islamofascist terrorists. While this made some sense in those early days, listening to him a month ago, it’s as if the intervening years never occurred, and the realization that said terrorists are not exactly as powerful as we feared that they might be (and that our worldwide intelligence and law enforcement are perhaps more powerful than we knew they could be) never happened. I listened to his show for several days and thought it was refreshing, he seemed to be an honest independent with equal criticism of the indulgences of both Democrat and Republican political maneuvering, if with a bit more Obama-disdain than I felt reasonable when the man had been in office less than a month. But when he started talking about terrorism and got really very vehement about it, I honestly felt a strong discomfort and eventually had to turn to another program because it was painful to hear the level of rancor he was expressing. It was easily comparable to Rush or Michael Reagan back in say, February of 2002. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/39 "2009-03-14T05:38:54Z")
> [@Elvis\_Chimney](#): > > …and, most egregious of all, Iggy Pop is currently appearing in a number of insurance adverts. There’s a lot to be said for Jim to be selling insurance. I mean, were you an underwriter 30 or 40 years ago, would you have prognosticated he’d live this long? ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/40 "2009-03-14T05:43:33Z")
[Everybody but Willie Nelson.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQdZgNrLmO8) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344.md?page=3)