Its very interesting to note, that in this instance, internet music downloading actually played a very useful, and legitimate service - that is, it allowed us to take an objective listen to some of the work by the band in question - which then allowed us to make an informed decision regarding their musical worth. That’s a good thing.
Indeed, in the context of the band needing to do some really crass shit to get some publicity, offering their shit mp3’s only serves to demonstrate how vacuous they really are.
And you know… I think that’s the criteria here… history tends to be somewhat kind to certain “outlandish acts” with the proviso that they actually offered something musically “for the ages” if you know what I mean.
And at the risk of doing a bit of a musical hijack, it’s probably the reason why I have innately little respect for Madonna - insofar as that she’s a media stunt whore, no doubt, but I remain firmly unconvinced that she’s ever done anything musically “for the ages”. She’s had some very “fashionable hits” as it were, and she’s ripped off some very famous producers over the years (the Groove Amada story is a doozy) but she herself isn’t that talented at all actually - hence her need to do stupid cheap shit like kissy poos with Britney etc.
Even then, G.G. Allin already has them beat for shock value. It was sort of taken for granted that if he ever carried through on his onstage suicide that he was going to take out people with him. He was not a pleasant individual.
I know, I was just reinforcing the point and noting that it isn’t that much of the exception to the rule with regards to MTV.
This may be so, but back then the absence of televised or video coverage per force kept the focus on the music to a larger degree. In today’s music business, it almost matters not if you are an incredibly talented musician, if you’re fat, balding and past middle age, you are basically out of luck.
Never before have photogenic criteria so overruled musical content. Glam rock and its spawn have all served to neuter music’s quality in favor of theatrics. As a musician, I find this nearly criminal.
