Unpleasant people in rock

[DChord568]

@Superdude

When I was in high school, I was considering a career as a radio DJ. A family friend is a local disc jockey, and invited me into the studio purely to watch as she interviewed Donnie Osmond. According to her, she had cleared it with Osmond’s people and everything was hunky-dory.

When he walked into the studio, he said his “hello,” then turned and saw me. He threw a fit that I was there, and demanded that I leave. Or he would. So I left.

I’ve got an Osmond story too, though it doesn’t fit the premise of the thread.

Sometime in the early 80s I was running the board, as I always did, for the morning talk show host at the station I worked at. (My show was in the afternoon.) His guests this day were Donnie and Marie Osmond, who were appearing in town.

We had a young engineer on the FM side of our station who apparently was obsessed with Marie Osmond. He arrived at the station that morning unannounced, and while the morning guy was in the midst of his interview, walked into the studio, sat down right next to Marie and put his arm around her.

The microphone being live, no one could really say anything without causing an on-air disruption, so everyone just carried on. I can’t remember exactly what happened once we finally went to a commercial, but I don’t recall that there was any kind of big scene. Apparently our guy explained himself adequately, and all was well.

But you wanna know the funny thing? This guy bore a slight resemblance to Donnie! It wasn’t exact, but the same sort of chubby cheeks and sparkly eyes. Looking back, it’s a wonder Marie didn’t totally freak out.

[Larry_Borgia]

@Laggard

Ian McCulloch was very unpleasant when he visited our studio many years ago. A bit more obscure but Speedo from RFTC was as big a jerk as I’d heard he was.

Always amazed though how nice most indie “alternative” bands tended to be. Kim and Zach from Jawbox were as nice as could be as was Mac from Superchunk.

I know this is a zombie, but I met Ian McCulloch after a show a few years ago, and he was much nicer than I would have thought. He was friendly and tolerated my drunken fanboy ramblings. Maybe he mellowed with age.

[gaffa]

@DChord568

My roommate in college had friends back home who were in a band, and they got signed for an album. Somehow Todd Rundgren was chosen to produce it. His friends reported to my roommate that Rundgren was an insufferable asshole with an ego a mile wide.

In recent decades Todd’s become much better at dealing with other human beings - his wife Michele has been a very positive influence on him. But Andy Partridge memorably described Todd as having “…the people skills of a Dalek.”

[Capt_Kirk]

I think I will stay out of this one, the last time I made someone very upset.

I am often surprised at how nice “Rock Stars” can be. Had dinner in catering with Josh Homme from QOTSA and he was funny and very nice. He just came and sat down at my table, the whole band ended up there, playing dominos.

IME there are more nice ones than the other kind and this is my 18th year in concert production.

Capt

[nearwildheaven]

@gaffa

In recent decades Todd’s become much better at dealing with other human beings - his wife Michele has been a very positive influence on him. But Andy Partridge memorably described Todd as having “…the people skills of a Dalek.”

Interesting that Andy Partridge would say that, because I’ve heard that he’s the poster child for Asperger Syndrome.

[Sir_Prize]

@Superdude

I’ve told this story before on these forums, but it fits with this thread.

When I was in high school, I was considering a career as a radio DJ. A family friend is a local disc jockey, and invited me into the studio purely to watch as she interviewed Donnie Osmond. According to her, she had cleared it with Osmond’s people and everything was hunky-dory.

When he walked into the studio, he said his “hello,” then turned and saw me. He threw a fit that I was there, and demanded that I leave. Or he would. So I left.

Frankly, given the weird kind of fame he had as a teen idol I think it is understandable that some kid sitting around having nothing to do with the interview would make him nervous. He probably had bad experiences with unexplained guy just hanging around.

This one goes all the way back to yesterday. Art Garfunkel orders coffee and a jelly doughnut. The guy behind the counter asks how much milk he wants. Nothing unusual. On the way out Art says to the manager “What’s up with that guy? he doesn’t like his job?” After he leaves there is a whole discussion with the manager, who is too young to know who Art Garfunkel is, and the counterman about the incident. I don’t care what kind of problems Art thinks he has, projecting his own bad attitude on someone who is serving him respectfully and then complaining t the guys manager is a real crummy thing to do.

[Alloverthemap]

Unpleasant? Doubtful. Evidence: I sent an invitation to Peter Gabriel, Bath, England in 1984 for a party I was having to coincide with the Los Angeles summer Olympics. It was a weekend affair and featured made-up Olympic events as part of the proceedings. I sent it to a couple of dozen celebrities and Bill James wrote back with a brief, but very nice note. P. Gabe, however, responded in multiple paragraphs in a very warm, personal, and witty way. Someone stole the letter at the party. I should look for it on eBay, I suppose.

I also once met a music video director who said that during pre-production meetings P. Gabe would be very quiet, but also extremely thoughtful and considerate when asked his opinion on something. The director had a very favorable impression of him.

[gaffa]

@nearwildheaven

Interesting that Andy Partridge would say that, because I’ve heard that he’s the poster child for Asperger Syndrome.

Partridge also describes the situation with him and Rundgren in the studio as “two Hitlers in one bunker.”

[WOOKINPANUB]

@lieu

That’s who first came to mind for me, although admittedly I don’t remember details about whatever accounts I read.

Ritchie Blackmore, while maybe not an ass certainly came across as unpeasant enough. In his Straight Between the Eyes tour at the Hammersmith he’d never look at or acknowledge the crowd, just sulking off in a corner and obviously unhappy to be there. I understand that wasn’t unusual.

I mentioned RB in a similar thread. Openly disparaging just about everyone he worked with, this completely arrogant look on his ugly mug with his ridiculous shoe black hair and pencil thin mustache. His (seemingly) vapid Barbie Doll of a wife did not improve my opinion.

[Thudlow_Boink]

@Acsenray

Even an introvert can learn to graciously smile, shake hands, and offer a fan thanks and well wishes. Being one myself I know this to be true – not to say that I have any “fans,” as such. You might not come off as an engaging personality, but you aren’t doomed to come off as a “real jerk” just because you’re an introvert.

I know I’m responding to a comment from years ago, but:
(1) There’s a difference between doing this for a fan, and doing this for hundreds of fans. And
(2) I don’t necessarily assume that anything one introvert can do, another introvert can do.