on 11/11/02 9:08 PM, D Dvb at d_dvb@hotmail.com wrote:
Sometimes I think the reason why some "difficult" music doesn't reach more people isn't because the average person can't understand it but rather the average person picks up on the snottiness and self-importance that radiates from SOME of the music/performers.
I'd agree with that point if the audience was filled with more people who had not been exposed to that artist before. I think the reason it doesn;t reach more people is because it doesn't get on the radio. Besides, being self-obsessed hasn't hurt Lou Reed. And he's all about snotty and self-important (or has been when I've seen him).
Making a good record is insanely hard work, even before you've played a note. Find a time when the musicians, engineer, and studio are all available is contracting work at its most basic, and is no fun. If you want to see how easy it is to make records, come down to my place next time I go to the studio. For your own safety, bring a whip, a chair, a gun, some Valium, Tagamit, and a cell phone.
Skip, these statements seem a little whiny, no offense. If it's such hard work, then don't do it. There are many people who are working pretty damn hard just to play music without many of Mr. Zorn's benefits who would give up their soul (and are doing so) if they could perform in Europe, Japan, etc.
Making a record IS hard work. It's not whiny -- it's a reality. It's a hard job to do well, like any other skilled construction task. It's no different in that respect than getting the requisite personnel and building a bathroom. But nobody pins "requisite glamour" on guys who build bathrooms. Also, if I had a marketable skill other than to do music, I might have opted for it. I do what I know how to do. For all the considerable headaches, it beats my alternatives (like asking someone if they "want that Supersized"). That "requisite glamour notion" (as if music ain;t hard work) is worse than a myth. Except instead of foremen and supervisors, you have producers and A&R men on your ass. It' still someone you have to answer to who doesn;t generally know as much about what you're doing as you know about what you're doing. I think people take the term "playing music" to mean we;re having fun all the time. While the actual moments when you're doing music are great, all the stuff that goes along with it -- being a payroll clerk, contractor, site supervisor, teacher, and then some -- can be pretty tense. It deserves as much respect as any job gives. If John had a bad reaction to an asshole, hasn't everyone blown up at work at some point because some idiot wasn;t letting him do his job in peace? Or are musicians not allowed that same slack/respect? Just like the guy who builds bathrooms or sells me food, Zorn -- or any artist -- deserves the right to be treated as a professional. That's manners. And guys who come to a public gathering sans manners are probably best treated like guys who don;t understand what manners are. "Shut up" is likely a good start. As for guys who would give up their soul to play in different countries, that's their business, and I understand it to a certain point. But there's a lot less pressure on you when you're relatively unknown and doing a van tour (trust me on this) than there is pressure on someone like Zorn, who really has to meet a payroll and deal with things on a larger scale than four guys in a van.
What amount of hard work justifies getting to act like a certified asshole?
I don't think John behaved like one. To me, the certified asshole is the guy who thinks the price of a ticket grants him the right to be avant garde music's Howard Cosell for the night. sh