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For the record: Not ALL musicians sell out...


The Dean

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Two reasons musicians go into it:

 

1) To get laid.

2) To make money

 

One reason the stay in it as a career

1) They make money.

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Very few. Lots of musicians, few famous ones. And look at what crap one gets out of the famous ones.

 

I think Bonnie Rait said it best about that particular time when she said "If you didn't ruin your health, you weren't doing it right". Not good life advice, buy what the hell. "Popular" music isn't music anymore, from the standpoint of the artist. People used to work up through the clubs, a few still do - but why was there ever "American Idol"? Because corporate entertainment tells people what they should like, and most follow.

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Very few. Lots of musicians, few famous ones. And look at what crap one gets out of the famous ones.

 

I think Bonnie Rait said it best about that particular time when she said "If you didn't ruin your health, you weren't doing it right". Not good life advice, buy what the hell. "Popular" music isn't music anymore, from the standpoint of the artist. People used to work up through the clubs, a few still do - but why was there ever "American Idol"? Because corporate entertainment tells people what they should like, and most follow.

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My brother has been a professional musician all his life (since he was 15, anyway). Traveling up and down the east coast, mostly, finally settling in the Nawlins' area He was offered a job by Jackson Browne (among others) and recorded with Al Green. He is an outstanding guitarist who can play almost any type of music well, a great singer and a talented song writer. He never settled down, or stuck to playing one kind of music because, as he says, "I'd be bored". Frankly, he was lazy (as am I...a little, anyway).

 

No fame and little money. Tons of kitty...but, a tough life. While he didn't drink much, he did his share of drugs. He is now approaching 58 years old. He is on dialysis and is in desperate need of a kidney that he will NOT get, I'm sure. My guess is, in the next year or two , I'll be writing a thread that says "Keep a good thought for my brother".

 

What's the point of this...I forgot. Oh...wait...I remember. Fame and popularity have virtually nothing to do with talent. They have a lot to do with marketing and work ethic and connections and looks, etc. Some good musicians still come up through the clubs, or go to school to study music, or train with great teachers outside of school. Some still hone their skills and are craftsman. But not many, sadly.

 

Sadder still, IMO, even these few craftsman often throw it all away (or comprimise it) for fame and money at the first opportunity. How many great mucisians sold out after their first taste of commercial success? Far too many in my estimation. So it's good to celebrate those who make music for the love of music. Who do things their way, because they think it's the right way. Who never have uttered the words "reinvent myself" when referring to what they do.

 

Make no mistake, I'm not suggesting my brother is a role model or someone to be pitied. He is neither. He's just typical of the bulk of working musicians who are not famous, but have managed to spend their lives doing something they love...on their own terms.

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My brother has been a professional musician all his life (since he was 15, anyway).  Traveling up and down the east coast, mostly, finally settling in the Nawlins' area  He was offered a job by Jackson Browne (among others) and recorded with Al Green.  He is an outstanding guitarist who can play almost any type of music well, a great singer and a talented song writer.  He never settled down, or stuck to playing one kind of music because, as he says, "I'd be bored".  Frankly, he was lazy (as am I...a little, anyway).

 

No fame and little money.  Tons of kitty...but, a tough life.  While he didn't drink much, he did his share of drugs.  He is now approaching 58 years old.  He  is on dialysis and is in desperate need of a kidney that he will NOT get, I'm sure.  My guess is, in the next year or two , I'll be writing a thread that says "Keep a good thought for my brother".

 

What's the point of this...I forgot.  Oh...wait...I remember.  Fame and popularity have virtually nothing to do with talent.  They have a lot to do with marketing and work ethic and connections and looks, etc.  Some good musicians still come up through the clubs, or go to school to study music, or train with great teachers outside of school.  Some still hone their skills and are craftsman.  But not many, sadly.

 

Sadder still, IMO, even these few craftsman often throw it all away (or comprimise it) for fame and money at the first opportunity.  How many great mucisians sold out after their first taste of commercial success?  Far too many in my estimation.  So it's good to celebrate those who make music for the love of music.  Who do things their way, because they think it's the right way.  Who never have uttered the words "reinvent myself" when referring to what they do.

 

Make no mistake, I'm not suggesting my brother is a role model or someone to be pitied.  He is neither.  He's just typical of the bulk of working musicians who are not famous, but have managed to spend their lives doing something they love...on their own terms.

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We're going to start agreeing, look like dinosaurs and lose our popular fan base with this kind of post.

 

You do appreciate the irony, I'm sure.

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We're going to start agreeing, look like dinosaurs and lose our popular fan base with this kind of post.

 

You do appreciate the irony, I'm sure.

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:devil::D:(:doh::doh:

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He's just typical of the bulk of working musicians who are not famous, but have managed to spend their lives doing something they love...on their own terms.

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Good Post. I agree with Wacka that most guys first pick up a guitar for the money or the pu$$y (99% of everything else in the world is done for those reasons too, in my jaded opinion), but that whole thing about living life on your own terms has to be pretty attractive, too.

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I posted waht i did to deflate anyone who might have wanted to post about how their favorite bamd is altruistic and is in it only for the music. Beng able to play a guitar is a p-magnet. Too bad I can't :flirt: .

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