Musicians / Bands as Record Nerds

[HoyaSaxa03]

this has been rattling around my brain for awhile ... i'm always amazed when i see "big time" rockstars who flunk rock history or current events exams during newspaper/magazine interviews
 
 the one that's always stuck with me is when washpost interviewed scott weiland a year ago or so and weiland had no idea who LCD soundsystem / james murphy was ... i can't point to other specific examples right now, but it's something i've seen over and over again in "rock star" interviews (obviously also tons of exceptions like cobain, etc)
 
 then you read an interview with an "indie" group and they rattle off the most obscure decades-old influences and current groups, debating finer points of the no wave scene, etc ... i can't think of an interview i've read (although i'm sure there are some) with an indie group/artist where s/he stumbles around and can't talk about rock history / other bands (indie or otherwise)
 
 is this general assumption right?  am i way off base?  do butt-rockers and rock stars just not listen to much music?  does a typical modern-rock nu-metal band like you see featured on sportcenter's ultimate highlight even know about the diversity of music out there?
 
 EDIT: this isn't trying to pass judgment on the quality of the music that certain artists listen to / claim as influences, it's a more basic issue of quantity of knowledge

[SPARX]

I'm surprised Scott Weiland knows who he is.
 I certainly wouldn't go to him for a history lesson.
 
 Musicians of old, for the most part, knew it as the only way of life, therefore education wasn't much of a priority, if any.
 
 Today, I see more bands competing for these coveted slots, which in turn makes me think that gives them more free time and desire to get some education, or are forced to get  more out of life than just self absorbtion rather they like it or not. Gotta pay the bills. If you wanna get ahead, you should always know the appropriate names to drop when needed. Just my perspective of course.

[walkonby]

isn't it ironic, yeah i really do think . . . that scott has become the new william bruce rose, jr.  showing up late for shows, check.  attitude of higher than thee, check.
 
 could gnr pull off a reform of the old crew?

[Relaxer]

This is painting in broad strokes, but I think if you get into music for the bucks and the babes, chances are you won't be overly curious about what lies on the outer fringes of music. While some pop music stars (whether in hair metal, pop, hip-hop) do have a burning desire to make and appreciate music, a lot of them are motivated mostly by where they're getting their next blow-job or white line.

[Bombay Chutney]

Why would you expect Scott Weiland to know anything about LCD Soundsystem?  Asking him about a random band that plays a style of music he probably doesn't listen to that came out 10+ years after he was already a rockstar doesn't seem to be a good test of his overall musical knowledge.  Ask him about his influences or what he's listening to now and I'm sure he'll do fine.
 
 And for every indie band that can go on about the "no wave" scene, I'm sure there are dozens that would respond by saying "No Wave?  You mean like "A Flock of Seagulls?"

[sonickteam2]

I agree with Bombay here.  Personally, I would imagine that if you're job was music, you wouldnt sit around all day making sure you knew who every other band was and all about them.
 
   I'd assume that you'd be busier than that, and when you werent busy with music, you'd want to think nothing of it!

[El Jefe Design]

I can see not knowing every current band out there because there are just so many. I always laugh when Britney Spears was asked about why she did a cover of "I Love Rock and Roll" and she answered that she just loved Pat Benatar so much.

[kosmo vinyl]

i agree with Relaxer as there are more "entertainment" options than trawling record stores for butt-rockers  
 
 with that said i suspect the record nerds are more likely to be part of genre's where there a DJ culture associated with it.  i'll willing to bet that James Murphy and Air are record nerds...
 
 my favorite record nerd is Paul Heaton (Housemartins/Beautiful South) who had reportedly kept a monthly  personal top 10 list for several years.  in the liner notes for Norman Cook's "Late Night Tales" comp, he mentions that he routinely swaps mixtapes with Paul.  how would you like to be in the middle of that exchange...

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
  Why would you expect Scott Weiland to know anything about LCD Soundsystem?  Asking him about a random band that plays a style of music he probably doesn't listen to that came out 10+ years after he was already a rockstar doesn't seem to be a good test of his overall musical knowledge.  Ask him about his influences or what he's listening to now and I'm sure he'll do fine.

because they were one of the most-talked-about bands last year ... their album was reviewed strongly (album of the year quality) by just about every mainstream media outlet, they were nominated for a grammy for best electronic/dance album
 
 sure, i don't expect that he'd be their biggest fan, but if you had at least some interest in music in 2007 you'd at least have HEARD of them
 
 i don't mean to harp on this one example, it's just emblematic of something broader that's been eating at me ... and maybe i'm just way off base, thanks for the responses

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I'd say don't let little things eat at you too much. Someday you'll have real issues to deal with!    
 
 

Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
 

Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
 [qb]
 
 i don't mean to harp on this one example, it's just emblematic of something broader that's been eating at me ... and maybe i'm just way off base, thanks for the responses [/b]

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by very sonick:
  I agree with Bombay here.  Personally, I would imagine that if you're job was music, you wouldnt sit around all day making sure you knew who every other band was and all about them.
 
   I'd assume that you'd be busier than that, and when you werent busy with music, you'd want to think nothing of it!

yeah, i didn't bring this up to shit on an artist who takes this approach, i'm just curious if this assumption that's been rattling around my head for a while is more-or-less true

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
  I'd say don't let little things eat at you too much. Someday you'll have real issues to deal with!      

don't get me started about basketball players fouling out of games

[Frank Gallagher]

Mainstream rock music was invented so ugly blokes could get laid....talent was not a requirement. Just ask the Rolling Stones!

[vansmack]

Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray fame was by far the most impressive Rock and Roll Jeopardy player I've ever seen.  I'm pretty sure he can kick my ass at that game.