Just Can't Get Enough (Fans, Groupies, and cult followings)

May 2 06:20 UTC 1997

What group or solo artists have you ever been a hopeless devotee to?  Are you
still?  Have you ever been called a groupie?  Well folks, it's time to talk
about music and artists we have an obsession for.  For me, it's Depeche Mode,
a band well-known for its groupies and other devoted fans.  If I had to
describe what attracts me to their music, I'd have to say they were just
'playing my song.' There are many experiences I have had which I have
associated with their work-- psychologists call them 'tonal anchors.'  It's
more than just relating-- it's like I've lived some of the music.

Had you asked me this question five years ago, I would have said Mannheim
Steamroller.

By the way, when responding, don't just tell us that you relate to it; that's
how too many hip kids talk.  How did it move you?  Did it change your life?
How did it speak to you?

If you don't want to narrow it down to a specific group, a genre would be
fine.

response 2 of 52:

May 2 16:05 UTC 1997

For me it's "The Throwing Muses"/Kristen Hersh (lead singer of the muses). 
Kristen Hersh's song writing is complex ryhthmicaly, and emotionaly
intense.  She has a wide range of modes from feedbacked drenched punkish
rock to reflective acoustic and cello based pices in her solo work.
Her lyrics seem somehow to relate to my life in her song "saving grace"
she sings "So I've driven 10,00 miles in my hometown...," I know the
feeling. :-)

She also avoids that annoying breathysinger sound that is so popular ala
heryl Crow, Jewel, et al.  The Muses go back to the mid 80s and they
feature a strong woman singer long before Jane come latelies like Alanis
Morisette <blech>. 

response 4 of 52:

May 2 23:30 UTC 1997

It really depends. There are some groups whose recordings I will buy
sight unheard, just because I must have them, and there are some people
who I will go see if they come to town, no matter what. But I draw the
line at bootlegs, obsessive following of them from town to town, and
all that kind of stuff. If I can say hi after a concert and get my latest
recording signed, I'm a happy camper. 

But who are my obsessions? Well, I'd have to say that the two biggest (that
I've actually SEEN) are probably James Keelaghan and Dougie MacLean. James
Keelaghan writes the most wonderful songs -- usually based on history,
usually in the form of a ballad (folk definition) from one of the
participant's point of view. It doesn't hurt that he has a lovely voice and
that he's genuinely a very nice person who tells wonderful stories. 

Dougie MacLean is Scottish, and he writes much of his non-traditional
music, although I can't decide if I like his own songs better or his
covers of very traditional songs better. He is a multi-instrumentalist,
although every time I've seen him, he has only played guitar. I would
like to hear him play violin in person sometime, but I am not sure he
will ever go back to it in concert. He has a very gorgeous voice, 
and he's passionate about Scottish history and British politics. 

If you're talking bands I haven't seen, well, there are several. Hedningarna
is one of my obsessions simply because their music is so tribal sounding 
and so stirring -- every time I listen, no matter how often I've had it
in the player, the collective unconsious part of my brain crawls up and
goes, "oh yeah!". PArt of their appeal is probably because they're
Scandinavian, and use the ancient tunes, songs, and instruments -- albeit
in a very nontraditional style. 

The Oysterband just hits my personal mmmmm buttons -- it's gotta be the
fiddle and the mellodion and the voices and the song-writing, all put
together. I know that they've gotten a lot harder lately, but I still
find myself putting them in the player again and again and again.

And, finally, and surprisingly, Blue Oyster Cult -- I have been looking
for that one last album from the Eighties that I didn't have, and finally
got it, and it just feels sooo good to hear. Evne the songs that I never
really liked then just make me feel happy to hear them. 

response 6 of 52:

May 7 01:14 UTC 1997

Spoonman brings emotion?  Wow, I just thought it was an ultra cool song.  

A slighlty smaller example of devotion is how a well established band's single
can build *heavy* airplay based solely on reputation.  "Swallowed" by Bush
was a fair song that would have been close to the bottom of the pile on
Sixteen Stone, yet it was as successful as any of Bush's first five singles.
"Staring at the Sun" by U2 seems to share that philosophy... the radio is
playing it because its U2, not because its good.  It annoys me to no end...
good songs from nonestablished bands get slighted all the time.

Other recent pertinent examples of this phenomenon include "Whatever" by
Oasis, "Freaks" by Live, "Who You Are" by Pearl Jam (there were plenty of
better songs on that album) and both BitterSweet Me and E-Bow the Letter by
R.E.M.

response 8 of 52:

May 7 05:16 UTC 1997

I will add that I never really knew how obsessive some people can
be until I joined the Richard Thompson mailing list.  The list generates
20 messages or more every day, most going on about incredible trivia.
I dropped off it for a year; now I am subscribed to it on an account 
where I can quickly scan the mail for useful bits of info -- tour news,
release news, news of various of Thompson's old associates -- and skip
over the endless rehashings of favorite songs, favorite albums, 
queries about obscure old releases, and general chitchat.
 
Thompson has said about his internet fans:  "They're worse than 
real critics -- they're *amateur* critics!"  The mailing list cabal
gleefully had a T-shirt made up.
 
TOne interesting thing about the mailing list is that it conducts
regular auctions of Thompson memorabilia and associational items
-- some donated by RT or his management, some donated by the list
members -- with proceeds going to Amnesty International, Thompson's 
designated charity.  So far the list auctions have raised over $5000.

response 10 of 52:

May 16 12:45 UTC 1997

I'm a big King Crimson fan, also a big Tom Waits fan.  I'd drive a couple
hours to see Waits, mainly because a Tom Waits concert is about as common as
a dodo bird.

response 12 of 52:

May 19 03:23 UTC 1997

        I think I got more Stray Cats LPs than most.  Bought the 
import British albums for the material not yet released in America
and because the British vinal was sonicaly better.  Even got a 
couple of 12inch Stray Cat 45s.

        A freind is fanatic about Al Stewart.  Runs the on-line
newsletter.  Has taken vacation time to see multiple stops on his
tour.  Yes, the 'Year of the Cat' Al Stewart.  Has put out a number
of good albums.  I could recommend his "Between the Wars" CD.
Maybe with the new 400 or so seat Ark in Ann Arbor, we may be able
to see him here.

        I would have to say I am a fanatic of the music of science
fiction and fantasy...filk.  I could easily have the largest non-
commercial archive of live filk performances in America.  It helped
Tom Smith hear about 6 songs of his that he could not remember 
writting until I put them on tape for him.  The results are now
in his parody song book (see www.izzy.net/~tomsmith for details).

response 14 of 52:

May 19 08:16 UTC 1997

Ah, I think I work in the same building as tpryan's Al Stewart fanatic.

response 16 of 52:

May 23 16:51 UTC 1997

Hmmm, people I hold in holy fandom. . .Miles davis, for sure, even though he
was an evil dude. . .
Can't think of anyone else off the top of my head. . .

response 18 of 52:

Jun 9 14:48 UTC 1997

Yeah, I knew a few people who were total depeche mode fans; I used to help
a friend put out a zine, and I met alot of people who put out depeche mode
publications. 

response 20 of 52:

Jun 13 02:04 UTC 1997

oh BROTHER, has no one learned their lesson from the beatles?
I dunno, fandom can be annoying; dedicated followings are one thing, but being
so enthralled that your actions just become irrelevant to everything is quite
another(aka the folks on the Tonite show mentioned above. . .)

response 22 of 52:

Jun 15 17:42 UTC 1997

 hmmm... I don't think i am obsessive about any major bands anymore.  I have
my genres mainly.  The rare and kewl ska/punk (my childhood), i was a big fan
of Depeche Mode before they started to suck.  Sting I will always love... i
forgive him sucky songs on most of his albums since he usually has a few good
ones on them as well.  I like celtic and celtic music (that is pronounces
seltic and keltic - meaning the keltic is the older irish traditional music
and the seltic sort is the more modern type) I sometimes think I am Beethoven
s biggest fan, but realise i am not, wouldn't it be kewl if he was adored like
the beetles?

response 24 of 52:

Jun 15 23:41 UTC 1997

yeah, but can't ya see it! the whooping and hollering for classical music
would be rather neato