From: v091rusj@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (CONFUSION(MASS))
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll
Subject: Re: Patterns of popularity (a psychological question)
Date: 9 Apr 92 19:35:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Apr7.163907.24172@awdprime.austin.ibm.com>, sross@cdc001.austin.ibm.com (Stacey Ross) writes...
>For all of you out there who like to analyze patterns of popularity in music...
> 
>Why is there a natural tendency for vehement fans of a band to hate "the newest
>album" of that band? In case that's not clear, let's take as a primary example
>the people who loved Def Leppard's _Pyromania_ album and thought the albums got
>progressively worse from there. Note that the newer Lep fans praise Adrenalize
>like it's a holy icon, the older fans ("true" fans, as they would have it) think
>it's "the last nail in the coffin" (pardon me if I misquoted that, but it fits
>my argument quite well.)
> 
>What I'm saying is, once something changes a little to fit the market, more
>people become interested in it that didn't give a dime before, the old fans get
>jealous and start to criticize the new stuff. This is because it makes them feel
>like they know more than the new fans do. Seems like a jealousy thing to me.
> 
>Before I get flamed, let me say that there are exceptions to all the rules; if
>you think you can be objective and say that, for instance, Adrenalize truly 
>sucks, then fine. It's not hard to believe that a band could go through a lapse
>(particularly when a major member dies) where their music just doesn't jibe as
>well. But if you say "I like Def Leppard before all of these punks did, I'm a
>better fan" and then claim to hate the new album because it wasn't like "the old
>stuff" then you're probably missing out. 
> 
>....
> 
>(I am a vehement Van Halen fan, and I thought I was falling into that trap as
>well when OU812 came out. I was moderately disappointed with it. But then Carnal
>Knowledge came out and I got all better! <grin>)
> 
>Now, I wasn't really old enough to enjoy radio music when the old (read: Roth)
>Van Halen albums were out, but I went back and got them all and devoured them as
>fast as I found out their names. Perhaps the fact that I entered the scene after
>the older albums had long faded away (except 1984) provided me with a measure of
>objectivity. It's hard for me to prefer Roth VH over Hagar VH, or vice versa.
>Looking back, if I had been a hardcore Roth fan before Hagar came in, it would
>be easy to resent the new VH greatly, because their appeal to the masses
>instantly widened with the arrival of Sammy.
> 
>The reason I flap on about Van Halen is it's the example that I know most
>about.
> 
>I would greatly appreciate some well-thought followups.
	YES!  GOOD!!!  Finally a fresh perspective.  I've been considering
this as well.  I too am a new/old Van Halen fan and feel the same way.  
	I have been trying to link this idea in with the "alternative" issue
as well.  Let me voice an opinion.
	My definition of an alternative band is just:  a band that has not
become mainstream yet.  This seems to work good for me, because I've noticed
some things.  New bands tend to receive strong local followings.  People 
have the satisfaction of discovering a new band, and thinking it is their own
personal band that not many people know about.  We like this feeling.  Then,
something happens!  Oh no...  0:  A hit single.  The band has sold out!  They
suck!  But...  what has changed?  In a lot of cases it is just their status.
They are no longer our own personal alternative band.  They are mainstream.
So...  we close our minds to them, and feel betrayed.  Some of us sulk.  
Extreme was my own personal alternative band before More Than Words hit the
charts.  More Than Words was our song, mine and my girlfriend's, long before
the single was out.  They are no longer my own personal alternative band, but
I don't hold their success against them.  I still love their music.  Warrant
was another case of this.  The list can go on.  The point is...  we die hard
fans can be selfish.  I suggest we try and open our minds a little more to
the music rather than blame everything on the money.  

						-Frank

					       "Let's get our hearts
						together and as before 
						and like before we'll 
						do again."-Jon Anderson 
>==========================================================================
>IBM doesn't want anything to do with my opinions...
> 
>                                     -Stace
>                                     (who happens to be male, people...)
> 
>                                    "The question is: not does love exist,
>                                     but when she leaves, where she goes."
>                                                          - David Lee Roth
>==========================================================================
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll