A little allegorical tale....

[Jeff Williams <jeffw@mxim.com>]

Subject: A little allegorical tale...

My only direct experience with conversing with a rock star of great stature to me personally was 
when I saw the Professionals, the band that Steve Jones and Paul Cook, guitarist and drummer for the
Sex Pistols, in Seattle in '82.  It was a cool club right off the monorail converted from an old TV
studio, so the seats were on a slope so everyone had a great view... Anyhow, after the show I asked
to talk to Steve to the roadie/bouncer, who in his English brogue said: " Well, you're the wrong sex, 
mate, but I'll see if I can rouse him."  He came down, met me, we partied with some other folks, and 
you know, he was just like the kid down the street.  Totally unassuming, very willing to talk to fans, 
and answered any and all of my questions.  Paul Cook was equally a nice fellow.  It was nice to know
that someone you had idolized and whose records you had snapped up the moment they came out (I've got
all the English picture sleeve Sex Pistols singles; eat your heart out, suckers! (just kidding to those
who are not Pistols fans)) turn out to be truly nice guys.   Anyway, my point is, if they reply to your
fan mail, if they talk to folks on the street or after the show, and spend a reasonable amount of time
doing it, then they're the type of folks you wanna spend money on and support.  If they don't, then 
they're not.  Of coure there are the exceptions where the artist is a true asshole but whose music is
so good that you can't help but like it.  That's kind of a tall order for me... I suppose my standards
are different from those of other people. 

I saw a thing where Bette Midler was doing a book signing and stayed 'till every one who
had a book got it signed - and stayed for hours.... Obviously not all fans' attentions can be catered 
to all the time.... But if a poll were taken and we found out how many fans' letters were responded 
to, both from the fan club and individally, then we'd know what was what....


I wouldn't argue the right/wrong of attempting to find someone's home address.  If all the fan mail
I received at my personal home address were positive and non-obsessive, (unless of course I liked that
sort of thing!), I suppose I wouldn't mind.... There I go again, arguing the right/wrong..... I guess 
I kinda agree with most of both sides of that issue... Although me saying that feuding on a public posting
is sort of geeky might get negative responses from said participants!

And thanks for your comments, Mr. Moriarity....


O.K. later.....

Jeff (holier than thou) Williams